Thursday 27 December 2012

Podcast 007 - Tulasi sings 'Krishna He'

Tulasi Harison sings 'Krishna He' at our December Kirtan. Just the chant to ring in the new year. Happy 2013 everyone, and may you be blessed with auspicious sounds to hear, peace in your hearts, inspired thoughts, and action that pleases everyone..

Tulasi chanting in Oxford, May 2011


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Sunday 23 December 2012

Podcast 006 - Vrindavan Kirtan

This kirtan podcast was recorded last week at our monthly kirtan at the Friends Meeting House. Our kirtan leader was Krishna-ksetra, a renowned musician and singer. The style of this short but very jolly piece is that of Vrindavan, the birth place of Krishna, in North India. It has a lively and spontaneous mood, engaging the emotions in its pace and peace.


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Wednesday 25 July 2012

Oxford's Longest Kirtan


Blissful Chanting!


  By Lucy Barton


At first, Wheatley Park School looked like any other school building would do on a Sunday morning. Silent, almost lonely, as it awaited the return of its throngs of children and staff to repopulate it come Monday. But this Sunday, it would be witness to the longest continuous kirtan ever held publicly within the county of Oxfordshire. As we walked through the double doors of the main entrance, we were struck by the transformation that had overcome the school hall. 

The walls were hung with richly coloured tapestries and the air was filling with the sweet smell of incense. But the crowning glory of the decorations was the beautiful altar, where Kirtan Krishna stood, flanked by beautifully arranged floral displays and illuminated by tea-light candles. It was certainly a spiritually uplifting environment. The floor, making optimal use of the school’s resources, was spread with blue gym mats, which made surprisingly comfortable seating; and the hall was arranged with the musicians seated in the centre encircled by the respondent chanters.

Lucy, the author of this piece, relaxing at home

The kirtans began with a melodious invocation by Ranchor Prime, a familiar voice of the Oxford kirtans. Many more of our favourite visiting kirtaniyas (kirtan leaders) were present, such as the sisters Jahnavi and Tulasi, and some new faces, such as Amala Harinam, a very well-reputed travelling kirtan leader. The mood was both meditative and dynamic; the kirtans would start gently, and then gradually mount to frenzied tempos, spurring everyone to clap their hands, and some of the more energetic to dance. The rhythm was augmented by the widely distributed kartal-cymbals and shakers, and the melodies embellished by the beautiful playing of Nadiya Mani and the other flautists.

 

The kirtans were continuous, but water, strawberries and yoghurt, and a sumptuous vegetarian lunch were provided for chanters who needed replenishment. It was an enlivening and uplifting occasion for all; perhaps the most impressive aspect was that, even on such a large scale, one hundred and fifty people through the day, the kirtan managed to preserve the same atmosphere of sanctuary and focus that is so unique to the Oxford kirtans. It is a real tribute to all those who were involved in the preparation of this event and to all the participants.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to Dev & Rachna Bahl, and Nimesh & Anita Desai, and their families, who acted as organisers, helpers, and sponsors, and a special thanks to all those who came to give their hearts and voices to the kirtan for making this event such a success.

Suitable for all age groups...



Saturday 21 July 2012

Six-Hour Kirtan - first shots

These are the first photos to emerge from the very successful kirtan we had last Sunday, which actually lasted seven hours, and attracted 150 people. Respect to the organisers. More to come, as well as recordings to be podcast.

Kishori Jani leads kirtan

Young and old, brown and white, rich and poor (I think I saw a poor person) chant together



Sunday 15 July 2012

Oxford's First Six-Hour Kirtan

We are very happy to announce Oxford's first six-hour kirtan. A mini chanting marathon for our kirtan community in Oxford.

On Sunday July 15th we invite you all to join us in chant at Wheatley Park School, Holton, Oxford OX33 1QH, 10am – 4pm. See our Facebook event page @ http://www.facebook.com/events/476641199017625/




Our chanters will include many who have previously led us in chant at our gatherings Oxford, and some kirtan leaders who, although new to the Oxford scene, are Kirtaniyas of repute.

There will be food served, inspiring music and song, wonderful company, and a warm atmosphere – well, it will be summer.

Come for the whole day, or pop in for a part, bring a friend or family but don't miss this great opportunity to chant your cares away.

If you can – so we can inform the cooks of numbers expected – please feel free to drop an aknowledgment to oxchant@gmail.com. And also feel free to copy and distribute the poster above.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Podcast 005 - Tulasi Harrison Sings

In this podcast Tulasi Harison sings two bhajans and a kirtan. The first, Jaya Radha Madhava is a lovely little bhajan (hymn) meditating on Vrindavan, the birth place of Krishna, and remembering all the places associated with spiritual relationships of love.

The second is Sri Krishna Chaitanya a short mantra very popular in Bengal, and the third is Govinda Jaya Jaya, a simple na ssublime bhajan which originated in the Radha Raman temple some hundreds of years ago.

We are very thankful to Tulasi for leading us in kirtan so often in Oxford. This picture is of Tulasi singing the very Bhajans you are about to hear, in July of 2011.


This recording is an hour long, so sit back, or straighten your back, and prepare to hear and be happy. If you find your foot tapping you are in the zone.

Remember you can subscribe to these podcasts by filling your email address into the box in the side, clicking the RSS button, or going into itunes and searching for 'Oxford Kirtan'.


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Saturday 30 June 2012

Podcast 004 - Meru Sings Govinda Jaya

Our intrepid Meru leads us in this 2009 recording of Govinda Jaya Jaya.

It is twenty minutes long, with just enough time to get into the meditative mood Meru always creates.

Meru has left Oxford and now lives in her native Sweden, and we live to see her again and chant with her in an Oxford Kirtan.

Govinda Jaya Jaya is a very popular bhajan throughout India. It'salways good to have this simple mantra in your back pocket if you run into a kirtan session, or in the back of your head on any day of the week.

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Sunday 27 May 2012

Podcast 003 - Chakrini sings Radhe Govinda


Chakrini in Oxford
Chakrini, a well known kirtan leader, singer, and musician - described as a fresh beautiful voice of kirtan and yoga, visited us in 2011.

Chakrini spent her youth in Vrindavan, and in ashrams around the world where she studied bhajan and kirtan.


Download her latest album at: Chakrini: Songs of the Soul



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Podcast 002 - Tulasi Harrison leads Kirtan

Tulasi in Oxford, 2009

A Krishna kirtan led by Tulasi Harrison, recorded in 2009, Oxford.

Tulasi, a midwife from London, has just become engaged to Namarasa, from the USA. Both joined us last year to lead kirtan and we will podcast their kirtans from that session shortly. In the meanwhile we offer every good wish and blessing for their future together.


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Friday 18 May 2012

Podcast 001 - Oxford Kirtans are Podcasting


Meru in Oxford, 2007
Well Folks,

We are podcasting our kirtans again after many years of web-silence.

Our first post is this lovely rendition of the mantra, "Om Namo Bhagavate", sung by the inspiration behind our Oxford kirtans, Meru Devi, recorded in 2007.

Our recordings are not professional, so please excuse any deficency in quality. Our aim is to please and any help you can offer to improve the sound quality, recording or editing would be greatly appreciated.

You can subscribe to the podcast by signing up in the box on the right, and we will add a few new files each month, which can be downloaded directly to your phone, media player, or computer. You will also be able to subscribe from itunes, or by adding this url to your podcasting service: http://feeds.feedburner.com/oxfordkirtan




Wednesday 8 February 2012

Thursday 12 January 2012

New Year Kirtan


A Happy New Year to everyone! May your heart be filled with the glorious sound of kirtan in 2012!

We have had to make a change of plan this month, as there is a big kirtan event going on near London on 15th January and many of our chanters will be attending it. So, we have changed the date to the following week, Sunday 22nd January and hope this doesn't inconvenience you.

The kirtan leader for our January session will be Kishor Robinson, who was with us in November,(see previous post) and is a very talented musician and chanter. We hope to see you then!

If you're interested in attending the 'Big Kirtan', this weekend the details are as follows:

Venue: Bhakitvedanta Manor - Directions Here

Time: Sunday, January 15th, 10 am - 1 pm

Kirtaniya: Madhava das


Based in Switzerland. Madhava das travels extensively throughout the world with his band Gaura Prema, enlivening chanters with his skillful and devotional kirtan. He fuses his Mauritian roots with the influences of India to produce a unique and attractive style of kirtan




November Kirtan

Photos of our very special November kirtan, with Kishor Robinson, his wife Dunya and friends. (Courtesy of Nimish Desai)