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A Village of One: India

by Paula Jeanine Bennett

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1.
I Am Clay 02:06
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I am water Main paani hoon मैं पानी हूँ I am Earth Mein prithvee hoon मैं पृथ्वी हूँ I am clay Mein mitthee hoon मैं मिट्ठी हूँ Earth, clay in motion Prithvi aur mitthee milé jo, पृथ्वी और मिट्ठी मिले जो Made by nature Prakriti se banaya hoon प्रकृति से बनाया हूँ I am part of it Ek ang hoon main inka एक अंग हूँ इनका The essence of it Saar hoon mein jinka सार हूँ मैं जिनका And I know Har svas se yeh janoo हर स्वास से यह जानू I am clay Mein mitthee hoon मैं मिट्ठी हूँ Constant change Ulatein, palatein उलटें पलटें Then a return, often to fire Phir jaayein vaapas aag mein फिर जाएँ वापस आग में Earth, clay in motion Prithvi aur mitthee milé jo पृथ्वी और मिट्ठी मिले जो Made by nature Prakriti se banaya hoon प्रकृति से बनाया हूँ I am not of this Mein iska nahin hoon में इसका नहीं हूँ I am not of that Main uska nahin hoon में उसका नहीं हूँ This is who I am Jo hoon mein vahin hoon जो हूँ मैं वही हूँ Made by nature Prakriti se banaya hoon प्रकृति से बनाया हूँ In nature’s hand Kudrat ke haathon mein कुदरत के हाथों में I am clay but I stand alone Mitthee hoon, lekin akela khada hoon मिट्ठी हूँ लेकिन अकेला खड़ा हूँ
2.
In It But Not Of It 03:28
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She is in it but not of it Woh jisme hein, par uska nahin वह जिसमे हैं पर उसका नहीं Awake, apart, alive Jaaga, alag aur akela जागा अलग और अकेला She is a shadow Ek ekaant maya एक एकांत माया Awake, apart, alive Jaaga, ala gaur akela जागा अलग और अकेला She is here Voh hein yahaan वह हैं यहां But not here Lekin hein nahin लेकिन हैं नहीं She is here Voh hein yahaan वह हैं यहां Awake, apart, alive Jaaga, ala gaur akela जागा अलग और अकेला
3.
Happened Again 00:47
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Happened again Yeh phir se hua यह फिर से हुआ I’ve had enough of it Bahut ho chuka बहुत हो चूका There she is Khada hain voh vahan खड़ा हैं वहां Again, again, again Baar, baar, baar बार बार बार Again & again, like Baar baar, jaise बार बार जैसे A village of one Ek akela gaanv एक अकेला गाँव
4.
The World Inside 03:04
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CHORUS Some say mother, some say daughter Kehte hain maa hoon, ya hoon beti कहते हैं माँ हूँ या हूँ बेटी Sister, wife, neighbor Bahan, patnee, padosee बहन पत्नी पड़ोसी But who am I Par main hoon kaun पर मैं हूँ कौन What is the word for the world inside Kaise kahoon yeh andar ki duniya कैसे कहूँ यह अंदर की दुनिया Listener, healer Sahāyika, adhyāpika सहायिका अध्यापिका The one who can make it right Jo karain sabki accha जो करें सबकी अच्छा But who am I Par main hoon kaun पर मैं हूँ कौन What is the word for the world inside Kaise kahoon yeh andar ki duniya कैसे कहूँ यह अंदर की दुनिया VERSE Folding a well-worn piece of cloth Purané kapdon ko sambhaloon पुराने कपड़ों को सम्भालूं Walking the road at dusk Har shaam yahi raaste pé chaloon हर शाम यही रास्ते पर चलूँ I’ve folded this shirt so many times Isi kameez ko teh karoon इसी कमीज़ को तेह करून So many times, so many times Kitné baar, kitné baar कितने बार कितने बार Walking the road I know so well Jaané sadak par chalta rahoon जाने सड़क पर चलता रहूँ Stirring this pot of rice Ubalta chaaval hilta rahoon उबलता चावल हिलता रहूँ I’ve held this spoon so many times Yeh chamach main padakoon यह चमच मैं पकड़ूँ So many times, so many times Kitné baar, kitné baar कितने बार कितने बार CHORUS
5.
A Village of One 03:35
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Within this house I have made a world A village of one I define myself by myself Backlit by the world A Village of One, Ek Akela Gaanv Within this house I have closed a door A village of one Build a wall around, locked it sound courtyard gated tight A Village of One, Ek Akela Gaanv I am the lone heart, separate, complete Only I can tend this flame Within this house I have made a world A village of one, Ek Akela Gaanv
6.
I Surrendered 02:12
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I didn’t ask to love Main pyar nahin maanga मैं प्यार नहीं माँगा I just loved Bas pyar karta raha बस प्यार करता रहा When he said love Woh jab pyar sunaaya वह जब प्यार सुनाया I surrendered Mainé haar mana मैंने हार माना This world Yeh duniya यह दुनिया This life without the gentle Kattinayi ki yeh jeevan कठिनाई की यह जीवन He offered a dream Woh jab khvaab dikhaya वह जब ख्वाब दिखाया I surrendered Mainé haar mana मैंने हार माना His music, a caress Uska sur, laad jaisa उसका सुर लाड़ जैसा The sound, an invitation Uksa aavaaz ek bulaava उसका आवाज़ एक बुलावा To love, to life Prem se bhara jeevan प्रेम से भरा जीवन I surrendered Mainé haar mana मैंने हार माना I didn’t ask to love Main pyar nahin manga मैं प्यार नहीं माँगा I just loved Bas pyar karta raha बस प्यार करता रहा When you said love Thoo jab pyar sunaaya तू जब प्यार सुनाया I surrendered Mainé haar mana मैंने हार माना
7.
One Small Step 02:10
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One small step Ek chota kadam एक छोटा कदम Then one more step Phir ek kadam फिर एक कदम Take a small step Le lo ek kadam ले लो एक कदम In Unity Hamaare saath हमारे साथ The mind and the heart Téré mun aur dil mein तेरे मन और दिल में Courage and light Saahas ki deepak[alok] साहस की दीपक[आलोक] Take a breath, my friend Saans lo, méré saathi सांस लो मेरे साथी With all of us Hamaare saath हमारे साथ
8.
Like Jasmine 02:25
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CHORUS: Like the many petals of jasmine Chamélee ke patthi jaise चमेली की पत्ती जैसे We join at the core Ham bandhe hue hain हम बंधे हुए हैं Draw strength from the center Andar se taakat अंदर से ताकत Unite at the source Ek jaise judé hué एक जैसे जुड़े हुए VERSE 1: It starts with a step Ek kadam se shuroo एक कदम से शुरू It starts with a surge Ek aavesh se aarambh एक आवेश से आरम्भ It starts with a dawn Subah main jo jaagé सुबह में जो जागे Brought up from the earth Dharti se ubharé धरती से उभरे CHORUS VERSE 2 It starts with a need Tamanna se shuroo तमन्ना से शुरू It starts with a cry Phir ek chillahat फिर एक चिल्लाहट It starts with a new thought Yeh naveen vichaar यह नवीन विचार Brought up to the sky Asmaan main udhaya आसमान से उड़ाया CHORUS CODA: Jasmine around us Chamélee har taraf चमेली हर तरफ

about

A VILLAGE OF ONE is a folk opera with lyrics, melody and stage realization by Paula Jeanine Bennett. These recordings are demos made in preparation for Ms. Jeanine's setting of the work in India in 2019. They are sung in Hindi and English. Translations by Sanjay Cherubala.
A VILLAGE OF ONE (Hindi title "EK AKELA GAANV") has been created to be easily adapted for a variety of locations and cultures. Originally premiered in Java, Indonesia in 2012 for the Ceramic Music Festival at the Jatiwangi Art Factory, it has also been set in Morocco as well as with various communities in New York City.

SYNOPSIS:
A woman stands apart from the crowd and revels in her isolation. Feeling more at ease in the world of nature than that of humans, she feels akin to water, earth and clay. In her home and in her heart she has created a village of one. The community struggles with her choice to be apart, and struggle with their own definition of self. Deep in the night her house is discovered by a demon and a fight ensues. In the tumult of battle, the demon runs off, knocking a young woman and infant to the ground. The moment of truth arrives. Does the main character help or turn away? She goes to assist, holds the infant, however tentatively, realizing that change starts with one small step. A crowd gathers around her and welcomes her into the community.
They dance.

PAULA JEANINE BENNETT
Born in the heartland of the USA (Cleveland, Ohio), Brooklyn-based vocalist/percussionist/composer/lyricist
Paula Jeanine Bennett is an American original with a global focus. Her long and luminous association with Indian music began in 2001 when she was invited to participate in the elite Jazz India Vocal Institute program in Mumbai. She has returned to India many times and participated in a variety of festivals and concerts, notably those at the NCPA, the Capital Jazz Festival in Mumbai as well as as a 6-city tour of western India sponsored by the American Center. Paula has adapted numerous ghazals and thumris and has composed new material reflecting her deep love for the pure voice exemplified in North Indian classical traditions as evinced on her release on India’s Mystica Records, “Melody Sky” (with guitarist Lee Boice).
Whether lecturing on creativity at the Arts Summit Indonesia, providing the sonic pulse for the “Tavola Del Silenzio” in Assisi, Italy and Lincoln Center, presenting poetry and song at the American Language Centers throughout Morocco or singing jazz in a millionaires’ night club in Cairo, Paula Jeanine Bennett brings creativity and joy to her work. Current projects include her folk opera, "A Village Of One" and "Kloub Nssa (Heart Of Women), a cross-cultural music initiative with the Haddarattes Women's Sufi ensemble.
Ms. Bennett is on the staff of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. She lives on the Brooklyn waterfront and can see the Statue of Liberty from her rooftop.
www.paulajeaninebennett.com

credits

released December 9, 2018

Vocals and Percussion: Paula Jeanine Bennett
Keyboards: Richard X Bennett

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