National Anthem of Bangladesh in Peril

Tutu Saadullah , tutusaad@gmail.com If someone carefully searches internet to listen, or to download our National Anthem, he will be surprised to find that there are many variations of it, not conforming to the correct melody. The US Navy military band version of Amar Sonar Bangla melody-line from their archive is outrageous.
http://www.navyband.navy.mil/Anthems/ANTHEMS/Bangladesh.mp3

Correcting the Incorrect After 40 years of independence it is imperative to correct our National Anthem which has been incorrectly transcribed in staff notation from very beginning in 1972. It is difficult to precisely track when and how it happened. With more accessibility in the facility of uploading music in the internet it has alarmingly plagiarised our national anthem. Many sites have already published the vocal version as if the only Standard Approved Anthem of Bangladesh. It is advisable that government take urgent step so that an official version of both vocal and instrumental are published through internationally reputed publisher to stop this unauthorised spreading of our National Anthem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zVjbVPFeo2o This site has all the anthem of the world both vocal and instrumental. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQX8_sMcdz0&feature=related This sing along site has Govt Official Shapla Seal in video.

Looking back 40 years It was in 1972, BBC World Service made the first recording with Conductor Geoffrey Brand of City of London Military Brass Band. The orchestral arrangement was done by David Cox, the then music producer and with the BBC World Service, which he based on the Staff Notation transcribed earlier by V. Balsara, which again was based on vocal rendition by Ms. Shuchitra Mitra for HMV records in 1952. Sadly the instrument arrangement made by Cox and Balsara are no longer available. As a reference one can look-up the appendix of Swarabitan vol 46, the Bangla solfege done by Sri Shantidev Ghosh copied directly from Shuchitra Mitras song to look for its prescribed roots. BBC World Service Far East Director Mark Dodd also in charge of Bengali service decided to do a proper National Anthem recording as a goodwill gesture for the newly independent country. Tripti Das also from Bengali service got the staff notation from Valsara, only then the project could start. There was no one available at that time who could transcribe Bangla Swaralipi into staff notation. The BBC recording was sent to Bangladesh. But the National Anthem Committee headed by Late Samar Das did not approve of it. Subsequently Dodd reluctantly agreed (on request from BBC Bengali staffs) to arrange for his travel to London. After certain modification on the score Samar Das consented. Repeated portions were omitted, certain note values and pitch were changed arbitrarily. (Late Abdul Ahad , Tagore Exponent , has similar observation in one of his writings.) This re-recorded version was handed over by Mark Dodd to Syed Abdus Sultan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh , in a function in 1973 in BBC Bush House London. This was subsequently approved as official version by the govt. It was in magnetic spool tape format. No Sheet Music (staff notional) was supplied. (Ek Jibon Ek Itihash by S. Rahman , BBC Bengali Service. Page 177-78 & photo album)

It is assumed that the Third Editor of authoritative volume 'National Anthems of the World', Late Dr Thomas Marshall Cartledge (1915-1993) the renowned British composer and conductor, might have collected a copy from BBC. Individual Brass Instrument Sheet Music copy was sent to me by Michael Jamieson Bristow , current editor of National Anthem of the World volume, on my special request. This is what we hear being played as the MIDI and MP3 instrumental version world over. (Individual Instrument Score Available with me, sent by M.J. Bristow from Hungary where he lives now)

The draft sheet music with piano arrangement which was printed in Bangladesh and available with the Government, has the name of Late Samar Das as the Supervisor in the printed sheet. The PDF copy of the page from the original volume 'National Anthems of the World' sent by Mr. Bristow , as the final version of the (draft edited for) print where Dr. Cartledge name appears as piano arranger, but not as a transcribe , and it has no reference to Mr Samar Das. There are no records that transcription to staff was done from Bangla Solfege ( Swaralipi). ( Ref : Mr Bristow in correspondence) At that time pianist Mr. Das was the only person with any knowledge on staff notation in Bangladesh. Present State - Last 10 Years International Olympic Committee (IOC) commissioned Mr Peter Breiner to rearrange all the National Anthem of the world for Athens Olympic 2004. And later Commonwealth Conference Melbourne 2006. These are available in CD & DVD and from Music Library of Naxos Group. Mr. Breiner took the arrangement of Dr. Cartledge and with slight modified arrangement recorded Amar Sonar Bangla with Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.www.naxosmusiclibrary.com As mentioned earlier that there is no definitive version of Bangladesh National Anthem. Mainly two versions of Brass Band arrangements are available, the older one of Dr. Cartledge, and more recent of Mr Peter Bristow from Naxos. One can hardly differentiate those two in its rendition.
http://www.nationalanthemsnow.com/ http://www.nationalanthems.info/bd.htm http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570126-27

Conflict in Bangladesh In Bangladesh there are also two schools of thought on how & in what order the anthem should be sung. One where Chirodin Tomar Akash is repeated twice. ( As done by Shuchitra Mitra , and as per the swaralipi approved by Vishwabharati ). The other one follows the instrumental orchestral version(MIDI) and as adapted by Dr. Cartledge (arrangement for piano) without the repeat. Most alarming is these two versions are now being taught with no agreed coordination in different educational institutions. A Must Do-s Now To get our National Anthem in a one correct definitive form, a national consensus is needed .

It is desired that what one correct melody should be approved by leading musical personalities of Bangladesh based on vocal rendition. This should be scribed in Akarmatrik Swaralipi as per Vishwabharati Guidelines with all possible micro-tones and ornamentations ( Alangkars like meend etc) Then this should be transcribed in Staff Notation either in strings or in non-fretted instruments. The Staff Notation music should be played on instruments strictly following the score with ornaments, grace notes etc. and compare it with vocal singing. This staff notation transcription should be as close to the human voice rendition. This should be kept in mind that Tagore composed the melody inspired by Gagan Harkara of Baul folk song Ami kothaye pabo tare. Accordingly rhythmic style should have elements of Folk included in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZvc73nQCk Listen to first 1 min 50 seconds only.

Recommendations Now This approved melody (by Bangladesh Govt) should be the basis of any orchestration for symphony, band, ensemble, chamber music, choir, strings, duet or any other arrangements. Contact should be made with international music publishing company, organisation, and find suitable arranger / composer of polyphonic form to re-arrange and record a totally new version of Bangladesh National Anthem and make these available worldwide.

There should be a simpler version without micro-tonal ornamentation with maximum of 1/32th whole tone fragmentation. This arrangement should be the one, played on orchestral band for live state ceremonial occasions. (Reason for this simplification is because musicians in the military band members are not that proficient in playing ornamentations, grace notes etc.) A shorter version for ceremonial state dinner functions should also be composed preferably in string quartet. Keeping in mind that (3/4 triple-meter waltz) slow march can also be performed in military parade. Conclusion Bangladesh Shilpokala Academy can be entrusted with forming a committee comprising of leading experts and exponents with Tagore music, people competent with both Bengali Akarmatric Swaralipi and Western Staff Notation, leading vocalist and instrument player capable of reading and composing notations, head of Music Institutions like Music College, Chayanaut, Dhaka University Music department, and with intellectuals in these fields. Academy can get a general consensus from these experts and finalise a definitive form on the accepted melody and its structure. Get the notation finalised both in Bangla and Western script with an accurate rendition with audio recording in vocal and in non-fretted instrument. This should be approved by the government as the basic melody. One positive thing is we now have competent musicians in the country capable of doing this task as per international standard. I know few individuals have already done some homework regarding this. Their contribution can be reviewed and if need be such people can also be included in the team.

I personally have assurances from internationally renowned National Anthem arranger and publishers willing to help in getting this done. As mentioned earlier keeping the flavour of Baul style various musical orchestrations should be done. This again should be put for general consensus with the experts and we will hopefully have one standard Anthem. It is time that our much needed national pride be resurrected with its full glory.

Ref : Introduction to people mentioned above. V. Balsara http://www.indiamusicinfo.com/articles/balsara.html BBC Music Producer : David Cox http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-david-cox-1265281.html Geoffrey Brand http://www.justselect.co.uk/travelsphereband/personnel_past.htm Mark Dodd http://www.richardsonmedia.co.uk/Bushlog_newsroom_25.htm Peter Breiner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Breiner Editors of 'National Anthems of the World' Dr Cartledge, and Mr Bristow http://www.national-anthems.org/editors.htm , http://www.national-anthems.org/world.htm. Naxos Group of Companies http://www.naxos.com/