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Showing posts from February, 2012

Carnatic Instrumental Music: Need for a change?

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(Ganesh Kumaresh) Given my work commitments it is becoming difficult to keep posting regularly. Yet sometimes something happens which makes you drop what you are doing and jot down your thoughts. A good friend sent me a youtube link of Kumaresh (of Ganesh - Kumaresh duo) giving a TED lecture cum demonstration at NIT Suratkal (as per the video.) This set me thinking. I wanted to jot down my thoughts. First, here is the  youtube video: It is a nice video. Do listen to what he says and also listen to his playing of Begada ragam. I am sure you have heard what he said but just in case you skipped (or are behind a firewall which doesn't allow youtube), here is the crux of what he spoke. Instrumental music is very different from vocal music. In Carnatic music all instrumentalists play the krithis. While the words of the krithis are good for vocal music, they are not necessary for instrumental music. So they (Ganesh and Kumaresh) play pieces where they explore a raga wit