Carnatic Music LEARNING

[anantraman.s]

Something to Cheer about and Something to think about

By S Anantraman, Bangalore


Thanks to the talent search through Sa-Ri-Ga-Ma, Star Idea Junior Singer contest etc., a good number of young ones who have emerged in the music field. What an impressive and incredible performance by little Vishnu Krishnan and Vishnu KG in the Star Singer contest! When the latter sang a piece on ‘Devi’, it evoked standing ovation from even the judges. There is no need for any further comment on this.

At the same time there is a major lacuna, almost a trend. Even some experienced and renowned maestros are more interested in exhibiting their talent with ‘acrobatic variations’ while singing kritis of saints like Thyagaraja and Purandaradasa and there is very little clarity in expression. I am of the opinion that the thrust should be on devotion. This can be had only when the singer knows the meaning of the song and contemplates on the same. There should therefore an attempt to first know the meaning of the songs before they are sung in public. By the process of ascertaining the meaning, there will be perfect word-clarity and separation of syllables from words while singing.

Perfect singing, knowing the meaning and import of the songs, and with deep involvement and feeling, will transform the very singing into spiritual Sadhana which will help in scaling new heights in spiritual life at the same time bringing satisfaction to oneself and the listeners.

These days, children learn music from teachers many of whom do not know the meaning of the kritis. Some do not know even the author of the kritis. Even the wordings are not properly taught. Children therefore learn the songs without these essential basics with the result their exposition lacks clarity and depth of devotion. Claps are not the need but the renderings must be able to evoke devotional feelings in the hearts of the singer and in the listeners.

It is time to prescribe text books for music wherein kritis and kirtans are properly given with not only the swara positions but also the word meanings. This must be made compulsory. It will be a boon to the society and will surely enrich the standard of music in the future. Will the Chembai School of Music and similar institutions please take this up?

Kindly do not view this as criticism but I have just given open and frank expression to my feelings on the subject.

[msakella]

Even though the Music, the finest of the Fine Arts, has, at the first instance, to be learnt only as an art involving different kinds of ‘variations’ it may, unfortunately, look like acrobatics to some people. For many aspirants, only by age and experience, it later leads to deep involvement and feeling and very few fortunate ones only get that deep involvement and feeling even right from their younger age. amsharma

[anantraman.s]

AM Sharma is right, in the beginning it is just learning but I am sure it is not too much to expect perfect clarity of words, proper diction and breaking of words at the right places. These will be possible only if one knows the meaning and import of the songs. Hope you will agree. - Anantraman

[msakella]

For professional musicians music has the first preference and the lyric is the next as they have to struggle more with different aspects of music than lyric. Some of the listeners may not be able to bear with it. That is but natural in both cases. amsharma

[Nick H]

... This must be made compulsory.

By whom? And in a country where even traffic rules cannot be "made compulsory"?

It just seems a strange thing to say, as music teaching is not a matter that is subject to law, and is unlikely ever to be so.

[msakella]

Dear brother-member, Nick H, Yes, you are damn right. Unless the mindset of the citizens is changed in respect of duties and demands it is not at all possible. amsharma

[anantraman.s]

For professional musicians music has the first preference and the lyric is the next as they have to struggle more with different aspects of music than lyric. Some of the listeners may not be able to bear with it. That is but natural in both cases. amsharma

Well, I suggest you see one comment of Gobilalitha on HILARITY IN KUTCHERIS which is reproduced here:

Chembai was performing at mumbai, specially devoting the kutcheri to all the kshetras and the presiding deities, the audience was in tears hearing him singing with so much of bhakti and bhava. about their native places and the deities