Hindu article that is sure to raise your ire

[sureshvv]

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 651383.ece

[arasi]

Sureshvv,
In reading this long article, I felt like I was waiting in Bengaluru's traffic to get home, with many things happening around me, not all things connected.

In essence, I missed getting any idea about what the essence of this piece of writing was all about.

Certainly not an appetizer for me to start the season with :-\

[mahavishnu]

I too have no idea what this person is talking about... :-\

[rshankar]

She is nuts, especially that comment about abhangs....flight of ideas, lack of logic, no cohesive narrative etc....makes one wonder, who died and made her a critic?

[vasanthakokilam]

yep, quite confusing. Let me see if I can make some lemonade out of this lemon.

a) Is it a review of those three concerts (2 CM + 1 HM)? Though it seemed that way, it is really not about the specifics of those concerts, especially on the CM side.

b) Is it to make a point using those 3 concerts as examples? If so, what can that be? It sounded like this is what the author was going after but in the apologetic passive aggressiveness of it all, the point is lost.
Speculation on what the point is: "Current day - majority of - CM is soul-less and HM is soulful"

c) I am not really sure why Sanjay is dragged into this. The two mentions of the 'vachaspati' varnam and the holding on to the long note are not being criticized but then why be apologetic to Sanjay. The only thing I can think of is, the author has a low opinion of Sanjay's music on that soulfullness scale and the only redeeming thing is the longly held note that creates that rIngAram.

d) What is that vachaspathi thing with Tiger and MDR is about and why MDR saying a few humorous thing about it adds soul to music. ( not that i am against MDR's humorous demeanor on stage ). Or self-deprecating humor adds soul to the music? ( interesing tid bit about how vachaspathi was chosen, assuming that anecdote is true )

e) Sanjay started the Vachaspati varnam and then all those Tiger-MDR thoughts came to you. Fine. But where do we go from there?

f) One thing we learn is the author does not care much for the duo's abhang but thinks a world of Aruna Sairam's abhang. OK, fine as long as if it is offered as a personal opinion.

But in this rare case, the summary below the by-line seems to be a bit more cogent and something many people in our forum seem to lean towards: "today's CM is dominated by fast paced singing, one composition after the other without any focus on detailed and deeply exploratory alapana and that robs the soul of the music".

May be and if so that is worth a good debate. Both the premise ( that today's CM is like that ) and the conclusion (today's CM is soul-less).

[ganesh_mourthy]

I quite remember a screening conducted for the post of editor for my organization.

Easily, sometimes, the editorial is suffice to gauge someone's skill. Finally, when we read each of their writings we felt that many could not keep up with the idea of

1. 400 word limit
2. thousands of readers
3. thought provoking content
4. clear enunciation and message
5. consistent gait and style
6. not to be polemic
7. 30 min

We received several articles and after reading the Hindu article that is what I could remember. None of us could understand, and sometimes even the writers did not properly explain what they wrote.

To whom are these articles written for, especially in such an elusive style?!!!!

G_M

[sureshvv]

I think the whole article was meant to provoke, kind of harimauesque So various sacred cows have been sacrificed towards that intent. Anyone going to the Hindu fest looking for salvation using a complementary ticket is bound to be disappointed

[munirao2001]

I am not surprised to read the report. With the first love of Hindustani Music, lack of proper understanding of both these great systems of music, criticism of practice of Carnatic Music takes place, very commonly. The reporter must read the reports on the status/reviews of concerts of Hindustani Music. She will find they are also on the similar lines. When one wants to write and report, one is expected to establish the correctness based on lakshya and lakshana of both the systems. With the rasikas and event managers support, present Carnatic Great Maestros/Maestros can offer Ati vilamba and vilamba compositions with primacy for raaga bhaavam, besides other aspects. Very fact that Carnatic Musicians are able to learn and perform concerts in Hindustani Music in larger numbers than their counter parts in Hindustani Music system, must be taken note and analysed for success and failure for better appreciation and understanding.
Pandit Jasrajji's 'Jasrangi' conceived after learning about 'sruthi' bhedam of Carnatic Music.

Let us try sincerely to understand the message of the writer but not trivialize the issue. Author is yearning for visradhi to be restored and penchant for layakari to induce applause, instant appreciation in practice to be eschewed and artists exhibit reverence to the compositions, more.


munirao2001

[sureshvv]

So what is wrong with layakari, applause etc.? The writer also speaks of "exhibitionism" as a kind of insult. But what is it when there are 4 or 5 people performing on stage and 500 people watching it with paid tickets in an audience? There is also a reference to "rock music" as if it is something wrong. There is all kinds of rock music, from folk to pop to metal (like there is all kinds of carnatic music). Why should Carnatic music be more like Jazz and less like rock music?

[Ponbhairavi]

If Hindu thinks that this review is the one which reflects truly their OWN festival at Bangalore,we can guess how will be their Friday reviews of the season.I only wish that they do no import this author to chennai and entrusts her with the coverage and reviews of the full season!

[sureshvv]

I think it is important to acknowledge the "entertainment" aspect of the concert. That is nothing to be ashamed of, either for the artiste or the rasika. It is "entertainment" that can touch the soul and when it is not, it is still keeping you absorbed. The soul touching cannot happen for the entire length of the concert. If it happens for a few moments in a concert, that in itself is a big deal. With all the distractions of the carnatic concert hall (mobiles going off, rasikas humming loudly, over demonstrative time keeping, chatter etc.), it can be a rare moment.

[uday_shankar]

This is not a reflection of the overall content/intent of the article but something doesn't compute: Rukmini Devi's 60th birthday was on Feb 28th 1964. Tiger died in 1950. Either MDR or Soudhamini or both had/have a confused recollection. Unless of course, a 60th birthday varnam was "due" at least 14 years before the event.

[arasi]

Not that I am blaming the illustrator (his name suggests that he perhaps is not familiar with a CM concert)--but, what's the picture all about? What does it mean to convey?

We all do know that there are seasoned rasikAs and all sorts of decent rasikAs who go to concerts in BengalUru with earnestness, for whatever reason they deem fit. I am sure they are as addled as we are...

[Ponbhairavi]

For me it conveys the idea that ,in cm only six persons out of 28 have eyes on their face to see that the tambura has only one string one end of which is attached to a vertical beradai and the other end attached to a peg planted at the bottom and that the musician who has his angavastram not on the shoulder but around his waist is likely to miss the balance while missing the essence.

[VK RAMAN]

Is Abhang in a katcheri an entertainment?

[rshankar]

yep, quite confusing. Let me see if I can make some lemonade out of this lemon.

You're a better man than I am Gunga Din...er, VK!

[munirao2001]

sureshvv Sir

So what is wrong with layakari, applause etc.?

. The Intent is the criteria. Are we not witness to mechanical and artificial applause/appreciation induced by the artists? The layakari of kuraippus; staying on a single note;very high speed tantra kari/instrumental techniques with max.decibles of sound demanded and secured, yes may be exciting and even entertainment for you and with similar expectations of many rasikas, but aesthetic values in Classical Music suffers. This is the intent of Smt.Soudhamini/author in this report.

munirao2001

[sureshvv]

Munirao sir:

It appears that you have misinterpreted at least some portions of the artcile. Soudhamini was very appreciative of the "staying on a single note".

layakari is not just about max decibels. At the risk of preaching to the choir, layakari is about using your imagination and fitting your creativity within bursts of time. It is one thing to complain about the excessive volumes (and I agree completely about its ubiquity) but to be pejorative of layakari in Carnatic music to me is completely missing the point of the system.

It seems to be that your aesthetic values (and that of Soudhamini) may not be the one held by the majority of the rasikas. I understand and sympathize with that perspective. But I am not presumptuous enough to complain about the state of Carnatic music because certain popular practices go against my taste.