The Lonesome Road

This morning my uncle called up from Bombay. There was a live musical program taking place in Chennai and he wanted us to see it. To call it a musical program was actually a huge understatement. It was a sea of people sitting and singing. The function was part of a temple celebration where the best carnatic vocalists from all over south India had come to sing the songs of Tyagaraja. These songs part of the cultural fibre of south India and are sung with tremendous respect. They are still performed regularly - and it’s been over 150 years since they were penned. It was amazing to see the sheer number of people - ordinary people - singing and keeping pace with the master vocalists. I guess what they say is true - the best sound comes from many tones.

In other music related news, I’ve hit a new musical love - a-capella. I feel it’s a great expression of music, depending completely on the voices and co-ordination of the singers. And of all the groups I’ve heard so far, the best - by far - are The Yale Alley Cats . These guys are really good.

Nothing much more actually. College times have been shifted and the new time table has been posted.

Later folks….