My debut concert at the Music Academy
-
- Posts: 302
- Joined: 14 May 2006, 23:07
My debut concert at the Music Academy
I stood backstage, all cold and clammy
'Twas my debut concert at the Academy!
And as Vedavalli mami sang her Madhyamavathi,
I became even more jittery, even more sweaty!
Soon she was done, and it was my turn
Going up on the dias, I felt my stomach churn.
My accompanists joined me -- eager to perform,
Happy, smiling, and oh, so calm!
At the stroke of twelve, the curtains went up
To hundreds of faces looking at me -- gulp!
First on the menu was Nattakurinji varnam
I opened my mouth to sing, but my voice wouldn't come!
To all the Gods I knew, I sent a silent plea:
"This is my biggest stage to date, have mercy!
Singing in the Academy is no joke!"
And suddenly my voice came -- alas, it was a croak!
Murmurs from the audience, rose in the air
As I sat there, croaking on in despair.
The mridangist sat frozen and dazed;
The violinist, bravely, tried to look unfazed.
And then slowly, but steadily, the curtains fell
Downwards, downwards, as if by a knell.
Enough the audience had heard and seen
Of the most shameful debacle there had ever been!
And then, through my anguish, I heard a sound
Fuzzy first, then clear, as I looked around.
"Beep, Beep," it went, "Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep"
Trying to rouse me from a good night's sleep!
-------------------------------------------------
My apologies if you came here expecting to see a song list!
'Twas my debut concert at the Academy!
And as Vedavalli mami sang her Madhyamavathi,
I became even more jittery, even more sweaty!
Soon she was done, and it was my turn
Going up on the dias, I felt my stomach churn.
My accompanists joined me -- eager to perform,
Happy, smiling, and oh, so calm!
At the stroke of twelve, the curtains went up
To hundreds of faces looking at me -- gulp!
First on the menu was Nattakurinji varnam
I opened my mouth to sing, but my voice wouldn't come!
To all the Gods I knew, I sent a silent plea:
"This is my biggest stage to date, have mercy!
Singing in the Academy is no joke!"
And suddenly my voice came -- alas, it was a croak!
Murmurs from the audience, rose in the air
As I sat there, croaking on in despair.
The mridangist sat frozen and dazed;
The violinist, bravely, tried to look unfazed.
And then slowly, but steadily, the curtains fell
Downwards, downwards, as if by a knell.
Enough the audience had heard and seen
Of the most shameful debacle there had ever been!
And then, through my anguish, I heard a sound
Fuzzy first, then clear, as I looked around.
"Beep, Beep," it went, "Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep"
Trying to rouse me from a good night's sleep!
-------------------------------------------------
My apologies if you came here expecting to see a song list!
-
- Posts: 5523
- Joined: 05 Jul 2007, 18:17
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
You will do great! Don't worry so much!! Big hugs to you
-
- Posts: 302
- Joined: 14 May 2006, 23:07
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Thank you! But... I made up the Academy concert for the sake of the poem!
-
- Posts: 5523
- Joined: 05 Jul 2007, 18:17
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
I meant, in your next poem
-
- Posts: 3600
- Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nice. Your diversity of talent is amazing. May God bless you ever.
-
- Posts: 9383
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Looking forward to your actual concert!
-
- Posts: 151
- Joined: 16 Dec 2015, 11:04
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Pathetic !nivedita wrote:I stood backstage, all cold and clammy
'Twas my debut concert at the Academy!
And as Vedavalli mami sang her Madhyamavathi,
I became even more jittery, even more sweaty!
-
- Posts: 2980
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 04:44
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nivedita,
Excellent! Definitely you will get a prime slot in in MA. Bless you. Poem is good. Arasi will recgnize you Bramha Rishi soon.
Thanjavooran
09 09 2016
Excellent! Definitely you will get a prime slot in in MA. Bless you. Poem is good. Arasi will recgnize you Bramha Rishi soon.
Thanjavooran
09 09 2016
-
- Posts: 1467
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:37
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nivedita, you're certainly a girl of many gifts and an MA concert (hoping to see you giving one soon!) should definitely be of no concern...when that happens, it will pass like a dream that ends in standing ovation (no alarms to wake you up this time). Best wishes !
-
- Posts: 302
- Joined: 14 May 2006, 23:07
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Thank you, all, for being so generous in your appreciation! You made my day!
-
- Posts: 14027
- Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nicely conceived poem. Your turn at the Academy will come soon.
-
- Posts: 10956
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
nevedita, you got me good till the punchline. The resolution and the relief it provided is like that of a singer settling down on a kArvai on the Shadjam!!
-
- Posts: 16787
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nivedita, sorry, no song list, you say--
We have them in tons, but your poem!
You surprise us more and now with this!
Not that I'm surprised, I should say--no!
The day I set eyes on you, I knew this--
Here's a youngster, this dimpled damsel--
Smiling sweetly, brightly, not vacantly
She's got stuff I thought, and you went on
To make me say 'yes, I guessed right!'
A sprightly damsel, sharp as a whistle,
Agreeable, amiable and awfully bright.
With all the time she would steal from you,
Your daughter would inspire you too, mark!
With an encouraging husband lending a hand,
May your creative life flourish, best wishes
We have them in tons, but your poem!
You surprise us more and now with this!
Not that I'm surprised, I should say--no!
The day I set eyes on you, I knew this--
Here's a youngster, this dimpled damsel--
Smiling sweetly, brightly, not vacantly
She's got stuff I thought, and you went on
To make me say 'yes, I guessed right!'
A sprightly damsel, sharp as a whistle,
Agreeable, amiable and awfully bright.
With all the time she would steal from you,
Your daughter would inspire you too, mark!
With an encouraging husband lending a hand,
May your creative life flourish, best wishes
-
- Posts: 3600
- Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
When poem meets poem, prose has to fall silent, but I wonder why Nivedita should not carry this to The Hindu or Sruthi.
-
- Posts: 302
- Joined: 14 May 2006, 23:07
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Lakshman-ji and vasanthakokilam, thank you!
kvchellappa, I must mention that although I've been writing poems on other topics (life, philosophy...) for some time now, it was Shri Ramnarayan, editor-in-chief of Sruti magazine and a good friend, who encouraged me to write on music.
arasi-ji, WOW! Coming from you, that's precious, and enough encouragement to last a long time! Thank you!
kvchellappa, I must mention that although I've been writing poems on other topics (life, philosophy...) for some time now, it was Shri Ramnarayan, editor-in-chief of Sruti magazine and a good friend, who encouraged me to write on music.
arasi-ji, WOW! Coming from you, that's precious, and enough encouragement to last a long time! Thank you!
-
- Posts: 1596
- Joined: 30 Nov 2009, 15:28
Re: My debut concert at the Music Academy
Nivedita,
I know nothing about you.
But you sure have talent.
I nearly believed the content.
An introduction should help.
All the best in poetry and all the rest.
I know nothing about you.
But you sure have talent.
I nearly believed the content.
An introduction should help.
All the best in poetry and all the rest.