Global Carnatic Music Association

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 28 Nov 2007, 10:40

A new association for Carnatic musicians has been formed.

See http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/28/stories ... 580200.htm and http://www.chennaionline.com/music/Even ... icle30.asp

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 28 Nov 2007, 17:12

And I was always under the impression that Musicians were a bit Like Economists , who were once described by somebody famous, as :

Even if you were to lay all economists of the world in a line - end to end - they would still be pointing in all directions !!!

On a serious note I feel this is a welcome development ,in the context of empowering artistes who may not have the means to sustain themselves in the initial stages (especially when there are so many alternative careers calling).
Wishing Shashikiran and Co ,the best of Luck !

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 28 Nov 2007, 17:30

I believe there was a similar association (or as it was called, a union) that was formed some years back but it came apart eventually. Let us see how this one fares.

Musicians can certainly benefit from coming together but artist communities generally tend to be fractious and CM is no different. However younger artists appear to be less political than the previous generation - YACM being a case in point. Indeed YACM deserves to be remembered as one of the turning points in CM history.

It would be good if that spirit can be carried forward given that many of the leading artists today were instrumental in the development of YACM as well.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 28 Nov 2007, 22:41

A capital idea! But then let them be disabused of the idea that Chennai is the centre of the CM universe!

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 28 Nov 2007, 23:25

This is a good move for carnatic musicians to organize as a group to preserve/fight for their rights and privelages. However, I hope that it does NOT become a banayan tree that provides shade but will NOT allow anything to GROW under its shade ! I am reminded of references to Pandit Nehru as a towering Indian leader, like a banyan tree, that allows nothing to grow under its shade ! Unlike Nehru, this CM group should support and encourage upcoming artists who lack exposure for various reasons, instead of ONLY protecting the rights and priveleges of well established artists as Sudha, Aruna and Unnikrishnan.

jukebox · Post by **jukebox** » 29 Nov 2007, 03:25

well said, sundararajan. with big names like sudha and aruna, the association may well become an organization that protects only their rights and privileges. it is also hard to believe that an organization comprising so many stars (and their egos) could work in harmony. but one can hope...

vijay, as for yacm, i have heard that several of the leading vidwans of today used it as a ladder for self-promotion and threw it away after a certain point. today's yacm members don't appear to be that savvy or active either. or perhaps, i am mistaken.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 29 Nov 2007, 09:13

True music is beyond the pale of professional musicians. They are more like Eucalyptus trees which grow tall, drawing all the ground nutrients and yet without deep roots to sustain their growth. The analogy of personilities like Gandhi - similar to the 'so called' Trinity of CM - is not appropriate because they are like yuga purushas who inspire millions and the contemporaries only look at them with awe and are too puny to come up to their standards. Even Nehru looked at Gandhi with awe.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Dec 2007, 09:07

VGV: I did not use the analogy of Gandhi . I only used the oft quoted analogy of Nehru not training or encouraging any one else to succeed him in governing the nation. Gandhi and Nehru were entirely two different personalities. The former was a moral giant while the latter turned out to be a benovelent dictaor ! This is not the forum to discuss this topic !