MOPA presents episode 6 of the Explore series on Carnatic musician Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (1908 – 2003), an ace performer who battled a troublesome voice to establish a style that reached out and touched his vast audiences, who became the most sought-after teacher of four generations of musicians and whose name is irretrievably linked with determination, grit and dedication to music.
Is tradition set in stone? Is not change even within a musician’s lifetime in the natural order of things? Does custom or convention in musical practice have to be held sacrosanct at the cost of organic modification or adaptation? An artiste creates and modifies, subtly or otherwise, his or her style for several reasons – physical, emotional, intellectual, political or aesthetic. A stellar artiste preserves tradition not as a rigid, fossilized keepsake but as an intelligent amalgamation of inherited values as well as current inclinations.
This episode of Explore is a discussion between two young, popular Carnatic musicians, Vignesh Ishwar and Rithvik Raja, where they navigate these questions using recording excerpts of select musicians. They examine the musician’s approach to tonality, modulation, handling of composition and lyric as well as creative components (like alapana, neraval, tanam and kalpanaswaram), grammar and a host of related aspects. They offer their own interpretations and observations based on what they have heard and analysed. Every episode in this series promises a volley of insights into the musical style and technique of the musician being discussed. A treat for students, aspiring musicians, lay as well as experienced listeners.
These conversations are not intended to conclude, merely to present points to ponder.
Acknowledgements
Audio Excerpts/Photographs: From the collection of Rithvik Raja
Visual and Sound Editing, Rithvik Raja
Produced by MOPA Foundation ©2022
This episode and its contents are intended for personal or educational use only and may not be used in any commercial form without prior written permission.