Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Snip
- When you stop looking at the world as a competition, then you can stop wondering why you're not coming in first place.
Friday, July 11, 2008
A game of character
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Formula
Nice quote from Seth Godin's blog.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Useful equation
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A review paper that I wrote for a freshman music class
Swades (one’s own country) is a movie in Hindi (Indian national language) which basically sends out a message to Indian people who have left the country for better jobs or better living conditions, to return and improve conditions in their own country-their own home. This is a very real and practical problem today with so many intelligent Indians going abroad to the USA and other countries for work instead of contributing to India’s progress. The songs that I have chosen to review have been set by the music director keeping the storyline in mind. The appropriate and beautiful lyrics used also reflect on the story. The composer is influenced by classical Indian music which consists of ragas – the different tunes which form the basis for all classical Indian music. He basically makes the tune for the song using a particular raga and then composes the music using string instruments and the shehnai – which is a special Indian instrument usually connected with marriage ceremonies. The music is for both urban as well as rural audiences in India. But both the songs I have chosen are very melodious and can be enjoyed by anyone who likes melody.
Song: Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera.
Composer, Singer: A.R.Rahman.
Raga: HariKamboji
The first song I have chosen is called Yeh jo des hai mera. Its tune is based on a raga called HariKamboji. It is a song with a theme that asks the question – “why should one go to another country when everything he needs is right there in his own country?”
It is a soft low –toned melody with a simple 4 beats per measure running throughout the song. The whole song is very agreeable and satisfying to the ear – consonant throughout. It has a monophonic texture in that its only one singer throughout. It basically flows at a casual rate of speed through the song thus representing andante. Most of the song is at a soft piano tone with some degree of crescendo in the middle portions of the song. The shehnai is an example of aerophone instrument – played by blowing into it and using air movement. It is usually a loud instrument with a dissonant sound. But the composer puts it in towards the end of the song and it is actually quite enjoyable and not unbearably loud. The lyrics complement the mood of the song very well and give it excellent meaning. The composer chooses to sing this song himself and his voice is appropriate for the mood and tone of the song. The song does follow the format of repetition with a basic intro line and tune, then goes into a verse with a crescendo, then comes back to the original line. In the same way it has two more verses before finally coming back to the original line and ending with the shehnai playing the original tune. Even though the song sounds a bit subdued and at times like a minor harmony, it sends out a very clear and positive message through its lyrics.
Song: Pal Pal Hai Bhaari.
Music Composer: A.R.Rahman Singers: Madhusree,Gowariker,Vijay Prakash.
Raga: Kharaharapriya.
The second song I have chosen is called Pal Pal Hai Bhaari. Its tune is based on a classical raga called Kharaharapriya. The basic theme of this song is the concept of Good vs. Evil.
This is summed up in a line in the song towards the end which goes – “ He who removes the villain from his soul will find Rama (representing the good part) in his heart.” It is a devotional song praising Lord Rama (a form of God in the Hindu religion) and narrating his story from Hindu mythology. Even in the movie itself, the song is part of a folk drama for a particular Indian festival. The song is in the form of a dialogue between Rama’s wife Sita who is being held captive by a villain, and the villain himself. In the song, Sita is calling out to Rama to come and save her. The villain is taunting and questioning her as to what good she sees in Rama and what his greatness is and so on. So when she is singing, the music is a major harmony moving at slightly above medium pace. When the villain starts singing, the music still moves at the same pace but the change in the background and mood of the music is noticeable. It sounds angry, like in allegro. There is also a third voice that joins in to sing one verse (that praises Rama again), in a combination of major and minor harmony. Overall though, the song is pleasing to the ear – consonant. The song can be called polyphonic in nature, again with repetition because it goes back to the original tune after each verse. The lyrics used include a lot of ancient words of the Hindi language in keeping with the age that is being portrayed in the song. The tone and lyrics used for the part of the villain convey his arrogance and annoyance at Sita’s devotion to Rama very well. Also, the pleading and devotional tone in Sita’s voice is aptly conveyed by the singer, complemented by the words.
Overall, Rahman in true classical style, has used string instruments like the veena, sitar (Indian string instruments) for the devotional track thus giving it the appropriate old-time sound. For the other track, he has mostly depended on his own voice where it’s a one-man show, and then uses the shehnai beautifully to give it the classical Indian touch. I feel that special mention must be made of the lyricist because he has given the lyrics according to the situation and keeping the period of the song in mind. Understanding the lyrics helps one appreciate the song much more. These tracks are also on the CD in instrumental form – the first one played completely with the shehnai and the second one with the flute. A.R.Rahman is renowned for his music which is very different from what was prevalent at the time he entered the music industry. He is basically South Indian and hence used a lot of ragas and classical melodies, played using a lot of string instruments (which was rare at the time in Indian music) so as to make it sound modern. He has, in recent times collaborated with some artists from England and released an album there too. His music has influenced a lot of other composers who have come up and he is today considered the best music composer in India.
Bibliography
CD: Swades (2004)
Music Composer: A.R.Rahman.
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar.
Language: Hindi
