One of my favorite European classical Composer. I admire all of his work.
Let me make this article simple and will follow with a another detail article in future.

Born in Salzburg, Austria on Jan. 27, 1756; full name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Gottlieb Mozart;
he was baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Mozart is named after his grandfather on his mother’s side and after the Saint on his date of birth, Johannes Chrysostomus.

Parents: Leopold Mozart – composer and violinist, concertmaster at the archiepiscopal court, and in 1763, vice-kapellmeister at Salzburg court; and Anna Maria Pertl, daughter of Wolfgang Nikolaus Pertl, an official from Sankt Gilgen

Sibling: Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart

Age 3: started to play the keyboard
Age 5: started composing minuets
Age 4: he played violine / piano very fluently
Age 7: he composed his first Symphony!!!!!!
Age 12: he composed a full scale Opera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such a great man world have ever seen.

Latest movie Amadeus(2002) brings his many of his life facts to light.

Small clip from the movie.

Music runs in his vain, notes are his breath, scales are his thought. his Opera, Symphony,

A composer who have never compared and may never born.

Following are some of my favorite music of Mozart.

Turkish March.

Mozart Piano Concerto K. 467 – II. Andante. I love this.

Concerto per arpa e flauto, K.299 – Andantino. Soft one.

Eine Kleine Nacthmusik Mvt 2. I use to hum this one

Die Zauberflöte: Overture. Overture! Overture!! Overture!!! i like this one.

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Music

Illayaraja is one of the world’s most prolific film music composers, having composed for over 750 films over an illustrious career spanning more than 28 years.

Birth and family;
He was born in a poor rural family in pannaiapuram near Madurai in Tamil Nadu, south India. His birth name is Gnanadesikan and his school records indicate his name as Rasaiya. His father Ramasamy’s premature death threw the family into severe poverty. His brother Ganghei Amaran (Amarsingh) is also a composer and a song writer.

Illayaraja is married to Jeeva and they have three children. Two sons Karthik Raja and Yuvan Shankar Raja, both are composers and daughter Bhavatharini is a singer and composer.

Past time;
He loves writing poetry and has written lyrics for some songs not only in Tamil but also in Hindi! He is highly spiritual and composed many devotional songs on Ramana Maharshi. He loves photography.

Music career;
Without much formal education, he completed a course in classical guitar (higher local) with a gold medal at the Trinity College of Music in London.

His film career started from the movie Annakilli. Illayaraja was instrumental in bringing about a fusion of Tamil folk and film music. He won the national Best Film Music Composer award three times for the Telugu movies Saagara Sangamam (1984), Sindhu Bhairavi (1986) and Rudra Veena (1988).

He is the first Asian to compose a full symphony for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). His music is mainly associated with the ’80s, the decade during which he was most prolific. After his symphony, he was called by the name ‘Maestro’ Ilayaraja.

Illayaraaja is credited with a truly unique orchestration technique, which involves blending of western and Indian instruments. Normally, lyrics are written to suit his pre-determined tunes. This composing technique was used by him for the first time in India. Today it has become a norm.

His two fusion albums;
Beside his career in film music for Tamil, Telugu and other Indian films, he had written lyrics to fusion albums blending western classical music with Indian carnatic raagas.

How to Name it?
One of the tracks is based on Preludium in E by Johann Sebastian Bach
The whole idea behind the album was, ‘What if Bach and Thyagaraja had met in their age and combined to create a new genre of music’. Clearly, the album testifies to that proposal. The tracks are simply the best bits of fusion music ever composed. The album was dedicated to Carnatic composer Tyagaraja and Johann Sebastian Bach

Nothing But Wind;
It suggests that music is a natural phenomenon akin to wind.

He has developed good association with Carnatic musicians like Dr.Mangalampalli BalaMuraliKrishna and T.V. Gopalakrishnan. He has also got some flak from conservative Carnatic music fans for rewriting some of Tyagaraja’s compositions. He invented a raga by name Panchamukhi, which is looked at by some of the Carnatic Purists as faux and by the general crowd as an Achievement.

In 2002, his compostion “Rakkama Kaiya Thattu” from the movie Dhalapathi stayed at the top of BBC list of the best songs for quite a while, before finishing at 4th place.

He was the music composer for the Miss World 1996 Pageant, held at Bangalore. His latest hit is Mumbai Xpress (2005), with several strong elements that gave it a Jazz appeal.

His most recent work is that of the Thiruvasakam in Symphony.
This is an Oratorio of Thiruvasakam with Symphony orchestration. [Coming soon in my another article.]

Awards and Nominations;

* Presented with the Best Film Music Composer Award, an annual award, by the Government of India in the years 1984, 1986 and 1988.

* Presented with ‘Kalaimamani Award’, an annual award for excellence in the field of arts, by the Government of the State of Tamil Nadu, India.

* Presented with the Award of Governement of the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, for excellence in music.

* Conferred the title ‘Isaignani’ (wisest in the field of music) in the year 1988, at Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.

* Conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letter (Honoris causa) in March, 1994, by the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India.

* Conferred the Cultural Doctorate in Philosophy of Music, in April, 1994, by the World University Round Table, Arizona, U.S.A.

* Award of Appreciation presented in the year 1994, by the Foundation and Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America.

* Bestowed with the honorary citizenship and presented with the key to the Teaneck Township, by Mr. John Abraham, Mayor of Township of Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A., in June 1994.

* Presented with the Award of Governement of the State of Kerala, India, in the year 1995, for excellence in music.

* Conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letter, in the year 1996, by the Madurai Kamarajar University, Tamil Nadu, India.

* Presented with the Lata Mangeshkar Award for Excellence in Music, constituted by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India, for the year 1998.

His Other Albums;
* Thiruvasakam
* How to name it?
* Nothing But Wind (Flute played by Hariprasad Chaurasia)
* Rajavin Ramanamaalai
* Illayaraja’s Geethanjali
* India 24 Hours

His Literary Works;
* Sangeetha Kanavugal (Musical Dreams – about European tour)
* Vettaveli thanil kotti kidakkuthu (Poems)
* Vazhithunai
* Gnagna Ganga
* Paal Nila Paathai
* Unmaikku Thirai Yethu?
* Yaarukku Yaar Ezhuthuvathu?
* En Narambu Veenai

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Music, india

This Article was posted in my old website… TheGClef

George Uglow Pope popularly known as Rev. G.U. Pope or G.U. Pope is a Christian missionary who spent many years in Tamil Nadu and translated many Tamil texts into English. His popular translations include Tirukkural and Tiruvachagam.

Thiruvasagam. Written by Mannikkavasagar, one whose words are like gems wrote the eighth ThirumuRai consisting of ThiruvAchakam, ThiruvempAvai and ThirukkOvaiyAr. He was born in ThiruvAthavUr in the late 8th or early 9th century A.D. He was a minister in the PAndya Kingdom but when he was sent to purchase horses for the army, he spent all the money in religious pursuits. Lord Sivan is supposed to have blessed him with his grace and saved him from the wrath of the King.

Maestro Illayaraja The famous Music composer of south india, attempted to compose this Tamil script into a magnificant western musical form called Oratorio . Its really superb master piece by this great leagend. In this music he composed 2 song in form of western March and in Ballet form.
In second song Illaraja tryes to combine the Manikkavasagars tamil script with G.U. Popes English Translation into one and make it wonderful Song.

The Album contains six tracks.

1. Poovaar Senni Mannan ( Singer : Illayaraja & Chorus) :
The album starts with the song ” Poovaar Senni Mannan”, which has booming chorus and soulful singing by Illayaraja.
A great start to the Album. In western this is called as March. Manikkavasagar calls those people who want to follow hime to reach lotus feet of the lord.

2. Pollaa Vinayen ( Singers : Illayaraja,Ray Harcourt) :
This is the crown jewel of the Album. Its a lengthy piece with lyrics in both English & Tamil. Tamil lyric by Mannika vasagar and English: a translation of original lyrics. Translatted by Rev. G.U. Pope.
Stunned composition and excellent orchestration. Raja oozes with emotion in this song.

3. Pooerukonum Purantharanum ( Singers : Illayaraja,Bavatharini) :
A melodious song with a strong carnatic base. A typical Raja’s unique duet.

4. Umbarkatkarasaey ( Singer : Illayaraja) :
Another Soulful number. Wonderful singing and excellent orchestration. Here poet expresses his feeling after hugging the Lord. In this song, Manikkavasagar asks the lord who is already in his captive, how he will be seen in other places.

5. Muthu Natramam ( Singers :Unnikrishnan, Madhu Balakrishnan,VijayJesudas,Manjari,Asha,Gayathri & Chorus) :
A very “crispy” song with wonderful chorus. This song is almost like a Western Ballet.

6. Puttril Vazh Aravum Anjen :
Raja’s tribute to Manickavasagar. The song has nice “wordy” interludes in the beginning . Poet express his feeling of his fear. The starting stanza depects the emotion of the poet to the sumeet.

The “Thiruvachagam” is a must buy for music lovers and hope Raja continues such musical endeavors in the future.To paraphrase one of raja’s film songs ” Raja Kayya vecha adhu raanga ponadhillai”.This is definitely a stunning fusion of Western Classical & Carnatic music. I bow to his genius.

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Literature, Music, india

We all know the word “Recorder” in different context. However, we are now going to talk about a musical instrument called, Recorder.

What is a Recorder?
Recorders are “fipple flutes”, like whistles. Today most people’s idea of a recorder is a small, plastic, squeaky thing played by fourth grade students, but in the hands of a skilled player, even the highest-pitched recorder is a sweet-toned instrument that rivals the silver flute in all but range and volume. The modern recorder is a style introduced during the Baroque period. Renaissance recorders are less common, having a wider bore, and have a sweeter tone. Medieval recorders had a straight bore (as opposed to later recorders, which are widest near the fipple (whistle part) and narrowest at the foot (part furthest from the player), a softer sound, and much less range.
There are several sizes of recorder, ranging from “garklein” through “extended great bass”. The size played by schoolchildren is usually the soprano, which has middle C as its lowest note. Above the soprano is the sopranino, which starts on F; and the garkelein, which starts an octave above middle C. Below the soprano is the alto, which starts on F an octave below the sopranino; the tenor, which starts an octave below middle C; the bass, which starts an octave below the alto; the great bass, an octave blow the tenor; and the extended great bass, an octave below the bass. While each recorder has a range of only two octaves (though I’ve seen references to skilled players being able to play part of a third octave), the recorder family as a whole spans pretty much the entire range of notes you’d want to hear. The most common sizes are sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
A recorder has seven holes on the front (three for the left hand and four for the right) and a thumbhole on the back (left hand). Most have double holes for the bottom two holes, and larger recorders have keys for the harder to reach holes.

History of Recorder:

The recorder is the most highly developed member of the ancient family of internal duct flutes or fipple flutes with a fixed wind-way formed by a wooden plug or block. It is unique from other internal duct flutes by having holes for seven fingers and a single hole for the thumb, which also serves as an octaving vent.

The earliest unambiguous illustration of a recorder is that, in which a musician plays a cylindrical duct-flute, the window / labium of which is clearly visible, and at the foot of which there is an open finger hole for the little finger of the lowermost hand.

Earlier to this, there are a number of illustrations of ambiguous ‘pipes’, which may (or may not) be duct-flutes, which may (or may not) be recorders. Amongst the earliest is Solome’s Dance, also known as the Bernward Column, a bronze cast from Hildesheim Cathedral (Germany) in which Salome dances to the accompaniment of a straight cylindrical pipe, which has four holes visible, the lowest slightly offset. It is clasped between two hands, just above which there is a notch (window); the mouthpiece is beak-shaped, and the player (a man) does not have the puffed cheeks characteristic of shawm players.

History of Recorder crossed many types of recorder in different ages.

The recorder achieved great popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, at Henry VIII’s death in 1547, an inventory of his possessions included 78 recorders. There are also numerous references to the instrument in contemporary literature (e.g. Shakespeare, Pepys and Milton). Several changes in the construction of recorders took place in the seventeenth century, resulting in the type of instrument generally referred to as baroque recorders, as opposed to the earlier renaissance recorders. These innovations allowed baroque recorders to play two full chromatic octaves of notes, and to possess a tone, which was regarded as “sweeter” than that of the earlier instruments.

Nowadays, designers of factory-made instruments for amateur and school use continue to produce recorders with a somewhat blander, flute-like tone than the eighteenth-century originals on which they are based. Nonetheless, these neo-baroque recorders remain essentially solo instruments and are inherently unsuited to being played together in consorts. As we shall see, such instruments demand a very sophisticated technique indeed, if tone and tuning are to be acceptable to any but uncritical listeners. Played together by children or adult amateurs they generally sound harsh and discordant. The style of recorder most appropriate for use by children and amateurs is surely the renaissance instrument designed specifically for blending with each other. Although reconstructions of such recorders are available, their cost puts them well out of the reach of all but specialist players.

How to use Recorder:

Playing Recorder is very simple. All you need to know is Music theory, which is basic in music, and the fingering to use. As a family of wind instruments, you need to know the breathing technique where you can control your breath in long run of music.

Recorder comes in the family of Woodwind instrument of music. Anyone can blow air into an instrument – the skill is to make notes with those magic fingers. This instrument has difference sizes, mainly made up of Wood or plastic. Plastic records mostly come in two colors black or cream.

The recorder is a very social instrument. Many amateurs prefer to play in large groups or in one-to-a-part chamber groups, and there is a wide variety of music for such groupings including many modern works. Groups of different sized instruments help to compensate for the limited note range.

Present Day Status:

One of the most interesting developments over the last 30 years has been the development of recorder orchestras. They can have up to 60+ players and use up to 8 or 9 sizes of instruments. In addition to arrangements, a lot of new music, including symphonies, has been written. There are recorder orchestras in Germany, Holland, Japan, The United States and in the UK which has about eight to nine Orchestras, including a National Youth Recorder Orchestra.

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Music

“He is a perfect thief. I will think we will have fun.” – ACP Jai Dixit

It was a cool and great weekend Saturday… We went to an Accelerating move Dhoom2.
A week back I went to JamesBond Casino Royale. The movie was really good but I couldn’t compromise on the James bond’s character. The movie shows only an action hero. Daniel Craig action and acting was really great but a good spy and spy tactics were missing. Tales of spy must need Spy tools like movies of Sean Connery or improved tools of Pierce Brosnan. Let me brief about this movie later.

Two years after the success of Dhoom! Comes bigger, faster and hi-tech sequel movie Dhoom2! A cops and robber story accelerated with action, thriller and romance., Descending from its previous movie (Dhoom) story of high-speed motorcyclists (riding bikes like the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa) robbing banks and money-vans, disappearing into thin air. Dhoom- 2 marks a new thief with sophisticated tools and intelligent missionary ideas. Rocking the Dhoom-2 movie with casts of previous continuing actors Abhishek Bachchan,Uday Chopra ,Rimi Sen and additional new comers Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai,Bipasha Basu makes the movie interesting.

Synopsis:
ACP Jai Dixit’s(Abhishek Bachchan) next assignment with his career challenge is to find a international Indian artistic Robber Mr. A (Hrithik Roshan). Jai’s investigation with ACP Sonali Bose (Bipasha Basu) and Inspector Ali Akbar(Uday Chopra) proves, that the thief “a perfect thief” is having a great mission in his life to create/draw his trademark ‘A’ (also first letter of his name) all over the world by robbing in specific places which creates a symbol ‘A’, Jai’s job begins from here with Sonali and a cool comic character Ali Akbar(Uday Chopra), who now becomes a Inspector and STILL searching for his life partner. Cops jumps into the exciting journey of arresting Mr. A. Sudden appearance of Sunehri (Aishwarya Rai) a petty thief who joins as allay for Jai to complete his mission, as per Jai’s plan, in one of the A’s robbery, Sunehri and Mr. A come into contact and she join hands with Mr. A in his next mission and later she becomes his sweetheart.

Ending is not expected as in many cop stories. Check it out. Do post your comments on this movie.

Like Dhoom, Dhoom2 doesn’t have much suspense of finding the robber. All the characters are blended properly with the plot. The robbing technique and intelligence are unique. Dance of Hrithik in the title song is really fabulous. Aishwarya too has performed well but she looks quiet tired in this movie. Abhishek’s dialog delivery are really nice, his action, and body language of cop’s suites him well. But the dance performance is not up to the mark. May be he is quiet fat or no proper training in dance in this movie. Comedy with Ali is funny like the previous movie. Music and directions are superb.

For my foreign friends, here I am posting the title song with lyric from this movie. Very few Hindi words: so you too can sing

dhoom againand feel the beat of the rythem
rythem of the night
dhoom again and hear the voices calling
creatures of the night
dhoom again and see the shadows dancing
in the pale moonlight
dhoom againa and feel your
heartbeat pumping
now the time is right
so go walk out the door
get down….get on the floor
let’s shout break out
come on once again let’s hear it
dhoom machale

and when love comes your way
you’ll know its here to stay
you’ll steal the chance ‘cose you’re
the thief of hearts yeah
you’ll win with a galance
walk away with your romance
there’s no more ther’s no backing
out now

dhoom again and make the whole world crazy
set your spirit free
dhoom again anf take a break right now
come celeberate with me
dhoom again ‘cos all wanna do
is steal the showsomehow
dhoom again ‘cos all i wanna say
is hey the time is now
let nothing get you down
go out and paint the town
let;s shout break out
come on once again lets hear it
doom machale….

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Entertainment, Movie, Music

I like to share one of my favorite music of Paul Mauriat; I love almost all of his music. His music are very simple pleasant in nature.

This video is one of his concerts called “Love Is Blue” 1968.

Is really love is blue?

This music is almost similar to a telugu song “Ee Reyi Teeyanidi”

Dedicating this music to this great composer who passed away recently on 3 November 2006 in Perpignan.

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Entertainment, Music