Ilayarajavin Ludes are mini Symphony !

[smss_engineer]

Ilayarajavin great prelude/interludes

As all of us know IR pioneered this art of music! While listening to the ludes, sometimes it seems to be a mini symphony.

1. Engengu sellum en ennangal (Pattakathi bairavan- what a name a film to have?) - 1979

Great prelude with grand orchestration, with that flow the vocals starts by SPB and janaki, after pallavi guitar comes with backing of violins like horses are running in ground, first interlude gets climax and saranam starts. and at the end of saranam guitar chords are played to end the scene. Though second interlude reminds the priya/uravenum puthiya song, the solo guitar makes different and takes us to another world. All over the song Bass guitar flows like a river!

Prelude- Bass guitar+Guitar+snare kits+violin+keyboard?
first interlude - Violin+Guitar+cello+bell sound instrument?
Second interlude - same as first interlude

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[smss_engineer]

2. Chittu kurivi (Chinna veedu) 1986

An inspiration from WCM but well suited to indian classical!

Only ilayaraja can extract these type of songs from WC masters.

Good use of Drums+flute+guitar

[smss_engineer]

3.paneer pushpangal (1981)

Really a classical album by meastro,

Poonthalir aada - SPB,Janaki
Kodai kala katre - MV
Anandha raagam - UR
Vengaya sambar - ?

Poonthalir aada
excellent guitar work and chorus, I have known what is chorus from this song! and very melodious song.But malaysia should have been a good choice!

Kodai kala katre
Great song with guitar. I still have an angry with IR that this song should have been sung by SPB and poonthalir aada should been by malasia vasu!

Anandha raagam
wow! a symphony like song. IR really blends Carnatic music with western classical , a great work.

Bass guitar + guitar + violin + carnatic tabla = Anandha raagam alias western symphony

[tvsankar]

Dear smss_engineer,
Nice topic. IR in indha padal,

1.Ammamma vandhadhengu singakutti from "Per Sollum oru Pillai"

Beutiful song and fine tempo.

With Love,
Usha Sankar.

[smss_engineer]

4. Sangathil paadatha (auto raaja-1982)/thumbi vaa (olangal)/Neer veezhchi (kanne kalaimane)

How many versions a tune will have? only IR can do this. But all version of songs has different feelings/effect! wow it's amazing,

Sangathil paadatha gives the feeling of soft melody duet with lover!
Thumbi vaa gives feeling like mother sings for her child!
Neer veezhchi gives a romantic girl taking look at the nature (like falls)!

Great song with perfect Bass guitar+tabla!

i can't think even now how he got blended Bass guitar with indian tabla? still mistery!

[smss_engineer]

5. Geetha sangeetha (geetha-kannada)

Even i don't know kannada i used to enjoy this song,

Like a river flows in the mountain this song flows like a cheese in mouth ,

The way he starts the prelude with single drum with bass guitar and acoustic kit is awesome!

At the end of pallavi When SPB sings the line geetha (with tension) IR releases the tension by just kitting the drum great! and violin takes us to a different world until SPB continuing!

Second interlude usual IR fusion with saxophone,

Great song, other songs in this album are also gems

Keladi nimageega - SPB
Rehash of "devadai ilam devi" , but with different orchestration.
good chorus!

Jyothiyalli jyothi - SPB
nooraavathu naal song, good to hear in kannada!

[Shankar]

1. First interlude of Raja kaiya vechA - a great lesson on counterpoints.
2. Prelude of aruna kirana - GURU

I don't want this to become another listing exercise, but the point is, he's composed so many interesting patterns which would be great pieces if taken up as a melody and worked upon.

YSR did a fabulous job on Raja's 35 second Johnny theme and made it a great theme score for 7GRC.

There are numerous other pieces that could be made into full length scores.

[irir123]

"There are numerous other pieces that could be made into full length scores."

I was listening to IR's Italian concert - and just imagined how it would be to listen to a complete orchestral version of "sangathil paadadha kavidhai/thumbi vaa" tune with counterpoints being rendered on different scales by opera-like chorus and several twists and turns in between!! oh God, wudnt that be awesome ?!

[irir123]

I recently happened to listen to a lecture-demonstration of one Ms.Janet Feder, a Denver based avant-guitarist - www.janetfeder.com

It was actually a commentary on Philip Glass and his music.

I was particularly intrigued by her remark about Philip Glass's creative endeavor of presenting Indian classical idioms in western classical notations!

just consider this - Ilayaraaja has been presenting/ interpreting Indian classical music in Western classical notations and has been following his own unique style of arrangements/ostinatos for more than 25 years of his career as a film music composer! and not much of his music is known elsewhere

and guys if you all really want to know the kind of 'kalakkals' IR can do in Hollywood, watch "The Illusionist" starring Edward Norton - the movie has a stunning soundtrack by Philip Glass, very much reminiscent of IR's style! if our guys can come up with creative stuff like "The Illusionist", for IR it will be like eating 'halwa'!

[Shankar]

Philip Glass is one fantastic composer...Like any classical music composer, he will be recognized posthumously ...I feel, Music afficinados will remember him in the leagues of Beethoven & Debussy.