Numbers Make Good Singing Subjects

Posted on 06/12/2012 in The Times of India

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  by Kamini Mathai

  This December, a Number of Vocalists Seem to be Playing the Number Game, and with Good Reason too. 2012 is the Year of Mathematics as well as the Birth Centenary Year of Several Stalwarts in the Carnatic Field, and Musicians are Working these Themes into their Concerts.

  The link between numbers and divinity will be the theme of vocalist Aruna Sairam's free concert for Margazhi Maha Utsav on Sunday. "Every Hindu god is connected to a colour, a number or an animal. Since this is the year of mathematics, I decided to focus on the link between gods and numbers," says Sairam. She explains that the number one represents 'ekadantam', meaning one tusk, which is associatedwithGanesha.Two stands for Shiva's 'ardhanaareswarar' form in which he is represented as half-man-half woman along with Parvati. Three represents Shiva's three eyes, and so on. "I will be singing a raga, a kriti or a sloka for each digit," she says.

  This year, Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFA) has chosen birth centenaries as its theme and has lined up concerts by students of legendary musicians who were born in 1912. On Wednesday, vocalist S Sowmya did a twoand-a-half hour concertto pay tribute to singer and teacher T Brinda, who died in 1996.

  Some are taking it a step further and honouring their teachers' gurus. "Madurai Mani Iyer is my paramaguru or guru's guru," says vocalist R Suryaprakash, who is performing on Friday evening. Hehasdone morethan 15concerts across the world this year to celebrate the life of Madurai Mani Iyer, a prolific vocalist who died in 1968. "At eachof myconcertsI pay tribute to my guru, T V Sankaranarayan, who is Madurai Mani Iyer's nephew and disciple, as well as to Madurai ManiIyer.Butthis year,entire concertshavebeen themedon him," says Suryaprakash. 

  Two themed tribute concerts are lined up for Sunday—oneto mridangam artist Palghat Mani Iyer, who died in 1981, and the other to vocalist Sripada Pinakapani, who lives and teaches in Andhra Pradesh. The Hyderabadbased Malladi Brothers are busy preparing for the threehour concert they will give in Chennaion Sundayin honour of Pinakapani, their teacher. 

  "Dr Pinakapani is a living legend, who turned 100 this year," says S Niranjan Nanthagopan of SIFA. "We decided to choose the theme of 100 since so many birth centenaries fall this year."

  Singers say concerts are the best way to honour influential musicians. "Every generation brings its own flavour but we cannot forget where we came from. That is why I believe in remembering my gurus in every concert," says Suryaprakash.

   

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