By S. Sankaranarayanan in Sruti (1998) | Excerpts that remain relevant today: Observations on the teaching of music at the Rotterdam Conservatory, Holland: Along with theory and history of music, the students [at the Rotterdam Conservatory] also acquire knowledge of ancillary aspects such as voice modulation and the reading and writing of notation. However, weightage …
Category archives: Transmission
A music for all: How Carnatic music unites and keeps spreading
by Ludwig Pesch Carnatic music – the classical music of South India – unites people from a variety of social backgrounds. Over two hundred fifty million people now inhabit a region that comprises five modern states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana) drawn up on the basis of their respective linguistic majorities. They take pride …
Continue reading “A music for all: How Carnatic music unites and keeps spreading”
Flow | The right tempo or “kalapramanam”
If there is a single feature of Carnatic music to account for its mesmerizing effect on listeners it may well be a feature known as kalapramanam: practicing rhythm (laya) ((‘”The sense of rhythm gives us a feeling of freedom, luxury, and expanse. It gives us a feeling of achievement in molding or creating. It gives …
Flow | Colourful and creative “when life is attuned to a single tune” – Mahatma Gandhi
An exercise for raga Kuntalavarali (YouTube) >> The above exercise is inspired by eminent Carnatic flautist Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar rendering Bhogindra Sayinam (Kuntalavarali, Khanda capu) by Svati Tirunal Excerpt © HMV Marga 1996 cassette recording South Indian conventions (raga names & svara notation): karnATik.com | Guide >> raagam: kuntalavarALiAa: S M1 P D2 N2 D2 S | Av: S N2 D2 …
A music that connects amidst multiple crises: “Joyful subtle insights”
The most rewarding task for teachers and performers may well be to convey Tyagaraja’s last message to his disciples and the world, one that may liberate us by letting go of artificially separatist views of culture, creed and nature as well (given the multiple crises humankind is faced with on a daily basis): Paramātma is brightly shining …
Continue reading “A music that connects amidst multiple crises: “Joyful subtle insights””