Ilayaraja counterpoint

[kvchellappa]

From Facebook (for experts);
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETDkpMM-JOQ#t=158

[vasanthakokilam]

That is a good technique to illustrate the concept. I am not quality to comment on the technicalities of it but the example at 5:50 "Counter point Mehendi: flute-guitar-janaki-violins' shows the layering of different melodies ( with possibly opposite movements melodically ) to create a compound one. About my own tastes, sometimes I find a lot of such things quite busy/noisy overall but this examples shows that how 'richness'/'body' texture is added by that technique which sounds so good. Actually, that initial flute has a western vibe to it but once the other elements come in, it is starting to sound quite Indian. I thought that is interesting given the irony of it. That is all attributable to the genius that Ilayaraja is.

[arasi]

Chellappa and Kokilam,
Interesting.

Didn't Naushad usher it in? He could play the piano, was familiar with western music. Then, Shankar Jaikishan, and they did it decades ago--in a simpler form, of course! I don't have much of an idea about modern day music directors.

[ganesh_mourthy]

the song from chittukuruvi sounded very unusual to me , but in a nice way , even at a time when I was a kid. Take the alternative phrases and it makes a tune of its own. It sounds like alternating tunes rather than overlapping or counterpoint.

Talking about unusual in a nice way , I enjoyed Malare mounama from Karnan where there was equal singing and pause of voice in Pallavi part, or was the pause more? (in Darbari Kaanada). My cousin could not enjoy it instantly. That was the golden era of South Indian Music.

Novelty in a nice way is always accepted. But, nowadays I often hear to a type of trend in singing which is similar to murmuring in sleep, well it is another genius!!! phew.

[cacm]

At the risk of being hit by POWERFUL BRICKS I want to point out as one who has taken formal classes in Western classical music that "counterpoint" is a very specific thing & I find that many movie composers in a typical fashion BASTERDISE the concept in their unique & interesting ways. In my view thats the difference between CLASSICAL & MOVIE MUSIC -PAPANASM SIVAN EXCLUDED- & I do agree that in a superficial way they sound interesting& novel. I am ready for the bricks but wont answer anything further due to old age! (what an excuse! but true) VKV

[VK RAMAN]

"Unique and interesting" that Ilayaraja gets the suggestions from Balamurali Krishna while tunesmithing; so ............ let everyone make a guess to fill inthe blanks

[vasanthakokilam]

vkv sir, you definitely know much more about this than I but just to provide some context, you are right that 'counter point' has a formal definition. What Ilayaraja explains there is for those who do not know anything at all about multiple simultaneous melodies so he is keeping it at a high level and that is the right way to approach it. Ilayaraja knows what a counter point is.

I agree there is a whole lot of superficial film music but we need to leave Ilayaraja's music out of such characterizations. We can discuss that more later.

[cacm]

Dear V, I have NOT followed I'S Music myself & my remarks are addressed to the various comments made in this section. In any case UNLESS HE himself wrote it here I AUTOMATICALLY do not consider it as what he said. VKV