Topic started by Rohan Krishnamurthy (@ pm533-26.dialip.mich.net) on Mon Jul 16 15:47:14 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
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As many of you may know, I am a 14 year old mridangist who is a student of Sri. Guruvayur Dorai. I have played extensively throughout the USA and India, for leading artists like N. Ravikiran, "Flute" Ramani, R. Vedavalli, and many more.
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Responses:
- Old responses
- From: Mahalingam Santhanakrishnan (@ pool-151-204-231-247.bos.east.verizon.net)
on: Fri Apr 5 23:18:37
Rohan,
Thanks. I will try this out. But tell me one thing. If I mess up something, is it easy enough to remove the silicon rubber ? Even though I am confident that I can carefully apply using the technique you have described, I still would want an out, just in case if something wrong. I will wait for your answer and then start the experiment. Thanks again.
-Mali.
- From: K. Parameswaran, Mridangam & Ghatam Artiste (@ 61.11.12.2)
on: Sat Apr 6 00:40:17
While tightening the strings connected to the valanthalai, one has to ensure that the sruthi is the same and to achieve this, one has to keep tapping by means of a stroke with the index finger to sound like a din. The tightening process has to be continued till such time that all the din's are of equal pitch. While doing this, one has also to ensure that the thoppi is also tightened real tight, else the thoppi will not sound good. Once this is done, then the sruthi can be adjusted as required. One has to ensure that the meetu-chaappu also is proportionately of the same pitch or the mootu will go bad. Also ensure that the Vaaru (leather strings) are wet and to make it wet use water and a generous amount of Caster Oil.
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Sun Apr 7 20:47:28
Mali, the rubber can be removed easily with a knife or anyother object. For that matter, if it is not properly applied and dried, it will peel off itself!
Paramaswaran additions should be taken into consideration. The only thing is the part where he mentions about applying oil to wet the rope. This only applies to the leather rope. If a substitute like nylon or cotton is used, this is unecessary.
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Sat Apr 13 12:17:43
What else...
- From: nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Tue Apr 16 09:35:13
rohan; re superglue. I think that what I did on the mridangam that I ruined was to apply too much, thus causing the black segemnets to be glued together and loose their flexibility. There was no proper sound at all. Your comments on applying silicon were very interesting. The only time I tried I just got in a sticky mess. Do you apply a flat cirle? when using other kinds of paste I aim for a dome shape.
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Tue Apr 16 15:38:42
Nick,
Aim for the flat circle. The dome usually dampens the sound too much (due to the larger amount used to achieve this shape).
- From: P. Anand (@ adam.choicepoint.net)
on: Wed Apr 24 14:47:07
Hello everybody,
vaNakkam.
I'm P. Anand, based in Atlanta,GA,USA. I'm about to start learning mridangam. I looking to buy a new/old instrument within USA. I would greatly appreciate if anyone can point me to Indian stores which sells Mridangam.
nanRi,
P. Anand
- From: pradheep (@ ns1.genetic-id.com)
on: Wed Apr 24 16:03:31
I am planning to buy a mridangam. I will go to chennai and kerala.Where is the best quality to buy. Any advice please.
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Wed Apr 24 22:44:44
The best place to buy a mridangam is in Calicut, Kerala (India). There is a man named Parameswaran residing there. They use modern techniques along with good quality parts.
If you want to buy a mridangam in the US, I would contact a touring mridangist. After their tour is done, they usually sell their mridangam.
- From: nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Thu Apr 25 09:29:49
I brought a new mridangam back from Kerala. I knew it was ok, left hand nice, but I couldn't make up my mind whether I would really like it.
My teacher took just a few minutes to tune chapu/meethu and loosen left hand a touch and... Wow, superb! That's experience at work!
Pradheep: of course you can buy a mridangam from any of the music shops in Chennai, but you would do better to get a recommendation from a player there. Or even better to get him to order it for you! Best work gets done for regular customers!
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Thu Apr 25 15:36:23
Nick,
I told you Kerala mridangams are the best! They are very honest, reliable, and courteous. This is quite contrary to the experiences I had in Chennai for the past 5 years!
As for the mridangam, if you play on it for sometime it will get even better. Now you don't have to buy anymore wood for that sruti mridangam, you can just buy the mootus from the kerala maker.
- From: nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Fri Apr 26 06:45:08
Rohan, If the sruthis suits (it's a tad under 2.5) my teacher will play if for Vina Jayanthi concert on Sunday. That should run it in nicely.
- From: Nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Fri Apr 26 06:48:35
Anyone here know anything about chenda? I brought one back from Kerala for a friend. I was told that it would need to be tightened before playing in the UK. But I can't see how sufficient tension can be acheived without superhuman strength!
Do they really relly on just muscle power, or do they wet the skin a little first?
- From: Nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Fri Apr 26 06:54:55
Madalam: during my recent Kerala holiday I was able to ask a madalam player to show me the left-hand strokes. No time to learn, just a quick question after one of those hotel kathakali demos that are always the same (don't the artists die of boredom?).
Very interesting: particularly the continuous note given by rubbing the finger tip on the black surface.
- From: Ram (@ 202.9.149.70)
on: Mon Apr 29 06:41:41
Why there is a difference in the NAADAM of the Mridangam, even though they r of same SHRUTHI. What is the best remedy for this ??? Ways to improve it ( Other than changing the SAADAM, the black )
- From: Ram (@ 202.9.149.70)
on: Mon Apr 29 06:41:56
Why there is a difference in the NAADAM of the Mridangam, even though they r of same SHRUTHI. What is the best remedy for this ??? Ways to improve it ( Other than changing the SAADAM, the black )
- From: Nick (@ host.sumitomomarine.co.uk)
on: Mon Apr 29 09:16:48
Ram, would you please give translation for ignorant englishman?
- From: vidya (@ dialup-65.59.47.71.dial1.detroit1.level3.net)
on: Wed May 1 18:33:09
Rohan and others>>
Is there some kind of percussion primer - not the generic what is tani, mora, korvai kind but one
which talks about the styles, techniques of various mridangists say usage of toppi in Guruvayur Dorai school , the silences in PMI etc.
How to identify the mridangist - UKS and PMI/Raghu is easy.How do I identify Karaikudi Mani or Pazhani..
Could someone throw light on these aspects Or
Could Rohan incorporate these in his site?
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Thu May 2 15:53:17
Vidya,
The best way to dsitinguish a mridangist is to listen to as many concerts of theirs as possible. Listen to the same concert 5 times, that itself will be helpful in this matter.
The following is some basic info on the styles of some mridangists:
Pazhani- Very rhythmic and soothing accompaniment. Does not interfere with the song. Thanis are highly structured (a la include one different nadai, etc).
CSMurughabhupathy- Plays very rhytmically for the songs. Not much interference during the song. Uses gumki fairly extensively. Plays a common but generally not used for song "sarvalaghu" (basic pattern) for Adi thalam. Plays a certain pattern with gumkis during all adi thalam thanis (his cholu of expertise!).
Guruvayur Dorai- Plays the song on the mridangam! Uses the gumki extensively. Incoporates tabla style for thukkadas (light songs). Strucutred thanis.
T.K.Murthy- Plays fast cholus with utmost clarity. Plays complex patterns/calculations during thani (similar to that of Palghat Raghu).
Kariakudi Mani- Plays exquisite mel kalam cholus (fast cholus) at the beginning of the anupallavi (generally). Structured thanis.
*The only mridangist who does not play very strucutred thanis is Palghat Mani, along with CSMurughabhupaty at times.
Again, keep listening to mridangists. That is the best way to identify them.
I will try adding this type of info on my website.
Hope this helped.
- From: Vidya (@ dialup-64.152.157.131.dial1.detroit1.level3.net)
on: Fri May 3 10:58:29
Thanks.That was interesting.
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Sat May 4 19:21:01
Any new revelations on the matter...
- From: Rohan (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Sun May 5 10:20:18
Does anyone know why mridangam makers don't use oil/grease on the right hand side of the mridangam (as do apply it for the thoppi side)? I would imagine that appyling it would make tuning the instrument much easier.
Perhaps there is a reason behind it or perhaps the mridangam makers aren't willing to deviate from "tradition."
- From: RK (@ 24.247.121.197.kzo.mi.chartermi.net)
on: Thu May 9 15:26:58
...
- From: Sathish (@ 12.38.171.232)
on: Fri May 10 11:36:05
Hi all..
This is Sathish/NJ , just got a brand new Mridangam from Chennai, I am having a problem with the Thoppi, whenever i apply "Play-doh" (good subsitute for Rava), even a little bit of water makes the thoppi to SAG and gives a bad sound...
Do you know what is the fix for it..
Appreciate any feedback
Thanks
Sathish
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