Madras Music Season
Encyclopedia
Madras Music Season is an event hosted every December–January in the present-day south Indian metropol of Chennai
. Spanning some six weeks, a number of large and small kutcheris (Carnatic music
concerts) are performed by highly competent musicians. The traditional role of the Music Season is to allow aficionados of Carnatic music to appreciate performances by renowned artists, and to allow promising young artists to display their talent and skill. Audiences and artists come from across India and from the international Indian diaspora to be part of the event.
. It used to be a traditional month-long Carnatic music
festival consisting of Carnatic music concerts, harikatha
s, lecture demonstrations (otherwise known as lec-dems) and award/title ceremonies. However, over the years it has also diversified into dance
and drama
, as well as non-Carnatic art forms.
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Spanning some six weeks, a number of large and small kutcheris (Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
concerts) are performed by highly competent musicians. The traditional role of the Music Season is to allow aficionados of Carnatic music to appreciate performances by renowned artists, and to allow promising young artists to display their talent and skill. Audiences and artists come from across India and from the international Indian diaspora to be part of the event.
History
The Music Season started in 1927 to mark the opening of the Madras Music AcademyMadras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
. It used to be a traditional month-long Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
festival consisting of Carnatic music concerts, harikatha
Harikatha
Harikatha , otherwise called Katha Kalakshepa is a form of Hindu religious discourse, also known as Katha storytelling format, in which the story teller explores a religious theme, usually the life of a saint or a story from an Indian epic.Harikatha is a composite art form composed of story...
s, lecture demonstrations (otherwise known as lec-dems) and award/title ceremonies. However, over the years it has also diversified into dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, as well as non-Carnatic art forms.
The festival
The Music Season has grown over the years, and has been described as one of the world's largest cultural events.. In 2004-2005, there were over 1200 performances by about 600 artists (about 700 vocal, 250 instrumental, 200 dance, 50 drama and others).Sabhas and Halls
The performances are typically organised by sabhās. A Carnatic sabha is an organisation that helps conduct concerts and bestow titles and awards to artists to recognise talent. Most sabhas own a hall (or two). Some smaller sabhas rent a hall during the season. Generally, the main halls, on average, can accommodate about 300 people while the mini can take not more than 75 people. Most performances are held in such halls.Prominent Sabhas
The following prominent sabhas have regularly organised concerts during the Music Season:- Brahma Gana Sabha: Pethachi Sivagami Auditorium
- Indian Fine Arts Society: Bala Mandir German Hall
- Kalarasana: Rani Seethai Hall
- Kartik Fine Arts
- Madras Music Academy: T. T. Krishnamachari AuditoriumT. T. Krishnamachari AuditoriumThe T. T. Krishnamachari Auditorium is an auditorium situated in Mylapore, Chennai. It was constructed with the patronage of Indian politician and industrialist, T. T. Krishnamachari in 1962 and houses concerts during the Chennai Music Season...
- Mudra : Freedom Hall
- Mylapore Fine Arts Club
- Nadha Inbam : Raga Sudha Hall
- Narada Gana Sabha: Sathguru Gnanananda Hall
- Nungambakkam Cultural Academy : Rama Rao Kala Mandap
- Rasika Ranjani Sabha : Dakshinamoorthy Auditorium
- Sri Krishna Gana Sabha: Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
- Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha : Vidya Bharathi
- Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha: Vani Mahal
- Tamil Isai Sangam: Raja Annamalai Chettiar HallRaja Annamalai Chettiar HallThe Raja Annamalai Chettiar Hall is an auditorium situated in Chennai, India. It is considered to be one of the city's oldest venues for Carnatic music concerts apart from the T. T. Krishnamachari Auditorium in Mylapore. The...
- Hamsadhwani NRI Sabha
External links
- Editorial in The Hindu
- Madras Music Academy
- carnatic india Page on Chennai music season 2008 -09
- ART INDIA Information on Concerts