Journey to Vrindaban (2001)

Journey to Vrindaban (2001)

 

Buy the CD-MP3

By Dev Chakraverty & Robin Armstrong

The Journey to Vrindaban story is a fictitious tale of two London hippies of comfortable social status who journey to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. In this adventure Dev includes his imagined presence of the Celestial Harp. Their adventures weave a continuity between the devotional songs and chants from different parts of India leading up to their meeting with Swami Bhaktivedanta.

The publication of this CD was made possible by the generous financial assistance of Mr. [ Hare Krishna].
Krishna works in magnificent ways!  Hare Krishna!

This was the fourteenth cd recorded and published of the Celestial Harp.

The cover design by Robin Armstrong

Photos of Krishna & Swami Bhaktivedanta courtesy of BBT

Mixing and mastering by Dale Codling, Orest Tataryn and Robin Armstrong

©2001, Dev Chakraverty,  Robin Armstrong and  RA Publications, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Performers

Dev ChakravertyDev Chakraverty is a multi-faceted and world renown musician born in Calcutta.    Most of the songs on this cd  were composed or arranged by Dev. He has scripted the story line and plays or sings in seven of the songs. Dev met Swami Bhaktivedanta in the seventies in London, England. The meeting has strongly influenced the concept and development of this cd; a devotional tribute to Krishna and Swami Bhaktivedanta, Founder of ISKON, the International Society for Krishna Consiousness.

Robin ArmstrongRobin Armstrong left Montreal in mid-sixties. He met Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta in San Francisco in 1966-67 and was deeply impressed with the value of chanting to gain enlightenment. In India in 1968-69 Robin spent most of two years in solitude and darkness, chanting God’s name. He received the vision of a musical instrument that could play a persons’ horoscope; Krishna’s 72-stringed Celestial Harp. This cd, dedicated to Swami Bhaktivedanta, brings music out of silence from the feet of Krishna to the ears and hearts of his devotees.

Namita Devi SawhNamita Devi Sawh is a lover of Indian music, art and philosophy. She migrated to Canada from the beautiful island of Trinidad. Namita has a melodious and enchanting voice. She is presently furthering her studies in Indian classical music under the guidance of Dev Chakraverty.
Savitri PrasadSavitri Prasad has been singing as long as she can remember. She won several singing competitions in the early nineteen nineties, and she has been singing with Dev Chakraverty since 1993. Savitri’s beautiful voice is not easily forgotten. It stays with you.

 

Jatinder Parkash \"Jeetu\"Jatinder Parkash “Jeetu” was born in Patiaca, Punjab, India on June 27th, 1965. Jeetu is a talented musician who sings, plays the flute and the guitar. He joined the musical group Gurdas Maan in 1986 and travelled all over the world. He finally settled in the Toronto area, and is presently residing with his wife Meena and daughter Radha in Richmond Hill.

Ronnie Prentice-RoyRonnie Prentice-Roy is a vocalist and a composer. He is known for his performances in Canada and in the United States of America. He started his career as a radio singer in his native Bangladesh. He has several cassettes and CDs to his credit. In year 2000 the Ontario Arts Council awarded Ronnie a scholarship to study music in India. He now has a music school where he teaches Hindustani vocal music. Contact: raagrang_52@hotmail.com.

Satanand SawhSatanand Sawh has studied Indian classical music for years. He has studied sarangi under the guidance of Pundit Vishwanath Misra and at present is also studying tabla with Dev Chakraverty. Satanand is also a teacher with the Toronto district school board.
Ruchira SawhRuchira Sawh is an arts student of Cawthra Park Secondary School. She is pursuing studies in violin, clarinet, dance and tabla. Although she is quite young Ruchira has made many appearances on stage in Trinidad and she has also been on Canadian television. With intensity, determination and dedication on her side, Ruchira Sawh has a musical destiny ahead of her.

Praveen SawhPraveen Sawh is a promising young tabla student with a bright future ahead of him. He too is studying with Dev Chakraverty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOURNEY TO VRINDABAN,

By Dev Chakraverty & Robin Armstrong.

1:        Opening Conches:                 (0’42”)

Conches: Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp for resonance

2:       Time Brings Change:            (0’58”)

Voice: Satanand Sawh

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

3:       Echoes of Krishna:                                (1’19”)

Flute: Jeetu Parkash

Sarangi: Satanand Sawh

Violin: Ruchira Sawh

  1. London: (1’15”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Sumiran Karanay: (2’55”)   Time passes by quickly with little or nothing permanent accomplished but the chanting of God’s name will stay with you forever.

Voice, tables and triangle: Dev Chakraverty

Flute and Guitar: Jeetu Parkash

  1. Bombay: (1’10”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Voice of taxi driver: Ramesh Amin

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Krishna Krishna Gayaman: (6’16”) Krishna is everything in my life. I can’t think of anything without Him. Since I fell in love with Krishna, He is everywhere. Peace and love are everywhere. (This is an arrangement of a song originally written by Ardash Laxmanpal)

Harmonium and voice: Ronnie Prentice

Flute: Jeetu Parkash

Tablas: Dolan Sinharoy

Krishna’s Celestial Harp for resonance

  1. Drawn to Chanting: (1’33”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Kuch Horna:   (8’48”) This song is based on a love story named Heer Ranjha. The story is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet but it takes place in Punjab. A daughter is telling her mother that she wants to be like Heer and nothing else matters in her life. She pleads with her mother to help her to become like Heer. In love with love, this is her song.

Voice, flute and guitar: Jeetu Parkash

Duff (frame drum): Dev Chakraverty

  1. Mayappur: (1’51”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Gorongo: (1’30”) Gorongo is one of the reincarnations of Lord Krishna. He is saying that who ever chants his name, “Gorongo” will be his favourite.

Voice: Dev Chakraverty

Flute and guitar: Jeetu Parkash

  1. Puri: (3’07”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Hari Gunu Gao: (8’44”) In this song Krishna is saying,This world is illusion. Why do you forget to take my name? You are caught up in this world full of anger and expectation. Why do you still not chant my name? You take care of family and friends but you do not take care of Me. Chanting fills your heart with pleasure and bliss, so why are you not chanting?

Voice: Savitri Prasad

Voice: Ruchira Sawh, Praveen Sawh, Namita Sawh, Satanand Sawh and Dev Chakraverty

Harmonium: Ronnie Prentice

Flute: Jeetu Parkash

Tablas: Dev Chakraverty

Krishna’s Celestial Harp for resonance

  1. Katmandu: (1’38”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Taro Taro: (5’20”) Radha is begging Krishna not to leave Vrindaban, but to stay with her. Why are you leaving me alone? Without your voice joined with mine, how can I sing your praises? Without you I am a boat at sea without oars. Without you I am lost. Only you can take me to the shore.

Voice: Savitri Prasad

Harmonium: Ronnie Prentice

Flute: Jeetu Parkash

Tablas: Dolan Sinharoy

Krishna’s Celestial Harp for resonance

  1. Benares: (2’16”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Krishna’s Flute: (5’09”)

Flute: Jeetu Parkash

Chimes: Dev Chakraverty

  1. Vrindaban: (3’14”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Prabhupad: (0’34”)

Voices: Satnand Sawh, Namita Sawh and

Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Hare Krishna: (7’10”)

Voices: Prabhupad and devotees.

DRUM: Devotees

  1. Now Fulfilled: (1’01”)

Voices: Namita Sawh and Robin Armstrong

Krishna’s Celestial Harp: Robin Armstrong

  1. Krishna’s Theme: (2’32”)

Voices: Dev Chakraverty and Namita Sawh

Flute and guitar: Jeetu Parkash

 

An Adventure in Time and Space