Celebration of rhythm and flute: As Mrs. Maninagaraju took centre stage for a while and delivered blemishlessly two Meera Bhajans to the accompaniment of some pre-recorded, pre-composed music. Meera Bhajans which are originally written in Hindi and sung by Hindi speakers are a difficult task for South Indians who need to twist their lips around their inborn accent but Mani managed to do this quite effectively and even managed to inject the right dose of sorrow and unbridled love into the inflection of the songs.
It was then the turn of Flute Nagaraju to take centre stage with Shyamkumar on the Mrudangam and Kangeera on one side and Florian Schiertz on the tabla on the other. Nagaraju is a renowned Flautist who varies his playing styles from mellifluous to staccato with unbelievable ease. And that evening he started off with Raag Yaman and took us on a guided tour through Alaap, Jod and Jhal. From the Hindustani to Carnatic the switchover was seamless as he painted in Karaharipriya the Annamacharya composition “Okka Pari Okka Pari’. The next item had the audience’s total attention as it was the very popular Vaishnava Janato...in Raag Khamaaj.
The percussive combination of Shyamkumar on Mrudangam and Florian on Tabla had by then mesmerised the audience and one couldn’t help but marvel at the way Florian kept pace with the mrudangam and matched it nuance by nuance. But when Nagaraju decided to raise the tempo and swung into Raag Pahadi the tabla and the mrudangam went insane. It was if they had been waiting for this cheerful celebration of music
Just as we were all thinking that there could be no more enhancements that could be made to the music on offer, Nagaraju was joined by Joe Koster on piano. Joe had been working tirelessly to try and bring to life his dream of getting an Indian Musician to sync with the Western Classical Notes and playing styles. And tonight that was on display.
When Joe started off with Giga from Sonata in F by G.F. Handel Nagaraju fluted in effortlessly and a new chapter of Handel was unforgettably etched in our minds. And when "Spain" by Chick Corea frolicked into the audience’s hearts the flute was unmistakably there.
All in all, a wonderful evening that proved that music can indeed be the language that brings us all together and it can also be the religion of a world that believes only in harmony.
Celebration of rhythm and flute:
ReplyDeleteAs Mrs. Maninagaraju took centre stage for a while and delivered blemishlessly two Meera Bhajans to the accompaniment of some pre-recorded, pre-composed music. Meera Bhajans which are originally written in Hindi and sung by Hindi speakers are a difficult task for South Indians who need to twist their lips around their inborn accent but Mani managed to do this quite effectively and even managed to inject the right dose of sorrow and unbridled love into the inflection of the songs.
It was then the turn of Flute Nagaraju to take centre stage with Shyamkumar on the Mrudangam and Kangeera on one side and Florian Schiertz on the tabla on the other. Nagaraju is a renowned Flautist who varies his playing styles from mellifluous to staccato with unbelievable ease.
And that evening he started off with Raag Yaman and took us on a guided tour through Alaap, Jod and Jhal. From the Hindustani to Carnatic the switchover was seamless as he painted in Karaharipriya the Annamacharya composition “Okka Pari Okka Pari’. The next item had the audience’s total attention as it was the very popular Vaishnava Janato...in Raag Khamaaj.
The percussive combination of Shyamkumar on Mrudangam and Florian on Tabla had by then mesmerised the audience and one couldn’t help but marvel at the way Florian kept pace with the mrudangam and matched it nuance by nuance. But when Nagaraju decided to raise the tempo and swung into Raag Pahadi the tabla and the mrudangam went insane. It was if they had been waiting for this cheerful celebration of music
Just as we were all thinking that there could be no more enhancements that could be made to the music on offer, Nagaraju was joined by Joe Koster on piano. Joe had been working tirelessly to try and bring to life his dream of getting an Indian Musician to sync with the Western Classical Notes and playing styles. And tonight that was on display.
When Joe started off with Giga from Sonata in F by G.F. Handel Nagaraju fluted in effortlessly and a new chapter of Handel was unforgettably etched in our minds. And when "Spain" by Chick Corea frolicked into the audience’s hearts the flute was unmistakably there.
All in all, a wonderful evening that proved that music can indeed be the language that brings us all together and it can also be the religion of a world that believes only in harmony.
Write-up by Vijay Marur