Hindustan
Times
Thursday, 20 September 2001
Swapan
Basu Plans Folk Music Institute
The
Kolkata- based folk singer Swapan Basu needs no introduction.
Since his appearance in the early '80s, Basu has carved
a niche for himself in the folk song scenario with his
equal felicity in Baul, Bhatiali, Bhoiya, Jhumur and
Chatka.
For
this year's Puja album, his 13th, Basu has something
different to offer. The album, to be released sometime
in September, consists of eight songs. "All the
songs revolve around the theme of love and values in
human life," says Basu.
The
songs have been collected from places like Khasi, Garo
and Jayanti Hills in Meghalaya and Bankura, Purulia,
Midnapore, Jhargram, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in West
Bengal.
"The
unique feature of these songs is that these are very
old and have never been recorded before," he says.
Songs such as Dasher bari chaira aami ailam bideshe,
Ar kato kaal, Bsanta asilo sakhi and Lokbole speak about
a wanderer's houmsickness. Unlike his other albums,
this one catches the singer in a pensive mood.
Folk
music comes to Basu spontaneously. " I was a kid.
I used to be fascinated by the bauls whenever they came
asking for alms at our place. My interest grew with
age
and so, I decide to pursue a career in folk music,"
says the ethnomusicologist.
Having
won accolades for his performances in USA and Canada,
the 38-year-old singer now wants to set up an institute
for folklore and music. Besides teaching about rural
music, the institute will also help preserve such music.
Basu says: "Besides music, lyrics are the most
important component in these songs.One can learn about
the place, its people and their history from the lyrics.
And hence these should be preserved. Moreover, folk
music is a dying art form and if we do not preserve,
it will be lost forever."
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