IR News and Other Titbits Ver.2009

A Classic Treat from KB-Raja-Vaali-SPB
By Behindwoods Visitor Vijay
The views expressed in this column is that of the visitor. Behindwoods.com doesn't hold responsible for its content.
Let us deal with a masterpiece composition from the (Keladi Kanmani Paadagan Sangathi - Puthu Puthu Arthangal) K.Balachander - Ilayaraja - Vaali - SPB factory. What is so special about this song to write on? It is the situation. A duet or a peppy or even a pathos won’t do justice for this kind of situation. First let us see the situation before going into the song.

Situation:

Absolutely frustrated in life, Rahman goes on a journey
Ilayaraja
without knowing the destination. On the way he gets introduced to Sithara A nice relationship blossoms between them which makes Rahman very happy especially when he is yearning for a person with whom he can share his past life burdens.

At this type of scenario a song should perfectly suit Rahman’s state of mind i.e. a blend of his present happiness and the past bitterness. As said already it can be neither duet nor pathos. See Raja’s magic here, the song should have poignancy but at the same time it should not sound completely pathos like Oorai Therinchukitten or Raaja Enbaar Manithiri Enbaar and here we also need to mention Vaali’s lyrics which captures Rahman’s life in just two lines
The garland I proffered did not spread fragrance
But you are the jasmine who blossomed for me
And here comes the classic lines
A lasting burden rests with my heart
You are the Stonehenge I seek
My withering times are around your chest
You are the mother who lullabies me
Finally above all SPB's rendition makes the song as one in a million composition!.

http://www.behindwoods.com/features/...-12-03-09.html

Baroque,

I don't agree with your view that the NBW track does not maintain the intended mood. By the way what kind of mood or emotion are you expecting in a fusion track especially one done in the manner which IR has with an orchestra. Fusion by its word means you are fusing two genres so you are never going to get the full mood/emotion you would when a single genre of music is played completely. THe mood/emotion keeps swinging as an when the genre of music is changed as IR does so brilliantly. My emotions ride the same wave as the music does. There is no one intended mood when someone does a fusion. It starts with a particular mood keeps shifting as music genre keeps changing and ultimately comes back to end the way it started. THis is what IR's piece does. One has to keep going with the shifts and try to enjoy the piece rather than expecting to hear a particular mood or emotion throughout the composition. THis is simply not that type of a composition. you expect surprises in fusion. ultimately how everything is blended together is important and IR does it expertly with the orchestra and flute.
Movie song prelude or interludes are short duration and morever not the kind of fusion IR has done in his albums. Those are more instant gratification pieces, so should not be compared to an elaborarte work like NBW which is more complex.

One important point to note when listening to HTNI and NBW - many instrumental players have told the fact that IR asks them to play the 'western instrument' in an eastern way (guitar prasanna has remared this more than once in his blogs). However in both these albums he has let the western strings (not the single carnatic violin) and drums and guitars be what they are and played them so unlike the way he uses them in film music. Still he is able to prove his musical theories sufficiently well to a layman like me who is exploring music from its fringes or to an expert doing a deep dive in it.

rprasad.
I only stated the Hindolam track in NBW and highlighted the disturbance it causes for me in that 1:5 min musical chunk.
A fusion music can touch different genres, forms, styles still there will be a continuity , cohesive & soulful. Completely disparate elements come together to form a cohesive Soundscape.
As I was blissful with his flute passage, that particular musical - patch work orchestration - chunk irritates me. எனக்கு நல்லா இல்லை. I don't find it as put together fusion.
Nice you keep going with the shifts behind Ilayaraaja. IF IT APPEALS TO YOU, find it the greatest fusion, enjoy - GOOD FOR YOU!

DIGRESSION
Most of you fusion lovers know it... If you are familiar, You may revisit..
If you haven't heard of the album.. please check it out.
Dr. L.Subramaniam, Stephane Grappelli - conversations
http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...k=001&disc=001
MEMORIES track is gold.
:ty: I found the you tube. :ty:
beautiful violin - jazz fusion. Very Gracious fusion.:musicsmile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2n1MAfUTW8
I bought the cassette during early 90s for Rs 30 at MADRAS.
Artist: L. Subramaniam & Stephane Grapelli
Album: Conversations
Year: 1984
Label: Milestone
end
Shri. Ilayaraja is playing rama nannu brovara..... raga HARI KAMBHODHI....THYAGARAJA composition in violin as BGM :musicsmile: before the scene Rajini is coming in மாறு வேஷம் to பொண்ணு கேட்டு வைஷ்ணவி for his brother in the movie தர்ம துரை...in my dvd.
மாசி மாசம் ஆளானப் பொண்ணு :swinghead: EROTIC IR RULES FOREVER!
ENJOY..
vinatha. :wave:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baroque

That bell orchestration in COMPOSER'S BREATH is not tasteful for my ears.

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I agree, i too felt the same. Many a time, i have fastforwarded that particular piece. For me atleast, this bell piece is the single flaw in the album. Musically and from the perspective of IR, it might not be, but somehow, for me, it is too hard on my ears.

ARR's interview in screen:

Do two background music trophies indicate that the background score is gaining more importance nowadays?
In the West, they are amazed that in Indian films the same person composes both the songs and the background score. But over here, whether it was Naushadsaab in Hindi films, Ilayaraja down here or most other composers, we have had this tradition almost as a culture.


http://www.screenindia.com/news/i-mi...lyrics/441299/

:) vinatha.

Digression:

Please check out the jazz album "Kinsmen" by Rudresh Mahanthappa and Kadri Gopalnath. It is awesome. It has received rave reviews in the US.

http://www.rudreshm.com/

Wf.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by baroque

Let him think polyphony orchestration, Kiru.

But I don't find the brilliant / magnificent Ilayaraaja always shines as put together, churning out variety of stunning orchestral pieces still preserve the intended mood/emotions in that track. That bell orchestration in COMPOSER'S BREATH is not tasteful for my ears. It is tacky.

Pay attention to the grand third lude of hindolam...Sri Devi en vaazhvil.../ interludes of ila nenjey vaa...vanna vanna pookkal- percussion /second interlude of chinnakkannan azhaikiran.../short enticing prelude of sorgaththin vaasapadi.... / gorgeous strings prelude of nilavondru kanden....kai rasikkaran - early years.

The above mentioned film songs are better fusion in terms of aesthetics and technicalities.
இது ஒரு நிலா காலம்......டிக் டிக் டிக் ...
FUSION at the BEST.. 80s Ilayaraaja glory! :musicsmile:
Some of the above compositions , IR has done even earlier than NBW.
So I am not accepting the argument, he has come a long way...:)
Regarding CD.
AMAZON.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m?...mphony&x=0&y=0
Please suggest for the Library collection. They will bring too.
Label is TIMES.. you can request the local Indian music stores to bring.
vinatha. :)

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Thanks Vinatha for the link, I will order it soon.
My point about IR having come a long way is not to justify the issue you have with NBW. It is after all your taste.
My point is about Raaga Symphony style of composition versus TIS. It is just my opinion (for whatever its worth) IR's WCM skills have continued to evolve and TIS is an epitome of that. IR though has in some private conversation has said that TIS is not his most complex in orchestration because he wanted to get it "right" rather than prove a point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baroque

Let him think polyphony orchestration, Kiru.

But I don't find the brilliant / magnificent Ilayaraaja always shines as put together, churning out variety of stunning orchestral pieces still preserve the intended mood/emotions in that track. That bell orchestration in COMPOSER'S BREATH is not tasteful for my ears. It is tacky.

Pay attention to the grand third lude of hindolam...Sri Devi en vaazhvil.../ interludes of ila nenjey vaa...vanna vanna pookkal- percussion /second interlude of chinnakkannan azhaikiran.../short enticing prelude of sorgaththin vaasapadi.... / gorgeous strings prelude of nilavondru kanden....kai rasikkaran - early years.

The above mentioned film songs are better fusion in terms of aesthetics and technicalities.
இது ஒரு நிலா காலம்......டிக் டிக் டிக் ...
FUSION at the BEST.. 80s Ilayaraaja glory! :musicsmile:
Some of the above compositions , IR has done even earlier than NBW.
So I am not accepting the argument, he has come a long way...:)
Regarding CD.
AMAZON.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m?...mphony&x=0&y=0
Please suggest for the Library collection. They will bring too.
Label is TIMES.. you can request the local Indian music stores to bring.
vinatha. :)

---

Thanks Vinatha for the link, I will order it soon.
My point about IR having come a long way is not to justify the issue you have with NBW. It is after all your taste.
My point is about Raaga Symphony style of composition versus TIS. It is just my opinion (for whatever its worth) IR's WCM skills have continued to evolve and TIS is an epitome of that. IR though has in some private conversation has said that TIS is not his most complex in orchestration because he wanted to get it "right" rather than prove a point.