I have been 'soaking' in music for the last two weeks.No, I am not complaining; The hindu friday review music festival has filled up every available free time on weekdays and weekends. The minute it was notified i wanted to go for those concerts; never checked up what they were, but i knew i wanted to be there.They were not the usual format we find during december season and hence the novelty for me.
The first concert was by a German orchestra playing pure classical mozart.The magic of Mozart got me hooked and I was there with Shyamala to experience an unique western music ensemble.The music was melodious, with two violins, one viola and one cello what else can you expect. But we were trying hard to understand and appreciate that kind of music. As soon as we had bought a cd player i had gone and bought a mozart and a beethoven; i have been listening to them off and on, more to get into the genre of classical music than real appreciation of the same.
Synchronisation and utmost concentration were the key to the whole show.
The next day was a pop/jazz/fusion music by a rock band called 'Indian Ocean'.They are a group of youngsters from Delhi who play the guitar, drums, tabla and also sing.I had neither heard about them or heard them; but i was there with full eager anticipation to see how the evening shapes up. Kumar was with me and he was a tad less eager but more 'duty bound'!The music was fantastic; they had slokas, sufi music, kabir dohas, syrian christian armenian song bits,kargil siva thandavam, narmada and what her future connotes and also buddha's dilemma.You can get a fair idea what this fusion is all about; the group had strong views on religion, philosophy, ecology and preservation of environment, peace and not war and their passion was coming out very strongly. They had ideas, talent and passion to put across what they wanted to. And it was enjoyable music.At the end of the show, i was left wondering if only such passion is exhibited by all of us in our work or personal lives, our lives will be more enjoyable and meaningful.I was clapping and tapping my feet and swaying throughout the show.
Next show was a fairly traditional one with balamuralikrishna. It was shyamala's choice as she is a fan of balamurali, singing effortlessly in three octaves!I had my reservations as he is prone to more gimmickry than pure music during live performances.This show was also a jugalbandi with ajoy chatterjee.As it turned out, it was more like a 'othu oodardu' in nadaswaram. It was a typical balamurali show with the second singer playing glowing tributes to him and touching his feet reverentially.It transpired that he is training under balamuralikrishna for the last few years.But then the full scale rendering of a jugalbandi was missing and it looked like a three legged race; or you can say ajoy was like a square peg in a square hole of carnatic music. He never came on his own except in the last piece where he sang a full throated bengali sangeet.
The thillana was the best piece and shyamala felt 'paisa vassool' and I felt somewhat mollified.
The last of the concerts i attended was yesterday and it was also the last concert of the festival.Athai came with me and enjoyed it thoroughly.It was Ravi kiran on chitra veena(renamed as such; no more gottu vadyam) and vishwa mohan Bhatt on mohan veena(he has modified a traditional veena to suit his style!)and umayaloyran on mridangam and mishra on the tabla.The group was a team in the true sense of the word; each one was given ample opportunity to lead, share and show his prowess; and lead they did and enthralled us with their brand and unique playing skills.There was one piece where the 'tani avartanam' was first and the musical piece followed suit!Started off with 'vaatapi' and then keeravani in ragam tanam pallavi was enjoyable.
Now a word about these two veenas; i am seeing them for the first time; chitra veena is much smaller than a regular veena and kept squat on the floor in front of the musician.it appeared more like an electric guitar to me; the deep resonant music also resembled an electric guitar more than a veena; but the artist draws deep gamakas and carnatic neravals from this instrument with ease; that is their expertise.He has a small piece of metal which he runs over the strings; no, they do not have any ridges like a veena; more like a violin.Mohana veena is similar but has more strings which has a much wider range especially in the higher octaves.It does have a small resonator .The stylus is actually a piece of metal "stolen" from his vespa scooter, Mr Bhatt said.
The show had humour and comraderie which was palpable;it had artists who dared to innovate from their basic 'tool' their musical instrument.It had musicians from two corners of the country, exchanging musical notes through email!It had a senior artiste who has accompanied the likes of ariyakudi ramanujam ayyangar, accompanying a young artist two generations later.It had a very junior tabla player, who obviously loved being there and his fingers danced over the tabla that it was a fascinating spectacle.
Did miss music solo by a pakistani ghazal singer and an orchestra by a well known band and an abang concert.But i had really witnessed an international classical concert, a pan Indian jazz concert, a fusion concert of vocal and instrument.Saw human creativity at its finest and experienced fully music being a balm for the soul.
Had an opportunity to witness these concerts from various corners of the Music Academy; from the first row with mrs ygp and N ram and N Murali of the hindu; the very last row; and also on the left and right side of the balcony from the middle rows.I can say the acoustics is good and for music concerts, music academy is the best!
Now for a break before the december festival season and its madness..
'Seviku paattu illada podu....
Labels: November music festival
posted by vasukumar @ 1:29 AM
0 Comments
