Nabani Das [deceased] of Birbhum (c. 1948)
holding the ektara
Nitai Khepa (Betalban, Bardhaman) [deceased] 
The crazy one searches for his mind's twin
(khepa khunje mare maner juti)
streaming audio here
Windows media player here
© Folk Music & Folklore Research Institute Calcutta
photo of Nitai Khepa
Many of the Baul songs do not even have the signature of the composer. When I complained about
this to an old Baul he pointed to the river Padma and said to me: "Look at the boats in full sail
on the big river afar .. do they leave any mark in their wake? And see these boats being pushed
through the mud in the little canals here, leaving lots of marks behind them. Which of these
two is more natural and easy? We are travellers of the Easy Path (shahoj path), we do not
give importance to leaving artificial marks in our wake." -- Kshiti Mohan Sen (1949)
If one asks the Bauls questions about their philosophy they do not respond in words,
but in songs. And they have such a wealth of songs in their coffer! Why do they act this way?
They reply: " We are the bird people -- we do not know how to walk, we like to fly" ...
Dinabandhu Das (Lakshmanpur Hoogli) [deceased]
On the slippery banks of the curved river
(banka nodir pichol ghate)
streaming audio here
Keep your love for Shyam secret in your heart
kichu din mone mone
streaming audio here
Chintamoni Dasi [deceased]
I was hit by the breaker from the river of Gaura-love
(gaur premer dheu legeche gae)
Streaming mp4 6:25 min
here
Text
Sanatan Das (Khayerboni Bankura)
photo: young Sanatan Das
Buy a ticket to Dig Nagar if you wish to travel to Brindaban
(paro to dignagarer tikit kato mon)
In this 1984 recording in Santiniketan, Sanatan gives a spirited performance singing and dancing in circles (hence the occasional fading of his voice). Accompaniment: khol (clay drum), guba, cymbals, flute and, last but not least, his ankle bells. He also has an experienced audience on his side.
Listen in stereo for best results.
Streaming RealAudio 7:15 min
here
Text
He did not come yet, the lech Kalia (Krishna)
(ekhano elo na kalia )
In this song, composed by the venerable Bhaboprita of Deoghar, Sanatan, accompanying himself on the metal-string dotara, displays his astonishing musical sensibilities acquired from the Bengal Jatra (village theater) music. The tune is not traditional Baul, but based on Raga Shivaranjani. Same acompaniments as in the previous recording.
Listen in stereo for best results.
Streaming RealAudio 8:50 min
here
