Music is a Universal Language. The language used by our ancestors, before the evolution any spoken or written language (called language of speech), is music.

Music is elevated from ground. So it does not conform to any geographic location. It is just universal. Once, it is above ground level, we can presume music as vibrations only. To apprehend those vibrations, we can use sound frequencies. Once, we see music as sound frequencies, we cannot differentiate it.

Some music creates positive vibrations and activates the brain cells to result in positive thoughts. Others may be termed as plastic music, and may dampen the brain cells and result in negative thoughts.

But songs are a combination of Poetry and Music. Most of the times, the tones would express the exact meaning of word used in the lyrics of a song. In poetry, the word has got a literal meaning only, it can only suggest that meaning, and cannot make the listener to experience the exact emotional expression intended by the meaning.

We lost the touch with music and its process of communication. So, often we need training to get it back. This is similar to the loss of touch with the nature. We live in concrete jungles with electronic machines, so we lost the connection with natural phenomena. Now, we classify songs as English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, etc.  While listening to those songs, we don't try to apprehend the exact emotional content expressed by the tones or music.

Basics of music are very simple. Pitch changes, Volume changes, Relationship between consecutive notes (horizontal structure) and harmonic notes (vertical structure), rhythmic patterns, (tone) color of the instrument used, etc., only communicate. Not ambiguous words with different meanings.

Kindly watch the video or download and listen the track "Composer's Breath" from the following links and read the rest of this post.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1154075-nothing-but-wind-composers-breath?pod=minerva

http://www.tamilthunder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25867

Now, my words:

 

Dears,

Now, I open up a topic on The Process of Musical Communication. Thiruvasagam Oratorio and Music Messiah have improved my appreciation. Also Nokia 6233 has given me the great clarity of sound and redefined many songs of our Ilaiyaraaja. The layering i.e. the texture of our Ilaiyaraaja's compositions has been clearly seen with such technology.

Once, I read in a book that music has two inseparable elements, viz., FORM and CONTENT. The form or structure can be described by technical analysis. For example, the harmony, the counterpoints, the measure (beats & rhythm), the melody, ascending or descending notes, the pitch changes, the volume changes, the syncopation, the tempo will tell us how to play or perform a piece and bring out the greatness of the genius of the composition. But music doesn’t always composed for these technically qualities only. Music apart from this form has a CONTENT to deliver. The CONTENT is often separated from the FORM and never be given importance. The truth is that the both are inseparable. The CONTENT in the music can only expressed or apprehended, if some technical analysis be made by the listener to understand the FORM, without separating the both.

As an example I try to put my views on the track "Composer’s Breath" from "Nothing But Wind!"

Once I read in a web page that the Beginning Flute in the Composer's Breath of Nothing But Wind is suggesting the vast Indian landscape.

After that, when I listen to the Composer's Breath, I visualize for the first5-6mins as follows:

First, the beginning Flute - tonepaints the vast landscape but slightly differently, i.e. "The Air (Wind) over a vast dry landscape is asking the nature to bring rain for the sustenance of life forms". So the flute is nothing but wind. (Land = Soil = Human body = Composer, Breath = Air = Wind)

Then, as a response the clouds start nodding (from a far off location) with very feeble (sound) notes in the strings, twice.

Then, the Flute notes express the weather (changes) suitable for raining. (Humidity & Temperature changes, slight tone change of flute).

Then, the clouds start rushing to the area. Strings are expressing this movement.

Then, the onset of rain (rain droplets are heard). The rain seems to be a slow shower. Suddenly gains little momentum.

 

Then, the vegetation and wind start dancing. (Flute)

Then, the rainwater stars flowing here & there. (feeble Violins).Then strong violin express the collection of huge quantity of water and its movement, resulting in river flow.

 

Then, the rain seems to stop, Sunlight seems to peep in. (Flute with different colour).

 

Then, dance of the vegetation and the wind, gains momentum. This expresses the relish of land, its life forms & wind.

 

Then, the wind starts travelling along with river. (Wind on top of River) (Flute & Violins). Sometimes, the wind commands the direction of river flow. But for most of the times, wind follows the river.

 

Then, music turns abstractive (for me). I may apprehend that the flute is nothing but wind and travels with water to visit different terrain conditions. Similarly, the flute also represents the breath of a composer. Then the various musical forms & patterns metaphorically define the various breathing patterns of a composer. Here the breath of the composer is nothing but music.

 

Now, at the end of the piece, the gushing of violins suggests the mixing of river and sea. The river ends there but the wind seems not so.

The whole piece with various musical patterns expresses how the breath (music) of an Indian Composer changes metaphorically with wind flow over river.

 

What I have felt is to be verified by EXPERTS in our group.

Indeed, I request experts in our group to put more light on this kind of musical communication.

 

The process of musical communication is more important for our Ilaiyaraaja's composition.

 

With love & peace from Akbar Basha

Dear Readers,

Music is the language of inner-self. None needs to learn anything. Only one needs to keep his mind open and clean. Just one needs to note the pitch changes and the volume changes of the notes in the both horizontal & vertical directions (melody & harmony) with analysis of the texture (layering) of the music composed.Music is the basis for any spoken or written language (of speech).

Song is a combination of two Arts: Music & Poetry.The lyrics, i.e., poetry cannot dominate at universal level. Music, not only, gives the deep meaning of the emotions or expressions explicitly, but, also reaches anyone who doesn't know the language of the lyrics. To understand the lyrics one should know the language used, but, for music, nothing is needed (but, proper concentration and clean empty mind).

In film music, some songs used to convey some philosophical thoughts. For such songs, the music should not dominate. Ilaiyaraaja never allowed music to dominate in such songs.

Ilaiyaraaja's music is different in only one aspect. That is, his music is only a continuous free flow from mind. It is not a mixture or a fusion or a blend or a combination of different music styles. Indeed, his music challenges, the classification of music.

Having known this fact, why one should alter a note in music for the simple sake of narrow communicative lyrics?

If one asks me "Why Ilaiyaraaja's music has not reached worldwide (despite this quality)?". Answer is very simple, people listen with pre-occupied thoughts and cannot concentrate the basics of the music. Mozart seems to the most classical of the classical composers of the west. But, how many people from West or how many people from India can come up with clean explanation of the CONTENT expressed by that Mozart, in any musical composition.

It will take decades for people to realise the importance of Ilaiyaraaja's music. His music will take away any materialistic wishes from one. But, the whole world is behind materials of any form.

Music education from kinder garden like English, Tamil basics can only change future generations from prostitution of their musical communication.

Akbar Basha S

(the thread)

http://raagadevan.blogspot.com/

Talking about the effect of music and the way it transcends language barrier, an interesting incident occurred during the filming of Naan Kadavul – when Bala was filming a Tamil song on the banks of the Ganges, a sadhu standing nearby stood transfixed listening to the song. When the shooting was over, he walked straight to Bala and appreciated him profusely. He commented that though he did not know the language the song was sung in, he was still able to connect it and understand its meaning. He described its tune and music as “divine”.

Title of the Film: Naan Kadavul = "I am God"
Music (songs & original Background Score): Ilaiyaraaja

Dear Friends,

I feel it is really difficult to explain what is right or what is wrong. Similarly, What is GOOD and what is BAD. Indeed, there no thing in the universe as GOOD or BAD or RIGHT or WRONG. Everything is illusion! I request my friends to give their views, here.

Akbar

Who am I? What is my role or mission here? From where I came? To where I go? Who controls me? Why I got this fleshy body made from mud? Why should I fulfill the needs of this body? Why often I to pretend? Why often I loose myself in vanity? Why people love me? Why people dislike me? How can I purify my soul?

Ilayaraja on Naan Kadavul

Prasanna Singh [December 17, 2008, 5:01:38 PM]

Maestro Ilayaraja has said that he was amazed and transfixed while watching Naan Kadavul’s “double positive”. “With this movie, Bala has surpassed his previous bests –Pithamagan, Sethu and Nanda,” said the great music director. He added that it would take years for any other director to attempt such a beautiful theme or to even think of such a theme. The legendary music director also added that he is honoured to compose music for such a film.

Ilayaraja stated that as he envisaged the theme, he entered into a “new state of mind” while composing the film’s music. He said he has tried his best to score equally engrossing music. Though Ilayaraja humbly downplays the significance of his music, the effect it had on a sadhu while Bala was filming a song will surely speak for his talent; the sadhu, mesmerized by the song played at the shooting spot in Kasi, walked up to Bala and said it was “divine”, without understanding the Tamil lyrics. This innate capacity of Ilayaraja to create tunes that transcend language barriers, make him Bala's most-preferred music director.

In fact, Ilayaraja’s music and Bala’s ideas complement each other. When you watch the film, you will be able to feel what the sadhu meant. Plus, Arya has taken a great deal of effort in putting across Bala’s ideas through his acting. It could be said that he “lived” his character in Naan Kadavul. Heroine Pooja too has given her best in the film, which releases on Pongal.

Mysskin, the latest to discover Ilayaraja’s prowess, chose to have a mega climax lasting 45 minutes, without any dialogues, supported only by the maestro's music, for his forthcoming Nandalala.

PS: “Double Positive”, a cinematic term, is a sample version shown to artists (especially music composers) to enable them to get a feel of the film and work on their part suitably.

Check out:

Naan Kadavul photo gallery

Dears,

Ilaiyaraaja's New Devotional Album on Lord Ayyapa is "Manikandan Geetha Mala",

The tracks have a new harmony which creates a great sense of calmness and peace of mind. This album purifies the soul very easily.

You may not understand the lyrics, still the Tune and Music will bring great calmness & peace. Ilaiyaraaja music and voice!

Goto: http://www.indiatales.com/mgm/listproducts.php?cid=13&sid=0

http://www.indiatales.com/index.html

With Love & Peace

Akbar