December 28_SV
Among the stringed instruments in Indian music, the Veena occupies a special place. The Goddess of learning, Saraswati, holds a Veena in her lap. This plucked string instrument is of ancient Indian origin and is said to have been mentioned in the Rigveda.
Veenas can be of different kinds
1. With frets : Rudra Veena (used in Hindustani music) and Saraswati Veena (used in Carnatic music)
2. Without frets : Vichitra Veena (used in Hindustani music )and gottuvadyam or Chitra Veena (used in Carnatic music)
The Yazh or the ancient Indian harp is said to be the predecessor to the Veena.
Veena has been an integral part of the Carnatic music scene for scores of year. Stalwarts like Muthuswami Deeshitar, Veenai Dhanammal, Veenai Duraiswamy iyer,Veena Sheshanna and Subbanna, Emani Shankara sastri, Chittibabu and Tanjavur K.P Sivanandam and Sarada Sivanandam (my music teachers), ofcourse, Veenai S Balachander brought fame and popularity to the Veena.
The current crop of Veena players Jayanthi kumaresh, E. Gayathri, Nirmala Rajasekhar, Chitraveena Ravikiran and Rajhesh Vaidya have taken Veena to newer heights.
For the past decade or so, the Chennai music season has seen a reduction in solo Veena concerts. When quizzed about this, the sabhas (concert halls) maintain that Veena concerts are not big crowd pullers, implying that the number of rasikas (listeners) for the Veena has reduced.
Subbudu (PV subramaniam), the famous Carnatic music critic, once quipped that the Veena was not an instrument to be played to a big audience. He went on to say that it is an instrument that should remain behind closed doors. He was a close friend and mentor to Veena S Balachander.
Veenai Dhanammal: Her bani (unique style) adhered to traditional values and intensity of musical expression on a Veena.
Link to a documentary about Dhanammal’s life - gives an insight into her life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDuZxVI5eds
Recordings of Dhanammal’s concerts are few, and the quality is not very good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-qRCJaECE
Hope you enjoy!
Among the stringed instruments in Indian music, the Veena occupies a special place. The Goddess of learning, Saraswati, holds a Veena in her lap. This plucked string instrument is of ancient Indian origin and is said to have been mentioned in the Rigveda.
Veenas can be of different kinds
1. With frets : Rudra Veena (used in Hindustani music) and Saraswati Veena (used in Carnatic music)
2. Without frets : Vichitra Veena (used in Hindustani music )and gottuvadyam or Chitra Veena (used in Carnatic music)
The Yazh or the ancient Indian harp is said to be the predecessor to the Veena.
Veena has been an integral part of the Carnatic music scene for scores of year. Stalwarts like Muthuswami Deeshitar, Veenai Dhanammal, Veenai Duraiswamy iyer,Veena Sheshanna and Subbanna, Emani Shankara sastri, Chittibabu and Tanjavur K.P Sivanandam and Sarada Sivanandam (my music teachers), ofcourse, Veenai S Balachander brought fame and popularity to the Veena.
The current crop of Veena players Jayanthi kumaresh, E. Gayathri, Nirmala Rajasekhar, Chitraveena Ravikiran and Rajhesh Vaidya have taken Veena to newer heights.
For the past decade or so, the Chennai music season has seen a reduction in solo Veena concerts. When quizzed about this, the sabhas (concert halls) maintain that Veena concerts are not big crowd pullers, implying that the number of rasikas (listeners) for the Veena has reduced.
Subbudu (PV subramaniam), the famous Carnatic music critic, once quipped that the Veena was not an instrument to be played to a big audience. He went on to say that it is an instrument that should remain behind closed doors. He was a close friend and mentor to Veena S Balachander.
Veenai Dhanammal: Her bani (unique style) adhered to traditional values and intensity of musical expression on a Veena.
Link to a documentary about Dhanammal’s life - gives an insight into her life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDuZxVI5eds
Recordings of Dhanammal’s concerts are few, and the quality is not very good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-qRCJaECE
Hope you enjoy!
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