Friday, February 24, 2006
Guru for fusion: Prem Joshua
Fusion music - is not about just mixing two different styles of music together, it is a very delicate interleaving of the two with neither of them losing its identity individually, but yet on the whole appear in a different pattern of waves that seep through you and reverberate deep within the heart and mind! It is about blending cultures without offending any of the primary components, and as such is far more challenging in the musical world. There has been experimentation on using different instruments for different styles of music. Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt, who won the Grammys speared the use of Hawaiin Guitar for Classical traditional styles! But there is a group of people class apart from the usuals, who have a passion for experimenting in different styles/traditions of music across the world and bringing them together. And when it comes to blending Eastern, and more so Indian Music with the Western, the one name that stands out all by itself is that of Prem Joshua.
Prem Joshua was born in Germany and took to music at a very young age, and started experimenting in many contemporary styles of West - Rock, Jazz, and fusion. His unsatiable quest and spiritual inquisition soon brought him to India - the place where he (in his own words) felt "instantly at home". By then he had also studied the Islamic music, as well as been to Greece, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. He had once heard a CD of Ravi Shankar, and that instantly transformed him. To him, that music gave him one of the most ethereal, and divine experience he had ever felt. Well before long, he did win the accolades from the master himself as well as his daughter Anoushka. Prem's teacher was Maestro Ustad Usman Khan. He even plays flute, Sax, guitar, tabla, drums, bass and several other instruments. His many albums vividly put to tune several Sanskrit and Sufi hymns. The stand alone factor is nevertheless the music that portrays the main style presented in the album - be it sufi, or tantric, or the soothing meditative style. His albums include "The Dance of Shakti", "Water down the Ganges", "Shiva Moon", "Dakini Lounge", "No Goal but the path", "Tribal gathering" and few others. What strikes me the most in his music is the distinct sounds that he produces, some of them rather weird, by using a medley of familiar instruments!! His combination of the acoustical effects and the infusion of words in between give a transcendental feeling to the listener.
Prem Joshua continues to tour the World over, giving his mesmerizing performances to the growing number of fusion enthusiasts accompanied by a highly complementary band of musicians and performers.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
'Love'ly songs!
Okies! So the bug bit me too!! And the week since, I've been listening to only romantic and mushy songs giving me an overdoze of feel good factor and heart aches! And as is the vogue, I am gonna spread it out! There are songs that talk of the sweet love, the betrayal of love, the pain of love, and others! Most of these songs talk of how wonderful life is with the better half, and how they mean so much! Then there are songs that talk of promises - the ones kept and the ones broken! The songs that seem to really touch me a lot of times are nevertheless that of the failure of love. It is probably the intense emotions that are portrayed through such songs that cause them to be so touching. This time around, lets look at some of my favorite English Romantic songs. Personally, it is hard for me to categorize my interests when it comes to Western Music. It depends on my mood! Any given day, I do love soft music! But there are moments when I go crazy over 50 cents!!!!
Now the majority of the songs I listen to, when it comes to romance is Bryan Adams (no surprises there..), Enya, Ray Charles, MLTR, and a couple of others.
- Only Time by Enya :- This is the soundtrack for a wonderful movie "Sweet November" with the charismatic Charlize Theron! Sung by Enya, this song instantly won me over for its deep music that seems to reverberate through the mind!
- When you love someone by Bryan Adams :- The sound track from "Hope Floats", I heard this song for the first time when I was in my first year of Engineering. I never got to listen to it later, but the song remained in my heart forever. Most of the people mistake this song to his another famous song "Have you ever really loved woman". But then, I like this song more than the latter! The words are simply beautiful! The lines go something like..
When you love someone - you’ll do anything
You’ll do all the crazy things that you can’t explain
You’ll shoot the moon - put out the sun
When you love someone
You’ll deny the truth - believe a lie
There’ll be times that you’ll believe you can really fly
But your lonely nights - have just begun
When you love someone
When you love someone - you’ll feel it deep inside
And nothin else can ever change your mind
When you want someone - when you need someone
When you love someone...
When you love someone - you’ll sacrifice
You’d give it everything you got and you won’t think twice
You’d risk it all - no matter what may come
When you love someone
You’ll shoot the moon - put out the sun
When you love someone
- You say it best when you say nothing at all by Alisson Krauss :- There are several versions of this song sung by different singers, and since I have heard it from Alisson, I am gonna list her here. As for the song, it speaks for itself.
- You are so beautiful by Ray Charles :- It finally took the awesome movie "Ray" to introduce me to this legend. Bingo! Went searching for his songs, and voila! Fell instantly for this!
- Moonlight Kiss by Bap Kennedy :- John Cusack's movie "Serendipity" featured this song. The movie was certainly watchable, and left this song for me as a sweet memory!
- Let's Fall in Love by Frank Sinatra :- Here is the thing about singing legends! They sing from their heart to ours! I rarely listened to Frankie, till a friend of mine made me, and then ... well I started listening to him! *giggling* My wish though is to wake up on my birthday listening to Sinatra's "Happy Birthday to you"... as far as the mentioned song is concerned, I'd play it any day for mah gal ;)
- Breaking My Heart by MLTR :- Since I was young, and could understand English.. there always had a reservation for listening to English Songs. There are 2 groups that I'd really credit with getting me over it - ABBA and MLTR. Their songs were easy for me to comprehend, and certainly made sense! Not to mention the great music! I also like their "Sleeping child" a lot! Then there is "Paint my love", "Someday Somewhere", etc.
- Everytime I close my eyes by Mariah Carey :- The reason I like this song is not just because of its lyrics, but because it features Kenny G! I mean, with that wholesome combination who would not like the song!! Just right for a romantic candle light dinner!
- Dreams by Cranberries :- This song featured in my all time favorite, most often watched, most fell in love with movie - You've Got Mail. I just love the song playing when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are walking by on the street during the fall! Ah! It was so picturesque, I instantly felt love!!!
Well.. there are even more and more songs that I'd wanna list here, the sound track of Dirty Dancing - "I've had the time of my life", Lionel Richie's "Angel", "Don't break my heart" by boyzone, "World of our own" by Westlife, and many others. But then, its gonna be tough for me to later get out of that mode! Well.. sinking back to the love tunes..
Friday, February 10, 2006
Bhaavageete: Soulful songs for hearfelt emotions - 1
The richness of Kannada language has multifarious facets! One of it being the poetic compositions. In order for one to fully appreciate and understand the essence of that statement, they will have to dig deep into the myriad poems written by eminent poets ages since. One can vividly see the emotions penned down reflecting the generic thinking of their decades. Then there are some songs that transcend these time barriers, and present themselves as evergreen songs that seep through the barriers of the heart, crumbling them down and creating a flood of emotions, overwhelming the listener. The beauty of these compositions lie in the expression of the day to day emotions of love, betrayal, happiness, sorrow, etc in words that find a place in the mind of the listener instantly making him relive the moments of the past. These wondrous compositions gain a new dimension altogether when they are sung by eminent singers, with their voice garnishing it with the right amount of feelings, and a background music to collaborate with the efforts!
Several eminent poets of Kannada viz Kuvempu, da.ra.bendre, pu.ti.na, DVG, K S Narasimha swamy, Gopala krishna Adiga, B R Lakshman Rao, Doddarange gowda, K S Nissar Ahmed, H S Venkatesh murthy and others have richly contributed their works for the field of light music - or more aptly Bhaavageete. Some of my favorite songs in this include the following :-
- sthavira giriya chalanadaase :- A beautiful poem "honala raaNi" written by shri pu.ti.na that is full of life just as the river that it portrays! The words are playful, rhythmic and continue to stay in one's mind. The vivid portrayal that describes the running brook as the mountain's wish for motion, the babbling of the silent forest, [ sthavira giriya chalandaase, mUkavanada gItadaase ] appeals immediately to the listener's wild imaginations.
- laghuvaagele mana geluvaagele mana :- This is a song that I have often heard, another composition by pu.ti.na, that has off late given me new thoughts to ponder upon. The poet implores the mind to lighten off, and be happy, for in the lightness shall it rise out to meet the Lord. He asks it to give up the ego, and in giving up, it shall rise! Further the poet explains to the soul that it shall remain tainted, were it to attach itself to him, (nagaMTalu nInAguve kashmala) but if it were to relinquish the identity with the body, it shall remain pure (nanna toreye nee nirmala nishkaLa)! Dr Rajkumar has lent his voice very efficiently for this song. His another song in the form of a ballad is "Ako shaama avaLe raadhe" - a depiction of the joyous playfulness of the gopis in the company of Radha and Krishna!!
- Amma ninna edeyaaLadalli gaaLakke sikka meenu :- A composition by B R Lakshman Rao, this song is all about the craving in the heart of the child to grow beyond the shackles of affection, and explore new frontiers! Though one can feel the underlying force trying to pull off from the tyings of the relations, it nevertheless realizes the everlasting bonding that is not possible to be cut! For finally the poet assures of the return - [ indhana teeralu baMdE baruvenu matte ninna toDege mUrta prEmadeDege ].
- Jaali baarinalli kUtu pOli geLeyaru :- B R Lakshman Rao is a poet of the present genre! His compositions reflect the freshness of the younger generation and as such are very popular amongst them. Of special mention is this song, that describes the plight of a guy who goes to a gentlemen's club for the first time! The simple language, and humorous description of the feelings "gopi"- the character that visits the club, as the dancers entices him makes one laugh heartily! For the many who feel that poetic compositions are all about deep emotions, such compositions are an eye-opener. Deftly set to tune and sung by C Ashwath, Raju Ananthswamy, and others, this song is my all time favorites among BRL's works.
- Naa chikkavanaagiddaga :- At a very young age, I had happened to listen a wonderful English classic song - Lemon Tree. It had stuck in my head ever since, and when I chanced upon the kannada version of this song, evidently, my heart was set on it too! Infact this song introduced me to the compositions of BRL, which I have been thoroughly enjoying ever since. The other songs of BRL that I love are "hELi hOgu kaaraNa", "neenu mugilu naanu nela", "nanna hRudayava ninage nIDide", "nODida avanu heege nODida", "baNNisale heNNe Enu baNNisale heNNe".
- Hoovu horaLuvavu sUryana kaDege :- Composed by H S Venkatesha murthy, this song was a regular feature in the "geeta chitra" aired by Bangalore Doordarshan. The song is catchy due to the optimism brewed in every word of it! It is rich in its visual description, and beautifully worded. Slightly philosophical that celebrates the wonders of nature, it feeds the listener sumptuously with lines like "giDadiMduduruva elegaLigU muda, chiguruvAgalU oMde hada ..... nelada oDalinoLagEnu naDevudO, elli kuLitahano kalaavida!!" The other compositions of HSV that are among my favorites include "toredu hOgadiro jOgi" (a kannada translation of Meera bai's bhajan), "hucchu KODi manasu", etc.
- nanna iniyana neleya balleyEne :- A Composition by N S Lakshminarayan Bhatta, this is a beautiful and simple song that show cases the yearning of the loved one for her lover! She describes the abilities of her lover who can listen to the ant crawling, the flower blooming, and the melting of the early morn fog, but yet turns a deaf ear towards her heart! His other compositions include "hinde hEge chimmutittu", "ninna neeti adaava neeti", "elli jaaritO manavu elle meeritO", "I baanu I chukki I hUvu I hakki" and others.
- Huvu araLuva munna :- K S Narasimha swamy needs absolutely no introduction for the avid fans of kannada poetry! His poems overflow with the affection and beauty of innocent love and marital bliss! His poems are akin to the fresh april showers that drench the wreatched land, giving rise to the fresh aroma of the wet sand that lingers on for days to come - freshening up the entire scenery! One can go on listing and writing treatises on his compositions! Simple compositions that celebrate the simpleness of life, love, and optimism! One song that I have to mention herein is his "attitta nODadiru attu horaLaaDadiru" - a song that I used to listen everyday before going to sleep. :)
- ella maretiruvaaga illa sallada nevava :- Every kannadiga would certainly join when singing the song "Jogada siri beLakinalli" - a composition by Shri K S Nissar Ahmed that celebrates the cultural, religious, and geographical richeness of our land! His other compositions are rich in their emotional expressions! This song for example implores the past memories to not return to the present! His other compositions include "mattade besara adE sanje adE Ekaanta", "nee nuDiyadiralEnu", "naaDa dEviye kande ninna", "beNNe kadda namma kRushna", etc.
- KuruDu kaanchaaNa kuNiyutalittu :- dattAtreya raamchandra bEMdre, da.ra. bEMdre, aMbikaatanaya datta - call him anything, use any adjectives, write poems, stories, essays, conduct festivities in his name! And yet, one shall fall short of encompassing the essence of his works, and his life! There are some people on whom we do not even qualify to comment let alone sing their praises! He ranks in that elite group of people whom one can just admire and worship in silence. He is so much a part of our lives, and yet so high in altar than common man, that sometimes even to write of his personality fills my eyes with tears of devotion and admiration. My favorites in his compositions? I would not even dare to list them! For I am afraid, I will not be able to stop.
Some aspects of writing on certain topics include the vastness and variety of the subject selected! After much procrastination, I did decide to write on the bhaavageetes of Kannada. And now that I have started, with much trepidation I have realized that I am trying to muster the vast sea of compositions into my cup of hands! In doing so, I have left out so many of the equally eminent poets and compositions that it reeks the heart of guilt! But then, this isn't the end! I will surely write more on this pretty soon! Meanwhile, feel free to write in your own picks into this list! I am sure anukta will have a whole horde of them to be listed in here :P
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Off key Tunes....
Feb 1, my idle musings celebrated its first birthday. And then, 8 days later, Feb 9th my musical musings were conceived! And yeah this blog is gonna be a year old now!! Unlike soliloquies, I have not been able to update this blog more frequently! While I already have 73 posts in the former, the latter has hardly 23 to its credit!
Well, what can I say?!! I seem to be good at idle talk, than musical ;). The purpose of this blog has also been to showcase the richness of music - Eastern and Western. For, while I feel that silence is sometimes the best form of conveying the myriad emotions of the human mind, the one to come next is music! Music is the one form of art, that trancends the limits of geography, language, and culture!
On this day of solemn celebration (rather than the outrageous partying happening on the other side.. what with garfield, balloons, et al), I want to treat all my avid readers to a musical treat in the voice of Unnikrishnan. This is a wonderful song composed by Shri Tyagaraja, and sung brilliantly by Unni. The song is Shambho Mahadeva. It is an audio treat that the ardent music lovers must not miss. You can download the song here.
I am looking into including audio files into this blog, that will more effectively contribute to the features of the blog. There are also thoughts of moving the contents and redirect the webpage to my home page. Exactly when all of these will come to effect, is something that I am willing to let the father time decide. In the meanwhile, nevertheless, I shall be singing out praises of wonderful artists, composers, film musics, and albums. So whenever you are bugged by the rigmaroles of the day to day life, and care for some relaxed chit-chat on the musical frontiers of the world, do stop by! Company is much appreciated herein! :)
Sudha Raghunathan : A sparkling brook of voice!!
Morning Raaga was a bold attempt in the Indian film genre to showcase the fusion of Eastern and Western styles of Music. The story was thin, but the saving grace of the movie was ofcourse the acting prowess of Shabana Azmi, and the songs (not surprisingly)! The one voice that stood out in all of these songs was that of Sudha Raghunathan. Like the crisp sun rays of early morning filtered from amidst the waking up leaves on the trees, that touch our senses and liven them up - so does her voice flow mellifluously into the ears and awaken the spirit deep within! Don't believe me? Listen to her rendering of "maatey malayadhwaja paalya sanjaate" from the movie!
Sudha Raghunathan, trained under her mother during her younger days, and eventually excelled in her performance, giving her the lifetime opportunity of learning karnatik music under the great Smt. MLV (M L Vasanthakumari) who recognizing Sudha's prowess, rightly accorded the honor of being her successor! Since 1990 Sudha Raghunathan walk to fame, has been unobstructed! What with a mesmerizing voice and an endearing personality to couple with, she is hailed as the scion of MLV for Karnatik music in the present days. A mother of two, Sudha Raghunathan has enlivened the musical universe, shining as a bright star! The winner of Padmashri, she has also been drenched with showers of praises, titles and awards at various levels. My personal favorites among her renditions include, "Maha ganapathim", "Maanasa Sancharare", "Taaye yashoda", "Bhagyada lakshmi baaramma", "Marugelara O Raaghava", and all the songs from her album "The Dance of Shiva". She has over 75 albums to her credit.
Her excellence in her field has drawn her to travel world wide rendering exemplary concerts. She also heads the humanitarian "Samudaaya Foundation".
