Customer Reviews

Flow of Grace

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4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

There's something special about the Hanuman Chalisa. Maybe the way it seems to flow, unbroken reminding us that every part of life is joined to every other; maybe the sweet sound of ancient words. It never grows old. Even so, I wondered whether I needed *six* more versions, plus a repeat of the previously recorded "Ring Song."

I needn't have worried. This CD has leapt to the top of my commuting favorites, and I expect it will stay there permanently. The arrangements are sweet and varied and full of energy.

Sri Ram Chalisa is sung call as call and (sri Ram jai Ram) response - a boon to those of us who like to sing along but haven't mastered all the words <g>.

Hallelujah Chalisa has a beautiful traditional flowing (when does he breathe?) arrangement.

Good Ole Chalisa is KD's traditional Chalisa tune, sung in a heart-warming choral style.

Nina Chalisa is a lilting, faintly medieval, all-female chorus.

Mountain Chalisa is another sweet, more traditional arrangement.

Bernie's Chalisa - my favorite - is a slightly slower, sweet, uplifting choral arrangement with phrasing that seems to make it easier to memorize the words (I'm six lines in <g>).

The Ring Song is a great new arrangement of the charming story of Hanuman finding the kidnapped Mother Sita, given a slightly less "rock and role" treatment than the one recorded on "Pilgrim Heart," but still lots of fun.

The second CD has two spoken versions of the Chalisa for those of us who aspire eventually to learn the words - one a slow complete recitation, the other - even slower -has each line repeated twice. My only small complaints are (a) I would have liked a slow version set to music, which makes memorization easier and (b) Driving would be safer if each line (or pair of lines) had been recorded as a separate track. That would have saved a lot of trouble searching through the disc while practicing.

Music, inspiration, an (optional) "workshop" in chant, and bliss all packaged into one CD. Krishna Das has truly offered us a masterpiece of grace.

This CD is truly amazing! No one can sing the Hanuman Chalesa like Krishna Das. Every variation of this song is beautiful and the additional CD of pronunciation is incredibly helpful for those of us who would like to learn how to sing along with Krishna Das' incredible voice. Every time I play this CD during one of my yoga classes, I have students asking for the name of the CD at the end of class. This CD moves me to my soul every time I listen to it. Even my five-year old tells me that listening to his CD "makes his heart happy". This is a must-have CD!

I am born to devotee parents and raised in a spiritual background in a small Indian town where I have heard Hanuman Chalisa from so many different people who speak native Hindi. But this is a true piece of art by someone whose original accent is English.

The way Krishna Das has sung Hanuman Chalisa in this album is so amazing that I must say I have never heard one so good before.

Mahesh Mali

The CD KD has been destined to make since he found Maharaji! Great audio quality, terrific liner notes and SIX versions of the Chelisa plus "Where'd You Get That Ring?". And a great pronunciation guide that I've been wanting for years. Jai krishna Das!

I literally cried tears and even choked up at the soaring arrangement and inspiring backing vocals of the opening track of this collection of Hanuman Chalisa rendtions. It is one from the heart and it just penetrated me like a laser. The refrain "Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" just stopped all my mental noise and focused my senses on the glory and majesty of that Shiva and Vishnu interplay of the Ramayana of which the Hanuman Chalisa is a key part! All tracks on this CD are very dignified, uplifting and the disc is a contemporary spiritual *masterpiece*. It is full of purity and sincerity, and very lovingly transmits the power of Lord Hanuman to listening hears while meltingly opening one's heart.

It's hearty, it's sweet, it's reverent, it's tightly and perfectly executed, it has good sonics. No, one does not need that for devotion. But one whose devotion is already set can only appreciate the new way of expressing that. This supports our journeys through the modern, heartless world. These renditions of the Hanuman Chalisa are lovely, simply put. Someone willing to put this much thought and work into an Indian classic deserves to be praised and supported, for the lush treatment is a statement of the love and inspiration from the heart.

"Yearning" - that's the word that really fits this CD. I have noticed this is a rare quality seldom conveyed by recording artists, of any nationality, when they record mantras and chants, et al from the Indian subcontinent.

I have to point out that the musical accompaniment is quite expressive without overpowering the vocals. The harmonium is used extensively and so is the violin. You will love the arrangement. I prefer tracks 1, 4, and 7, personally. The others are mellower. There are selections here that remind me of ballads, anthems, campfire songs, "unplugged" performances, and chorale. They are ALL worthwhile. I really love the fact that the recordings are actual, single takes, with the kirtan singers sitting on the floor, in traditional style.

Like another reviewer, I also grew up listening to and participating in family/friends gatherings centered around bhajans and kirtans. This CD reminds me of the ecstatic state of mind I would experience when attending bhajans as a teen. I liked it the first time I heard it on the Krishna Das web site, and I ordered 2 CDs right away from Amazon. I will also order the book+CD package.

I take exception to the "Gringo accent" comment by one displeased reviewer. The western voice and backing vocals only add to the depth and dimension of this classic!! Reviewer Morani praises a CD of chants by Agni Deva for its ecstasy, yet sneers at the same experience for those who disagree with his(her?) tastes. A truly reverent devotee would not denigrate an individual because of their accent, and would welcome the multitudinous appreciation of the ancient chants. Reverence in all its forms is welcome on the Indian mosaic, regardless of the personal disapproval of a few. To me the use of the term "Gringo" in this context applied to the artist is a pejorative, and does not belong in a substantive review of a musical work, even if you don't like the finished product.

From Krishna Das' web site I learned that he served as a temple priest in Rishikesh for his guru Neem Karoli Baba. I think he's well qualified and vetted to record the Hanuman Chalisa. If you can't get past the accent, then I will argue that you are not focusing enough on your own appreciation of the musical ecstasy of kirtan. Accents vary in India from region to region, too, so any criticism of Krishna Das' accent is wrong. Getting back to this CD, I think his accent is very easy to understand and fully and carefully enunciated, with a deep innocence combined with exuberant joy.

Indians of a certain age may recall the stirrings of their heart when listening to the Indian national anthem at the movies in India. Why does not a representation of the glorious legend of Hanuman deserve equally stirring musical treatment? Why is it OK for Gregorian chants to be given big audio production values and not Indian poems and chants? Is that objection not a form of discriminating against our own traditions?

If Krishna Das' treatment is a little too rich thereby overpowering to the senses, then yes I could understand it if that was the intent of the criticism. Even lots of chum-chum and barfi (really sweet Indian desserts) can be difficult to eat after you've already enjoyed a few. Of course some people can never have enough.

Finally, if my very traditional Indian mother likes this CD, then that ought to be good enough for anybody! Indians going for the Moon and westerners expressing their musical love for the Hanuman Chalisa? Indians anglicizing their names after moving to the West, and western devotees taking on Hindu names? Bring it on! Global village here we come...

I bought this for a friend and they sent two by mistake. I ended up keeping the extra one. My first KD CD was One track heart, which, honestly, I didn't like except for the first track. years later I gave him another try after seeing him in person and bought pilgram heart, which I played over and over. surprisingly, I like this CD even better. some of these tracks are amazingly beautiful. the alternative version of the ring song is better, I think, than the one on PH. If you like chanting, BUY this one.

I am thrilled to have this CD not only to have a way to practice and learn the Hanuman Chalisa, but to have this powerful energy for whenever I need it. I love making dinner with it going in the background. I love having the CD cover sitting on the living room table to inspire me. Hanuman is such a champion and thanks to Krishna Das and the gang of singers, he is alive and well in my life!

Krishna Das has a nack for giving us inspiring music with devotional chant and this offering is another fantastic venture into music, meditation and full self expression. Love it! Highly recommend it!

Very good songs. I listen to good ole chalisa the most. I am memorizing the mantra. Better than thinking all the fictional nonsense in my head. Trying to cut down mental chatter.

I am new to the world of Eastern music and spirituality and was advised by a friend to check out this release. Good advice. The CD is a mix of various Indian chanting and musical styles. Even heard some electric guitar well mixed on a couple of tracks. With the partial exception of one track, the CD's songs are not in English, which is just fine. I found the English lyrics in that one song actually distracting from "hearing" the song. For those interested in learning one of the chants, there is an accompanying second CD with a chant from the first CD. Krishna Das speaks the lyrics with no musical accompaniment, first quite slowly on the first track and then more moderately paced on the following track.

Flow Of Grace can be listened to any time of the day. It is worth the cost and is still worth listening to after my umpteenth time.