Ravikiran: All's well in Carnatic Music - TOI

[Rsachi]

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Arti ... 2015006002

[kvchellappa]

More balanced and non-political views.

[arasi]

A timely voicing about what is already available from the year 2006, and by revisiting which, we can hope for CM to become part of the school curriculum.

While I appreciate TMK's unbound zeal for taking CM into every school, giving the children a taste of (for) it, I am apprehensive about the focus on caste--merely because, in a political climate that we know of, it can act like a spark of fire igniting and burning down a whole haystack! A repeat scenario of political maneuvers gobbling up the cause

A dream of a goal this, if nurtured with the tools we already have, and if it can be enhanced with current technological aids--it can be realized.

Ravikiran's solid approach without emotional elements (which can unintentionally end up in the political arena) is more valuable in the end...

[SrinathK]

At last, this interview brings some fresh air and positive energy focusing only on what matters - the music.

arasi wrote :
I am apprehensive about the focus on caste--merely because, in a political climate that we know of, it can act like a spark of fire igniting and burning down a whole haystack! A repeat scenario of political maneuvers gobbling up the cause

Based on Rscahi's stats, older people want to listen to the lyrical content. And the majority of us are ignorant of Telugu and Sanskrit. Having said that, plenty of Tamil songs are up for grabs. Still, there may be some validity to this -- I definitely miss something when I don't know what I'm singing or listening to and I am guilty of having appreciated CM all these years as an illiterate with virtually no real understanding of lyrics (not even the Tamil ones, alas!). So I have plans to learn a couple of extra languages in the future to compensate for this. Still it is proof that it is the melody that has dominated over lyric for me, so to a great extent, I cannot blame languages.

Nevertheless I did not like the use of the word "insular" by the interviewer. It's a sign of not understanding the depth of the art form to label it like that.

My take on criticism of CM as community oriented and "particularly insular" (as the interviewer uses this word in the interview, if you're wondering, google it and take a look at all the synonyms for the word ) is this :

Instead of blaming communities and religions, when critics will mention (and critics rarely venture to point this out) what most people ACTUALLY listen to at home, THAT is by far and above the main reason for CM's lack of mass popularity.

(Now don't call me insular and accuse me of criticizing people's music tastes, but this is a fact. Many times while I have wanted to play CM on the car stereo, I have been told not to do it too much as it isn't in everyone's taste and I should adjust to everyone's tastes. Once I played LGJ's thillana once in a car with friends not familiar with CM at all and they were hollering at me to stop the "over senti" music. It was promptly replaced by that "kaasu panam duTTu money" song... and it has been played enough times by them that I have memorized it )

[vasanthakokilam]

May be a bit off topic, but a side bar note on the lyrics. One annoying thing about screening of Tamil movies in the U.S. is they have subtitle in English. (though it is mildly helpful in understanding deep south tamil accent ). They keep it on for songs too. I normally would not have paid attention to the lyrics of movie songs, the words get drowned in the noisy background music with that 'affective' manner of singing and more significantly by what is going on the screen. The subtitles sometimes reveal that there is something interesting being sung. Then I start to pay a bit more attention to the lyrics.

I do not know if this will help for CM but it is not totally unheard of for TV to put some subtitles when they show CM programs ( though still rare ). Showing such subtitles may be helpful. Since the pallavi line carries a good punch of the overall intent of the song, showing the meaning of that alone may make a difference. Someone clued me in almost 30+ years back about the context behind Enta ninne sabari. It took less than 30 seconds to impart that and it is still with me and it enormously enhances the enjoyment of the song. We speak of bhava of music but knowing some context of the song is necessary for relating to the bhava being exhibited in a particular performance of that song.

[Rsachi]

VKM,
Yes, knowing the meaning of the song (and at an advanced level, specific references and intricacies eg Srimatrubhutam) helps in getting more of it for fhe listener. This is something Bharathanatyam and other dances' practitioners understood a while ago and song intro with import of the song and even specific explanations are de rigueur.

[rvkrishnamurthy]

My memory is not as sharp as it was. But if I remember right the ruler of Venezuela ( a dictator) ordered that all the children in the school must learn music and must be exposed to music. He wanted the entire nation to involve in music and instituted plans to achieve it as much as possible. It became a national passion and the country took to it religiously and produced some fascinating young talents, none less than Gustavo Dudamel, who went on to become the conductor of LA Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the three top orchestras in the US. He did that at a much young age than, say, Zubin Mehta. Rasikas can google more about this. My point is India can do a lot to nurture its musical tradition and talents.
Rama

[Rsachi]

Thank you Rama for that input!

[asangeetha]

f I can recollect my school days with the over importance given only to academics, I certainly feel that I have lost out on many things that I might have otherwise liked to have taken up, like music even. Its a different story that I eventually ended up doing that but I guess things have not changed much over the years as far as schooling goes. In my opinion, there are 3 things that I feel would help a child with a well rounded development: academics, sports and arts, particularly music. There are many 'burdens' that can be done away with in the school system but music is certainly not one of them.
I particularly liked this article and agree completely.

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Arti ... 2015006021