Topic started by Raja (@ proxy.pbc.adelphia.net) on Tue Oct 10 15:23:15 .
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The contribution of Kerala to the classical music has been remarkable. Taking only the well known names one can list Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar,Alattor brothers , Palakkad Narayanaswamy, Palghat Mani Iyer, M.S.Gopalakrishnan , Jesudas, Unnikrishnan, Gurvayur Dorai, Ayilore Krishnan, Bombay Sisters and so on and on. Is there a list were such personalities are listed. Why is it that Karala with its peculiar culture has contributed to so much. |
Responses:
- From: MS (@ 129.252.23.185)
on: Tue Oct 10 19:25:44 EDT 2000
a bit of a digression:
Apart from the regular carnatic, the film songs too have contributed a lot for the sustenance of this art form. IMO, four types of music are recognized in KErala:
(1) Regular carnatic
(2) Film songs
(3) Lalitha sangeetham
(4) Western classical
TO my knowledge, all are equally respected and KJY is a name associated with the first three. It is very heartening to see that the film composers are held in very high esteem and the songs with high melodic content are taught to children of by their music teachers. Lalitha sangeetham is associated with "bhaava gaanangaL" which are a must in the lessons taught. This gives the learners a very good exposure to all types of songs ( not the daanku dakkara types though). Big time composers like M.G.Radhakrishnan also compose a lot of non filmy stuffs predominantly meant for melodic exploration. These songs are regularly aired through the radio and are noted down by the local music teachers. One film song " PraaNasakhi - nin madiyil mayangum" - an old goldie by KJY was taught in the radio and I found that the music teacher of my realtive's daughter had made a clear note of it through the explicit expressions of swarams. Another classic song that was taught to her was "manasiluNaru usha sandhyayaay" which is a ragamalika(panthuvaraali, saaranga and another raga - dont remember).
Because of this attitude towards music there are numerous songs in malayalam with a high dose of melody. Apart from the regular krithis, these songs too make a good contribution to the musical literature on the whole. No wonder Kerala is sprinkled generously with so many good voices (though there is a complaint that most of them sound like KJY or chithra).
This is probably the only state which is still retain classicism. Though some clamorous elements have already shown to peep into the culture, the main ground of the songs is still carnatic. The carnatic based music culture is still very much intact.
- From: MS (@ 129.252.23.185)
on: Tue Oct 10 23:14:18 EDT 2000
typo:
retain = retaining.
- From: K. Shyam (@ net231-183.its.yale.edu)
on: Wed Oct 11 07:15:52 EDT 2000
Raja, MS: Arguably, the greatest contribution by Kerala to Carnatic Music is via Maharaja Swati Tirunal.
- From: Nadopasaka (@ aeppp46.buffnet.net)
on: Wed Oct 11 07:45:26 EDT 2000
Shyam, This is true, but it is interesting that the early 20th century Maharani sought out HMB, SSI etc. for CM and J.Abhisheki etc. for HM to 'bring out' the kritis. This might be due to the lack of shishyas for the Maharaja and the still unclear role of Parameswara Bhagavatar.
Is 'Lalita sangeet' related to HariKatha ?
- From: K. Shyam (@ net231-183.its.yale.edu)
on: Wed Oct 11 10:14:44 EDT 2000
Swati Tirunal ascended the throne at the tender age of thirteen and with all his other responsibilities, somehow managed to learn several languages (including English, Persian and Arabic, according to one source)and had enough time left over to leave behind a staggering 370 or so compositions. Considering he died at the age of 33, I wonder if he had enough time in the day to eat and sleep, let alone sishyas!
- From: Sebastian Koodalloor (@ t-rtr-1-21.bom.vsnl.net.in)
on: Wed Oct 11 10:38:25 EDT 2000
MS, There is yet another type of music which is classical in nature and content: Sopana Sangeetam. This Sopana Sangeetam has many Carnatic Ragas but stands distinct from Carnatic Music. Many scholars say that Sopana Sangeetam is the original music of Kerala, which is native to Kerala alone. But this Sopana Sangeetam is not very popular now. Yet may Ashtapadies are set in Sopana sangeetam.
- From: Nadopasaka (@ adppp30.buffnet.net)
on: Wed Oct 11 10:53:48 EDT 2000
Kathakali music has many unique features, as well.
KShyam, In a separate thread on the 'life enhancing properties of CM', it was noted that perhaps the discipline, rigors of training, ( maybe even associated clean living ?), contributed to the extreme longevity of the composers and even most practitioners. Ages of 65-80 are commonplace for the trinity, well above average expectancies for those times and even higher for recent artistes. Even GNB, MMI and MDR got past 60, despite obvious illness.
The lifespan of 33 for Swati Tirunal seems like an anomaly in this context. This Parameswara Bhagavatar character, however, seems to have been samasthana Vidwan for more than four successive Travancore kings. It seems he lived almost 80 years himself, while the various Tirunals were dropping like flies. He also seems to have had about half a dozen important sishyas.
- From: vj (@ daprx02.ext.nokia.com)
on: Wed Oct 11 11:04:17 EDT 2000
I don't think Kerala contributed anything to
Western Music. The influence of Western Music
among youngsters is very recent. Then that is
true in rest of India too. Even the traditional
Christian communities do not use Western Music.
In the list I would like to add:
1. Music of Keralite Muslim community
(Mappila Pattu)
2. Sopana Sangeetham
3. Music of performing arts like Kathakali
4. Ghazal (in the North there are Ghazal singers)
5. Hindustani Sangeetham (Swathi Thirunal, M.S.G.,
N. Rajam etc.. There are Khayal singers in
North Kerala.)
Most of the composers/ directors of film music
are influenced by Hindustani and Carnatic.
Baburaj, Ravi Bombay, Kaithapram are examples.
Late Baburaj had formal training in Hindustani
Classical music. Most of the Malayalam film
songs are based on Hindustani and Carnatic
ragas. Hameer Kalyani (Hindustani Kedar?),
Kambhoji ang ragas, Neelambari etc. are very
popular.
vj
- From: K. Shyam (@ net231-183.its.yale.edu)
on: Wed Oct 11 12:55:51 EDT 2000
Nado: CM is perhaps "life-enhancing" only in the sense that it improves the quality of life. ST, unlike GNB, MMI and others lived long before the advent of modern chemotherapy/medicine. It is hard to believe that "bugs" and genetic predisposition to certain diseases realize that they are supposed to go away the moment CM fills the air. On the other hand, there is something to be said for clean, disciplined living. One can make the argument that ST wouldn't have crossed 15 without the help of CM! Seriously, ST did achieve in 33 years what most mortals (even reasonably gifted ones) would be happy to achieve in several "janmas".
- From: MS (@ 129.252.23.185)
on: Wed Oct 11 17:06:07 EDT 2000
vj:
I was just saying that it has WM as one of the main genres. I agree, not much contribution though. But there are many accomplished WC musicians in KErala. eg. Ousephachchan.
- From: Mani (@ spider-wo054.proxy.aol.com)
on: Wed Oct 11 19:12:17 EDT 2000
How about the percussion instruments, like chenda, thavil, and parai instruments of Kerala?
- From: mu (@ 202.144.64.4)
on: Wed Oct 11 20:07:36 EDT 2000
About Shopana Sangeetham, I have this to add :
Shopana sangeetham is essentially a temple art form.
ShatkAla Govinda MArAr, who can be termed as the father of Shopana Sangeetham was a contemporary of Thiyagayya. It is said that Thiyagayya's 'Entharu mahAnubhavulu' was born after the two met.
All said and done, the general awareness in the south about Shopana Sangeetham is nil. Subbudu once wrote (during his December concert reviews, a few years back in Dinamani) that Shopana Sangeetham is harsh on the ear ("kerala pakkam sophana sangeetham entru paaduvaarkal. Ketka sagikkathu"). It is a pity no one refuted him then.
- From: Nadopasaka (@ aeppp19.buffnet.net)
on: Thu Oct 12 08:11:52 EDT 2000
Shyam, It is possible that the Tirunal line may have some genealogical predisposition to shorter life-span, a la hemophiliacal monarchy. But the access to 'health-care' (even in 1800's) would certainly have been more for the Maharajas than for the likes of Tyagaraja-MD etc. or even the other confirmed mendicant visionaries, such as this Parameswara Bhag. Their extended life span coupled with similar longevity even now for most practitioners is noteworthy. Vocalists especially may get some cardio-vascular benefits, although violinists etc. may get carpal-tunnel effects with improper technique .
It seems from his name that the 'ShatKaala GM' character had a voice impressive for vocal control at high speed. Does this play any role in 'sopaana sangeet' ?
- From: vj (@ daprx02.ext.nokia.com)
on: Thu Oct 12 14:52:20 EDT 2000
Check the following link:
http://www.keralatourism.org/prevMusic.html
- From: Raja (@ aca33b57.ipt.aol.com)
on: Thu Oct 12 15:27:47 EDT 2000
Another great Malayalam composer whom no body has mentioned in Eraviyamman Thami.In the present day music world the role of Kaythapram cannot be forgotten.Another very peculiar feature of Kerala is the existance of several Christian musicians who were adept in Karnatic Music. Augastin Bhagavathar, Kunju unju Bhagavatar are two examples. In Tamil Nadu this music has been the inheritance of Hindus only.
- From: vj (@ daprx02.ext.nokia.com)
on: Thu Oct 12 17:06:53 EDT 2000
>In Tamil Nadu this music has been the inheritance >of Hindus only.
Raja, I doubt this very much. In TN, other
communities also contributed to music.
Sheik Chinna Moulana, Abraham Panditar etc.
are examples. I remember seeing a photo of
Abraham Pandithar with Pandit Bhatkhande,
Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan (father of Amjad Ali Khan)
etc.
vj
- From: ., (@ spider-wg042.proxy.aol.com)
on: Thu Oct 12 18:40:40 EDT 2000
vj,
Sheikh Chinna Moulana is not from Thamizh Naad, he is a naadaswaram vidwan from Andhra Pradesh.
- From: nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Fri Oct 13 08:24:37 EDT 2000
It is my impression that Kerala offers more in the way of performing arts thamn just about anywhere else! Also that Percussion features to a greater extent than most other places in the world.
False imporession or true?
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