Is there a formula for a successful concert?!

[jodha]

While watching a program on TV an old film director lamented that a few of his good films flopped at the box office in spite of good scripts and deft direction added with good music etc.and he finally told "if only we know what exactly the fans want there wont be any flop films at all".
This made me think about the success rate of CM concerts.Once after listening to TNS in the 80s in a gokulashtami concert in Asthika Samajam, Venus colony I told a senior citizen who is a discerning listener and who was a regular listener " I was aewstruck yesterday by his singing.OMG...what a hamsanandhi,madhyamavati and simhendra madhyamam....I couldn't sleep."He replied " You were awestruck!it was all trash yesterday".I was totally perplexed by his remarks as I am not that a bad rasika and I was confident about his performance though I know that ones feeling or judgement about any thing not only art forms can be subjective.
So I was just brooding ovver the title after that director's interview.Can there by any answers?

[kvchellappa]

Such divergence in opinions is common. We had another thread where Abhishek/Kunnakkudi Balamurali concert received similar divergence of views. The artists must stick to their strength and values. Otherwise, it will not be art. Sudha said once, 'Even if I sing to empty hall, I will not water down classicism.'

[jodha]

I respect Sudha's conviction.So it will be difficult to please all by any artist or art form.but to satisfy a majority has a formula I suppose.I can cite Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan as an example.similarly there are so called formula films that attract masses.But I define success as some thing that will have an universal acceptance for e.g Aishwarya Rai or Michael Jackson.But in CM is it possible to create a formula that will work out ? I mean satisfy the majority as well as the minority of the CM rasikas .

[vilomachapu]

Sudha said once, 'Even if I sing to empty hall, I will not water down classicism.'

What a joke! What classicism is Sudha talking about when there is no trace of it in her music?

[jodha]

This is what I told.When Sudha thinks her music is full of classicism many think the other way like vilomachapu.

[kvchellappa]

Kunnakkudi may not be a standard example of classical CM. Many may disagree there. he was a master of violin and produced enjoyable music. Entry to film world has added glamour to artists. He and KJY used to attract record crowds, because of pleasing music and film popularity.

[shankarank]

You were awestruck!it was all trash yesterday

The important thing to note is that he sat through the concert!! So he thinks there is something of value in TNS even if he doesn't like the performance!

[jodha]

Sudha said once, 'Even if I sing to empty hall, I will not water down classicism.'

What a joke! What classicism is Sudha talking about when there is no trace of it in her music?

Vilomachapu,Pl.give a list of musicians of Sudha like as MA would require it to offer SK for them.

[shankarank]

In the POD cast conversation between Dr N Ramanathan and Sanjay - Dr BMK suddenly becomes a candidate for classicism and authenticity based on the fact that he holds the riShabam in kalyANi exactly where Subbarama Dikshitar had said it should be. "He feels he is not recognized" says Dr Ramanathan. Dr BMK's prowess on laya is not even mentioned or discussed.

What if we hold that Ri is just a syllable of vocalization where the gamaka on ga ends and we don't know it's position?

But the irony is somewhere down the conversation Mridangam is declared not music and not to be analyzed as such. The LecDem of Dr PinakapANi is cited as evidence - where a pallavi rendition was deemed as musically complete without Mridangam. Mridangam is entertainment - a side show.

Going at this pace it is not too far to see that Tampura also will become a side show and not part of the essential music! May be we should head back to grAma - mUrcana system to get classicism back!

I rest my case!

[hnbhagavan]

The Consistency factor for musicians is most difficult to achieve.During my listening experience i consider Palghat K V Narayanaswamy as the ideal candidate to show case a successful concert.In the present day O S tyagarajan,Vijaya Siva though not crowd pullers also give a level of satisfaction.
Among crowd pullers i consider Malladi Bros,sanjay who give consistent performance.
Though MDR had few followers,his concerts used to be consistently good.Generally when these stalwarts sang,the accompaniments also used to be of equally good standard.Without good accompaniments,Concerts suffer even while the main artist may be singing well.

[vilomachapu]

Vilomachapu,Pl.give a list of musicians of Sudha like as MA would require it to offer SK for them

Sure, Here is a partial list:
1) P.Unnikrishnan
2) Bombay Jayasri
3) Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna
4) Abhishek Raghuram
5) Mandolin Rajesh

and the senior most of them all, K.J.Yesudas. Hope MA gives all the above the SK. After the award has a long standing stink to it.

[Rsachi]

Ten suggestions to a musician who wants to know how to make the concert successful!
1. Grow a beard, look like Kabali Da!
2. Wear the most gorgeous silk that pallu should blind the violinist!
3. Go get a Magsaysay. Or at least write articles as if you deserve one.
4. Wear your Bani on your sleeve. It should be a celebrated one, like "musician's musician" types.
5. If you're a violinist soloist,
Either change to an all electronic glass violin with Mac Pro controls
Or become a vocalist
6. Wear prominent caste marks on your forehead, shoulders, and chest.
7. Wear a Malaysian floral shirt with a rainforest theme
8. Wear a lot of jewellery.
9. Hold the mike in your hand, sing like Sonu Nigam!
10. Find your twin, cousin, or anyone else, and form a DUO.

Finally, pray, pray hard. Because nobody can guarantee success. Except the One whom you haven't met, yet.

[rshankar]

RSachi - any more of these comments, and your tongue may not disengage from your cheek!

[Rsachi]

[vilomachapu]

Some more who qualify for SK for light music:

6) Kadri Gopalnath
7) Nityasri
8) Guitar Prasanna
9) Prince Rama Verma

There are precedents for MA awarding SK to light music exponents, e.g., Balamurali Krishna and Maharajapuram Santanam.

[vasanthakokilam]

This is what I told.When Sudha thinks her music is full of classicism many think the other way like vilomachapu.

True to the name Viloma ( 'against the grain' )

"Sudha said once, 'Even if I sing to empty hall, I will not water down classicism"
What classicism is Sudha talking about when there is no trace of it in her music?

One visitor from India was aghast when she tasted the fat free milk. Her funny take was "How am I supposed to add any water to this"

(this is all in a lighter vein..I am planning on attending Sudha's concert this weekend.)

[arasi]

Sachi,
All in jest, I know...

Now, what do we call folks like you (I like your kind) who are NRIs of a different sort? Now and then Racing to International cities on work, who Never Run short of Informing and in bringing illuminating information to us on musical and other things?

You also see some of us NRIs who are half-starved, disheveled, as a result of running from place to place. No siestas, evening shower and paTTup puDavai with perfume for us!

[thenpaanan]

One visitor from India was aghast when she tasted the fat free milk. Her funny take was "How am I supposed to add any water to this"

When I was a kid I noticed a maami scolding the paalkaaran for adding water to the milk. When I asked her why she was so angry with him, she said with a twinkle "adding water to the milk is my job, not his."



-Thenpaanan

[arasi]

Darn it, and I'm practicing it right now!

Summer is gone, so are the grandchildren--a whole milk carton's still in the fridge. I'm being pAlkArar and mami--adding plenty of water to this milk to make a cuppa

[rshankar]

If you have skim milk available, what's the point of adding water? SM has no fat, but the rest of the nutrients (i.e., calcium and Vit D) are exactly the same as in WM. Water on the other hand dilutes everything down! Never understood it.

[arasi]

Ravi,
Non fat milk does not appeal to me. I buy 2% milk. Like my coffee with it. Whole milk makes it too rich for my taste

Coming back to music, dilution in it (CM usage for watering down classicism) appeals not, nor does the whole milk coffee kind which is too much ornamentation, a breathless performance of vyvahArams and rich embroidery of rAgA and svarAs ornamentation. Stunned as I am by all the display, it's a bit too much to cope with, in one sitting...

[rshankar]

Ravi,
Non fat milk does not appeal to me. I buy 2% milk. Like my coffee with it. Whole milk makes it too rich for my taste

Arasi - if you have whole milk, instead of adding water to it, if you add an equal volume of skim milk, you'll end up with 2%....

[vasanthakokilam]

If you have skim milk available, what's the point of adding water?

That is the metaphor I was going for

[hnbhagavan]

Most promising among new generation is Amritha Murali,who is equally good in Vocal rendition and Violin Support.
Here is an interview given by Amritha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lOICPW_NuQ

[varsha]

The young lady was late for the concert and hurrying.
Having lost her direction she asked an old violinist playing on the pavement , with a hat in front.
"Can you tell me surest and shortest way to Carnegie hall please ?"

The old man ,stopped playing, thought for a while and replied :
"Practice .My dear Lady . Practice"

[kvchellappa]

Varsha, none can beat you in bringing fresh breeze into any discussion and with the telling effect of Punch.

[advaitin]

Varsha Sir - Brilliant

[varsha]

I missed mentioning courtesy Readers Digest

[hnbhagavan]

Your presence of mind to give suitable joke is appreciated.