Shri Vijay Siva(vocalist)
The Madras Music Season, in my opinion, is one of the pride of Asia's cultural environ. The only other music festival that we hear of such magnitude is the one held in Vienna, though we do not have specific reports about that, not as much as is said about this festival. The continuance of this festival every year and the upsurge in the number of concerts and in the flow of rasikas in the season only prove, that the musicians and the music lovers crave for interaction among competition, which directly or indirectly hints that music is a unifying force. Whatever be the quality that is produced, whatever be the level of the rasikas, the Madras Music Season proves beyond doubt that music crosses all boundaries and shall bring eternal peace to humanity.
In general, I like the Music Season in December, just for the reason that Carnatic Music gets the prime importance during this time. As I have been observing in the recent years, many people from abroad come down for the Season. My travel outside India has helped me to appreciate better, our culture and music and this helps me enjoy it more, when it comes to Season in India. With the over- ambitiousness of the sabhas organising concerts at the same time, the audience number gets staggered. Nevertheless, everybody is buzzing with activity. Several go to the Halls if not to the concert. If the sabhas can organise the concerts in a spread out manner over two months, it will be beneficial all round, with the Season still retaining its charm. So many youngsters get a chance to perform and more importantly, they get a chance to listen. This music will never die. In general it is good.
For me the Season is the Event Piece De Resistance every year. Every year I look forward to those three weeks of hectic activity, performing almost 10 to 12 concerts, besides listening to sometimes even 4 or 5 concerts a day. The entire cross section of the Carnatic Music listening public can be seen during this time and it really is a must for every serious rasika of Carnatic Music.
Season is good in the sense that lot of artistes get to participate. On the other hand, it is also a waste of effort, in the sense that the same artiste performs in the same area too often with organisations multiplying. Artistes are also willing to perform, simply accepting all concerts. Artistes cannot give their best in this condition and by the end of the Season they get too tired to give their best. If artistes decide on giving only 3 to 4 concerts of 1 1/2 to 2 hours duration, they could prove themselves better. This would be ideal for the artiste as well as the listener. To bring out the merit of the artiste and for better performance, the acoustics of the auditorium has to be improved. Honest criticism is lacking. The musicians have to be the most respected persons, but this is not the case. The sabha secretaries become more important than the artistes. Enough scope should be given to creativity and the artistes allowed to grow naturally.
The Music Festival has become very famous. Everyone awaits the Music Season, not only in Madras, but all over India and even all over the world. The audience and the artistes prepare themselves for a good knowledgeable fare. Artistes attempt to present themselves only after serious preparation and talent is acknowledged especially during this Season. But, in a span of 10 to 15 days, there are too many kutcheries. The sabhas could jointly organise the concerts in a coordinated manner. Too many slots, lead to substandard music. In order to fill up the time and the slots, even mediocre artistes are being provided opportunity. Even paper plants are being watered.
The Madras Music Festival is by itself one of a unique kind all over the world. It is a time when classical Carnatic Music congregates its best self to project what Madras is, as a seat of Music. Participation of seniors, junior and upcoming artistes, makes it very novel. At the same time, in the span of 15 to 20 days, you get to hear the stalwarts in the field, those who are preparing for this and those who are appearing for the first time for the valuation of the audience. For a listener, it is a feeling of great participation in the deep rooted culture of India. There are people who come in from abroad (I know of rasikas who have been coming for around 20 years, without missing even one year) and in this sense can be compared to an annual visit to a family temple.
The season is wonderful, for there is a collective representation and an integration of various styles of classical music. The climate may not be at its best, but it is a joyous occasion for all. New talents are revealed and Sabhas provide opportunity to exhibit their caliber. It is a good opportunity to listen to good music. The season's calendar is really packed with programs of leading and upcoming artistes that people attend from all over the world. The importance of such an occasion demands the very best from the artiste. The onus rests on the artiste to ensure that they perform their best and render innovative music to please the audience. The expectation is for new and creative performance.
Carnatic Music is definitely one of the greatest systems of Music in the world and having taken it as a profession there is the responsibility of each and every individual to do well in every concert that he/she performs, but all the more so, during the December Festival, because for professional musicians it is the time when they can catch the eyes of the listeners and organisers all over the world. For youngsters like me, I have always felt it very thrilling, competitive and enthusiastic, apart from a tinge of nervousness, when the Season is approaching. Being a vocalist, to perform in December Festival in Madras and to consistently maintain good standard and voice is a challenge, over a period of 15-20 concerts, since the climatic conditions during that phase does not suit most of the vocalists. Hence all the more the pressure. But once, you do well in the complete season, there is nothing equivalent in terms of any compensation which can match the satisfaction that you attain.
Smt Jayanthi R.K (veena)
Madras is the Mecca of classical arts, especially Carnatic Music. The air of festivity in Madras during the Season in unmatched anywhere else;ie. the amount of international audience that madras attracts during the Season is something unbelievable. All the hotels are fully booked, canteens with South Indian food aromas are packed, concert halls are filled with silk and lovely smell of jasmine and perfume, artistes are seen all over Madras in cars, taxis, autos sporting their traditional concert jibbas, veshtis, pattu sarees etc. carrying tamburas, violins, veenas and mridangams from one concert hall to the other.
Complaining of abundance? What is a "festival" if there is no abundance? Ever heard of a Diwali with limited crackers? or Dasherra with limited dolls? Why complain about the overflowing ragas and talas all over?
One suggestion : If only experienced (at least with 7-8 years ) are given slots to perform during the festival, quality of music can be ensured. Freshers can gain exposure during other parts of the year!
I started performing in the various sabhas as a junior artiste as an accompanist for various artistes adopting varied styles, which has given me exposure to various styles and has enabled me to play with an anticipation when I am on stage with a new artiste. This in turn has increased my repertoire. This also encourages me to practice more and to strive for perfection. However, the Season is so packed with programs that I am sure, the rasikas would enjoy it if given the fare in a more phased manner and also if more screening is done at the initial level. All this would increase the quality of performance in the Season.
The Season is something unique, one of the greatest Music Festivals in the world, where artistes from all over come to perform, exhibiting their skill and people come from all over to listen. There is now an oversaturation of sabhas and concerts. There can be fewer sabhas which are more quality oriented and it would be better if the sabhas join together and organise the whole thing collectively. With this over abundance of concerts, audience can get tired of this. Even for musicians, it will be better to give fewer and better performances.