Isn't this too much?

[Rsachi]

Five multi-session, multi-concert festivals in my city within 30 days.
Several 24/7 Internet streaming music channels.
Several radio concerts, and even a few TV concerts every day.
Thousands of concerts archived, waiting to be downloaded.
More music Available on tap on FB, YT....


..........

Several thousands of hours of music on my mobile and hard disk devices.


..........





Isn't this all too much????????????

[arasi]

RSachi,
Are all the saris in all the (music sponsoring) sari shops too many?
Are all the books in the libraries and the ones you download on your kindle too many?
Are all the sweets at the confectioners too many?
Are all the concerts in Chennai season too many?

Yes! But we pick and choose as we go, time and our purse permitting So, the more, the merrier.

You may not know how many people go eagerly to your Sunday brunch!
We may not know as to how many thank VKailasam and his ilk whose sharing and the work they put in to make music happen is appreciated...

Just go back some years...how Cool was almost the sole sharer around here.
Also, a few years ago, what one of the rasikas went through in saying that he appreciated a concert which was recorded!

Times change, but one thing will not. Sharing is an endearing quality, and where copyright issues don't enter the picture, this is also true that most of us like sharing something which we happen to like, with like-minded folks.

Keep the Sunday brunch going. In the olden days, we had more than one AIR stations airing CM, all at the same time!

Even now, one of the pleasures in life is to spend time pouring over the season programs and having to choose the ones we prefer to attend. No mean task, but how very rewarding! It's like a child getting all the gifts he dreamed of, under a Christmas tree

[Rsachi]

A Sufi story.
There was a diligent and good farmer with his little family. He had a small strip of land that he tilled and grew enough on to feed and take care of them all. But he often wished for better times.
One day a saintly fakir came that way. His reputation was that he could grant wishes. The farmer fell at his feet and made a request for a boon. The fakir kindly asked, 'son, what do you wish for?'
He replied, 'master, my land is too small. I wish for more land.' 'How much' 'master, I do think sometimes if this vast expanse around were all mine'. The Sufi told him, 'son, tomorrow, start at dawn.And start running. By the end of day, all the land you run around and cover, will become yours. I shall meet you here by dusk.'
The next morning, at daybreak, the farmer started with shiny eyes and wind in his hair. He wanted to cover lots and lots of land before the fakir came at dusk. He started running. He covered finer and finer tracts, fertile, good to till, fit for fruit orchards, fit for growing the best of corn and sugarcane.
He ran and ran. Didn't even stop for a sip of water. Soon the sun beat down fiercely. But the farmer was a man in a hurry. He hurriedly ate that small lunch his wife had packed, and continued. Then came a time he couldn't run any more.m But wait, there was still so much good land to cover, and just a couple of more hours! He drew on the Last ounce of his strength to continue further.
At last, it was dusk. The farmer staggered in an unspeakable state towards his humble hut. There stood the fakir. The man stumbled, came to the fakir's feet, and fell down. The fakir waited for a few minutes. Then said, ''you need to dig this piece of land to bury the farmer. He needs about six feet by three feet.'

[msakella]

All our saint composers lead their lives with all their simplicity and high thinking and blessed all of us with their unfathomable sacred- compositions. But we all have been going on and on selling them for a price until our last breath totally forgetting to truly serve the society. Where is the end? When our musicians realize this and serve the society sincerely, efficiently, truly and truthfully? Isn’t this too much to expect nowadays? amsharma

[varsha]

A sufi who went by the name Leo Tolstoy

One of the most popular stories o be adapted into tv and theatre the world over . Next only to Les Miserables perhaps .

how much land does a man need

there are some nice video interpretations on you tube.

This issue of excess is as old as modern civilisation perhaps . But I guess it is better to have more than less , when it comes to Indian music.
The brilliant effect of a concert happening in front of our eyes , in flesh and blood , will always have its appeal , though .

On a side note I can narrate a story which I got from a humble carpenter from Bihar in one of my train journeys recently . We were the only two guys not sleeping / snoring in the a/c chair(? ) car compartment , in the 5 hour journey . And this story took a good three hours for him to tell .
A very earthy story which is part of their family folklore ( he was more aware of the epics and Indian culture , than myself) - a family of sculptors who have now taken to carpentry for a living . I can narrate it here , if RSachi does not take the - lets crown varsha the .... way
The theme of this story is an interesting mix of two stories of Tolstoy - How much land does a man need and What do men live by .
By a , Strange coincidence this is what exactly the point of RSachis cry is .

[Rsachi]

Varshaya! Varshaya!

[mahavishnu]

Yes, I always enjoy your stories. Please narrate.
sarasa sangati sandarbhamu gala giramUlurA!

[arasi]

Hold it guys!
This makes me feel as if gluttony and greed are my religion
Au contraire, I'm harping (music!) about sharing! Varsha has rained plenty of good music, and you now for the same reason, no doubt.

I bet you story tellers have some beautiful Sufi and other stories besides the 'why a long spoon at the table' story to share

[vgovindan]

…". Indian Classical Music and Musicians appeal only to the informed public or elite and definitely not to the masses."
(Bharat Ratna for a CM Musician) Post No 34 by munirao.
Seems to be true confession.

This was not so in my childhood days. Common people used flock to temples to listen Music kaccEri during temple festivals.
Remember the film story 'Sindhu Bhairavi' - wherein the hero sings all by himself in a beach and a fisherman who listens to the song offers him an oyster chain telling that 'I don't understand a word of what you sang, but I loved the music'.

A few years back, I posted under one of the topics the following - It was about a review of music concert by a Pakistani woman singer. The reviewer says - 'She was singing so nicely - for all I know she was reading out a shopping list - but it made me cry"
Language and words are no barriers for music. It is the bhAva - whether the musician becomes one with music or not - that is the million dollar question.

kaDal niRaiyat taNNIrAnAlum kuDippadaRku udavumA - water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!

I again repeat - vain expectation!

[Rsachi]

I have said it before too. My amazement at Varsha's resourcefulness in producing highly appropriate quotations is only exceeded by my gratitude for the bounties of music he has shared over the years (eg that Bhoopali in a Cathedral.)

So Varsha, when I said I want to crown you, I meant it as a compliment.

Kindly bring on more stories.

[arasi]

Govindan,
While the elite in society decorate a sabhA and the elite among listeners grace the sabha, there are plenty of folks like me to this day, who are there for no other reason but to listen to some music which moves them. Yes, sometimes we are disappointed with a performance which does not touch us, but the choice is ours and we needn't go to another concert of that artiste.

True, modern times add so much glitz to it all, but because I'm not an elite rasikA, I still listen to music as you and I did when we were growing up! After all, good music is music to my ears, to this day. I suppose, my lack of skills in analyzing the music helps! At a concert, I do nothing but listen--giving a rest to my mind!

[pattamaa]

with december round the corner, we have similar issue...what to pick, where to go?

Can we have recommendations for pure (no-frills), pristine music, artists and sabha...so that one can make plans? let's classify both vocal and instrumental...

[vs_manjunath]

True, modern times add so much glitz to it all, but because I'm not an elite rasikA, I still listen to music as you and I did when we were growing up! After all, good music is music to my ears, to this day. I suppose, my lack of skills in analyzing the music helps! At a concert, I do nothing but listen--giving a rest to my mind!

"I do nothing but listen-giving a rest to my mind ! "

Absolutely true ! Mind is totally distracted of mundane thoughts and you feel fresh after listening to a good concert.

[VK RAMAN]

"lack of skills in analyzing the music helps! At a concert, I do nothing but listen--giving a rest to my mind" - how true if one wants to enjoy music

[varsha]

Ithna key liye Uthna ....
This story was narrated by a Bihari Carpenter who had come to Chennai as a young apprentice thirteen years ago .
He now has built his own enterprise and currently executes three projects , one each in Chennai , Mumbai and KR Puram.
What is written here will never be able to convey the charm and warmth of his story telling – in an accent which was a heady mix of the ones we associate with Channulal Misra and Lalloo Prasad Yadav.
Life in a metro had not corrupted his sense of imagination and when he uttered phrases like Jab Naradji ne Indra se Kaha … one could see the glint of the reflections from Heaven’s golden gates in his eyes .
Occasionally he would interject and ask me – I hope you are aware of the story of Yaksha and Yudhishtira .

Indian mythology was deeply ingrained into him as part of family tradition in sculpting . Carpentry was a safety net for these modern times . And how well he had made this leap of faith , holding a top end Samsung mobile in his hand , and yet retaining his pastoral image of his world.
We should get to listen to him narrate it in his own way ,some day in Bangalore or Chennai .But for today , here is the beautifully constructed story by his Chacha
----------------
Sage Narada once got into a bored state and decided to check out on how life was conducted on earth . It was a spell where things were quiet in Heaven and that meant less of the mischievous-errand-boy-nature for his daily engagements .
He came down to earth , spent a good lot of time , seeing people enjoying life , flying in aeroplanes , eating in restaurants , driving cars , children laughing . Convinced that folks on earth were really having a good time he decides to return to Heaven .
On the way back he gets a doubt – who would ever believe him ?
After all was'nt there always a crowd at the gates of Hell too .
And so he gets down to a sugar cane farm , cuts one cane as a trophy and takes it back .As proof of happy times on earth .

First stop – he goes to Brahma and narrates his experience . And shows the sugar cane . Brahma gets anxious and whispers back … Have you told Vishnu or anyone else . No ? Then just keep mum
Narada is Narada and starts wondering about the reaction . He cant resist the temptation of telling Shiva next .
Siva gets a bit annoyed , listening to his story of triumph but murmurs – Don’t tell any one else .Especially Vishnu . Keep mum . And goes back to praying .

Narada is now really curious . He is just not able to contain his excitement about the Don’t-tell-others stuff and heads straight to Vishnu .
Who listens to his exploits in silence and keeps quiet .
Wont you tell me something , asks Narada .

Vishnu replies : Look my Dear Narada , you have committed an offense . You have stolen a piece of a man’s work on earth ( by not paying for it ) and that was bad .
Narada pleads : But they were all so happy . They wont miss this sugar cane . They wont feel the loss tomorrow .
Vishnu says : That is not how it works out on earth, Narada . Each man has to earn his own living . And that he does , by doing work .Like say growing sugarcane in this case . What you brought back was a piece of some ones labour without paying for it ..

Narada says : I don’t understand , What is this thing about paying ….
But Vishnu interjects
You wont understand until you go back and earn the worth of one sugar cane . Go back again and don’t return until you have learnt the whole process of life on earth .

And so Narada appears as an old helping hand at the same farmers door . Offering himself as an apprentice . The farmer says he is not rich enough to hire a helper . But Narada insists , offering his services free .
The old man relents and takes him on board . Builds him a nice Machan near the field and life goes on . Narada toils hard for his daily bread and after six months the next crop of sugarcane is ready . Ready to be cut .
One night he stays awake, wondering whether Vishnu would accept his 6 month toil as worthy of one cane .The day to go back was approaching fast .

And he hears whisphers in the farm . He gets close to the source and finds that four robbers have cut all canes and neatly packed them into 4 bundles – big bundles
So big that each can only put a bundle on the others shoulder and not on himself . An so they were arguing .. who would be the first and who would be the last.

Narada intervenes and explains to them that this was simply not acceptable in God’s view . Stealing another mans work without paying for it .
All the robbers laugh merrily and poke fun at this old man and tell him that he would be killed if uttered another word .
Narada then exclaims : and questions himself
Arre Bhai … Ithna key liye ( touching one cane ) uthna tha . Ab Uthna ( panning his eyes over all the bundles ) ke liye Kithna ?

Ithna key liye uthna .Uthna ke liye Kithna ?
(The narrator stopped silent in true Somerset Maugham fashion .)
The robbers hear these words as heavenly utterances and vanish into the dark night .
Next morning the farmer gets up , sees the lovely bundles and appreciates the work of his helping hand who has worked all night to pay for his upkeep .
Narada looks heavenwards and sees Vishnu smiling , and calling him back .
-------
This story was narrated in the context of big names not paying his dues for months , but why that never affected his quality of work .
I am a shilpi by conviction and carpenter by necessity and I could see the pride in his eyes ...

[arasi]

A beautiful story, Varsha--told only as you can tell it
Let alone Tolstoy and Maugham.

And the man who told the story, his own story...I salute him. What integrity!

[Rsachi]

Beautiful story, Varsha!
Yes, the vishwakarma community have the title acharya traditionally and command much respect for their knowledge of Shastra and way of life.

Mysore Maharaja was initiated into some spiritual practices by Shilpi Siddhalinga swamy. He built many temples and icons in Mysore.
I went and met the master craftsman family in Swamimalai who makes those fabulous icons for all Iskcon and Venkateshwara temples around the world.

[cienu]

An amazing story Varsha. Ithna keliye Uthna, Uthna keliye kithna Reminds me of what Yudhishtira had to undergo for the one "lie" he uttered to Drona regarding the "death" of Ashwathamma.

[cmlover]

Varsha!
Good moral story worth telling our politicians especially with the addendum cienu has provided!

[srikant1987]

Arre Bhai … Ithna key liye ( touching one cane ) uthna tha . Ab Uthna ( panning his eyes over all the bundles ) ke liye Kithna ?

The next year, a cyclone uproots our farmer's crop -- and of many other farmers in the village.

And all farmers and Narada look at Vishnu ....