East meets West !!

A melody in Indian style showcasing the Mohanam ragam very beautifully via Flute + Tabla first followed by a friendly banter between the Tabla + Jalatarangam with Tabla again for company.
The mood gets all dark suddenly with the strings in the background expressing the tense situation prevailing and then from nowhere you have a WCM (Western Classical Music) treat with violins in full fury unleashing its brilliance indulging in a mix of call and response and counterpoint music.
So many varied emotions all communicated and captured via music.
East meets West !!

Portion of My Dear Kuttichathaan BGM Score
https://soundcloud.com/pon-janahan/isai-gnani-ilaiyaraaja-kodai

My Dear Kuttichathaan Full BGM Score
https://soundcloud.com/nagsnathan/re-recording-my-dear

A scorcher of a WCM composition by Maestro!

This song has been fascinating me for quite some time.Wondering how that unison was achieved in the first interlude with the violin counterpoints, on top of that you have a flute also. And what about that guitar flanging in the second interlude. To add to all this, you have chorus adding harmony in the prelude plus bass backing, an interesting rhythm pattern, guitar counterpoint with keys in the second interlude and for nativity flavour you have an Indian classical touch in the combination of Mridangam + Flute.

Its astonishing to think all this packaging has been done in a mere 4 and half minute song and best thing it all sounds so amazing. To achieve this co-ordination, the musicians must have been an extraordinary talented bunch. Imagining how the mood must have been in the studio after this song was recorded. And to think this number was recorded over 30 yrs ago seems even more astounding.
I don't think an orchestra would be able to reproduce this number even today with all the technology available. Vintage 80's music of the highest order. You just feel spell bounded by the sound achieved and output produced.

Briefly summarizing in points on all the awesomeness happening :
1) The tumbling sound of the vessels which is musically rhythmical.
2) The guitar strumming the notes Ga Ma with the Tu Ru Ru humming in the side by the one and only S Janaki to be joined by the Bass moving Sa Pa Sa downward across octaves.
3) Gangai Amaran opening up and boy has he ever sounded so romantic. (Gangai Illa Mangai chorus adding the perfect harmony)
4) The first interlude with the triple counterpoint between violins , violins (I think) and flute is just more than enough for a lifetime.
5) The Guitar vamping and the Guitar counterpoint with the keys in the 2nd interlude , didn’t I just say the 1st interlude was more than enough - but he doesn’t listen he always gives more than you want. An additional Indian classical touch for you too in the combination of flute and Mridangam.
6) The mild shift from major scale to chromatic scale when Gangai sings Pudhu Raaga Jaadhikalum.

This man's music gives us so much happiness which can never be expressed in words but can only be experienced. Ecstasy in Abundance - A big salute to Maestro and team !!

Pongum Aagaya - Aagaya Gangai

Raaja's WCM Delights!

We have listened to classical pieces of Bach, Mozart and others which have delighted and spell bounded us. Raaja is one Indian Composer who has not only paid tribute to many of these great composers but also defined an identity of his own through his remarkable creativity and usage of WCM techniques. Many of his creations truly undermine his skill, repertoire and potential in Western classical music. Like the above mentioned composers, Raajas brand of WCM is also epoch making and should truly stand the test of time. Lets explore and celebrate some of his greatest WCM based compositions/re-recordings.

1) Title Score - Ullasa Paravaigal
A re-recording score to get this underway. Royalty and grandness all over this score, just the immediate piano transports you to Europe and feels like you are having vineyard wine at Paris or strawberries and cream at Wimbledon with this man's music for company. Absolutely delightful and soul stirring. Great drumming, brass sections and lovely keys. The softness in the tone elevates the score to an all together another level. Beautiness and royaltiness personified!. You can hear the full background score here.

2) Pon Vaanile - Anbin Mugavari
The baroque era captured in a shade under 5 minutes. Listen to the instruments all coriscating along to give a fillip submerging the beauty of WCM in all it's splendour. Vintage and Victorious!

3) Teaser Music - Happi
Unfortunately this movie never saw the light of the day. Just the teaser is enough to transport you to the golden era. This is Western Classical Music in its Purest Form. Such Intricate harmony of Violins, violas & Oboe.

4) Eriyile Elandha Maram - Karaiyellaam Shenbagapoo
Absolutely lovely this composition is. The prelude and interludes are so WCMish whereas the singing is so folkish but not once does it feel out of place with all the harmonization and choir going in a glorious sync.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDAMwSek4sk

5)  Azhagiya Malargalin - Ullasa Paravaigal
Everything about this song is just a sheer delight. The salad days, IR in replete WCM form. The sounds of the marching drum, those violins traversing across octaves, the flute prancing joyfully, the la la chorus in the background, the sounds of the bell, major scale blues, S Janaki's brilliant rendition etc etc all transport you to Euro Land in a whisker. 3 and a half minutes of sheer ecstasy and joy. This is World Class Music at its most enjoyable and pristine form.

6) Jiske Sahare - Kamagni
Closing this thread with a golden agmark classic slathered with western elements. The prelude just knocks you out cold with it's soul stirring orchestration. You just can't but smile at the way the composition flows like a free flowing river with the la la chorus handing the baton beautifully to the prelude portion. There are also some fun bits of musical xylophene created for a slightly softer touch. This one is sheer wizardry in the evergreen major scale Shankarabaranam.