Music | Citizen Matters, Blogs

Theatre Review: “Tansen” by The Trialogue Company

June 4, 2019 Deepa Mohan

It’s not common to have plays about music, or musicians; so when Ranga Shankara announced that the Trialogue Company, a Delhi-based theatre group, would be staging “Tansen” on 1st June, ’19, I was very keen

Thiruvaiyaru – A State of Mind

February 1, 2019 Chitra Srikrishna

A small town in the Cauvery delta comes alive in January each year. Carnatic musicians and rasikas all over the world turn their focus to Thiruvaiyaru (city of five rivers) in the Tanjavur district of

Excellent Carnatic violin concert at IIM-B

July 21, 2016 Deepa Mohan

Once in a while, one is privileged to attend a concert that not many people seem to know about, Indian Institute of Managerment, Bangalore (IIMB) and The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And

Yamini: All-night classical music festival at IIM-B

January 25, 2016 Deepa Mohan

It was very pleasant to sit on the lawns of Bangalore’s premier management institution. In the gathering dusk, people drifted in and took their seats. The stage was well-lit. Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia started the evening

Instrumental Music Festival in Bangalore, 22 November 2015

November 25, 2015 Deepa Mohan

It’s unusual to have a festival only for instruments, and so it was interesting to attend the “Bangalore Harmonica and Reed Instruments Festival” at Ravindra Kalakshetra on the 22nd of November, 2015. The predominant

Akka Mahadevi across the shores

November 17, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

I didn’t expect to hear Akka Mahadevi’s poetry being recited on a stage in the US. Fire and Ash, a multimedia show about Lord Shiva is where I encountered the poetry of this Kannada saint.

Chasing dreams

July 22, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

The nice thing about having teens, is that you get to meet a lot of exciting young people – many of whom are musically gifted. I hope to bring you stories of these young musicians

MSV – Creating musical history on the silver screen

July 14, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

When a movie song becomes a hit with the audience it’s a recognition of the singer and the composer’s talent. One of the most prolific music composers for south Indian movies M.S.Viswanathan passed away today.

Folk music of India

July 5, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

Folk music holds its unique place in India’s rich cultural diversity. Folk songs talk about relationships, the challenges encountered by people every day and philosophical questions about life. Let’s look at popular folk music genres

Music Awards

June 23, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

When a musician receives an award, it’s a recognition for his or her contribution to the art form. Cultural organizations across the world institute awards to recognize outstanding talents in the field. I’ve listed a

Stage Acts – From Madurai Somu to Anup Jalota

June 9, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

One of the definitions of an entertainer is someone who holds the attention of the audience by doing something amusing or diverting. Lets look at some popular musicians whose unique stage acts entertained their audiences

A royal melody – Darbari Kanada

June 5, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

One of the simplest ways to identify and appreciate a classical raga is by listening to multiple songs in the raga by different artistes. Raga Darbari Kanada is an offshoot of the Kanada family (Carnatic).

Feeling the Blues

May 16, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

BB King, one of the legendary musicians of the Blues passed away yesterday. Why was he so popular? When his voice carressed and moaned on the microphone, you alternatively rejoiced and cried – the highs

Yashodha & Krishna

May 14, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

One talks about Yashodha and her famous son Krishna in the same breadth. The stories that describe the relationship and interplay between this mother and son are well-known. There are several songs in different languages

Ode to the Mother

May 8, 2015 Chitra Srikrishna

With Mother’s Day coming up this week, I thought of several songs that featured the mother as a central theme. In his composition Mathe Malayathwaja in the Carnatic raga Khamas, Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar describes the