Upholding “Freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association” (22 August) – United Nations

We must understand India today in the light of its rich, long argumentative tradition [while] appreciating not only the richness of India’s diversity but its need for toleration. – Nobel Awardee Amartya Sen >> Source: “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”URL: https://www.un.org/en/observances/religious-based-violence-victims-dayDate Visited: 15 August 2023 Even … Read more

Flow | Practice within a shared vocal range of one octave

By choosing an octave based on G# or A for basic “Sa”, all types of voice will be able to join in comfortably. This is demonstrated by a noted singer and vocal guru, Dr. Nookala Chinnasatyanarana: for this audio lesson1 he chose G# as basic “sa” to enable male and female voices to practice together; … Read more

“The decades immediately after Independence were the best for the Sabhas” – Historian Sriram V.

The Sabha itself was a product of colonial times. When the patronage of royalty and aristocracy was vital for the survival of the arts, a new city like Madras posed challenges – the ruling elite was English and had no intention to support artistes. The aristocracy, namely the dubashes or translators, provided the necessary support … Read more

“The tambura is back. But where are the players?” – Interviews in The Hindu

Gaining prominence Despite the many alternatives available today, fortunately we still get to see the tambura player on stage. In fact, the first thing many musicians do after accepting a concert date is to book their preferred tambura player. As more musicians show a renewed interest in the instrument, the tambura is experiencing a resurgence. … Read more

Tyagaraja (1767-1847) – Sruti Magazine

The period 1750-1850 was a golden era in world music, when some of the greatest musician-composers lived and enriched the field. In Europe, Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann and others lived during this period and created the symphony repertoire. It is a significant coincidence that the Carnatic Music trinity—Tyagaraja (1767-1847), Muthuswami Dikshitar (1776-1835) and Syama Sastry … Read more