Musical Morsels

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 26 Feb 2013, 22:34

Ravi, what I was wondering was if you consider the resolutions themselves to be ridiculous ( hence laughable ) or that people do not respect it?

All this reflects the sign of those times. The MA folks thought the concert practice was in a disarray and totally unprofessional. They wanted to bring a semblance of order to this profession.

If you read the 1929 journal, you will see that they make it clear that these are guidelines. One musician got worried enough to ask for a clarification! Overall, Music Academy itself took these things seriously ( may be not all ) and tried to adopt some of these resolutions for the MA concerts. Two such things are: Restricting the concert duration and the practice of printing the song list ahead of time. ( these were passed as resolutions in a previous conference ).

clmweb · Post by **clmweb** » 28 Feb 2013, 19:48

Pasupathy wrote:Musiri Subramanya Iyer acted only in one Tamil movie --' Thukaram".
Here's a review of that film by "Kalki" Krishnamurthy, which appeared in Ananda Vikatan around 1938.

Here's a song in Raga Hamsanadam from the movie:
http://youtu.be/8QzWDplruik

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 28 Feb 2013, 21:03

>>Here's a song in Raga Hamsanadam from the movie:>>

Wonderful.Thanks. Acc to Randor Guy, no print exists and only some song discs exist from this film.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 28 Feb 2013, 21:33

Thanks. Some nice pictures too of Musiri!
Is the movie print available anywhere?

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 01 Mar 2013, 19:15

Musical Tidbits -16

A comparison of Vidwans' caricatures by Mali and Silpi.
An example of a Vikatan series started in 45.

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/03/16.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 01 Mar 2013, 22:19

Ubhaya = mutual
kucala = welfare
pari = parivartanam = exchange
or simply put
How do you do?
or in our NA language "Howdy?"

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 02 Mar 2013, 15:11

vasanthakokilam wrote: If you read the 1929 journal, you will see that they make it clear that these are guidelines. One musician got worried enough to ask for a clarification! Overall, Music Academy itself took these things seriously ( may be not all ) and tried to adopt some of these resolutions for the MA concerts. Two such things are: Restricting the concert duration and the practice of printing the song list ahead of time. ( these were passed as resolutions in a previous conference ).

If you read RaviSri's post at http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... 65#p237665 some context is provided in terms why some of these resolutions were passed!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 03 Mar 2013, 04:08

Yes, I saw that. Thanks for the cross link, Mohan.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 30 Mar 2013, 18:09

Musical Tidbits -17

How to sing (and not sing) a viruththam?

'Kalki' : A review of S G Kittappa's Gramaphone Record

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/03/17.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 30 Mar 2013, 20:30

ஒரு பெரிய வித்வான் --சாரீர சம்பத்தில் இணையற்றவர் -- கொடுத்திருக்கும் “ஒருமையொடு” என்ற பிளேட்டைக் கேளுங்கள். ஒரே மூச்சில் வார்த்தைகளைக் கொட்டி ‘டும்’ என்று நிறுத்திவிட்டு, ராக விஸ்தாரத்தில் புகுந்து விடுகிறார். “பொய்மை பேசாதிருக்க வேண்டும்” என்பதில், “பொய்....” என்று நிறுத்தி ஒரு பிர்கா அடிக்கிறார். இன்னும் “பொய்மை பேசாதிருக்க வேண்டும்” “ மருவு பெண்ணாசையை மறக்க வேண்டும்” என்ற வாக்கியங்களில் , இசையின் பாவம், “ஐயோ! பொய் பேசாமல் இருக்க வேண்டியிருக்கிறதே!” “அடடா! மருவு பெண்ணாசையை அநியாயமாய் மறக்க வேண்டியிருக்கிறதே!” என்று துயரப் படுவது போலிருக்கிறது! ]

யார் அவர்? முசிரியா? செம்பையா?

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 30 Mar 2013, 21:02

செம்பை என்கிறார் ஒரு நண்பர்

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 30 Mar 2013, 21:35

Killing sAhityam was the forte of those old timers. At least PS through direct tutoring preserved his lyrics. MS took particular care about the lyrics even taking trouble to learn the languages. Am I not lucky not knowing Telugu to stand the atrocious mutilations of T

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 10 Apr 2013, 19:54

6 pm at the Academy : cartoon

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 10 Apr 2013, 20:17

ஆறு மனமே ஆறு அந்த
அகாடமியில் மணி ஆறு..
கூறு மனமே கூறு இந்தக்
கூத்தை ரஸிப்பவர் யாரு!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 21 Jul 2013, 17:34

Musical Tidbits -18

Poet Vaali's articles about some Vidwans and Music

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/07/18.html

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 03 Aug 2013, 01:46

வீணையின் குரல்: எஸ்.பாலசந்தர்-ஒரு வாழ்க்கை சரிதம்
By வீயெஸ்வி
First Published : 22 July 2013 01:30 AM IST
[ நன்றி : தினமணி ]
வீணையின் குரல்: எஸ்.பாலசந்தர்-ஒரு வாழ்க்கை சரிதம் - விக்ரம் சம்பத்; தமிழில் : வீயெஸ்வி; பக்.440, விலை ரூ. 350, காலச்சுவடு பதிப்பகம், நாகர்கோவில், )0462-278525.

கடந்த நூற்றாண்டில் தென்னிந்தியாவில் தோன்றிய ஒரு கலை மேதை என்றே எஸ்.பாலசந்தரைக் கூற வேண்டும். நடிப்பு, எழுத்து, சங்கீதம், பின்னணிப் பாட்டு, திரைப்பட இயக்கம் என்று வலம் வந்தவர் எஸ்.பாலசந்தர்.

சினிமாவில் தான் நினைத்ததை சாதித்த அவர், அதன் பிறகு மிகத் தீவிரமாக கர்நாடக இசைக்குத் திரும்பிவிட்டார். அவருடைய வார்த்தைகளில் கூற வேண்டுமானால், ""வீணை என்றால் பாலசந்தர், பாலசந்தர் என்றால் வீணை'' என்று அறியப்பட அவர் பெரும் உழைப்பு உழைத்தார்.

அவருடைய இசை ஞானம் லேசுப்பட்டதல்ல; பல வாத்தியங்களைச் சிறு வயதில் தானாகவே வாசிக்கப் பழகியிருந்தார். வீணையையும் அவராகவே வாசிக்கப் பழகிக் கொண்டார். பின்னர் அதில்தான் எத்தனை புதுமைகள், சோதனை முயற்சிகள்! ஆனால் எதிலும் மரபு தவறியது கிடையாது. வீணை அமைப்பிலும் அதனை உருவாக்குவதிலும் தொழில்நுட்பத்திலும் கூட அவர் கவனம் செலுத்தினார்.

எந்த ஒரு மேதையும் வைரம்தான். சீராக பட்டை தீட்டப்படாத கரடு முரடான சில பக்கங்கள் இவருக்கும் உண்டு. சக கலைஞர்களுடன் அவருடைய மோதல், அவருடைய குறைகள், மேன்மை எல்லாவற்றையும் சமமான தட்டுகளில் வைத்து அளிக்கிறார் நூலாசிரியர் விக்ரம் சம்பத்.

பாலசந்தரின் வருகையின் முக்கியத்துவத்தைத் தெரிவிக்க விரும்பிய ஆசிரியர், கர்நாடக இசை சரித்திரம், மியூசிக் அகாதமி-தமிழிசை சர்ச்சை என்று சற்று அகலக் கால் வைத்திருப்பதாகத் தோன்றுகிறது.

விமர்சனபூர்வமான வாழ்க்கைச் சரிதங்கள் தமிழில் வந்தது கிடையாது என்றே சொல்லிவிடலாம். அந்தக் குறையைப் போக்கும் முக்கியமான புத்தகம் இது.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Aug 2013, 02:34

Do I understand that this book on Sri Balachander is written by our forumite, Vikram Sampath? Is the book in tamizh? Hopefully, Vikram will bring out a version in Englsih!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 03 Aug 2013, 02:55

This book is a Tamil translation of the original book in English by Vikram Sampath.
The book in English ( Voice of the Veena ) has been available for some time.
See , e.g.,
http://vikramsampath.com/books.html

And

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 814150.ece

http://ramsabode.wordpress.com/2012/01/ ... lachander/

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Aug 2013, 03:39

Thank you...I now remember this. Should pick it up when I am in Madras next.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 03 Aug 2013, 08:31

Ravi,
I loved reading the book so much that I had to buy another copy to give to a musical friend who suggested that I should read Vikram's Gohar Jan! So, I read it at one stretch.
His book on Balachander is just as engaging, and I was really surprised that young Vikram had two very different kinds of books there, though both are about musicians. I think his affinity with history plays a significant part in making him the kind of writer he is. Vikram was kind enough to autograph his book on Balachander for me. Gohar Jan has to wait, because I got the book just a week before I left India!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 09 Aug 2013, 01:35

கற்பகாம்பிகே - பிலஹரி ; பாடுபவர் - பாபநாசம் சிவன்

https://soundcloud.com/archive-of-india ... rpagambike

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 02 Oct 2013, 20:41

**Papanasam Sivan : A Legend

An interview with Rukmini Ramani +Ashok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdQN1A9FChk

**A Group Singing Sivan's "kaRpakamE"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay9qAtaEmGM

I'm sure most of you can identify most of the singers!

***
Sanjay singing "unnaiyallaal"
( S Rajam's painting shown in the background briefly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om-zus8aceI

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 01 Nov 2013, 20:26

Musical Tidbits -19

Two songs about Deepavali , from "Swadesamithran" Deepavali Malars (1965, 1967)

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/11/19.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 01 Nov 2013, 20:45

மிக்க நன்றி.
முதல் கவிதை யாப்பிலக்கணப்படி எந்த பாவியலைச் சேர்ந்தது?
தீபாவளி வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 01 Nov 2013, 20:59

அறுசீர் விருத்தம்.

இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துகள்!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 02 Nov 2013, 20:46

Is it அறுசீர் கழிநெடிலடி விருத்தம்?

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 03 Nov 2013, 08:10

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 03 Nov 2013, 21:25

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 02 Dec 2013, 17:45

Chinese Student of D K P singing Tyagaraja-song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fxVJNlA ... e=youtu.be

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 03 Dec 2013, 07:34

Very impressive!
So this is a Sai show!
Any more details?

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 03 Dec 2013, 21:22

Here's an interview where he explains how he came to DKP etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHOvoVb ... e=youtu.be

a full concert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vMIVuT7 ... ture=share

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 03 Dec 2013, 22:34

There used to be a Flute Mali group in Japan & a Japanese who used to come to Madras (In mid fifties) claimed that when he played his flute in morning a particular bird used to come & sit outside his window! Any one know anything about this? VKV

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Dec 2013, 02:49

His dedication to learning the accent is amazing!
Why can't our own folks learn to speak Tamizh/Tamil/TamiL correctly

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Dec 2013, 04:00

CAN YOU DEFINE which of the Tamizh/Tamil/TamiL is correct? I have never been able to find which version is correct! If I am foolish enough to sit on the Sangapalagai it will at once topple me & I am sure I will drown. Switching from Sanskrit to Tamil in Intermediate spite of LOWER GRADES! MMI'S INFLUENCE!...... VKV

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Dec 2013, 18:47

I'm sure the question's in pure jest, but in case there's any doubt whatsoever, this song, by the self-proclaimed devotee of the mahAkavi should help, perhaps?

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 04 Dec 2013, 22:08

Dear rshankar, HEARD THE CLIP & FOUND THE MUSIC INTERESTING BUT my CONFUSION STILL REMAINS. I do not still know what is referred to in post#183. Is it the language taught by my profs, Gopala Iyer & Alalasundaranar in M.C.C. in 1949, or as it is generally spoken in Madras (1939-'59) or NOW which I don't fully follow, Tiruchy, Tirunelveli, Yazhpanam, or air-d.d. or Movies now a days(fortunately do not warch them) all of which I dont fully understand? I would appreciate some clarification from some one. VKV

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Dec 2013, 00:11

Inside TN the accents vary from place to place. There is also variation according to the caste one belongs.
All these are legitimate and follow traditions.
However it is not necessary to sanskriticize or anglicize Tamil which has its own identity.
Minimally one should pay attention to the special Tamizh letters (not in sanskrit) such as:
la, La, zha and ra, Ra as also the vowels e, E, o,O
Even the meaning is altered if these letters are misused or mispronounced...

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 05 Dec 2013, 05:03

cmlover wrote: Minimally one should pay attention to the special Tamizh letters (not in sanskrit) such as:
la, La, zha and ra, Ra as also the vowels e, E, o,O
Even the meaning is altered if these letters are misused or mispronounced...

And in this forum a few members are very particular in avoiding 'Ra' in the transliterated lyrics!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:22

Musical Tidbits -20

Music Season: 1954 -1

The first part of a Vikadan article , about 1954 Music Season.

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/20.html

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 15 Dec 2013, 02:47

The sidelining of 'R' should be discouraged. It is part and parcel of Tamil. I did not even realize that people smudge over it. But I agree knowing where to use 'R' can be difficult and comes from experience and being among people who utter that sound properly.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 18 Dec 2013, 19:07

Some Musical Tidbits from a ' Devan's' novel [ and their relation to a recent Sanjay video clip...]
தேவன் - 16: சில சங்கீத சங்கதிகள்!
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/16.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 19 Dec 2013, 07:45

Nice post appropriate for the Season!
But then it shows the difference between Devan and Kalki as far as CM appreciation is concerned!

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 22 Dec 2013, 18:41

An article by Sangeetha Kalanidhi T L Venkatarama Iyer in 1938- Vikatan DeepavaLi Malar
( with a drawing by 'Mali' )
சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 21
சில சங்கீத வித்வான்கள்

‘சங்கீத கலாநிதி’ டி.எல்.வெங்கடராமய்யர்
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/21.html

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 25 Dec 2013, 20:01

Musical Tidbits -22

The second article in Ananda Vikatan about the 1954 Madras Music Season.

சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 22
சங்கீத சீசன் : 1954 - 2

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/22.html

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 29 Dec 2013, 18:21

Musical Tidbits -23

'Music-oriented Jokes' from Ananda Vikatan
சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 23
'சிரிகமபதநி’
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/23.html

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 30 Dec 2013, 00:32

>http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/23.html
Quite funny

>http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/12/22.html

The incident between Doraiswamy Iyer and Tyagaraja described in theabove link is new to me. Given that this was written in 1938, I can see such anecdotes are fresh in the mind of people who have probably heard it from first sources.

It is interesting that Doraisway Iyer concludes that Thyagaraja is a pallavi vidwan based on Thyagarja's expertise at Sangathi formation in his compositions. I never thought of it that way, though I can see now why that is so.

Was Thyagaraja indeed a pallavi vidwan during his time? What I find interesting is Doraisamy Iyer's initial impression of Thyagaraja that he is 'just a composer' of songs and not a 'pallavi vidwan'. That tells us something about the pecking order then. ( I guess it is still true to an extent now )

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 05 Jan 2014, 08:32

Musical Tidbits -24

What is the new Raga in which U V Swaminatha Iyer sang Kamban's poems?

சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 24
கம்பனைப் பாட ஒரு புதிய ராகம்!
உ.வே.சாமிநாதய்யர்
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/24.html

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 05 Jan 2014, 10:00

U.Ve.Sa had a very good sense of humor. It is quite entertaining to read. Thanks.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 05 Jan 2014, 18:02

What I find interesting is Doraisamy Iyer's initial impression of Thyagaraja that he is 'just a composer' of songs and not a 'pallavi vidwan'. That tells us something about the pecking order then. ( I guess it is still true to an extent now )

Very interesting observation! Thanks, VK.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 11 Jan 2014, 20:18

Musical Tidbits - 25
About Madurai Somu ; Part 1

சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 25
மதுரை சோமு - 1

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/25.html