MusicAcademy-Slots-2010vs2011-Rasikas-Perspective

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 24 Nov 2011, 18:40

All
Sequel to the analysis of 2008 vs 2009 slots that I published here 2 years back, I have done a fairly detailed analysis of 2010-2011 vs 2011-2012 slots of Music Academy.

When you download and unzip you will find the following

1. MusicAcademy-2010vs2011-Slots.pdf which is the writeup that I have written in Nov,2011 while comparing the slots of music academy 2010 vs 2011.

2. Also My first version MusicAcademy-2008vs2009-Slots.pdf written way back in Nov,2009 is also there in the zip.

3. In addition four years (2008 to 2011), music academy slot schedules are saved offline so that there is enough objectivity to clearly interpret the MusicAcademy-2010vs2011-Slots.pdf that has been written

What next to do?
----------------
1. Download the musicacademy-schedules.zip provided in the below link
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/49480427/musica ... edules.zip

2. Read the MusicAcademy-2010vs2011-Slots.pdf that is written in Nov 2011.

3. If you have not read the MusicAcademy-2008VS2009-Slots.pdf that was written in 2009 also read the same

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 24 Nov 2011, 19:12

Rajesh,

Not surprisingly, you discuss the main artistes only.

I for one, am surprised, that our violinlover, R Raghul, isn't featured in ANY slot in the Academy, after making a hat-trick as the Best 12-o'clock violinist. Actually I was a surprised to hear he was Best 12-o'clock violinist even last year, rather than a 1-30 violinist.

Music Academy is one of many well-known and respected sabhas in Chennai, but let's not put huge burdens like the patronage for every musician to everyone's satisfaction on it. There are both too many musicians and too many rasikas in the CM world these days for that to even be a plausible goal.

VijayR · Post by **VijayR** » 24 Nov 2011, 19:13

Rajesh: first of all, thanks for your detailed analysis! I enjoyed reading your perspective in this year's analysis as well as from the prior year. I can see that a lot of effort went into this.

In general, I am not a fan of "slot-based" vidwat characterization for the reason that there is too much bias in the selection process (for any sabha). Having said that, I fully understand that it is one of the "popular" metrics. Now, there is one particular sentence in your analysis that I do not agree with.

"Considering that Shri TVS has moved to the morning slot , does it not usually mean the next highly performing disciple Suryaprakash should get that vacated slot, just like how Shri TNS vacated to give to TNS Krishna."

This seems to imply that a performer has a reserved slot for his students if he vacates... That is not fair to the guru or the shishya. Regardless of what you think of his singing, it is unfair to say that TNS Krishna got promoted because his father vacated that slot. Similarly, our own Suryaprakash undoubtedly belongs to the very top echelon of vocalists, but to say that he should get the slot vacated by TVS is not fair, in my opinion.

Haribabu · Post by **Haribabu** » 24 Nov 2011, 21:36

Dear Rajeshnat

Shri.D.Srinivas - Veena is an AIR, Hyd artist and is the one of the best Veena Vidwans of A.P.

He and my son Vinayrahul -violinist Disciple of- Shri.MSG ( 19 years ) along with the following artists performed in a corporate event at HYD recently on 15.11.11 at Hyd too..

Shri.Nagaraju - Flute
Shri.Ramana Murhty ( lecturer in Music college Hyd - Mridingam , Shri.Nemani - Ghatam ( Just Retried AIR artist -Hyd)
Shri.Ghantasala Satya Sai - Morsing ( A team member of Dr.L.SUbramaniam- Violin-Legend).

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 25 Nov 2011, 07:56

Pathetic analysis....
There are too many artists today who are categorized as Seniors (and to me most would not fit in the best junior category

) and atleast the ones the analyst has named do not fit in that top top category. So where is the chance for them all to be accomodated. MA can start a 24 X 7 festival to try and accomodate all of them reducing the durtaion of the concert to 1/2 hour ro 45 mins ....
And why MA only ? Why dont you analyse KGS, MFA and IFA which are the other 3 sabhas which have been hosting concerts for many years now and equally reputed. All artist aspire to sing in these 3 sabhas too. Infact some of the old generation FAMOUS ARTISTS have openly commented the crappy politics in MA, their selection criterias (skewed) etc etc ....There are so many sabhas mushroomed all over the city and people have far more choice to attend concerts without any hiccups (traffic jams, smaller sabhas offering free concerts, close to home etc etc).That being the case there is no reason for a music enthusiast to come all the way from Tambaram to MA to attend a concert.

I just cant understand why so much fuss is being made about the SK award of MA and the artists selection for the season. FORGET IT AND MOVE ON GUYS ...... it is a waste of time doing this nonsensical analysis.Each sabha has its own selection criteria, crowd pulling ability, INFLUENCE, money power, SPONSOR RECOMMENDATIONS etc etc. These come first and then tje rest (which is vidwat)

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 25 Nov 2011, 09:02

rajeshnat,

Somehow, your analysis seems focussed on why Suryaprakash has not been given an evening slot.

Music Academy (and all sabhas) are focussed on revenue and would feature artists who bring crowds. NGS is even worse. Given the potential revenue and sponsors, there are 50+ sabhas for December alone, and they feature concerts the same set of 20 popular artists. It is a big tamasha ... Some musicians sing every day and finally by January the voice is hoarse.

Concerts by popular artists + good canteen == great crowd. The canteen also runs special menu on the "big" concert days - Kasi Halwa, Keerai vadai ... I recall a concert 2 years back by one of the matinee stars - the hall was packed like sardines, folks sitting on aisles, stairs - a clear fire code violation if there was one in India

On another topic, all Sabhas want to feature concerts of " top matinee stars" on Dec 25th. Somehow, I think Music Academy has now lost that race for Dec 25 slot now, since other sabhas have fixed artists for that specific date every year ! (sounds similar to srardham date every year ).

It is a travesty that an artist of the caliber B. Balasubramanian is singing in the afternoon slot - since he is not a crowd puller. After several years, Meccademy is featuring Nadaswaram concerts now - where once upon a time the great TN Rajaratnam Pillai presented evening concerts. KGS has Nadaswaram festival, and other sabhas do not even bother ...

I would not put too much weight in Yogam Nagaswamy award or best vocalist awards of Meccademy. Music Academy doles out an award with creative categories ( best alapana, best krithi rendition, best kalpana swara, best slokam, ...) to keep all popular musicians happy, so that they continue to perform every year @ Meccademy.

There are a couple low key sabhas like Nada Inbam - who feature musicians for the sake of music alone. There is not much crowd and it is much more pleasant. Some 4-hour concerts at Rani Seethai Hall are nice, the artists are more relaxed with less time pressure.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 25 Nov 2011, 19:44

More closely read, the analysis borders around slander over some of the popular musicians and a cheap promoting tactic on Suryaprakash!!
Vedavalli - singing in an evening slot instead of an evening - Is there a hard and fast rule that having sung in the morning slot, she should continue singing only in that slot for ever - may be she is not available or no other time slot was suitable. Whats the big deal .... Is this the way to analyse. Just keeping some 4-5 musicians in mind that the originator of this post likes (Raji G, Suryaprkash, Sriram G etc etc) the whole thing has been written in a ridiculous manner !!!!
I would suggest not to deploy such cheap tactics!!

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 26 Nov 2011, 07:02

Highly biased. If you still want to keep this threas, rename it as YOUR perspective and not 'Rasikas Perspective!!!
+ 1. Prema rangarAjan :
Last year she was pushed to morning slot, but this year she is in evening slot.Kind of
surprised with that move as usually that does not happen. Any way a deserving
musician I like her WHO TOLD YOU THIS. THERE IS NO SUCH FIXATION
+ 2. Sattur Sisters:
Not heard her at all other than recording , certainly these sisters are not very much in
concert circuit . Their frequency is low in concert circuit , but I have not heard
them.With such low frequency they getting this slot bypassing many is quite a
surprise, but nevertheless since I have not heard them live cant speak much. I
certainly have to state there are more musicians who have more frequencies and also
merit, hence these sisters getting it is a kind of surprise. WITHOUT HEARING ENOUGH HOW CAN YOU COMMENT. AGAIN COMING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WITHOUT TESTING HOW WILL THEY GAIN PROMINENCE. FYI, THEY ARE EXCELLENT ARTISTS AND SING EXTREMELY WELL.
+ 3. Sikkil gurucharan:
This musician is quite young but since he is drawing good crowds in the last few
years. Last year itself he got lot of prime evening slots with many of top accompanist ,
I remember last year there was just two concerts in the prestigious kalakshetra one
was taken by him and the other if my memory was right lalgudi siblings , so in all
possibility I was expecting him to make it as he appears also gifted and more
importantly with right connections. RIGHT CONNECTIONS - YES THAT IS A KEY !!!
+ 4. kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna
A deserving musician no questions , all the years I think PSN is supporting him a lot
and his influence has certainly earned him. Does Semmangudi sishyas indeed
influence the most in slots in academy, atleast that is the case with Kunnakudi
balamuralikrishna and Sikkil Gurucharan?. What about other schools? THIS IS BORDERING SLANDER. YOU GOT TO CAREFUL ENOUGH BEFORE WRITING SUCH STUFF. SRI PSN IS A GREAT MUSICIAN AND HIGHLY RESPECTED GURU WHO HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING MANY TO COME UP IN THIS MUSIC WORLD.
+ 5. PapanAsam Ashok Ramani
This musician getting included in a prime slot is kind of most far fetched for me. Has
he reached this prime evening slot status, he has got a long way to go to reach that
prime evening status, he certainly has not reached that calibre. I see in KGS in
gokulashtami -2009 this year he is getting a prime saturday /sunday evening slot , in
Slots in Music Academy and All Sabhas in Chennai – 2008 vs 2009 comparison,
written by rajesh on Tuesday, November 03, 2009. WHY CANT YOU TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT AS HE COMES FROM THE PS LINEAGE. HAVING SAID THAT HE IS A GOOD ARTIST WHO ROSE TO PROMINENCE AT A YOUNG AGE BUT LOST OUT DUE TO VOICE PROBLEMS.

YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU SHOULD NOT KEEP ANALYSING EVERY GODDAMN THING IN LIFE. THERE IS NO DEARTH FOR SABHAS AND MUSICIANS GET A GOOD AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE ACROSS ALL SABHAS ALL THROUGH THE YEAR. CONCERTS HELD IS OTHER SABHAS ARE EQUALLY OR BETTER THAN WHAT IS SUNG IN MA. REMOVE THE MA FIXATION (THIS IS AKIN TO THE OLD / (AND) YOUNG CONGRESS LEADERS THRIVING ON THE GANDHI LEGACY WHO DO NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO THINK OUTSIDE.

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 26 Nov 2011, 10:11

fduddy, relax! This individual is living proof that the ignorant always speak loudest. He has been doing yeoman service to the forum with opinions and "reviews" that give a good laugh to people who know better. Take it with bagfuls of salt, laugh out loud and leave it at that...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Nov 2011, 12:13

So... let nobody sully this "forum" with their "opinions" and "reviews".

If you don't like reviews, then what about reviews of reviews?

Damn ... now I'm reviewing reviews of reviews of reviews! :devil:

Oh my, oh my... such screeching! Hardly in the spirit of a music forum!

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 26 Nov 2011, 17:07

Nick H wrote:So... let nobody sully this "forum" with their "opinions" and "reviews".

Oh, of course not Nick, you got me all wrong... pls let the opinions and reviews flow, esp from the resident Oracle! We all need our regular dose of mirth...

VijayR · Post by **VijayR** » 26 Nov 2011, 21:15

Whoa! Relax, folks! It is absolutely not worth getting riled up over a small matter such as this. As we heard many years ago in a different genre of music, "take it easy policy".

If you don't like the review, just state it and move on... Going after someone personally just causes (unnecessary) unpleasantness. Yes, this analysis is rajeshnat's personal perspective (and yes, perhaps "a rasika's perspective" would have been a better title instead of "rasikas perspective"). Yes, none of us has to agree with it either. But, you can disagree with everything he wrote without being bitter (even if, in your opinion, the writeup says inappropriate things).

Heck, you can even disagree with everything I wrote above, but we should just move on, don't you think?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Nov 2011, 22:46

Vijay: Well said. Something for everyone to follow.

One of the hall marks of a mature rasika is to disagree with something without being disagreeable.
But the reality is, reading a piece of writing and getting all worked up is the norm

Or go passive aggressive and mock the writer.

Every review or personal expression, especially the more opinionated ones, should be assumed to have an automatic disclaimer "If you can not emotionally deal with reading personal opinions, please do not bother reading. Move on"

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 26 Nov 2011, 23:28

sorry, vasanthakokilam,

Please, there are so many that are disagreeable posts. I have responded to some when I felt it was not right (and also get some heat).

I wish the standard you are advocating is followed uniformly. I think there are going to be more fireworks once the season concerts start.

In this specific case, my point was only - for most sabhas promoting music alone is not the focus; revenue, sponsorship are the primary concern and the music slots are based on that and possibly influence of the committee. That seems to be the working model in India.

My peeve was there were several deserving artists - who did not get a slot in Meccademy for several years. I can think of many artists (Nadaswaram, Veena) who did not perform for several years. Then we should list all those deserving artists. Anyway, for concerts of truly scholarly musicians, not many people even show up.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 Nov 2011, 00:49

Annamalai, I do not know why you need to be sorry about, you are not stating anything contrary to what I stated. I thought your reactions were just right, your opinions expressed without bashing the original poster or casting dispersions on him.

BTW, about posts that are disagreeable, that happens all the time. But the point in this context is not that, it is more about how to disagree with something one does not like. Anyway, this is all my own thoughts and opinions and not in the capacity of a moderator. I do not have any expectations that any of this will be followed uniformly, or this site will enforce such things.. There are already people foaming and fuming mad at the mods even with the minimal level of any moderator action they exercise

Alright, back to the topic at hand...

One thing that bugs people about the Music Academy is the lack of transparency in the decisions they make. May be what will be useful is an interview with an ex-committee member on how these decisions are made. That may put to rest some of these issues that crop up every year. Or even an interview with Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao who seems to be an accessible gentleman. May be, one can setup a chat with him after the morning lec-dems and ask him questions like this in addition to others. He still reserves the right to not answer questions on specific cases but can provide the overall nature of how these are done. ( I am assuming Dr. PVR is part of the decision making circles ).

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 27 Nov 2011, 10:03

VijayR wrote:-----If you don't like the review, just state it and move on... Going after someone personally just causes (unnecessary) unpleasantness. Yes, this analysis is rajeshnat's personal perspective (and yes, perhaps "a rasika's perspective" would have been a better title instead of "rasikas perspective"). Yes, none of us has to agree with it either. But, you can disagree with everything he wrote without being bitter (even if, in your opinion, the writeup says inappropriate things).

Heck, you can even disagree with everything I wrote above, but we should just move on, don't you think?

Are you trying to say whatever is being written should be taken asis - no remark should be made if not liked - ifnore if not liked ? Then it is not a discussion forum. If something is written wrong or flawed, it should be pointed out for a correction in perspective. Perhaps I did what the mods should have rightfully done

The whole essay revolves around Suryaprakash not getting a slot and as a background some 5 pages is written to build a case in each essay!

VK - I must commend you for your height of diplomacy. Kuddos

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 27 Nov 2011, 10:24

fduddy... your shouting (ALL CAPS and in red) is annoying and also detracts from the content.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 27 Nov 2011, 10:36

sureshvv,
I know it is annoying. Perhaps that is the trend that is followed here to gain attention (else perhaps it might go unnoticed) ;(
BTW, this is my first post of that sort !!!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 27 Nov 2011, 10:53

The moderators are not here to offer "correction[s] in perspective". It's sickening to see them being repeatedly hauled over the coals for every individual's misgivings.

Also, fduddy, your point could have been made in a civil and dignified manner as annamalai did. It is not so much the content of your posts but the inflammatory way in which you expressed yourself that has drawn reproach.

On the matter itself, I have long come to the conclusion that little in the world is truly meritocratic. Not the selection of Nobels, papers in Nature/Cell/Science, Bookers/Pulitzers, Kalanidhi, and certainly not who gets to sing in what slot in the MA. I find the whole examination futile and an unnecessary heartache for fans who feel their favourites have been slighted.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 27 Nov 2011, 11:09

>Perhaps I did what the mods should have rightfully done

Typically the mods do not get into that sort of a thing. Your expectations about that need to be recalibrated.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 27 Nov 2011, 13:21

bilahari wrote:
On the matter itself, I have long come to the conclusion that little in the world is truly meritocratic. Not the selection of Nobels, papers in Nature/Cell/Science, Bookers/Pulitzers, Kalanidhi, and certainly not who gets to sing in what slot in the MA. I find the whole examination futile and an unnecessary heartache for fans who feel their favourites have been slighted.

+1

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 27 Nov 2011, 13:39

Bilahari,
Oho, read the post with the smiley attached. it was meant to be read in a lighter vein!!

As regards the post of the originator, there is nothing uncivil in what I have written. Each one has his / her own style of writing. It is just the subject matter that peeved me. You have the liberty to take it or chuck it as someone said in this post. If you follow that, you shouldnt have responded to the way I had written buddy!!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Nov 2011, 14:07

fduddy... looked like screeching to me. If it wasn't, then I apologise, but, hey, not only caps, but bright red caps?

I am the last to complain about a good argument or the, err, forthright statement of a point of view, but, in the limited world of the typed Internet, we have but a few blunt ways to express a multitude of facial expressions or tone of voice. All we can do is use the conventions available to us.

You can be assured that you need no added colour to prevent your posts going unnoticed

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 27 Nov 2011, 14:24

Nick,
I have been watching too much of NDTV and the political circus that is on in the country. At times the blood boils and when such analysis is read immediately there after, this perhaps is the impact of that |(

Again I wish to say, there was no uncivil comment and I leave it at that...

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 27 Nov 2011, 14:51

Glad you were not watching Times Now!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Nov 2011, 15:50

Peace is established again.

... watching too much of NDTV and the political circus ...

(Just let nobody mention retail FDI ... or I will be screaming at everybody! :devil:

)

VijayR · Post by **VijayR** » 27 Nov 2011, 18:43

fduddy wrote: Are you trying to say whatever is being written should be taken asis - no remark should be made if not liked - ifnore if not liked ? Then it is not a discussion forum. If something is written wrong or flawed, it should be pointed out for a correction in perspective. Perhaps I did what the mods should have rightfully done The whole essay revolves around Suryaprakash not getting a slot and as a background some 5 pages is written to build a case in each essay!

VK - I must commend you for your height of diplomacy. Kuddos

fduddy: That is not at all what I said. The point of a discussion forum is, as the name implies (and as you point out), discussion! People should feel free to disagree and also feel free to openly express that disagreement. I was merely pointing out that it is not worth getting all worked up while expressing that disagreement. Of course, I was assuming that you were worked up based on the CAPS, red, etc. Little did I know that NDTV was at fault here...

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 28 Nov 2011, 07:10

All the mysteries stand explained when one realises that the Chennai Season , and most of the Academy performances are a display of Work In Progresses . And not finished products .
This is the major shift from the days of the Titans .
And this is no disrespect to musicians , the most famous among them having declared that they have to be learners till their last breath .
Like Salamath used to say - As you scale one peak , there appears another which mocks at you . And you start all over again.....

Forget the -presumed - display of power , nepotism , ratings . If one is dumb enough to let the Academy lead you to accept ratings and decide on attending XYZ concert , such people deserve it . Take a break and , pick the days newspaper and risk your style of choosing and flitting between sabhas and ........ Chennai offers you a glorious choice .
Academy is for the tourist
Chennai season is for the Traveller

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 28 Nov 2011, 16:53

Some best music is offered by Nada Inbam, Valayapatti and KGS (in my opinion) and ofcourse one of our members Sri Coolkarni used to organize. Specially the selction of artists that was presented by Sri Coolkarni was superb (cant forget the Tadepalli concert). Fine taste indeed. Who sings like him these days !!! Sad is the state of the current circus !! Digression could not be avoided !!

Has anyone thoughy about why a fine artist like Tadepalli is notinvited even by a single sabha year after year. That needs to be pondered!!

I would have not screeched (as someone mentioned) if rajeshnat had mentioned the name of Tadepalli (or any other artist of his stature)in one corner of his dozen page write up |(

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Nov 2011, 21:27

fduddy: Two points.

a) On the light side, The moment you start talking like 'Who sings like that these days', you have to check your age

That is typical senior citizen talk... ( not that there is anything wrong being old.. I myself am getting there .Ha.. )

b) Regarding your reason for screeching, that does not make any sense. You are complaining about lack of inclusion of your pet-peeve in someone else's pet peeves? That never works. Try it in real life.

There is nothing that stops you from airing your own pet peeves. Instead of piggy-backing on someone else's complaints to air yours while simultaneously bashing them, for a change, put something up on your own, like a new thread on a topic of substance ( it does not have to be complaints ) and try to defend it.

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 28 Nov 2011, 21:31

Now that that's all settled ..

While I haven't yet read the analysis by the OP, and I clearly understand artists are not one dimensional and cannot be represented / ranked by a single score or performance frequency at a single sabha.. one can't help wishing for some reliable index of talent/knowledge/skill/whatever. Considering there are rankings of most everything else, this should not be considered insulting to any artist. Especially from the point of view of organizers in other countries who want to encourage young/upcoming/overlooked talent but not get swamped by self promoters, this will be very helpful. We typically get to chose from a handful of artists who are talented/ambitious/connected enough to go on a tour. Of course, websites such as Sangeethapriya do a great service in this regard - one can usually find a recording of these artists, and make ones own judgement - but it would be better still if one can see into the bigger pool of artists in India, and perhaps get together with other like minded sabhas to bring deserving ones on a tour. Ah well ..

- Sreenadh

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 28 Nov 2011, 21:44

I'm going to have to blush again

.... :$

We probably should all be screeching at some of the sabha organisers. Or simply attending the halls which do invite the artists we want to see, old and young. I've never quite seen the point of regarding the MA as some kind of ultimate authority and ascribing such importance to its awards and programming. Once we drop a little of the importance associated with who does perform there, then there has to be an equivalent drop in importance attached who who doesn't.

Having said all that, and more, there are going to be some good concerts there. I won't be going to any of the evening ones (except 15th) though, because I am not going to be there at 8.00am to get the tickets! This is a crazy system, which deserves at least some screeching. I suppose its ok by the people who stay at New Woodlands or are lucky enough to live in Royapettah!

Maybe we can start a new tradition here: next year, the buzz will not be about who the Academy leaves out, but about who rajeshnat leaves out!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Nov 2011, 22:03

>I am not going to be there at 8.00am to get the tickets! This is a crazy system, which deserves at least some screeching.

Agreed.

I know you are not a morning person, but getting to that area in the morning has other benefits: lecture-dems at MA and a few other places around there.

>next year, the buzz will not be about who the Academy leaves out, but about who rajeshnat leaves out!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 29 Nov 2011, 02:28

I say this with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek: As I see it, this is a case of a lot of 'screeching' brought about by the omission of an apostrophe..(rasikas versus rasika's). So, perhaps what we all need is this.....

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 29 Nov 2011, 10:16

vasanthakokilam wrote:fduddy: Two points.

a) On the light side, The moment you start talking like 'Who sings like that these days', you have to check your age That is typical senior citizen talk... ( not that there is anything wrong being old.. I myself am getting there .Ha.. )

b) Regarding your reason for screeching, that does not make any sense. You are complaining about lack of inclusion of your pet-peeve in someone else's pet peeves? That never works. Try it in real life. There is nothing that stops you from airing your own pet peeves. Instead of piggy-backing on someone else's complaints to air yours while simultaneously bashing them, for a change, put something up on your own, like a new thread on a topic of substance ( it does not have to be complaints ) and try to defend it.

VK, your guess or perception of my age unfortunately is wrong. I am in my late 30s and have been exposed to some of lovely music (thanks to my Dad) such as Brinda/Muktha, T Viswanathan, Ariyakudi, GNB, Kalyanaraman, MLV, Pinakapani, Voleti, MDR. And having listening to them for over 30 years, I am of the view that the beauty is lost now - the current genre and circus is about virtuosity and speed!! For example - the sudden craze to sing Hindustani ragas by the current artists (one after another) as an elaborate RTP, singing the raga endlessly, couple of dozen swara ragamalika etc is an overkill. These were done SO BEAUTIFULLY with the right sense of proportion by the greats Voleti and SKR. Unfortunately the listeners then and now did not appreaicte it that much but are going gaga after the 1 hour RTPs that are being done now (endless and boring!!). Recently I listened to a hamirkalyani by Sri Trichur Ramachandran sung in the late 80s or ealry 90s. How beautifully he has sung. Top Class !!
and FYI couple of my classmates in schol and college who are front ranking musicians today have told me that I have been exposed to some of the finest music ever and therefore would not appreciate the current!! I take it as a compliment ...
It is like listening to the M SViswanathan / Illayaraja's evergreens and the AR Rahman of the current. It somehow does not stay in the mind for long however good it is...

And as regards your comment on my piggybacking, I have contributed enough in terms of providing music links of some of the stalwarts I mentioned, articles etc etc and I do not have to start a thread to prove a point. If you are not able to understand the intent of the comment in this thread and appreciate it is your failure!! I always appreaciate your views and your cool in moderation which indeed is a difficult job, but then, completely negating a view expressed (a criticism) on the post made which does not make any sense is wrong. My opinion that is. You may choose to ignore.

And you can go ahead and delete my membership from the forum!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 29 Nov 2011, 13:06

fduddy, don't get upset and do not leave because of whatever happened in this thread. I do not want to rehash whatever I wrote earlier but just to state one thing. Your point about Tadepalli is well taken of course and it stands by itself but my point is rajeshnat not including Tadepalli need not be the catalyst for the screech. Anyway....

What you wrote regarding appreciating and not appreciating other music, that is a great topic by the way. That is an opinionated topic which you can start and champion it/defend it. You will feel the heat from all sides

May be after the season.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 29 Nov 2011, 13:21

VK, I did not single out Tadepalli alone. Read this ................... had mentioned the name of Tadepalli (or any other artist of his stature)in one corner of his dozen page write up" !

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Nov 2011, 13:32

I don't have any argument with the greats of the past, I don't even have the experience to make one, but

I am of the view that the beauty is lost now - the current genre and circus is about virtuosity and speed!!

Those who talk like this (and fduddy is but one of many) apparently attend none of the one-hundred-plus concerts a year that I go to. Well, OK, there was one, and that one I walked out of: it was given by an artist who many on this forum seem to consider the current young super-genius.

I cannot make the claim that any single one of those concerts was comparable to some "great" of half a century ago, because I don't have that experience. I can certainly say that they were not just about speed and virtuosity.

I can also say that several of the artists are 60-plus or 70-plus or even older. The "Oh woe for music is dead" crowd seem to have a sliding scale of just when it died to suit whichever conversation they happen to be in.

I'm with rajeshnat. Not for his seriously analytical brain, which is, simply, not my style; nor even for his depth and breadth of knowledge of music, which I can never hope to attain --- but for the fact that, however analytical his writing may be, his passion for music comes from the heart. Anyone who heard him speak at last year's rasika's meet will know that it is a heart which is full of hope for the future of music.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Nov 2011, 13:46

varsha wrote:If one is dumb enough to let the Academy lead you to accept ratings and decide on attending XYZ concert , such people deserve it . Take a break and , pick the days newspaper and risk your style of choosing and flitting between sabhas and ........ Chennai offers you a glorious choice .
Academy is for the tourist
Chennai season is for the Traveller

Was hoping someone would pick up on this... But this rings so completely true to me!

ranjanimalavi · Post by **ranjanimalavi** » 29 Nov 2011, 16:11

After a long time, I got a week free in December last year(2010), as my kids went for vacation to their grandma's place.

For 7 days (I missed two morning concerts in academy instead I went to GS Mani in brahma gana sabha and another one to Maris hotel for Bangalore Shankar - but got to listen to Abhisek) I used to go to academy promptly in the morning at 8.45 am before traffic and listen to the first 3 free concerts(9, 11:45, 12:45), and then walk to either narada gana sabha, brahma gana sabha, parthasarathy sabha or other sabhas around mylapore/t nagar/mandaveli.

I did enjoy it thoroughly: Morning session I got to listen to Vedavalli, Suguna P, Ponnamal, TSS Shankaran etc
nice bunch of youngsters later two sessions.

In total I went for 33 concerts that week.

Acadamy is very peaceful, it has at least the best of free concerts in town, with good sound system, not too much noise pollution around your seats.

Academy is still a good place to listen to the veterans, and upcoming artists.

Raman

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 29 Nov 2011, 16:51

agreed .
So a distinction arises between the free academy features of the morning and afternoon
and stand-in-the-Q-for-evening star features . There is no doubt that the morning and afternoon stuff at academy is the best . It has always been like that and probably will continue , given the complexity of this musical system .

makes the ratings for the second half ( or the last third of the day ) more irrelevant .
it also makes for great social activities - mamis saying haaaiiii to each other , husbands dutifully following their wives , the small talk that is spoken loud ( i just got delayed on the way back from paris . so how is usha - or geetha or whatever )
latest silks , folks feeding in a frenzy , artists moving around looking for imaginary people - waiting for people to notice them , the average mylaporean couple for whom it is one last hurrah before the onset of summer - arthritic thathas and paatis somehow finding the will to climb the steps ...... so many images waiting to repeat .

now what are we complaining about . it is a beautiful world . after all .

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Nov 2011, 18:09

If this forum had facebook-like "Like" buttons --- I'd "Like" that!

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 29 Nov 2011, 20:17

But Nick, aren't morning concerts very inconveniently timed for you?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Nov 2011, 20:41

For me, they are jut about non-existent. But afternoon is just about OK.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 30 Nov 2011, 13:46

Nick,
"Those who talk like this (and fduddy is but one of many) apparently attend none of the one-hundred-plus concerts a year that I go to...."

Not entirely correct. Some of the best artists of today who present chaste music are Trichur Brothers, Malladi Brothers, Pantula Rama, Manda Sudharani, Bangalore Sankar, Bangalore Brothers, Sathur Sisters, Rudrapatnam Brothers, Vittal Ramamurthy, MA Sundareswaran, etc. Trichur Brothers are fabulous, they have a beautiful voice and solid patantaram - well groomed by Sri PSN.

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 30 Nov 2011, 15:12

fduddy, Quite surprising. Except Sathur Sisters, you do not consider any other vocalist belonging toTamil nadu worthy of listening.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 30 Nov 2011, 16:03

CRama wrote:fduddy, Quite surprising. Except Sathur Sisters, you do not consider any other vocalist belonging toTamil nadu worthy of listening.

Yes, Aruna Sairam for the snake and monkey song!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 30 Nov 2011, 16:26

fduddy, I shall take your list as recommendation, as there are many there that I do not yet know.

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 30 Nov 2011, 18:01

Nick,
my suggestion, do listen to Trichur Brothers. They are just fantastic and the other one I adore is Pattabirama Pandit - who follows the inimitable style of Sri K V Narayanaswamy. Perfect sruti, a beautiful voice indeed.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 30 Nov 2011, 23:08

Noted. Pantula Rama is another that I have spent a long time almost getting to hear.