Sriram Karra (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} skarra) wrote,@ 2007-12-02 21:58:00 |
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A most unfortunate start to the music season
It's December, and music is in the cool, humid, Madras air. Raghav and I decided to kick start our concert attendance for this season with a traditional T. M. Krishna kutchery at Narada Gana Sabha followed by a 'Carnatic Jazz' performance as part of a felicitation function for T. V. Gopalakrishnan at Music Academy.
A quality Carnatic kutchery can be really soul stirring; on the other hand there are very few things in the man made world that can put one to sleep more effectively than a listless south Indian classical performance. To our utter disappointment T. M. Krishna managed the latter. As un-noteworthy and uninspiring a kutchery as I have ever attended of a top league artist. To salvage the evening somewhat, we ate an Onion Rava Dosai each, in the canteen and headed for the Music Academy.
The good old man Prof. TVG turned 75 today and there was a felicitation function by his disciples. When we walked into the auditorium, the dias was occupied by some stalwarts including Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Illayaraja. All the invitees were called upon one by one to say something flattering about Prof. TVG. Everyone obliged by saying many sweet things, and praising TVG, because, well, that was what the occasion called for. Raja was called last, and took the mike to roaring applause. (Now, if you know the background - Raja learned carnatic music from TVG, and TVG considers Raja one of his favorite disciples. And who wouldn't in his position). Over the next 12-15 minutes that Raja spoke, there was not a single mention of TVG, his musical ability, or any display of guru bhakti towards the man. Raja spoke about gramophone records and radio shows being his guru. He waxed eloquent about his elder brother from whom he learned Kambodhi without knowing it was Kambodhi. He inquired if music can really be taught. Not one phrase to acknowledge TVG as his guru. It was clear he was not willing to say it in words, but the message was clear enough to one and all. A most interesting portion of an otherwise pointless evening that was just about to get worse.
The evening performance was supposed to be "Carnatic Jazz" - but what followed did not even have traces of jazz, unless the presence of Kadri wielding his Sax is to be considered sufficient :) With some 10 percussion instruments, a violin, keyboards, Sax and vocal... it was one hour of loud and hopeless chaos. Despite the presence of many highly talented individuals (Sivamani on drums, V. Suresh on Ghatam etc.) it was just hopeless. Too many cooks... just too many.
And thus has the season started. I hope the rest of the season will turn out a little better than today... it's definitely not hard.
It's December, and music is in the cool, humid, Madras air. Raghav and I decided to kick start our concert attendance for this season with a traditional T. M. Krishna kutchery at Narada Gana Sabha followed by a 'Carnatic Jazz' performance as part of a felicitation function for T. V. Gopalakrishnan at Music Academy.
A quality Carnatic kutchery can be really soul stirring; on the other hand there are very few things in the man made world that can put one to sleep more effectively than a listless south Indian classical performance. To our utter disappointment T. M. Krishna managed the latter. As un-noteworthy and uninspiring a kutchery as I have ever attended of a top league artist. To salvage the evening somewhat, we ate an Onion Rava Dosai each, in the canteen and headed for the Music Academy.
The good old man Prof. TVG turned 75 today and there was a felicitation function by his disciples. When we walked into the auditorium, the dias was occupied by some stalwarts including Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Illayaraja. All the invitees were called upon one by one to say something flattering about Prof. TVG. Everyone obliged by saying many sweet things, and praising TVG, because, well, that was what the occasion called for. Raja was called last, and took the mike to roaring applause. (Now, if you know the background - Raja learned carnatic music from TVG, and TVG considers Raja one of his favorite disciples. And who wouldn't in his position). Over the next 12-15 minutes that Raja spoke, there was not a single mention of TVG, his musical ability, or any display of guru bhakti towards the man. Raja spoke about gramophone records and radio shows being his guru. He waxed eloquent about his elder brother from whom he learned Kambodhi without knowing it was Kambodhi. He inquired if music can really be taught. Not one phrase to acknowledge TVG as his guru. It was clear he was not willing to say it in words, but the message was clear enough to one and all. A most interesting portion of an otherwise pointless evening that was just about to get worse.
The evening performance was supposed to be "Carnatic Jazz" - but what followed did not even have traces of jazz, unless the presence of Kadri wielding his Sax is to be considered sufficient :) With some 10 percussion instruments, a violin, keyboards, Sax and vocal... it was one hour of loud and hopeless chaos. Despite the presence of many highly talented individuals (Sivamani on drums, V. Suresh on Ghatam etc.) it was just hopeless. Too many cooks... just too many.
And thus has the season started. I hope the rest of the season will turn out a little better than today... it's definitely not hard.
