Under the sun

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Classical Crossover

Still staying with music, check out this TFM Page Article

...The polyphonic nature of western classical music, with many instruments playing, does not require the use of a rhythm instrument to maintain time. It is only in popular music, that a rhythm instrument is used. So a ‘classical crossover’ is predominantly western classical music, accompanied by rhythm instruments

...Though many of these songs were composed for movies in which a western classical approach was consciously adopted (Guru-Malayalam, dEsiya geetham) many were done for regular movies in which other songs followed a more standard approach. It is not very clear whether the audience appreciated these unique songs or these songs did not get enough exposure because the movies themselves failed. It is also possible the Indian ear used to listening to melodies, where the next note or slide is what surprises and fascinates the mind, is not appreciative of a western classical approach, where many instruments are playing musical notes in parallel. Maybe some of these songs had a strong melody and the orchestration was complex in the interludes alone (eg. sundari from thalapathy), where the melody guaranteed the success of the song. It probably required a TIS with classic poetry, extreme emotion drenched devotion and full-fledged orchestration to capture the mind of the Indian audience. Will a western classical orchestrated album on a secular subject, with contemporary lyrics be successful with the Indian audience?


2 Comments:

  • The Desiya geetham song (En kanavinai Kel nanba) is a very good song. And so too ithu Thai Pirantha Desam.. from Siraichalai...
    I do not know anything about the technicalities of a song, but these two songs I knew were special the very first time I listened to them.
    A pity both the songs(in fact even others in the TFM list) are not popular. Thalai deserves much much more recognition than what he has got(not even a PadmaShri and not many north of Hyderabad know him).

    By Blogger mutRupuLLi, at Thu Sep 07, 11:18:00 AM  

  • "Thalai deserves much much more recognition than what he has got(not even a PadmaShri and not many north of Hyderabad know him)."
    - I share the same crib but i console myself saying "Kazhudhaikku theriyuma karuvattu vasanai"

    By Blogger Bala (Karthik), at Wed Sep 13, 01:19:00 AM  

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