Musings about music

How much I like music ... let me count the ways ....

I learnt basis of carnatic music when I was young, dabbled with Violin, mridangam and a bit of veena. At best you could say I know how to hold them ... :o). Later on a learnt a little to make music with keyboards.

While I was learning (well you could say so), I was into popular music - listing to the likes of George Michael (or should I say Wham!), Europe, Phil Collins et al.

As I reached college - my music preferences changed to more evolved kinds like Sting, Lionel Ritchie and later Enigma.

When I listened to Yitzak Perlmann's rendition of Vivaldi's four seasons - I fell in love with western classical music. Started collecting Beethoven's symphonies, those of Mozart and Mendelsohn (you should listen to his Scottish symphony) Strauss (Blue Danube) and Yanni's live at the acropolis.

As I took up my first job towards the end of last century (saying that makes me feel old), stumbled upon Pt. Jasraj's rendition of Miyan ki todi. I liked it - though it was a little heavy. But that was enough to get me Googling for more music online. I came across Ajoy Chakraborthy's Hamsadwani Khayal. When I heard to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi's Brindabai Sarangi (it moved me - all 80+ kgs of me :o). I fell in love with classical music. That was almost 5 years back. I'm still exploring. Latest discovery has been the beauty of Dhrupad - courtesy Gundecha brothers. If you google for Gaoti and gundecha - you'd understand what I mean. Dhrupad music is surreal.

Ive not been able to get hold of their (Gundecha Brother's) albums after rummaging thro shelves of music store here ... shall continue my search. Hope to get hold of some good stuff soon. Though I have a collection of old pop and rock hits in my hard disk, I seldom listem to them.

Here is my list of things I like to hear / hear the most (a mix of Hindustani Khayal, Dhrupad and Carnatic music) -

1. Pt. Bhimsen Joshi's - Raga Brindabani Sarangi
2. Gundecha Brother's rendition of Tulsi Bajan (Jaki gati hai) in Raga Marwa
3. Gundecha Brother's Alap in Raga Gaoti
4. Ali Brother's 1960 recording of Darbari Kanada
5. Madurai Mani Iyer's rendition Parimala ranga pathe in Raga malika
6. Ajoy Chakroborthy's Vialmbit, Madyalay and Drut in Raga Ahir Bhairav
7. Aruna Sairam's Jana Bhai Abang (Dalitha Kandita)
8. Bombay Jayashree's Sri Balasubramanya in Raga Bilahari
9. Ut. Rashid Khan's Rag Sohini
10. Dhanajay Hegde's Raga Abogi

Well the list would go on endlessly ... am still exploring. Like what Calvin say's in Bill Waterson's Calvin's last strip - "Let's explore".

P.S.: If any of you happen to know where I could get good recordings of Gundecha Brothers - do drop in a comment.