Folks here!

My apologies for not delivering on the promise. It is the suspect - work and other priorities - taht keeps me away from doing much here. Thats the bad news. The good news is I have neither forgotten nor given up. I am trying to arrange a more competent person to collaborate and provide the required content here.

I hope you will see more useful stuff here - sooner than later.

Meanwhile, thanks a ton for your patience which is hugely appreciated

I stumbled across this interesting blog on Carnatic Music. I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.carnatic.com/

Carnatic music ideals

Einstein is quoted to have once remarked that Mozart did not create music but his music “was so pure that it seemed to have been ever present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master”.

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article2715249.ece

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer did the same for classical Carnatic music. building a bridge between the past and the contemporary times.

Merry Christmas to all!
While our project is still underway, you may enjoy this little ditty (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the nursery rhyme) rendered initially in authentic carnatic music style from 0-0.49s) and thereafter in a few other folk versions)

Breaking gender barriers in Carnatic music

I found an interesting article that takes a look at the women musicians who contributed to the male dominated world of Carnatic Music.

In fact, there have been many women musicians of the past like Bangalore Tayi, Madras Lalithangi, Salem Meenakshi, Vainikas Dhanammal, Madurai Shanmugavadivu, violinist Madurai Akkammal, flautist Valadi Rukmini Papa, gottuvadyam Mannargudi Savithri Ammal, mridangist Tanjore Kamakshi Bai, magasvaram M S Ponnuthai and composers Tallapakka Thimmakka who have contributed greatly to the field of Carnatic music.

This recording of Bangalore Tayi goes back to the 1930’s

Introduction to carnatic music and rhytms

A preview of what a Carnatic Music concert offers is here in this 33 mins video.

“India’s classical music has long been a source of fascination to the west but, for many, it is undiscovered territory. Indian classical music is quite different from Western music. The structure of Carnatic music – the classicall music of Southern India – is also distinct from that of the north of the country. Instead of the expression and feeling favoured by the northern, Hindustani style, Carnatic music places the emphasis on structure and improvisation and, although its melodic refinements are based, like all Indian music, on the notes of a given raga, it is also based on highly-developed rhythmical patterns known as tala.
Neyveli B. Venkatesh illustrated his presentation on the mridangam (drum), with the singer Sanjay Subrahmanyan and the violonist S.Varadarajan.”

As we are working on presenting an intro to Carnatic Music, savor the flavors of it from this light jearted article….

“It’s December. It’s The Season in Chennai. The regulars know what to do, what to expect. And for the music-loving tourist who doesn’t, a crash course is inevitable, beginning with the gentle instruction that sa-ri isn’t just six yards of local attire. Baradwaj Rangan”