The number 56 seems to have captured the imagination of many these days. Whether it is to do with someone's chest size or it is to do with another taking a sabbatical, 56 seems to be the magic number rolled out. But several decades ago, the same number was associated with a vocalist through an unfortunate incident in her life.



Jankibai "Chhappanchhurivali" (1880-1934) of Allahabad was one of the most prominent singers to have been recorded in the early years of the gramophone industry. She captivated audiences through her concerts and her gramophone recordings. She recorded several discs that contained a large variety of song-forms. Apparently, she was called "Chhappanchhurivali", because she had received 56 stab wounds.



Raga Sohni







To begin with, here is a bandish ki thumri in raag Sohni. Set to teentaal, a time-cycle of 16 matras or time units, the words of the composition are studded onto the matras, a hallmark of a bandish ki thumri.



Chaiti







The next piece is a chaiti, a seasonal song-form sung during the month of Chaitra.



Lachkati Aawe







Here is a dadra, a song-form allied to the thumri, but with a quicker pace and more verses. As is often the case with dadras, the singer interperses the piece with couplets that are not strictly bound to the rhythm. The composition is set to Kaherva, an eight matra taal. Listeners will note a brief section of taans or quick melodic phrases sung in aakaar or with the vowel "aa".



Aey Butto Emandari Uth Gai







Jankibai sings a ghazal on the last track. Based on raag Gara, the ghazal is set to the Kaherva taal.



