'Sweet Sounds'

[melam72]

Somebody in Singapore finally deigned to have a Carnatic music concert series, called 'Madhuradhwani'. I was particularly interested in the 'Madhu' part of the name, and I became curious. What would they serve? Wine? Beer? Gutka? Rum?

Disappointingly enough, no alcohol was served. Perhaps wisely enough, given the content of the concerts.

The series began with a 'concert' by The Cowherdess, described to me by My Sources as a 'ஜனரன்ஜகமான கச்சேரி'. The Cowherdess doesn't deliver 'concerts', she performs. She spreads her hands around, waving them, flapping them, dances around in stage, grunts, groans, and coaxes some form of 'music'. Thankfully, I didn't attend her performance. I was otherwise engaged. The song list doesn't matter, to be honest, to any Cow who is herded by her 'Maadu Meikum Kanne'. She did Vittala Vittala. She did Chiding Song. She sung the Rap. The Cows who went to her concert must've been transported, their heads and their wallets lighter.

The next was a violin duet between The Snake People. Yes, one of them was named 'Muralidharan', but there were no Murali Gaanamu. The concert was screechy. Why can't violinists tune down their violinists a few octaves? The earbuds of the few Cows remaining in the hall after the performance were subjected to quite some abuse every time The Snake People manipulated the violins to the higher shadjamam. Notice that I said manipulated and not played. At one point, it seemed like Uncle Snake was pressing its bow to the violin. If the violin had a voice it would shriek, but even without a voice, it did shriek a bit. They did complete bhajanai. They squeezed the Unequal Song. They squeezed the Who Is That song. They squeezed the Show Pity On Me Right Now song. They did a RTP in Behag in viloma chapu, with the lines of 'Venkata Ramana, Sankata Harana, Thribuvana', and did ragamalika in Jog and Hamsanandi. When I heard Jog, and the Hindustani touches in the Aboghi of the Unequal song, I was expecting a grumpy Kishori Amonkar under a black umbrella to descend from a vulture hovering above the hall to join the Snakes, but she stayed out of their nests.

The highlight was the Tani Avartanam, by Mannargudi Easwaran and SV Ramani. Mannargudi Easwaran looked like a seventy-odd-year-young kid on his arangetram. He had a certain energy and verve that was unique for a person of his age. Was he excited that his fellow Mannargudi-ite Chinnamma was going to become CM (sidebar: why the name Chinnamma? Why does that name always bring to mind second wives of aging men?). Inspired perhaps by the Cowherdess, he seemed to dance on stage, his shoulders see-sawing as he played (yes, finally, a mridangam player) a brilliant tani in four nadais (why Sankeernam was neglected no one knows).

Other than that, the Snake People did complete bhajanai. Thank god one couldn't play the violin and play the jalra at the same time!

The second day began with a presentation on 'Imperial Chola Temples and the Music They Inspired' by the historian Pradeep Chakravathy, who, surprisingly enough was an Ayyangar and not a Bongo as expected. The presentation was rather hurried, and included a few factual inaccuracies (since when was Mudduswami Dikshitar's ishta devtha Bangaru Kamakshi?), but it was very interesting indeed. After his presentation, one comes to the realisation that temples were the equivalents of Panchayat offices, complete even with libraries! Also touched was the subject of tomb temples, which, unfortunately, inspired no music, though one wonders what such music would be sound like.

On the other hand, the rendering of Srividya Sriram and Sushma Somasekharan was mediocre, to put it politely. Srividya's voice was thick, though not with emotion, but with lack of practice. Sushma's sruthi was like a child in the auditorium, not sitting in one place, wondering always. The violin accompaniment and mridangam accompaniment were satisfactory, though they had to do little. Were they the only local artistes who could've sung? Aren't there anyone else?

Then came Sanjay's concert.

I want to do a brain scan of how Sanjay thinks when he does those hand motions during raga alapana. In one asana (note the usage of that word), he held his hand up high, like a traffic cop in a traffic jam, and then lowered it, like one of those fake swami-jees who abound like mushrooms after a thunderstorm. Other asanas he assumed during his performance included Car Driver, Fake Sami-ji, Basket Weaver, Factory Foreman, and Steel Worker.

But he had a good song list, and sung pure carnatic, if you can call it that. He began with an Ata Tala varnam in Sahana by Patnam Subramanya Iyer, sang Kanakangi as sub-main, and Kanada for the main. He took Kalyani (of all ragas) for the ragam tanam pallavi. The pallavi was Khanda Ekam, 2-kalai, with lyrics 'Tandavam adinan Natarajan / ta jham taka jham takita jham endru', which he later sang in Adi. He concluded with Adum Chidambaramo and a Kapi krithi of Swathi Thirunal.

Another thing which rankles me about The Sanjay (a la The Donald) is that he shows no respect for the stage. He sung the swarams from Azhagu Azhagu, the popular tamil movie, for Kanada. He went 'pa-pa-pa-pa-pa' like a nageswaram player, and did his customary 'tu tu tu'. Why, Sanjay, why? Don;t you understand how difficult it is to come on stage? He doesn't. If you come on stage because of family connections and like, you don't understand the value of the slot, you won't respect it.

Do you now understand why they chose not to serve alcohol at Madhu-radhwani?

[arasi]

Wow! That was a giddy ride!

Made us relive our-ferocious feline erstwhile member-'s posts.

Such 'expressive' writing can come from another talented and lively member too in your city. Are you there Bala?

Content can seem contentious to some, but the word play will win them over, methinks...

As for the stage decor, after seeing collision of colors, patterns in backdrop and artistes' attire, here's tranquil and tastefully dressed stage...

[natts1959]

Melam 72 or estwhile bala747 or who ever it is...

Your crap which you call a review... seems to be an outpour or your frustrations with yourself and the rest of the world than anything worthwhile. The reason i'm writing this to call up boarders to shunt this piece of S... out of this forum.

I mean what scant respect for the art and artists? what can someone expect of someone who notices 'madhu' and not the other words like madhur or madhura or dhwani? it reflects on the kind of person you are and your pedigree.

Nagai Muralidharan is one of the most senior vidwans today with more than 50 years of service and experience. I attended the duet other day and it was simply one of the best instrumental outpours in recent time. Melody, layam, sruthi suddam, padantharam all were scoring points in the concert. There are live vids on facebook for people to see. The carnatic violin cant get sweeter that it was that that. I'm reminded of "Kazhudaiku teriyuma karpoora vasanai".Not that i'm calling you a donkey because it would be serious offend the donkey.

On Sanjay, it was an exceptional concert too. When you have doubts if it was carnatic, its not surprising that you dont rate this high either. He is a sangeetha kalanidhi today and you are a frustrated moron who knows nothing else but to spew venom on the art and artists.

Please do stay away from any more concerts in singapore... The organisers have done a stellar job time and again and can do without a piece of SH*T like you. Their concerts always seem house full and i'm sure no one notices your absence.

[melam72]

Melam 72 or estwhile bala747 or who ever it is...

Your crap which you call a review... seems to be an outpour or your frustrations with yourself and the rest of the world than anything worthwhile. The reason i'm writing this to call up boarders to shunt this piece of S... out of this forum.

I mean what scant respect for the art and artists? what can someone expect of someone who notices 'madhu' and not the other words like madhur or madhura or dhwani? it reflects on the kind of person you are and your pedigree.

Nagai Muralidharan is one of the most senior vidwans today with more than 50 years of service and experience. I attended the duet other day and it was simply one of the best instrumental outpours in recent time. Melody, layam, sruthi suddam, padantharam all were scoring points in the concert. There are live vids on facebook for people to see. The carnatic violin cant get sweeter that it was that that. I'm reminded of "Kazhudaiku teriyuma karpoora vasanai".Not that i'm calling you a donkey because it would be serious offend the donkey.

On Sanjay, it was an exceptional concert too. When you have doubts if it was carnatic, its not surprising that you dont rate this high either. He is a sangeetha kalanidhi today and you are a frustrated moron who knows nothing else but to spew venom on the art and artists.

Please do stay away from any more concerts in singapore... The organisers have done a stellar job time and again and can do without a piece of SH*T like you. Their concerts always seem house full and i'm sure no one notices your absence.

All of what you've written is a matter of opinion.

I found Uncle Snake's violin screechy. I found the padantharam he exhibited to be redundant and Done To Death (with the exception of the Darbaru krithi). I found that Nephew Snake accompanied Uncle Snake more than participating it. It should be branded as an instrument solo by Uncle Snake rather than a duet between the two. If Lalgudi Jayaraman could tune his violin a few octaves down, what prevents these two people from doing this?

You found it 'the best instrumental outpour in recent time' (to quote you). I don't blame you. You probably haven't listened to many instrumental concerts at all. You are probably the type who goes to concerts by The Sanjay and The Cowherdess and Kathalsree and Bhajanasree and Sreechee and consider yourself to be a true connoisseur. To quote your Pearl of Wisdom, kazhuthaikku theriyuma karpoora vasanai.

You found fault with me noticing the word 'madhu' instead of anything else. Again, this is an evidence of your inability to be open minded and balanced in world-view. Everyone else would notice Madhuram or Dhwani or any other variant of the aforementioned two. It is my originality to showcase these to you and all other rasikas. And what is wrong with madhu? Even elephants ferment bananas in their trunks to make banana liquor! It was a joke, and it was a successful attempt at wordplay. It is your fault, not mine, that you have such an uncatholic mind set that you can't recognise it. Wasn't it your Thirumozhi that kazhuthaikku theriyuma karpoora vasanai?

I never said that The Sanjay didn't delivered an exceptional concert. If you open your eyes and actually read my summary of the concert. My reference to 'if you can call it that' was an ode to our music's Socrates, TM Krishna who wants to rightly redefine the boundaries of our music system. If you don't realise it it's your loss, not mine. I merely pointed out his irreverence to the stage and the slot and his comical gestures. If you choose to take offence, please, by all means, do so. It is, after all, from you that I imbibed the Thirumozhi 'kazhuthaikku theriyuma karpoora vasanai?'

I respect artistes. I respect artistes who try to bring something new to the stage every single time, like Amrutha Venkatesh. I respect artistes with tremendous manodharmam capacities, like the Akkarai Sisters. I respect artistes who bring intellectual approaches to their music, like Sumithra Vasudev or Vedavalli. Now tell me, is it my fault or the artiste's if they don't merit respect from me? The indices which define my respect are solid. If artistes don't merit my respect it is their fault, not mine. And as I said earlier, everything is a matter of opinion.

I think I have given more-than-enough explanation. If you need more, to quote your Thirumozhi, kazhuthaikku theriyuma karpoora vasanai?

[shankarank]

Do you now understand why they chose not to serve alcohol at Madhu-radhwani?

If they had - it would have been convenient - all the talking truths to artistes and rasikas could have been completed right then and there!

Uttiriundangana souriyama poyirukkum!

[melam72]

Do you now understand why they chose not to serve alcohol at Madhu-radhwani?

If they had - it would have been convenient - all the talking truths to artistes and rasikas could have been completed right then and there!

Uttiriundangana souriyama poyirukkum!

Oothithaanaa, avaalukku souriyam. Intha maathiri naa amaikka souriyappadaathe!

[ramarama]

"Content can seem contentious to some" Hmm ... there was content in that original review? And there was winsome word play? Just like I wonder if the original review was of the same festival I attended (I attended only the Aruna Sairam and Nagai violin duet), I also have to wonder if the post by Arasi madam is responding to the same "review" that I read The author raises the question about why there no alcohol was served ... is it possible because some (or at least one) in the audience was already drunk by the time s/he entered the concert hall?

Smt Sairam's voice was not in great shape, I felt, but she rendered a competent concert (I hope someone will post a list of items). For the record, she asked the audience if they had requests, and of course, the audience yelled back her signature Krishna items. How can we blame artistes for "owning" some compositions so clearly that a large majority of the audience will consider the concert incomplete without them? A good artiste balances different tastes through a balanced list of items- that is your duty almost as a concert artiste performing to a paying audience, to pander a little bit at least to your fans in the audience.

I for one, have no problems if artistes "perform" - singing full throatedly for 2.5 hours is physically taxing and there is little harm if the entire body is moved visibly by the effort. I don't think Smt Sairam or Shri Subrahamanyam (or any other vocalist for that matters) purposefully gestures all around just for effect. Indeed, it amazes me that artistes like Shivkumar Sharma (on the santoor) can stay impassive even while their hands are playing at rapid fire speed. MDR, Bhimsen and others of course made all kinds of gestures - and it never detracted from the quality of their music. If someone finds them distracting, perhaps they should close their eyes and just listen to the music

The Nagai duet didn't seem to come together as a well defined concert - not sure how experienced they are as soloists or duet-players - increasingly, the world of violin seems to be separating into pure soloists and pure accompanists. But there was clearly a very high standard of violin playing, imaginative swara patterns and a very expressive bhairavi ragam for Yaaro Ivar Yaaaro. For all his child-like enthusiasm, it would have been nice if Eswaran sir had played a shorter tani - the balance of the concert was further affected by that long tani. And it was an odd Behag RTP that followed - in which the senior Nagai vidwan midway asked Shri Eswaran to accompany the tanam, which was being played at jet speed at that time. Shri Murugabhoopathy walked up to the stage edge to convey some suggestion to the artistes at that point and that seemed to upset Shri Eswaran sir a bit. Wonder if anyone sitting upfront caught a bit of that conversation

Thanks to the organizers for yet another well organized edition of the Madhuradhwani festival - amazing that they manage (and probably work very hard) to draw such a big crowd for two full concentrated days of Carnatic music - that is no mean achievement in Singapore!

[natts1959]

I have heard enough of music to understand what is good and what's not.

No one is against you expressing your views as long you express them in a civil manner and with respect to the art, artists and your readers.

You can't call a 60+ front line Vidwan 'uncle snake'. Can I turn around and enquire about your dad as 'Enna pa kezhavan eppidi irukan?!'

Today you have YouTube and others where you can listen to an artist and make up your mind whether to come to the concert or not. Knowing well, why did you have to come at all? It's was to satisfy your cheap mind and ego by writing such stuff and calling senior Vidwans with utter disregard to either their age or their service to music.

By the way your age is my experience if 72 is your year of birth. So cut the crap. Learn to talk courteously and civilly and maybe you can make comments that others will read and value. If Sanjay's manners puts you off what do you call the way you write? It makes a ton of people puke.

Btw what ever you seem to write as a joke is not funny at all. So stop trying to be the funny guy who cracks dumb jokes and move on with your life.

[Nick H]

It takes a certain something to do what Harimau did --- and even he did not always succeed. Does anyone know an Indonesian word for goat?

[rshankar]

It takes a certain something to do what Harimau did --- and even he did not always succeed. Does anyone know an Indonesian word for goat?

Hilarious!! Really miss the 'thumbs up' option....
bakri (the Hindi word) is perfectly 'fit for purpose' - or 'aja' (the sanskrit word) should also work - it can support delusions of grandeur as it also means brahmA!

[VK RAMAN]

Yes - goat in Indonesian

"kambing"

[shankarank]

hamivakku ThanjavUr iDakku romba jAsti ( I am not sure he is a Tanjorite but certainly that type of talking belongs there!). Coupled with all inputs from lounging musicians that increases multi-fold. Something that also got frozen into NA without possibility of attenuation when he emigrated as well - so it retained its original sting as is. He could deploy that with all his font of knowledge!

[melam72]

This reply is long overdue, but don't think that I have nothing to say

Wow! That was a giddy ride!

Made us relive our-ferocious feline erstwhile member-'s posts.

Such 'expressive' writing can come from another talented and lively member too in your city. Are you there Bala?

Content can seem contentious to some, but the word play will win them over, methinks...

As for the stage decor, after seeing collision of colors, patterns in backdrop and artistes' attire, here's tranquil and tastefully dressed stage...

To arasi madam - may you be the arasi of this forum now, tomorrow, and for eternity

"Content can seem contentious to some" Hmm ... there was content in that original review? And there was winsome word play? Just like I wonder if the original review was of the same festival I attended (I attended only the Aruna Sairam and Nagai violin duet), I also have to wonder if the post by Arasi madam is responding to the same "review" that I read The author raises the question about why there no alcohol was served ... is it possible because some (or at least one) in the audience was already drunk by the time s/he entered the concert hall?

Smt Sairam's voice was not in great shape, I felt, but she rendered a competent concert (I hope someone will post a list of items). For the record, she asked the audience if they had requests, and of course, the audience yelled back her signature Krishna items. How can we blame artistes for "owning" some compositions so clearly that a large majority of the audience will consider the concert incomplete without them? A good artiste balances different tastes through a balanced list of items- that is your duty almost as a concert artiste performing to a paying audience, to pander a little bit at least to your fans in the audience.

I for one, have no problems if artistes "perform" - singing full throatedly for 2.5 hours is physically taxing and there is little harm if the entire body is moved visibly by the effort. I don't think Smt Sairam or Shri Subrahamanyam (or any other vocalist for that matters) purposefully gestures all around just for effect. Indeed, it amazes me that artistes like Shivkumar Sharma (on the santoor) can stay impassive even while their hands are playing at rapid fire speed. MDR, Bhimsen and others of course made all kinds of gestures - and it never detracted from the quality of their music. If someone finds them distracting, perhaps they should close their eyes and just listen to the music

The Nagai duet didn't seem to come together as a well defined concert - not sure how experienced they are as soloists or duet-players - increasingly, the world of violin seems to be separating into pure soloists and pure accompanists. But there was clearly a very high standard of violin playing, imaginative swara patterns and a very expressive bhairavi ragam for Yaaro Ivar Yaaaro. For all his child-like enthusiasm, it would have been nice if Eswaran sir had played a shorter tani - the balance of the concert was further affected by that long tani. And it was an odd Behag RTP that followed - in which the senior Nagai vidwan midway asked Shri Eswaran to accompany the tanam, which was being played at jet speed at that time. Shri Murugabhoopathy walked up to the stage edge to convey some suggestion to the artistes at that point and that seemed to upset Shri Eswaran sir a bit. Wonder if anyone sitting upfront caught a bit of that conversation

Thanks to the organizers for yet another well organized edition of the Madhuradhwani festival - amazing that they manage (and probably work very hard) to draw such a big crowd for two full concentrated days of Carnatic music - that is no mean achievement in Singapore!

At this rate, I can't focus on my job at hand!

There is content, hence the contention. And yes, I was drunk when I entered the hall - drunk on tea, for I am a tea-totaller (note to all: this is called wordplay).

Neither do I have a problem if artistes perform, but I take issue when the performance takes precedence over the music - like it does for the Cowherdess. While MDR did make all gestures, there was at least some quality in his music - can you say the same about the Cowherdess?

Thank you for concurring! The concert was poorly planned, the RTP was rushed, and the songs rendered were forgettable. The tani, IMO, was the highlight of the evening. I have a feeling that Murugaboopathy asked Easwaran to underplay or something to compensate for the former's excuse for a tani the next day

It is indeed no mean achievement to have something of this scale in Singapore- hats off to Madhuradhwani! Just ensure that you curate your festival next time !

I have heard enough of music to understand what is good and what's not.

No one is against you expressing your views as long you express them in a civil manner and with respect to the art, artists and your readers.

You can't call a 60+ front line Vidwan 'uncle snake'. Can I turn around and enquire about your dad as 'Enna pa kezhavan eppidi irukan?!'

Today you have YouTube and others where you can listen to an artist and make up your mind whether to come to the concert or not. Knowing well, why did you have to come at all? It's was to satisfy your cheap mind and ego by writing such stuff and calling senior Vidwans with utter disregard to either their age or their service to music.

By the way your age is my experience if 72 is your year of birth. So cut the crap. Learn to talk courteously and civilly and maybe you can make comments that others will read and value. If Sanjay's manners puts you off what do you call the way you write? It makes a ton of people puke.

Btw what ever you seem to write as a joke is not funny at all. So stop trying to be the funny guy who cracks dumb jokes and move on with your life.

At this point, I have almost fallen off my chair laughing!

'Music', eh?

No one objects to me expressing my views. There is a reason why this forum exists - to entertain and to be entertained by enfant terribles like myself.

From that comment, it is evident you don't even have a basic grasp of Tamil. 'Nagai' means snake. He is the uncle of Nagai Sriram. Hence he is Uncle Snake. If everyone gets this pun but you, is that your failing, or my ineptitude?

What is the point of listening to YouTube music when I can listen to music performed live and torment the likes of you? And trust me, my mind isn't cheap; it is pretty invaluable to where I work - and I'm sure that's not the case in your life

If you don't understand a jimbel joke, is it your fault or mine? And I don't even need to try to be a funny guy - as you can see, I have quite the sense of humour (oh wait, you can't see! never mind )

Age is just a nambar, saar-vaal! If you take it so seriously, Saar-Vaal, then your age will be very limited unlike Sanjay's manners, my writing has attracted quite the response!

Is it me who need to move on, or me ?

[melam72]

It takes a certain something to do what Harimau did --- and even he did not always succeed. Does anyone know an Indonesian word for goat?

I shall chew upon this for some time

[Nick H]

It takes a certain something to do what Harimau did --- and even he did not always succeed. Does anyone know an Indonesian word for goat?

I shall chew upon this for some time

I too have an issue "when the performance takes precedence over the music."

I go to see a music performance, not dance or acrobatics. I think it is ridiculous if a person cannot sing a note without 'pointing their nose at it," and I wonder that these more stupid mannerisms don't get jumped on by the gurus and nipped in the bud at an early age. Similarly, all the excessive hand waving, tala slapping, shouting "Sabash" at the accompanists and... well, I suppose there is no limit to annoying stage antics.

However. although there are those that go beyond the bearable, I have a sliding scale: the more I appreciate the music itself, the more I can put up with the ancillary stuff.

I don't deny that I occasionally indulge in name-calling, although I maintain that "the boy racer" is fair comment on both the man and his music. Mostly, though, I simply avoid concerts of those that I do not enjoy seeing/hearing. Why go there? I certainly would not pay to do so. Crowds throng to some of my unwatchables: my absence is of no significance to them whatsoever.

Let me stay away and let me keep quiet about it.

[semmu86]

I wonder that these more stupid mannerisms don't get jumped on by the gurus and nipped in the bud at an early age. Similarly, all the excessive hand waving, tala slapping, shouting "Sabash" at the accompanists and... well, I suppose there is no limit to annoying stage antics.

They do get nipped most of the times or even better, the artists themselves dont indulge in the same, till they find that their "Product" is getting accepted in the market. You would not find an upcoming artiste singing in afternoon slots/ the ones Yet to get their musical career kick started/ The ones without "connections" etc.. daring to even think of doing something like this. All the tantrums start only when they are secured with the fact that whatever gets dished out by them would be accepted.

Something similar was written by Harimau reg musicians objecting to their recording concerts. When an artiste is coming up, he/she would need all the publicity, they would not only allow you to record them, but also distribute them widely. Again, once they are accepted, they would start exercising control over their "Product". Ironically, the people who shout or complain the loudest against recordings are themselves the biggest beneficiaries of old recordings.

We are lucky that we still have great musicians like Smt Seetha Narayanan amidst us performing...

[Nick H]

... somewhere, recently (I forget) I read an elderly lady musician talking about her early days on stage, when even her presence there might have unacceptable to many. She said that she felt she should [paraphrased] be ultra-restrained, as anything else might have been labelled as indecent!

But yes, the product: people eventually buy the whole act. Well, I suppose it is a free market!

[sankark]

Something similar was written by Harimau reg musicians objecting to their recording concerts. When an artiste is coming up, he/she would need all the publicity, they would not only allow you to record them, but also distribute them widely. Again, once they are accepted, they would start exercising control over their "Product".

I wouldn't hold this against them. They are going about it systematically to get a fan base and milk them later to the max. Business as usual. For that matter, they also need $$$ to have a life, ain't they?

[melam72]

Something similar was written by Harimau reg musicians objecting to their recording concerts. When an artiste is coming up, he/she would need all the publicity, they would not only allow you to record them, but also distribute them widely. Again, once they are accepted, they would start exercising control over their "Product".

I wouldn't hold this against them. They are going about it systematically to get a fan base and milk them later to the max. Business as usual. For that matter, they also need $$$ to have a life, ain't they?

But why must you make money to be a good musician?

[sureshvv]

But why must you make money to be a good musician?

You are right. Why don't you try it and come back in a couple of decades and tell us how it went?

[Sachi_R]

Why?
Because:

A good musician must make money to be.

Home work:
Replace the word musician with your dad's/your/your daughter's profession. Eg doctor, engineer, architect, painter, writer, tailor, teacher, software techie, banker, insurance agent, real estate broker, lottery ticket seller, lorry driver, Uber taxi driver, etc.

Discuss if it is true.

Also debate the topic:
To make money, a musician must be good.

[arasi]

Yield not to/ mere money
For/ yielding is sin--
Look ever to/ nAda brahmam
For CM/ stands for penury!

Abandon/ your tech ways
ArAdhana/ beckons--
All you need to/ do is
Amass alms of/ grains!

(sing a la the hymn ''Yield not to temptation'')


Our expectations in CM are mighty high--Now, we also expect them to live (?) unlike their fellowmen--promotions and perks and material gains being off limits for them?

[Nick H]

But why must you make money to be a good musician?

Try making good music on an empty stomach!

And most musicians do not see why they should do without the cars, houses, clothes, etc etc that other people have. It is a conversation that we have had many times here: why should musicians be ascetics*? Even neighbouring HM musicians get paid decent money.

Of course, we are talking about the few that succeed in getting performances at all.






*EDIT: Whoops. Yes, I suppose they should be aesthetic!