Rapid Fire :
Your favorite global violinist Ganesh ji
2 . Hindustani or Western Classical ?
Both / but more of Hindustani
3 . If you would pick any other instrument apart from violin , what would it be ?
Veena of course 4 . Your recent listen in the music playlist that you heard in loop ?
Illayaraja , TN Rajaratnam Pillai and karaikuruchi - Greatest exponents of Nadaswaram
5 . Your most favorite vocalist ( genre no bar ) SPB the Lock down was announced , all concerts and travel got cancelled . At first it was a bit strange but slowly the silence in the air became an inspiration . Sound of silence is something which all of us must try to understand . It is so invigorating . Playing music for myself after a long time was a very magnetic experience . No audience , no time constraint , no compositional prioritises , I could just play for myself . The concept of Nada Upasana , Nada Yoga , Nada Bramha , all found an expression with in myself during this period . I could say that I found an expression to all my unrealised musical energies .
I did 3 very satisfying projects during the lock down . Set up my portal www . fiddlingmonk . com , with more than 600 to 700 video lessons , on an interactive basis , for anybody from any walks of life to learn the Violin Set to music along with Jayanthi ji , the 108 verses on Maha Periyava of kanchi , also called as the 108 Andhaadhi , Released our album “ Run with Sa “, music specifically created for workout .
Your take on collaborations with fusion artists and independent musicians ? Do you think its helping or tampering with the sanctity of Carnatic music ? out a meaningful collaboration . Tampering with sanctity of any music can happen even without collaborations . It all depends on how well the work is thought through and executed .
Varnas in particular ( say Viriboni- Ata Taala Varnam in Raaga Bhairavi ), has long phrases which sound elongated and unsuitable for instrumental renditions . Do you feel the same- if yes , which composition made you felt this challenge ?
All these are myths created around the aura of vocal music . Any composition can be played in its best sound on any instrument . Instruments are the bed rock of our musical system . You see math Maata Saraswathi plays the Veena Krishna plays the flute Shiva plays the damaru and the list goes .
None of the divine entities sing . Instruments inspire the voice to get influenced the produce the desired sound .
All Carnatic instruments of Short sound , meaning , they don ’ t have the natural linger or reverb and so the sound is very short - Hence , in Carnatic music , when vocalist sing the syllables are also short - ta da ri na
In the Hindustani system , all instruments have long lingering reverb in their sound , hence the voice also replicates the same by singing long notes likeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ,
So to say that it is difficult to play a composition on an instrument is just not true .
Music is like Dharma , as long as your conscience is clear you are fine . Similarly collaboration can happen only when you are in a good space with your musical expression . You must have a fair bit of knowledge and control of your art form to bring
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