Vidwan R.K. Shriramkumar and tambura-maker Udayakumar at the session. | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani The first lec-dem session of The Music Academy’s 98th Conference and Concerts marked the return of a thematic focus after 49 years. This is curated by this year’s Sangita Kalanidhi designate T.M. Krishna. The theme, ‘Aesthetics and Synaesthetics: Reflections on Raga in...
Category: Music
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The appeal of a tune and its ability to cross genres
Ritha Rajan talking about varnamettu at The Music Academy’s academic sessions | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani The first lec-dem of Day 2, titled ‘Encapsulating a Raga: Varnamettu’, was presented by Sangita Kala Acharya Ritha Rajan. She began by explaining that varnamettu refers to a tune that captures the essential features of a raga. The earliest...
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Meet India’s new next-gen boy pop group, First5
If you are a millennial who grew up in India and were clued into all things music, chances are that you can sing along with Viva!, the five member girl pop group put together by Channel V. We were taken through the whole process; from the auditions, to rehearsals and their big debut. Fast forward...
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A. Kanyakumari and Vittal Rangan presented a delightful string theory
A. Kanyakumari and Vittal Rangan with NC Bharadwaj on the mridangam and Sunil Kumar on the kanjira. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B On a rainy evening, there was a downpour of melody as violin vidushi A. Kanyakumari and her disciple B. Vittal Rangan, drenched rasikas in their nuanced and aesthetic music. In perfect sync,...
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Mahati Kannan and Ramya Venkataraman explored the concept of Shakti through well-researched pieces
Mahati Kannan and Ramya Venkataraman. | Photo Credit: RAGU R Seamless execution of profound truths Mahati Kannan and Ramya Venkataraman’s exploration of Shakti, the Divine Mother, was full of fervou ‘Prakrti to Para, An Exploration of Sakthi’, conceptualised and visualised by Bharatanrithyam dancers Mahati Kannan and Ramya Venkatraman of Nrithyodaya, was an exploration of the...
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Brindha Manickavasakan captured the mood of every kriti
Brinda Manickavasakan added rare kritis to her concert repertoire. | Photo Credit: SRINATH M The vocal recital by Brindha Manickavasakan, for Sri Thyaga Braham Gana Sabha, was vibrant and refreshing from start to finish. The concert began with Tyagaraja’s Begada kriti ‘Tanavari tanamu’ with a swara package concluding with the raga’s signature notes of ‘mmgrs...
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Sudha Ragunathan pulled off some sublime musical ideas
Sudha Ragunathan performing for Kartik Fine Arts at Narada Gana Sabha at its December Season – 2024. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu Sudha Ragunathan drew upon her wealth of experience and meticulous repertoire as she held her ground through much of her concert for Kartik Fine Arts at Narada Gana Sabha. An understanding team of...
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Tanya Shanker’s new EP is all about love in the time of social media
Cyberfantasy EP cover. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Think of modern life set to music and what comes to mind is Tanya Shanker’s recently released EP CyberFantasy which is all about love in the age of social media. The Bengaluru-based musician shares how social media blurs the boundary between fiction and reality. “I would meet...
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Prithvi Harish painted an impressive potrait of Saveri
With a voice that easily travelled across ranges, Prithvi Harish’s 90-minute recital showcased his talent in designing and presenting a solid concert. From his opening Hindolam varnam ‘Mal maruga’ by Thanjavur Sankara Iyer to the closing Vallalar Ramalinga Adigalar’s ‘Vaarum vaarum’ in Ragamalika, Prithvi took care to ensure every piece he presented with clarity, also...
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A look at the Margazhi concerts to take place on December 18
THE MUSIC ACADEMY @ 168, TTK Road, Alwarpet. Today, 8.05 a.m.: Lecdem ‘Similar Phraseologies in non-allied ragas’ by R. Hemalatha; 9.05 a.m.: ‘Izhappin Valiyum Valiyin Izhappum’ lecdem by R. Ramanathan. @ T.T. Krishnamachari Auditorium, Alwarpet. Madurai T.N.S. Krishna. | Photo Credit: RAVINDRAN R Today, 9 a.m.: Bangalore Brothers; 11.45 a.m.: J. Yoga Kirtana; 1.30 p.m.:...