first musical concert that i attended in IITM ...

Yesterday (13th Aug 09) I attended musical concert in IIT-M, this is first time. It was organized by the music club of IITM as a part of CLASFEST 2009 set of concerts. I regret to have missed out the first 3 concerts. Today was the last and final day. :(

Performance was given by
Sri Ganesh & Sri Kumaresh - Carnatic Violin Duet
Sri R Ramesh - Mridangam
Trichy Sri Krishna - Ghatam

Was held in Central Lecture Theater (CLT they call it here). It went on for 2 1/2hrs (from 7PM to 9.30PM).

Just one word to describe it... AWESOME!! I was left spell bound by their performances. It seems Sri Ganesh and Sri Kumaresh (brothers) have been learning Violin from childhood from their father and Guru Sri. T.S. Rajagopalan, who himself is a renowed musician.

The four musicians started with something called 'Pancharagamalika' (I dint know what it is. Sri Ganesh announced it). The Violin-duet played beautifully. Soon I got a feeling like "I too should learn Violin".

The four persons were communicating with each other in the language of music. One reciprocating other's act in a perfect coherence.

At a point I just realized that the silence (no sound) between two short notes being played was a part of the music. Never before I felt it like that. Soon the Violin duet started playing notes of music (if at all people who know music they call it that way - this is just my jargon) alternatively with great harmony. There was pin drop silence in the hall. The act was continued by another one, in which a set of notes played on Violin by Sri Ganesh was followed by the other three (yes, Mridangam and Ghatam joined the party) using there instruments. It was an amazing act. I observed smiles on the faces of many people, suggesting as if they have understood what the musicians are up to.

Then there was a duel between Violin and Mridhangam. They tried all the things... playing slow/fast, high/low pitch, etc. It followed with an episode of fabulous Mridhangam play. Sri Ramesh, who was on Mridhangam was looking elder of all. But he never lagged in speed or accuracy. He was spot on, catching the notes, tones properly and reciprocating them on his instrument. The act of Mridhangam was followed by Ghatam. Even though I knew that water pot made of mud was used an musical instrument, I dint know that even sharp sounds can be played on it apart from that booming sound.

The duel between Mridhangam and Ghatam was fabulous. There was a period where they played the instruments (in coherence) so fast that I could not even see fingers clearly. The duel was taken to various levels. It was like "Can you play the note that I am playing with my instrument?". Again, they both covered almost everything...fast/slow, high pitch/low pitch. Then they both played simultaneously. The way they brought the duel till that point cant be expressed in words. The Violin brothers joined them again. There was a period during the concert where I even forgot that my stomach was empty (yeh, I missed out my dinner). Such was the energy during the play. I found myself engrossed in it.

As it is Krishna Janmastami, the musicians played few songs in glory of Lord Krishna. One was 'Balakrishnam kalayasaki sundaram ...'. Another, '... raama bhadra ra ra, raama chandra ra ra ...'. These songs were followed by an intense play of Violin. One at a time by Sri Ganesh then by Sri Kumaresh. Should listen to such intense plays.

At the end of the concert, there was a loud and prolonged applause by the audience, standing on their feet.

I personally felt rejunevated (might be partially because of AC). Somewhere in the middle of the concert I realized that the same Violin duel have performed in Felicity (cultural festival at IIIT-Hyd) last year. Dont know why dint I involve myself then?

Thanks to music club for providing an opportunity to listen to such fantastic act!

enchanting music ....

What's in music?
How does it soothe a depressed/troubled person? How does it help to improve or maintain a person's health (mental, emotional and physical) (ref. Music Therapy)? sometimes at least momentarily?

I do not know anything about music. I only know that it is something which can be heard. I dont know what is Carnatic music or Rock music or something else. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja says "In songs, music is just to give a breathing time for the singers". In response to the question "How do you make music?", he answered "That's the exact question I am trying to find an answer for. Probably, when I come to know the answer I might not be able to make music at all". There is something more in that statement than that looks obvious. There is some divinity in music, it tranquilizes every person listening to it.

Sometimes even a song played at a distinct place catches my ear and I am lost in it, I start humming even if I cant recollect the lyrics properly. I usually listen to songs which carry an in-depth meaning in their lyrics. Though it so happens that whenever a new album or new movie songs release I do listen to them for first 3-4 days and if lyrics aren't good I don't add them to my favourite list and forget them. Consider the case of music like Beetheoven symphony or bombay theme song by A.R.Rahman or music from instruments playing just basic raagas. There are no lyrics in them even then I feel like listening to them often. So, lyrics apart, there is something in the music. This was the first point I realized recently. You can sometimes feel the aggression or sometimes apathy, or ecstasy (remember the feel (because of the music) when you saw the protagonist in "The Shawshank Redemption", in the end, when he looks up to the skies and spreads his arms!!). So, music has more effect than just pleasing the ears. Its an art. It fantasizes me.

I will stop here my first post of this blog, dedicated to music and study of musical instruments. I will try to look at it from a person who gets entertained by it and also try to learn deeper things (essence) of it.

Hopefully I will be able to consume at least a drop of an ocean.