In this 10th recording of Sri Chinmoy’s early esraj concert performances, Sri Chinmoy plays a Bengali song that he composed about the esraj. The recording was made while coming back from a concert and meditation at upstate New York college (Rockland County Community College) on 2 March 1977. The place of this recording in unknown.
Sri Chinmoy plays the esraj 10
Last modified October 6, 2014
Esraj Tumi Je Moder Harsher Taj
(translation)
Esraj, esraj, esraj!
You are the crown of our delight-reality.
You are the lightning sound
Of fathomless peace and boundless liberation
You don the robes of the eternal Truth
And the Cosmic Dance.
You embody the fulness-freedom
Of the world-Union.
– Sri Chinmoy
The song was composed just a few days after a special esraj concert at Bay Side Church in New York on February 17 1977 to commemorate the anniversary of the purchase of his first esraj. This special event was called ”First Anniversary of the perfect instrument”.
In the media:
Sri Chinmoy played the esraj for the first time on television January 1977 on WATR-TV’s “Sounding Board,” in Waterbury, Connecticut and also answered questions called in by viewers .
Performance on esraj on March 28 during a Channel 3 TV programme, This Morning Show, broadcast from Hartford, Connecticut.
He also taped an esraj performance and question and answer session for WNBC-TV’s First Estate. The half-hour show hosted by Russell Barber was aired in April 24th.
Concert series held:
Sri Chinmoy gave a series of six esraj concerts and public meditations in New York state in March 1977. Four were held in New York and upstate universities or colleges:
- Rockland Community College (March 2)
- Columbia University (March 8)
- Queens College (March 9)
- State University of New York at New Paltz (March 29)
- A special concert and meditation was also held March 23 at the International House in New York for members of the African-American community.
- A large public concert March 25 at the Ethical Culture Society of New York.
Whilst offering an esraj concert and meditation at Queens College, N.Y., he also offered his special message for the month of March – a message about selfless service, meditation, discipline and vital problems:
Public meditation and concert at the Ethical Culture Society, New York:
Artist: Sri Chinmoy
Name: Sri Chinmoy Plays the Esraj 10
Release year: 1977 (MC)
Duration: 0:29:51
Acknowledgements: Sri Chinmoy
Page Created: Ashish / Tejvan
Format: Advanced Audio Coding
Photos by Bhashwar, Sarama, (title) SF archive
Original tape cover from 1977 with Sri Chinmoy’s drawing.
