Customer Reviews

A.R. Rahman: Between Heaven and Earth

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This CD will appeal to anyone who loves the music of China, India, Turkey, Western orchestral arrangements, and original musical phrases expressed on traditional instruments. The erhu (Chinese violin), duduk (Armenian styled recorder), and taiko drums crescendo and decrescendo to create peak emotional interludes throughout the CD. I can only say, at last I found the music of A. R. Rahman!!! Having fallen in love with this CD - I very badly want to view the Chinese film, "Warriors of Heaven and Earth" for which the music was originally created.

Review of contents: track #1, "The Golden Era" begins with a delicate flute introduction which grows into a full blown expressive orchestral interlude, occasionally allowing the flute the most prominent status. It is done with a pleasing refinement. "Warriors in Peace" track #2, has sensual feminine vocals sung in Hindi, which enhance the intense appeal of the song. The melody is lyrical, the words are poetic.

Most highly captivating is track #15 which is an English translation of track #2, "Warriors in Peace". Some lyrics follow,
"Call me when you need a friend,
when you need a friend,
As the mountains crumble to the sea,
Trouble always finds a way to keep you away from me.
Look at me through my mother's eyes ...
See who I am ...
Forever free."

"Lord An's Empire' (#3) has intense drum beats that follow the sound of "AH" which occurs in a wave-like rhythmic chant that reminds me of ancient shamanic traditions. I feel my ancestral roots calling, the Hungarian shamans are whispering to me ... Track #4, "Water" begins with the mellow timber of the duduk, that is enchanting, lonely, personal,and haunting. "Horses" (#5)includes the taiko drums that cresendo and decrescendo, as if preparing for battle. It is energizing and dramatic.

"Mountains" (#6) begins with a higly evocative erhu intro (Chinese violin). It is accompanied by strong taiko drums that awaken the senses. Next are the transitional musical phrases of the orchestra. Again, the rare lone 'voice' of the erhu enters only to be overcome by the intense taiko drum-beat, seems to be a call to battle. Next, one hears Tibetan monks doing their guttural sounds ... chanting for peace, knowing full well that men are preparing for war. "Blue Light" #10, has a soulful soothing flute intro which grows into an orchestral crescendo/decrescendo ocassionally broken up by an unexpected interlude, the sounds of a lonely duduk and the clanging of cow bells. The effect is stunning ...

My sincere thanks to A.R. Rahman, the Czech Film Orchestra and Choir, Sadhana Sargam (Hindi vocals, "Warriors in Peace"), other vocalists and musical soloists -- for this magnificent creation of epic proportions. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Although I am a native American who grew up in Texas on Lightin' Hopkins and Ray Charles, with a diverse taste in music from Mozart to Bill Evans to Emmy Lou Harris, I now listen primarily to A.R. Rahman - and frankly have just about lost interst in any other music.

Rahman is the genius of melody and subtle percussion. His music has evolved out of India, but it also comes from what must be his personal enormous heart-felt love for all of life, humanity and God. His grasp of the eternal and the transcendental in melody will bring tears to your eyes and long lost feelings into your heart.

Rahman is a superstar composer worldwide, loved by literally millions, and appreciated by great musicians in every country all over the planet. I'm delighted SONY has released this, because not only is it breathtaking, magical music that draws you into far away exotic realms, but it is commercially accessible to us as westerners and perhaps it will introduce many more to the Genius of the Heart - A.R. Rahman.

I can't say enough good things about his music. Look him up on the internet - there are dozens of websites devoted to him, his music, and his remarkable life. A modern day Orpheus, India's Mozart - Awesome!

His music always sent chills down the spine. I feel sad for people who cant understand his music. Here is one rare gem of India. He is the Kohinoor of India. I have listened to this cd like a zillion times. Some people dont understand the genius of this music. All of the compositions are the same melody. Different variations, differnt tempos, different rhythms, different intruments but all of the 15 or so are the same melody. Unbelievable.
The lyrics to the song Warriors in Peace is very deep in Urdu/Hindi. I have tried to translate it below. Hope you guys enjoy it.

There is a calling in silence
(The world is) a marketplace of sighs
A lonely heart is a pity (as in a heart should never be lonely)
Come to me on this side. (as in the side of peace)

(This paragraph is focused on the night after a day long battle when the warriors are resting)

The dusk is setting in on the deserts.
The day has sunk into peace.
A pleasant breeze I dedicate unto thee. (to the warriors)
Rest thy sabers. (as in for ever)

(This paragraph focuses on the world ravaged by wars)

The world is a garden and
Do not color this garden with blood.
Whatever had to happen has happened. (as in atrocities)
Time itself is a healer.
let go of the bitter memories,
that drown lives in tears.

(this paragraph is in hope for the future)

The sun will rise again tomorrow.
Life will go on
Foster the world of aspirations.
For you are not alone; I am with you.
For I see you through the eyes of my heart Oh my companion
Every moment.

Call out to me
Anytime you need a friend
Like the mountain walks into the sea (referring to the lonliness of the mountains and the seas)
In the same manner we shall share our lonliness.
There is ease in tough times.
There is escape in difficulties.
Go beyond all these.

You have lost your dear ones.
you have shed many a tear.
You have to give your courage a destiny.
For you are not alone; I am with you.
For I see you through the eyes of my heart Oh my companion
Every moment.

Here the thing I like aboutt his song is that the lyrics and music both are in perfect harmony with each other. the music compliments the lyrics of Mehboob sahib. And nobody can do justice to lyrics in India beyond Rahman.

I don't remember how I even found this CD. I had never heard of A.R. Rahman but after sampling the music and reading the reviews I decided to buy it. What a revelation! The music is truly a timeless blend of eastern and western. It is at the same time powerful, sensual, deep, primitive, modern and melodic. Rahman blends primitive-sounding drums with lush orchestration and Indian and Chinese instruments. This is one CD of which I do not tire, even after I've had it on "repeat" in my CD player while I'm doing other things. Highly recommended.

I noticed Rahmans name in the initial credits of the movie and I grew curious.

Having grown up in India, I always had the deepest respect for Rahman. This, however, is out of the world! Shorn of cheesy Bollywood film lyrics, his music rises to the highest levels. Beautiful amalgamation of eastern and western instruments.

And it perfectly matches the ambience of the movie.

What can you expect from a genius? A matchless performance! Hence, when the music wizard of India, A R Rahman, who is indeed a master of instrumentals, delivers and album that is chiefly instrumental-oriented, you just have to listen to it and get mesmerized by the power of his music. To the best of my knowledge, this album is not available in India (surprisingly), hence, when I saw it on Amazon, i ordered it without a second thought. Listening to this tunes have been a great experience, especially the 'warriors of peace' and 'dacoit duel'. A must have for not only a Rahman fan, but also for anyone who likes instrumentals.

I got the international version of 'Warriors Of Heaven & Earth' but I wanted this CD so much
yet I bought it for my satisfaction.

Dacoit Duel is really one fantastic track.
Love it alot.
Great job ARR.

We bought this after purchasing another CD of music by A. R. Rahman since it sounded interesting. We were right it was an interesting CD and the blending of different styles of music really worked well. I look forward to other CDs by A. R. Rahman

Purchaed this CD and am very pleased. The music is beautiful, soothing, uplifting and highly recommended. This was my first A.R. Rahman cd and have purchased others by him, but this one ranks as the best in my book. Some of it is just instrumentals and others have singing. All beautiful asian language pieces are very good. Can't go wrong, The Czech Symphony performed flawlessly.

P. Trueax
Washington, DC 04/12/09