Category: music
-
Indian Classical Music in a post-AI world
Generative AI is currently just pulling the rug under the feet of musicians. Still, it is poised to snatch away the ground on which the musicians stand. At least, many musicians believe so. Whether we accept it or not, AI is here and it’s going to stay. How would it affect the landscape of music and the musicians…
-
Unveiling Beauty | Musings after the concert of Pt. Partho Sarothy Ji
Unlike many other vocalists, I truly enjoy listening to instrumental music. Rather, when I listen to good instrumental music, most of the times I am fascinated; partly because of the tonality of well tuned instruments, partly because of the dexterity of the player. Listening to a tonally rich instrument like Sarod being played by one…
-
A Broken Puzzle: Reflections on the Delicate Ecosystem of Intimate Baithaks
Scene 1 Two of the most promising young Hindustani classical vocalists (they happen to be husband and wife) are about to perform at a centrally located venue in Pune. They are quite famous and have a huge fan following. We entered the venue with the expectation that there would be little space to sit. To…
-
Descendants, Disciples and Discrimination : Is Indian Classical Music Ecosystem a Fair Ground?
He was sitting on the floor, in middle of a couple of craftsmen. The entire place was a bit overloaded with the hues of blue; some soothing and some provoking. With the clear blue sky on the top, one could start doubting the very existence of other colors. That being said, there were notable hues…
-
It’s Time We Stop Associating Great Music With Greater Whims!
The world of Indian Classical Music had (and has) musicians full of whims. These whims vary over a wide range of notoriety – from as harmless as expecting the host to feed them Sabji they liked to as nuanced as expecting a host to provide them Nivea cream right before the concert begins at 7…
-
21st Century Crises Hovering Over Indian Classical Music
In ecosystem of any art form, one individual can play multiple roles; for example, I am a student of Indian classical music, I perform very rarely and I am an avid listener. As a listener of this magical art form and after listening to musicians from past three to four generations, I have my views…
-
Teenagers, Respect and Indian Classical Music
Three years ago, I and Dakshayani were quite frustrated this time of the year. Very enthusiastically, we had appointed 3 teachers under Baithak Foundation to teach at our three partner schools. This was a very concrete step to take Indian Classical Music to kids from underprivileged backgrounds. Through lot of ground work in the communities…
-
It’s the time Indian Classical Musicians stop underestimating their own art form!
What’s art? Is it an activity that we do repetitively to entertain ourselves and others? Is it a vocation? Where we sing or dance or play with a few stretched strings to make a living out of it? Or is it a ladder to climb up the ever increasing heights of our own ego? More…
-
Review: A Hindustani Vocal Concert in 2050
It’s June 2050. The last concert that I attended in June 2049 was so horrible that I stopped attending all the concerts; but hope hardly dies. Just one more, I thought. My self-driving car got me at the venue. Thanks to these self driving cars, parking is no more a problem. There were ten other…
-
The Difficulty of Singing Easy Ragas
Ragas are the back bone of the Indian classical music. A certain collection of notes which follows certain rules and behavior becomes a Raga. As one starts learning Indian classical music, the journey begins with practice of basic Swaras and then eventually by learning Ragas and various compositions in those Ragas. Naturally, students find some…