Vk,
I also had only western classical in mind. Talking of Sivamani, I had the good fortune of watching him and Prasanna (guitarist) practise together about 10 years back. Prasanna being in the more classical mould, had prepared some notations for the new composition. I distinctly remember Sivamani telling Prasanna that he doesn't understand all these notations. In a recent interview on television, he did say he takes tips and lessons from from our mridangam maestros.
Appreciating other forms of music
-
chalanata
- Posts: 603
- Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 15:55
vk,
TR Mahalingam sang in his speaking voice; thiagaraja baghavathar sang in his speaking voice. i do not know about MDR. as age withers the voice is comfortable in lower octaves; accordingly cm vidwans adjust their sruti. the contrary happens in other forms. michel jackson underwent an operation for adjusting his voice to the higher octaves of singing. this is precisely what i meant. probably the terminologies which i usa are incorrect.
TR Mahalingam sang in his speaking voice; thiagaraja baghavathar sang in his speaking voice. i do not know about MDR. as age withers the voice is comfortable in lower octaves; accordingly cm vidwans adjust their sruti. the contrary happens in other forms. michel jackson underwent an operation for adjusting his voice to the higher octaves of singing. this is precisely what i meant. probably the terminologies which i usa are incorrect.
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Haven't really heard Sivamani so can't comment - there was an interesting conversation between him and KRM sometime back in the Hindu's Metro Plus where he did mention his interest in "kanakkus"...anyway, that apart, I doubt if a drum-kit could ever match the subtlety of mridangam but I am of course very biased
Sripathi - thanks! I do vividly remember his toying with Thodi before launching into that fabulous alaapana
Sripathi - thanks! I do vividly remember his toying with Thodi before launching into that fabulous alaapana
-
Nick H
- Posts: 9472
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Sivamani is a great showman, and very much worth seeing. But I rate him as a musician as well, even if not classically trained. I've seen him play with mridangists and other classical percussion artists and even met him a couple of times. (Hey! I'm forgetting, I even got to play with him at a mutual friend's wedding where he turned up to play for them as a surprise.)
I think he'd be the last to claim technical knowledge, but he can hold his own on stage splendidly. For instance, I'd rate him far higher than the younger Zakir Hussein brother who likes to mess around with drum kit on stage but with nothing like Sivamani's musicianship.
Praise for one... Criticism of another... Not trying to start a competition here...
No; a drum kit couldn't match the subtlety of a mridangam, but Sivamani's 'kit' comprises not only an international collection of drums, but almost anything that can be used as an instrument.
And I suspect that Sivamani gets 'hints from mridangists' because they respect what he able to do.
I think he'd be the last to claim technical knowledge, but he can hold his own on stage splendidly. For instance, I'd rate him far higher than the younger Zakir Hussein brother who likes to mess around with drum kit on stage but with nothing like Sivamani's musicianship.
Praise for one... Criticism of another... Not trying to start a competition here...
No; a drum kit couldn't match the subtlety of a mridangam, but Sivamani's 'kit' comprises not only an international collection of drums, but almost anything that can be used as an instrument.
And I suspect that Sivamani gets 'hints from mridangists' because they respect what he able to do.