An afternoon of ClassicFM Radio

Stunning Sankarabharanam, bar a few anya swarams. 

Bach - Sheep may graze safely

Ronald Binge - Elizabethan Serenade

Roger Whittaker - performing the Elizabethan Serenade

Beethoven and Daniel Barenboim

Just listened to a stunning piano concert by a Daniel Barenboim playing Beethoven's sonatas. I am very amazed how even one such long piece with the correct fingering, tempo and its complex melodies can be committed to memory. This artiste seems to be able to do so much.

What an achievement in one lifetime.

First steps in western classical music

.. is not learning the scales, like in Carnatic music. On a piano with 88 keys ranging 7 octaves, it is getting the fingering correct and understanding its written language. 

Each key on the piano is assigned a letter of the alphabet from A to G and is represented by a symbol depending on whether you play with the right hand or left hand. As an aside, perhaps the hand signifies the pitch? This note must be played by the assigned finger. And this time, there are no keyboard shortcuts. The process goes:

• Read symbol.
• Read time signature
• Know whether left or right hand
• Figure out what letter of the note
• See the time signature - how long to play the note
• Play it using correct finger on the correct hand

So far, the beginners' lessons have been a set of tiny songs, which are the rough equivalent of geethams -  not all devotional - a piece from Beethoven's Ode to joy, Mary's boy child, Streets of London, Love me tender, Annie's song, Scarlet ribbons are some of the favourites so far. They all sound very Sankarabharanam. The very first exercise, however is to locate the middle C where both the thumbs can stake claim.

There is an element of puzzlement that turns to joy during lessons. Puzzlement that results in not knowing what tune to expect while reading the notation consisting of symbols with lovely names like  time signatures on the stave, the bar, the clefs, the semibreve, the crotchet, the quaver. Joy, as the clumsy fingers fumble for the notes and disharmonious notes get slowly smoothed out, in discovering a beautiful tune unravel. Joy, knowing that musical literacy opens up a whole new world.

With much gratitude to lovely teacher Karen Nightingale and my online guru Andrew Furmanczyk.

Carnatic Musicians on the Web

The inertia of finding carnatic music on the net continues. Carnaticmusicians seems to be a site with an undiluted fascination for vidwan N. Vijay Siva's music and have catalogued musical milestones in his life since his childhood.

Promising blog.

Finding Sangeetham.com and serendipity

I have loved Sangeetham.com and continue to miss it on the web, inspite of the fact that there are so many carnatic music websites. There were features to look forward to - several scholarly articles, lively and intelligent discussion forums, rAga explanations, bAni appreciation, lyrics and meaning for the trimUrti's kritis, season analyses and its lighter moments..for those who remember.

But happily, I realise that I can go back the Internet's archives to savour Sangeetham all over again. Very coincidentally, as I think of DK Pattamal's music, I come across this article by a very articulate Sriram V in conversation with the musician during the Sangeetham.com days. Overwhelmed.

Listening to Carnatic music on the Web

Carnaticmusicvideos is a fairly new website showcasing a selection of mostly contemporary musicians. While the videos are of good quality, I wonder why people would not want to rely on good old youtube and pick from an unlimited selection of music, sangeethapriya. or even stream from musicindiaonline.

I wonder what the USP of carnaticmusicvideos is?

Carnatic International

It felt nice inside when I came across this write-up on the BBC about Patrick Ngcobo, a South African who came down passionate about South India's classical music and learnt music from Yesudas. [article]

As a child growing up in Calicut, I remember being amazed along with many friends, neighbours and elders, by a musician called Isabella Clinquart (I forget the spelling, I was very little) who performed an hour long carnatic music concert at the annual Tyagaraja Aradhana. Wonder what became of her.

John Higgins has to be one of the most well known and most loved of all non-Indian musicians who learnt and performed carnatic music with so much commitment. (He was born in Masachussets, US, and not in England like I had earlier thought.) I still try and close my eyes when I listen to him. The accent is hardly discernable.

Remarkable people.

Bharatiyar on Velavan

Some songs are timeless. Subrahmanya Bharati's villinai otta puruvamazhai tannai vElavA is one such for me. It is easy to listen to MSS's version of it over and over. Despite having learnt it, I am still trying to identify the name of the rAgam.

It appears to have the ArOhaNam and avarOhaNam of a kAkaLi niSAdam version of suDhaDhanyAsi along with chatuSruti dhaivatam in its avarOhaNam.

[Listen]

North of the Vindhyas

For any Hindustani music technicality on rAgas, rAginis and thAts, I now refer to Swarganga and Sangeeth Research Academy.

Haiku: Carnatic Music Season

My colleague Liz conducted a haiku workshop last year and these were the ones I came up with her encouragement.

rAgam tANdavam

Extremely captivating. It seems like a kAkaLi niSAdam counterpart of valaci (sa ga pa dha ni sa). Not sure if I am missing a ri. Heard it for the first time in a Sanjay Subrahmanyan kacheri. Composition by Dandapani Desikar

[Listen ]

Mridangam playing two year old

Amazing child. Watch here.

Looking For Jyotsna Mallipedi

Jyotsna, remember me? Vani Vilas Road and Gandhi Bazaar? I heard this very beautiful song that a good friend of mine gave me. Thought of you immediately and am very sure you would like it. If you ever see this please contact me! I have been listening to this song all day for the last few days now. And I have lost your number and email.

Shyamala Dandakam

I had almost forgotton how beautiful it is to listen to music. The raw husky voice of Pattammal helps put away thoughts of a less than pleasant day at work battling a bunch of strange and foolish people.

Elevation.

[text and translation]

Rama Navami

in the High School Grounds in Makkalkootta. I will miss it this year. Am listening to Bhadrachala Ramadas kritis from Balamuralikrishna.

Respectfully

Yesterday was my music teacher's death anniversary. Can't believe it is a year already. When she passed away last year, I was somewhere in the UK, oblivious to the event. Miss her. She'd be happy to know that I am finally getting married. Although she would not be too pleased at my lack of practice. She knew though, how much I listen to concerts and admired her voice and repertoire.

I used to go to her home every evening after office, sometimes by auto, sometimes walking, sometimes on my scooter. She'd notice I'm tired and hungry - so give me something to eat or drink and then start. She was the one that taught me how to play on the tambura. And I used the tambura every time. She badly wanted me to pass the AIR audition. I didn't, but I enjoyed every bit of preparing for it. Improved me as a singer. She wanted me to give the Carnatic music exam. I didn't appear for it.

She knew a whole lot of rare kritis. Composed by her mama Mayuram Vishwanatha Sastry. Kanthamam, Jayati jayati, Sri Mahaganapate some of the ones I learnt from her. She always spoke of her own mother in proud endearing tones, how she used to boldly give lectures and strong performances. Rukmini teacher herself had a powerful voice that could travel in the deeper and higher octaves with equal ease and her face would show no strain whatsoever. At times, she used to send me on errands to her doctor and ask to prescribe medicines. On a side note, I remember that the doctor never took any money from me. I made three visits to him. He was a homeopath.

I have attended one of her concerts in the Gayana Samaj and a listened to a few of them over the radio. She was brilliant. I need to go and collect the recordings from her family. And may be a picture of hers too. I wish I had had the time to learn all the rare compositions from her. Feel very terrible that she succumbed to disease. I think that the carnatic music world lost some of her mama's compositions, which only she knew. Pity I could not inherit all of that knowledge. Anyway, I feel lucky to have known her and learnt music from her.

Ghazal after a long time

I learnt a ghazal last night. Kitni Raahat Hai - Shamim Jaipuri's lyrics. Sung by Mohammed Rafi. Learning and singing has left me feeling extremely fulfilled. I wish I could identify that raagam. It sounds like valachi sa ga pa da ni sa. An occasional pratimadhyamam. The presence of another swaram is a bit elusive. Giving a vivaadi effect. Not sure. It is the sort of ghazal that might play on the radio in the middle of afternoon or late night when activity slows, drowsiness envelopes and the wind silent. And I am at rest with eyes closed, receiving the gentle melody.

Reason for listening to Sahana

Maha windy. Can't leave the office. Sand, paper, grubby bottles and other categories of junk flying around. Breathe and find the sand going into my system. Apprehensive of tree falling on head while walking home or uncontrolled two wheeler colliding with self. Chances are that Ashok won't be entirely pleased with that.

So I came back up and am now listening to TNS' Vasudeva Namo Namasthe (c0mposed by Subbaramayya). He has started it with krishnAya vasudevAya devaki nandanAyaCa. The play list that I have includes a whole lot of other kritis in Sahana, Sri vAtapi gaNapati, vandanamu , mAnamu kAvalanu (Muthiah)

Hamirkalyani

There is this song from Amma Kili koodu. I love this song. I like the choice of raagam for this song. I like the mood it creates for me. I feel back at home. May be in school. May be with my mother. Or may be with my paatu teacher. I like the bits. I like how the tune is undulating. Especially in the stanzas, more than in the chorus. I think Suseela's mature voice is so good for this song. It makes patterns in my ear ! I like the ''jeevita veethhiyil'' verse two. So many instruments, good effects, very peaceful.

Here is the link to the song.

Induction

Currently trying to induct my co-cubicle-inhabitants into carnatic music. Found a willing disciple in Rajeshvaran. Based on some vague instinct, I suggested Sethilapathy. He seems to enjoy it. Sapto is impervious to my entreaties. And Vibha has vanished from her seat.