My article in Mint Lounge explores how music shapes the identity of cities from Nashville to New Orleans and Vienna. How can Indian cities such as Varanasi draw lessons from these and transform into music cities? To read the article click here. Continue reading Creating India’s Nashville – Mint Lounge
Playlist – Songs of the Weddings of India Indian weddings are a feast for all our senses and music obviously plays a significant role in the gaiety. Iām kicking of a monthly playlist compilation starting with this edition of Music Matters ā the wedding sounds of India. This episode features among others Bismillah Khan playing the wedding notes on the shehnai in the Hindustani tradition … Continue reading The Wedding Sounds of India
Harikathas – not merely a spiritual activity It would be a mistake to dismiss harikathas as merely a religious or spiritual activity, despite most stories being set in the Hindu epics. Whether it is Sudama hesitating to offer poha (flattened rice) to Krishna, or Arjuna vacillating on the eve of the Kurukshetra battle, kathas present dilemmas. Read moreĀ here. Antah Prerna – A Musical Telling of … Continue reading Katha – Storytelling in Music & more
It would be a mistake to dismissĀ harikathas as merely a religious or spiritual activity, despite most stories being set in the Hindu epics. Whether it is Sudama hesitating to offerĀ pohaĀ (flattened rice) to Krishna, or Arjuna vacillating on the eve of the Kurukshetra battle,Ā kathas present dilemmas. In this, of course, they reflect the issues all of us face in our own lives. If you’d like to … Continue reading When Krishna slayed the multi-hooded snake
What would you like to do this Friday?ā my husband asks. As I peruse the listings for concerts, I am amazed to see how many youngsters are performing Indian classical music. This is true not just in India but also in the US. From Boston to San Diego, classical music and dance schools are flourishing. And this isnāt a phenomenon limited just to big cities. … Continue reading The problem with Carnatic in the Bay
Chitra Srikrishna 