Moonlight Sonata in New Light, All Women Carnatic Ensemble, Syncretism through Music – July 2022

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Moonlight Sonata in New Light
When musicians recreate the magic of a popular musical composition such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata audiences greet it with a sense of skepticism and curiosity. When it is arranged by AR Rahman the expectation is a tad bit higher. And when it is played by the all-women Firdaus Orchestra it can make us rethink our own preconceived notions. Listen to the arrangement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Perinayaki-Carnatic
All Women Carnatic Ensemble
As I browsed the internet for vintage music, a carnatic concert featuring an all-women team stopped me in my tracks. Watching the carnatic and playback singer actress P.A.Periyanayaki and her ensemble singing Manasuloni Marmamulu reminded me of my own guru Smt. Seethlakshmi Venkatesan’s 7-woman ensemble. The video describes facets of carnatic music even as it plays snippets of different musicians performing. Watch it here.

Weaving - Kuchch
Promoting Syncretism Through Music
We know that music helps transcend all boundaries. Documentary makers Anjali Monteiro and KP Jayasankar’s “A Delicate Weave” demonstrates this in action in the Kutch region in Gujarat. The film traces four different musical journeys of diverse communities. It shows how the words of Kabir and Sant Bhitai set to music help these communities to live in peaceful co-existence. Catch the trailer of A Delicate Weave here

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Concert Recordings
Veera Hanumathe & Narayana Enniro

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