\chapter*{Acknowledgments}
\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{Acknowledgments}
\markboth{The Rādhāvallabha Songbook}{Acknowledgments}

This book is dedicated primarily to the musicians of the
R\=adh\=avallabha Samprad\=aya for their unswerving devotion and
diligence in maintaining the living tradition of
Sam\=aj-G\=ayan. Ignoring the distractions of worldliness and fame,
the devotees of R\=adh\=avallabha are to be admired for their
steadfastness. I would like to thank first of all Pandit Rajendra
Prasad Sharma and his group of Sam\=aj musicians in Vrindaban,
including \'Sr{\=\i} Kunj Bihari Das.  Heartfelt thanks are offered to
the trustees of the \'Sr{\=\i} R\=adh\=avallabha Temple, the Choti
Sarkar temple complex, and the \'Sr{\=\i} Satsanga Bh\=umi ("Hita
Ashram," directed by \'Sr{\=\i} Hitdas Maharaj Ji), for allowing me to
tape record extensively throughout the 1992-1993 season, as well as
previously in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980.  These institutions have
provided the bulk of the recorded material as well as the inspiration
to bring this project to completion.  Financial support for the
extensive research conducted in 1992-1993 was provided by the Council
for the International Exchange of Scholars (C.I.E.S.) in the form of a
Fulbright Research Grant, and by the American Institute of Indian
Studies (A.I.I.S.) in the form of a Senior Research Fellowship.

The work of collecting recordings and translations, beside being a
labor of love for me, required countless hours of listening, sorting
out song selections, scouring the Hindi literature for the precise
texts, consulting with authorities in Braj Bhasha language and
literature, and working alongside recording engineers in order to pull
all of this material together.  My thanks and admiration are accorded
to the translators who dedicated themselves to this project,
especially to \'Sr{\=\i} Hari Shankar Mathur who did the majority of
the translating work; Prof. Chandrakala Pandey for her help in
translating poems in Calcutta, and Rupert Snell, Charles S. J. White,
Heidi R. M. Pauwels, and Robert MacGregor for their previously
published translations.  I will thank both Jason Smith and William
Kelley of the LSU School of Music Recording Studio for their roles in
the CD production: Jason Smith for his patient work on the transfer
from cassette to CD, and William Kelley for his fine mastering work
leading to the final eighteen CDs.  Financially, the final product
would not have been possible without the continuing support of the LSU
Foundation (Urmila and Gopal Singhal Fund) in the recording and
publishing phases.  Special thanks go to Prof. John Whittaker of the
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies for overseeing the
Singhal Fund and assisting in various ways.

I would like to thank the members of the staff of the Sri Vrindaban
Shodh Samsthan (Vrindaban Research Institute), Vrindaban, (U.P.) for
their hospitality and helpful assistance with their facilities,
archives and personal guidance in the study of Braj musical
traditions. Especially, I remember the kind aid of Dr. Naresh Bansal
in Braj Vaishnavism, Śrī Vrindaban Bihari Goswami in Braj Bhasha
language and literature, Śrī Gopal Ghosh in local Braj religious
traditions, and Śrī Punit Goswami for his pleasant companionship
during visits to Agra.

Thanks to Dr. Neal Delmonico and the Blazing Sapphire Press for
accepting this project in its complete form, along with the eighteen
CDs; a daunting challenge for any publisher.  Thanks as well to
Dr. Elizabeth Delmonico for her work in editing the volume.

This project is the result of the contributions of many individuals.
My ardent desire is that it be acceptable to the members of the
R\=adh\=avallabha Samprad\=aya.  However, if there are any errors in
content or interpretation, I take full responsibility and, if such is
the case, I apologize and pray for forgiveness at the lotus feet of
\'Sr{\=\i} Hita Hariva\d{m}\'sa and \'Sr{\=\i} \'Sr{\=\i}
R\=adh\=avallabhaj{\=\i}.
\bigskip

\noindent Jaya \'Sr{\=\i} Hita Hariva\d{m}\'sa!\\
\'Sr{\=\i} \'Sr{\=\i} Radhavallabha k{\=\i} Jaya!

\noindent Guy L. Beck\\
New Orleans, January, 2009
