Last December, violinist Sangita Kalanidhi A. Kanyakumari began a thematic series to showcase Thyagaraja’s Ekaika rAgam-s – those in which only one kriti is thought to exist. She began on Friday, December 13th, 2019 with E dAri sancarintura in the rAgam Srutiranjani. She had envisioned it purely as a three-week…
This artiste was extremely clear that music was what he wanted to pursue and would have discontinued his studies after 12th Grade, had his Guru not persuaded him to complete his degree. “I had stubbornly refused to listen to my parents,” says L. Ramakrishnan who can be seen accompanying practically…
50 uniformed children, ages 5-10, happily clap their hands and recite konakkol phrases to a refrain of simple instrumental music from a cell phone. Just some twenty minutes earlier, their master of ceremonies had gently introduced the word ‘rhythm’ and got the children to chip in, conveying the message that…
“A lot of artistes believe this is the time to introspect, to reflect and to ponder on music. But I believe this pondering and introspection should be happening throughout a musician’s life – not just during a pandemic….” – Abhishek Borkar Young Pune-based Hindustani sarod exponent Sri. Abhishek Borkar initially…
This episode of Quarantunes features Ghatam exponent Sri. Giridhar Udupa. Sri. Udupa expresses his concern for artistes heavily dependent on concerts for survival. He talks about deciding to broadcast, for a fee, 6 concerts of the Udupa Festival that he curates, proceeds of which would benefit such artistes…. He mentions…
“Silly humans. Why don’t you pause? How ignorantly you let so much pass?” – from a poem written by Lalgudi Smt. Vijayalakshmi, in the voice of Mother Nature. Lalgudi Smt. Vijayalakshmi is the daughter and disciple of the renowned violinist and musician Lalgudi Sri. G Jayaraman. Smt. Vijayalakshmi expresses her…
“I imagine myself as a child who is near her mother – they have no fear – and that the Almighty or God or nature, will take care, like a mother.” – Anupama Bhagwat, on how she maintains hope amidst the pandemic. An acclaimed Hindustani sitar exponent, Smt. Anupama Bhagwat…
“The question of getting bored cannot arise for a musician, in my opinion.” – K Arun Prakash Sri. K Arun Prakash, senior mridangist, tunesmith and composer, says that musicians can keep any available time completely occupied – there is a plethora of aspects that one can practice, in countless ways,…
“It is very essential that we have peace of mind to be creative, and to be led to be creative, and it doesn’t happen when we are not financially stable.” – JA Jayanth A Carnatic flautist, Sri. JA Jayanth has won the Best Instrumentalist Award from The Madras Music Academy…