Why India's Langa Musicians Have A High Reputation
SAZ, a folk music trio from Rajasthan, thrill audience at free New York Lincoln Center concert
July 13, 2024
Last evening, SAZ, a folk music trio from Rajasthan, India, enchanted a crowd of roughly 150 at New York’s Lincoln Center.
SAZ, who are from the Langa community, sang songs in Marwari, one of the languages spoken in Rajasthan. Some of them were renderings of songs which are over 150 years old, including on water, which is scarce in the desert regions of the state; and Laal Vardi, a subtle song of protest against the then British rulers, where a woman tells her man that he was welcome back if he got rid of his English fashion, the British army uniform. They also sang their own compositions, including on the mix of anger and love between a husband and wife and unexpressed love.
SAZ stands for Sadik Khan, on dholak, a double-headed drum; singer Asin Khan on Sindhi sarangi, a string instrument unique to the Langas, played with a bow and strummed with cuticles; and singer Zakir Khan playing khartal, a small wooden clapper percussion instrument, holding one in each hand.
(Photo: Sadik, Asin and Zakir of SAZ Lincoln Center, July 12, 2024. © Global Indian Times.)
SAZ is performing again, a sunrise concert tomorrow (July 14) morning at 5 am, said Jordana Leigh of the Lincoln Center. This performance is also free as part of the center’s community outreach program. The center was built in the 1950’s and 1960’s, as part of a re-development plan, after the demolition of low-income housing occupied by 7,000 families.
(Photo: Sumitra Das Goswami, right, Lincoln Center, July 12, 2024. ©Global Indian Times.)
Last night, SAZ was joined by folk singer Sumitra Das Goswami, also from Rajasthan. The daughter of a musician, this was her first international performance in ten years. She has sung with musicians from around the world, including the British rock band Mumford & Sons.
(Photo: Vikku Vinayakram, third from right. July 12, 2024. ©Global Indian Times.)
Also performing last evening were three generations of Carnatic musicians, led by grandfather T.H. (Vikku) Vinayakram. A master of the Ghatam, an ancient percussion instrument made out of a claypot, he was on Mickey Hart’s team which won a Grammy in 1991. His son Selvaganesh Vinayakram, who joined him on percussion today, is part of Shakti, whose This Moment won a Grammy this year for Best Global Music Album.
SAZ, Sumitra and Vinayakram’s perfomances at the Lincoln Center are presented in collaboration with Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) and Mehrangarh Museum Trust.
(Photo: SAZ’s Asin Khan with Sindhi sarangi. ©Global Indian Times.)
SAZ’s Asin Khan composes folk songs that draw on the works of Muslim and Hindu poets, including Kabir and Mirabai. He also teaches music and works as a community activist. In 2022, he was a recipient of the Aga Khan music award.
The Aga Khan Development Network is funding the production of SAZ’s first record, which will be available in 2025, said Divya Bhatia, director of Jodhpur RIFF and producer of the record.
The Langas’ are a Muslim community of folk musicians in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Two of SAZ’s members got their visas to perform in the U.S. - the trio’s first visit to the country - only after lobbying by Lincoln Center officials. SAZ members also face caste discrimination. Recently, an elite hotel in India asked SAZ members to enter via the service entrance instead of the main door, they told Vogue India.
Traditionally, every Langa family is assigned to a patron and orally maintain the paton family’s genealogical records for generations. This record keeping, and singing at the patron’s social events, is their main source of livelihood with the patrons paying them in cash, grains and at times gold.
The Langas play at weddings, religious festivals, social gatherings, funeral wakes, and other events. A major star is Mame Khan, whose music videos have gotten millions of views on YouTube. He blends Langa music with rock music, including guitarists and organ players. Some of the Langas’ have gotten global attention. SAZ, for instance, has played in China, France, Italy, Ireland, and other countries and also collaborated with jazz and blues musicians.
Last night, as a finale of their performances, SAZ, Sumitra and Vinayakram joined in for a couple of songs.
The concert, originally to be held in a much larger outdoor space, was moved indoors due to rain. It was live-streamed; here is the recording on YouTube.