(This article is sponsored by Sounds of India)

Title: call of the Bamboo
Carnatic Classical Instrumental Flute
Musical Arrangement - V.K.Raman
Accompaniments:

Violin: V.Srikanth
Mridangam: Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma
Ghatam: M.A.Krishnamurthy
Morcing: B.Rajashekar
Drums: Arun Sukumar
Harp: Kumar

“The primary audience for Carnatic music is always the over 40 crowd. I created 'call of the Bamboo' to bring Carnatic music to younger audiences who are used to the Rehman style fast paced music” says flautist V.K.Raman of Bridgewater, MA. A disciple of the flute maestro, Dr. N. Ramani, Raman is an internationally renowned flautist. His melodic rendition, purity of notes, unique elucidation of Ragas with tonal purity and perfect pitch alignment makes him a Carnatic musician par excellence. He is currently a music faculty at Learnquest Academy. In this CD, Raman has included western drums along with other traditional accompaniments to create a new experience.

Raman has made a judicious selection of Carnatic pieces that would work well in this novel format. The Ragams chosen are light and bright. They lend themselves well to this form of experimentation. The CD begins with a Varnam in the popular Kadanakuthoohalam Ragam. Raman starts the piece with the sounds of the harp and then introduces the flute. The notes of the flute in perfect pitch instantly create a soothing feeling. We are then transported to a sparkling rendition of the piece on the flute accompanied by violin, mridangam, morsing and western drums. The piece ends with the playing of Carnatic rhythms on the western drums. The next piece, Muthuswami Dikshitar’s composition, Mahaganapathim in the Ragam “Nattai” follows a similar pattern.

Raman takes a more traditional approach in his next piece, Mysore Vasudevachar’s Brocheva Evarura in the Ragam Kamas. After a short Alapanai (improvisation) that clearly establishes the Raga Lakshana, the piece is presented. The addition of cymbals, bells and western drums in the Charanam (“Athura Mukha”) brings a very subtle enhancement to this rather traditional rendition. A fast paced rendition of Thyagaraja’a Shobillu Saptaswara follows. The perfect pitch of the flute notes at this fast pace was a tribute to the skill of the musicians.

Shobillu is the perfect segue to the central piece of the CD, Mysore Vasudevachar’s Devadi Deva in Ragam Sunada Vinodini. The highlight of the piece is a long “Sawal-Jawab” type of improvisation. The drummers present dazzling rhythms at a fast pace and the flute and violin present “swarams” to complement the drummers. The “English Note” by Madurai Mani Iyer that follows pushes the Carnatic envelope to the edge. Lalgudi Jayaraman’a Tillang Tillana brings the repertoire to a pleasant conclusion.

Raman is an extremely well respected musician in the Carnatic circles. He deserves congratulations for trying to do something different with Carnatic music without compromising the quality of his music.

You can listen to a sample from this CD.
English Note

To get a copy of the CD please send mail to fluteraman@hotmail.com

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