You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2008.
Today I read the news about Prof Ramarathnam’s demise on 15th November 2008. He was almost 91.
It was a co-incidence that I was reading his autobiography around that time.
I never had the opportunity of listening to a concert of Sri Ramarathnam live. I have heard him on the radio, or other recordings. However, he was definitely a very strong influence in shaping my musical interests.
His “Sangeetha Darpana” was the first book I read about the theory of Indian music way back in my middle school days. Perhaps I did not understand everything the book discussed at that time, but that made a good beginning. I read, re-read and re-read this book till I got hooked to reading and understanding the ‘lakshaNa’ or theory of music. Later on, I have read several of his books, some of which were co-authored by Dr Sampathkumaracharya. Because of this, I am definitely indebted to Prof. Ramarathnam.
About 10 years ago, I had the good chance of meeting and speaking with Prof Ramarathnam when he and my mother were honored at a temple in Sunnyvale, CA.
May his soul rest in peace.
-neelanjana
No, I am not talking about inter-planetary distances here 
Graha bheda is a term that means shift of the base note in Indian music.
Unlike some other musical systems where compositions are tied to specific octaves (or base notes, or tonics), Indian classical music does not have a fixed reference for performing. The performer chooses his or her own pitch and sings a composition. This becomes the AdhAra shaDja – or the base note for the performance.
Performers sometimes execute a graha-bedha during their singing; This means that they switch the base note for short intervals, and create a different rAga, and a different mood). Graha means base note, and bheda means to differ. So Grahabheda implies a shift in the tonic.
This requires a degree of finesse to do an effective, and elegant graha bheda. It is a challenge to a vocalist, comparatively trivial to instrumentalists.
Here is an example that I came across today Sanjeev Abhyankar switching to guNakali ( I suppose it is ) when he is singing rAga Bhinna Shadja. I am posting the links from YouTube (Courtesy: rmoudgalya)
(The grahabhEda happens in the 2nd clip, and Sanjeev also illustrates where he changes the shaDja)
enjoy!
-neelanjana
If you did not know, a nice planetary conjunction is coming up.
Watch the evening sky after the sunset for the next couple of weeks. Venus, and Jupiter, both very bright objects even from a light polluted sky are drawing closer.
On November 30/ December 1st, these two will be the closest. Don’t miss it - particularly so if you missed the conjunction of these planets early in the year in February 08.
Here is a simulation of the conjunction on YouTube.
And BTW, some people believe the “Star of Christmas” was indeed a very close planetary conjunction.
-neelanjana
A nice violin concert coming up this weekend! Bay area music fans – Do not miss this Also, all the funds generated will go directly to help Bihar flood victims.
Violin Duet
What is better than enjoying the wonderful music, and supporting a worthy cause at the same time? I have the tickets for this concert – You can get in touch with me by posting a note here, or by contacting the persons on the flier.
-neelanjana
Recent Comments