Each of the six compositions in RITU : SEASON captures an aspect of the human - divine relationship in the context of one of six seasons. The glorious, perpetual symmetry between the sun and the earth's seasons is an apt metaphor in the physical world, as well as a perennial source of inspiration to the celebrated flautist/composer who revels in its symbolism representing the pristine link between God and his multi-hued creations. 

RITU : SEASON exemplifies Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao's artistic vision of music as a means to achieve self-realization, and, ultimately, a liberating oneness with such an all encompassing entity.

1. BASANT : SPRING

Featuring the voices of  Smt. Sarla Bhide & Smt. Rajashree Pathak

Here comes Spring 
My friends, celebrate 
Men and women, celebrate in unison, together 

O birds of fluttering wings 
Bees hovering over flowers 
Tell me when my beloved will come back 

My beloved, my god, my friend, the immortal Sai 
When will I see Him? 
My Spring is here 

The time to meet has come, my love 
I yearn to give You my body, my belongings, my mind, my soul 
To fly from this life to another
  
When You went away 
I felt You in my heart’s sanctum 
You, my love, and my life were one 

Now wherever my eyes fall 
I see Your true form – formless; 
Blended in the beauty of my yard 

Now whenever I wish to see You 
My eyes fill with the colors of Spring 
You are the spirit of this season 

Birds, jumping from a tree to another, sing 
Of memories laden with the forest’s scents, 
Of a naive woman in love with the formless                                                                                                        

Flowers of every hue bloom in her honor 

2.  GRISHAM : SUMMER

Featuring the voice of Pt. Raja Kale

My heart longs for You 
My only love 

This summer, of which I am fond 
Has made it harder 

It puts me in two minds 
I grow impatient 

I wish I could share with it 
My longing for You 

I don’t know how 
The long days of summer will pass 

How will I be able to survive the season 
Without a glimpse of You 

Without the feeling of being beside You 
Without the blessedness 

My heart beats fast and wild 
Without the canopy of faith 

Bereft of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshmana and Devi Sita 
My heart runs wild with no basis in this summer 

3.  VARSHA : MONSOON

Featuring the voice of Pt. Uday Bhawalkar

Laden with pent emotions 
Of long, lost love 

The heavy-hearted clouds 
Are letting go 

If their feelings could speak 
The words would be sad, full of resonance 

I feel no different 
As this monsoon arrives 

Pearls cast in ages gone by 
The raindrops still shine, like immortal love 
  
Bolts of lightning dazzle 
Like loneliness that has found a voice, at last 

My friend, my heart pines 
For my love who has still not come to be with me 

4.  SHARAD : AUTUMN

Featuring the voice of Smt. Meenakshi Mukherjee

Ah, this autumnal weather. 
My heart wants You,  
My lord, my friend, my love 
I wish to dance with You 

My mind is aflutter 
With thoughts of merriment 
Of unencumbered joy 
Wishful of Your companionship 

How do I make You understand? 

The full moon’s light  
Only of this autumn’s night 
Has enticed one and all 
They dance to their mind’s content 

Why has my love  
Not made His presence felt 
Why does my heart 
Wait for its love 

What have I done to deserve this impatience? 
  
O Mohan, the lord of affection 
You sow the seed of anger in me 
With every passing moment of emptiness 
I feel unlike myself evermore 

It is unlike my feelings for You 
This urge to shed tears of separation 
Heed my affection for what it truly is 
Come back to me, to my home 

Will this fanciful autumn recede before I know it? 

5.  PATJHAD : FALL

Featuring  the voices of Smt. Sarla Bhide & Smt. Rajashree Pathak

My friends, the fall is here 
Drops of gold 
Fall off barren trees 

Wasted feeling 

O my sister of far away 
I shed cold tears 
Of longing 

Woebegone yearning 

I resent this urge 
To question my love 
To find meaning in 

Unending loneliness 

I have lost my mind 
In irretrievable pieces 
Wishing to befriend 

The ephemeral 

My eyes flood with tears 
Sins of seasons gone by 
Only He can restore me 

This fall season 

6.  SHISHIR : WINTER

Featuring the voice of Smt. Asha Khadilkar 

In this dark night 
Of winter 

My mind dreams 
Of a gently rocking swing 

With You my love and I 

Alas, the swing is empty 
My dream deserts me 

I still see the swing rock 
Bereft of rhythm 

Seeking a soul in my heart’s futile beating 

If only my words reached You 
Past my fear 

If only You could hear me 
Forgiving my ignorance, my pride 

My heart would bloom despite this winter 

Come back, my love 
From what travails keep You 

The world can wait 
Time’s march won’t miss a night 

To keep my dream this winter

 

PT. VIJAY RAGHAV RAO - RITU : SEASON 
Suite For Classical Voice & Orchestral Ensemble 

VOICES 
Smt. Sarla Bhide & Smt. Rajashree Pathak 
Shri Raja Kale 
Shri Uday Bhawalkar 
Smt. Meenakshi Mukherjee 
Smt. Asha Khadilkar 

ORCHESTRAL ENSEMBLE 
Pt. Kartick Kumar, Ut. Shamim Ahmad, Pt. Brij Narayan, Pt. P.G. Parab,  
Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Pt. Girdhar Prasad Jaipurwale, Pt. Janardhan Abhyankar,  
Pt. D.K. Datar, Pt. Datta Thakar, Pt. Anna Joshi, Pt. Ganapat Rao,  
Pt. Vijay Indurkar, Pt. Ashok Bhoi, Pt. Kamal Ganguli, Pt. Rijhram Deshadh,  
Pt. Balabhau Yarkunthwar 

Recorded at the studios of Polygram Music in Bombay, India 

Digital restoring, mastering and post-production at the Red & Green Company, Springfield, VA, USA 

Season poems by Steve Elchuri - loosely based on original lyrics in Hindi and Bhojpuri

Special thanks to Smt. Lakshmi V. Rao  

Panditji dedicates this album to classical vocalists everywhere 

Sound Executive Dr. Vijay Elchuri   Executive Producer Sanjay Kumar 

© 2016 by Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao & Family 

From The Red & Green Company