Priority for percussion - my view

[ganeshkant]

Today While listening to an announcement of a concert in DD,I was bit surprised to hear the Mridangist’s name first and then the Violinist.Normally in HM concerts you will find the name of the percussion artist first then the artist' s name on harmonium or other instruments.The priority is always to percussion.Even in media ads.you can find this.

In this context I remember an old interview by Mridangist J.Vaidhyanathan where he had lamented the step motherly treatment meted to percussion artists in comparison to the main artists on travel,lodging,etc.and he had openly challenged that while it may be possible to perform with a not so good violinist it will be risky to do the same with a not so good percussion artist.I could empathize with him on his views.While the former may not mar the concert the latter will 100% do it.

So,I think it will be appropriate hereafter to place the percussion artist ahead of the violinist .While I am not ruling out the importance of a violinist in a concert, I am just requesting for a shift or change in priority. Request the views of the esteemed forum members.

[Nick H]

Why not ditch the idea of priority altogether?

But I think it will not happen, not only because the community is full of ideas of seniority etc, but also because the names have to be said one by one, so some order will be there.

It is not just here. The world of performers has, I think, always been obsessed with "star billing" and the order of performers on the posters, cinema credits, etc.

[VijayR]

I don't think "priority for percussion" is the real issue here. The real problem is the treatment of accompanying artists as second-class citizens. If that is removed (to a large part, even if not completely), I am sure that no mridangist or violinist will complain that the other accompanying artist's name was announced first. It reduces to a trivial issue...

[Begin rant]

Forget the order in which the names are announced, I have seen several instances where the announcers do not bother to even learn the correct pronunciations of the artists' names (especially for concerts that I have attended in the USA, but this has happened even in India). The bare minimum courtesy they can extend to the artists is to practice the pronunciation of their names a few times before the event and just verify with someone knowledgeable whether the pronunciation is correct or not.

In a few cases, they even get the names completely wrong... The most recent instance that I saw of this was in the Nada Neerajanam program of TTD's SVBC channel. The mridangist was one of the top artists today and his name was announced wrong (completely different name was announced). When I sent him a note on Facebook about it, he gave me a rather resigned (in jest, of course) reply that they have to put up with all this! Paying a little attention to detail goes a long way in avoiding things like this...

[End rant]

[Nick H]

Yes, it is true that naming order is insignificant in the face of such mistakes!

[arasi]

There are instances when the organizers do not even bother to name the accompanists even when they happen to know who the artistes are.
'and Party' is easier for them!
Some main artistes are not exempt from this either. Just look at a program list (why? even our own concert reviews ) and you will find several different spellings of the same name!
Well, they can't be perfect all the time in paying attention to details, but organizers should treat all artistes with respect, for what they contribute to a concert.

[vasanthakokilam]

Mridangist J.Vaidhyanathan where he had lamented the step motherly treatment meted to percussion artists in comparison to the main artists on travel,lodging,etc.

Hopefully, the treatment meted out to be accompanists are proper when they visit the U.S. or other countries. They usually stay at a designated host's house and hopefully the mridangist is not given the living room couch to sleep on. Just kidding. From what I hear, they are all treated as equals and trated very well. In big cities at least, there is a good supply of very willing hosts who take care of picking them up from the airport, bringing them to the venue, taking them home, provide proper food and place to rest and sleep, and dropping them back at the airport etc. They consider it an honor. In some cases, Mridangists happen to be much more socially adjusted and the main artist cedes the center stage to them off stage.

Having said all that, payments and remunerations are a different matter.

[arasi]

VK,
All that I said apply in some cases in India. Yes, US and other countries which host them are generally gracious. We cannot forget that there are a few artistes who are not happy with all the hospitality extended to them.
You are right about remunerations. Sometimes it's the sponsors and at other times, the main artiste (if he is paid the whole amount and is the one who pays other performers in the team).

[gobilalitha]

In this discussion we have totally forgotten the role of the tambura artist who is paid a mere pittance. .Even in this age of electronic instRuments, the hand strung tambura lends majesty to the kutcheri. It s also a fact that any TOM, DICK AND HARRY is chosen for tambura playing.i know about one of the topmost artist paying a mere 50 rupees to the tambura artist after pocketing 1000 times of that amount . The violin and mridandam artists took pity on him and added another 300 from their payments

[arasi]

Very true, GBL.

[Nick H]

I am afraid that the tambura artist, being un-miced, adds absolutely nothing to the performance, so far as it is heard by the audience. In the presence of the electronic sruti box, I don't know how much they add for the artist themselves.

[anandasangeetham]

i think we should take a leaf from HM artists here. once during the annual Lakshminarayan Gloabal festival in Chennai, Pandit Shri Jasraj was invited to perform. Mr T T Vasu while introduccing the artists mentioned Pandit for Shir Jasraj and for the tabla artist he just mentioned the name. immediately after the announcement Shri Jasraj came and asked Mr Vasu to re introduce the table artist duly mentioning the Pandit tag...he said he is equally gifted...he said for musicians respect for them and their music is foremost... in his words..".music is respect...no respect no music...." he even said that till Mr Vasu announces he will not begin his concert.

In many instances even our main artists will not come out in support of the accompanists if their names are mispelt or due respect not accorded.

[ganeshkant]

In many instances even our main artists will not come out in support of the accompanists if their names are mispelt or due respect not accorded.

Not all I think.There are good souls here also.Once during a concert in TTD,Venkatnarayaan Road,Chennai when the secretary,who normally reads the bio data for the main artist only,read for the accompanists also.After the announcement he said he did so as per the request from the main artist (who is quite young) also wanted the accompanists honored who are younger than her.

The main artist was Ms.Bharati Ramasubban and the accompanists were Thanjavur Pravinkumar and Sudha R.S.Iyer.

By the by,I was also present for the concert in MA you have mentioned.It was a good gesture on the part of the main artist,no doubt.

[ShrutiLaya]

In many instances even our main artists will not come out in support of the accompanists if their names are mispelt or due respect not accorded.

Many, perhaps, but not all. In our very first concert, I introduced the violinist as Shriramkumar and the main artist TMK corrected me from the stage that it should be R.K.Shriramkumar!

- Sreenadh

[srikant1987]

Krishna is very forthcoming on these things. Even during Prof TNK's Svanubhava programme's "question" session a boy had referred to Sri Vaikom Gopalakrishnan as "the ghatam player" and TMK sternly said, "his name is Vaikom Gopalakrishnan".

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

A lighter note not directly related to the subject--this is regarding the importance of the Tambura.

GNB,I believe had a concert out-of-station and last minute none of his regular disciples were available--So at the place of the concert the organisers introduced an young boy to him saying he will strum the thambura. GNB assumed that the boy had some musical exposure. At the concert time he mounts the stage first, followed by the accompaniments and the young boy gets up with the Thambura-GNB sits down and asks the young boy who is still standing --"Sruthiyai Poduda" (Put the sruthi) the young man promptly dropped the Thambura!!!

How much of this is hyberbole and how much of it is true I do not know. GN Sir related the joke amongst friends!!

Atleast on that day the Thambura artiste must have been very important for GNB!!!

[vasanthakokilam]

I am afraid that the tambura artist, being un-miced, adds absolutely nothing to the performance, so far as it is heard by the audience. In the presence of the electronic sruti box, I don't know how much they add for the artist themselves.

Nick, electronic sruti box issue aside, I am surprised about what you say about the tampura not being heard by the audience. Hearing that sound is very important for the audience.

[PUNARVASU]

A lighter note not directly related to the subject--this is regarding the importance of the Tambura.

GNB,I believe had a concert out-of-station and last minute none of his regular disciples were available--So at the place of the concert the organisers introduced an young boy to him saying he will strum the thambura. GNB assumed that the boy had some musical exposure. At the concert time he mounts the stage first, followed by the accompaniments and the young boy gets up with the Thambura-GNB sits down and asks the young boy who is still standing --"Sruthiyai Poduda" (Put the sruthi) the young man promptly dropped the Thambura!!!

How much of this is hyberbole and how much of it is true I do not know. GN Sir related the joke amongst friends!!

Atleast on that day the Thambura artiste must have been very important for GNB!!!

I suppose the makers of the film 'endiran' took a clue from this; when 'chitti' is told 'chitti, TV-iyai podu' he drops the TV down.

[Nick H]

Nick, electronic sruti box issue aside, I am surprised about what you say about the tampura not being heard by the audience. Hearing that sound is very important for the audience.

But the electronic sruti box is never aside (often, in fact, it is too loud) and it totally drowns out the tambura.

I'm certainly prepared to accept that it may be my failing hearing, but, so far as the tambura is concerned, I see the fingers move, but I hear no sound.

I should like it given a chance: give a microphone, and leave the shruti box truly aside --- off-stage! It would be an interesting experiment. I think I have seen Hindustani music presented with the tampbura in this way.

[vasanthakokilam]

OK, you are talking about a case where both the electronic sruthi box and the real tambura are persent. I agree. I was refering to the case of just the real tambura.

[sivachinta1965]

dear Rasikas

Not related to Mridamgam or Thambura , but a joke similar to GNB's

One of the functions in my department one item was release of our in-house magazine. The guest of the day was an actress. The releasing was her duty, and when the comperer(ess) announced " Now (she) will release the magazine'', (she) looked around and simply dropped ( releasing for her?)the copy of the magazine doown!!!

Siva

[sivachinta1965]

dear Rasikas

Typing error : please read 'doown' as "down"

[Nick H]

Not related to anything ( ) but...

This is one of our absurdities. In front of an audience, many of whom may be glancing at the CD/Book/Whatever that they bought on the way in, we are suddenly told that some celebrity will now release the first copy!

[varsha]

Many ways to look at it .
1) Priority based on the degree of freedom to explore . In that sense I would vote for Vocalist - violin - Mridangam . Dont want to get into a debate on what degree of freedom can be , though .
2) Take a cue from the way credits are given in movies , the Most important chap - the Director - coming at the end . Or in order of appearnce , or alphabetically etc . Trick is not to forget any name .
3) Remember that people tend to remember what comes first and comes last and struggle to remember the middle . Remember that funny crook in the movie A Fish called Wanda ?

[sivachinta1965]

dear Rasikas

Does anybody know about the background music players of immortal movie songs? In Karnatic Katcheris, atleast the names are written somewhere!

What was the scene before Palkkat Mani Iyer?

Siva

[fduddy]

....In this context I remember an old interview by Mridangist J.Vaidhyanathan where he had lamented the step motherly treatment meted to percussion artists in comparison to the main artists on travel,lodging,etc.and he had openly challenged that while it may be possible to perform with a not so good violinist it will be risky to do the same with a not so good percussion artist.I could empathize with him on his views.While the former may not mar the concert the latter will 100% do it.

So,I think it will be appropriate hereafter to place the percussion artist ahead of the violinist .While I am not ruling out the importance of a violinist in a concert, I am just requesting for a shift or change in priority. Request the views of the esteemed forum members.

everyone has an axe to grind! What is there in an order? Why everything is made up to be an issue. A junior artist is accompanied by lets sat UKS. Still the announcement is in the order main artist (vocalist or instrumentalist) and then mridangist. So be it. Why make an issue and hundred responses for nothing