MWC_Edition25

December 12_KV

"Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common."

This mesmerising 15min piece is a melodious medley of 4 different instruments, the star being the Sitar. Played brilliantly by the ravishing Anoushka Shankar (dau of PanditRaviShankar)

The violin, shehnai & mridangam come together beautifully with the sitar, leaving one yearning for a little more.

http://vimeo.com/58801551

An exquisite Hindustani raga, Jog, with no Carnatic equivalent. It bears the closest resemblance to Gambheera Naattai. The raga conveys love with a pinch of sorrow.

Pramadavanam Veendum (His Highness Abdulla), KJY & Lalettan doing complete justice.
http://youtu.be/6HVtAQuvY6k

Iru hrudhayandal (oru may maasa pulariyil), KJY & Raja combo weaves magic
http://youtu.be/DmyJk6Tbiv0

P.S. In the light of the current mood of the group, I hope music brings the much needed peace frown emoticon

MWC_Edition43

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!