Ananda

Ananda are a group of male singers and musicians from Great Britain and Ireland who have been arranging the beautiful and haunting melodies of Sri Chinmoy's music for guitar, harmonium, bouzouki, tablas, flute, keyboard, percussion and voice for over 15 years. All the songs have a deeply meditative quality and they try to express this quality whilst performing.

Ananda have performed around the world, their recent travels taking them to Portugal, France and the USA. Other notable venues they have performed at include the Louvre in Paris and the Kunstlerhaus in Vienna. Across the UK, they have performed in venues the length and breadth of the country, ranging from Bristol and Lincoln Cathedrals to Glasgow Mela to Rydal Cave in the Lake District.

Ananda began in 1995 when a group of musicians came together to perform in free meditation classes offered by the Sri Chinmoy Centre throughout the UK. Many people find listening to true spiritual music one of the best ways to meditate. "In fact, it was people coming to these classes that encouraged us to produce our CDs." says group member Suswara Payne. "All our concerts are performed free of charge. We feel that our performances are part of our own spiritual practice as well as offering something to the audience."

Related links

• Ananda's website
• Ananda albums at Radio Sri Chinmoy.