What is this series about?
Carnatic music is a system of Indian classical music that originated in South India. This series showcases four renowned 18th and 19th century Carnatic composers through some of their krithis(composition structures combining lyrics and melody), set to a raaga (specific combination of musical notes) and rendered by some of the most popular contemporary musicians today.
Carnatic music is a system of Indian classical music that originated in South India. This series showcases four renowned 18th and 19th century Carnatic composers through some of their krithis(composition structures combining lyrics and melody), set to a raaga (specific combination of musical notes) and rendered by some of the most popular contemporary musicians today.
Who is it by?
This series features the work of four of the genre’s greatest names – Thyagaraja, Shyama Shastri, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Swati Tirunal – sung by some of the well-known musical talents of today including Bombay S. Jayashri, T.M. Krishna, Nithyashree Mahadevan, P. Unnikrishnan, Sudha Ragunathan, Sanjay Subrahmanyan, Hyderabad Brothers and Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan.
Why should listen to it?
This album does not attempt to teach an appreciation of Carnatic music, nor is it a definitive album on Carnatic music. However, it does come close to providing a familiarity through repeated listening, of the genre, the composers’ signature styles and the musical prowess of the vocalists. Especially useful to those interested in attending the Music Season concerts in Chennai all this month.
An edited version of the article was published in Culturama’s December 2012 Issue.
