Into the Raga

This disc features a duet between the two most predominant melodic instruments of Karnatic (South Indian) music: violin and the veena (lute), played by Nirmala Rajasekar. She is joined by Raghavendra Rao on violin to present an instrumental interpretation of an exquisite selection of lyrical compositions. There's a variety of ragas here and some will sound very familiar to listeners of North Indian music. Track four, for example, which is called ‘Akilandeshwari,’ is identical to the North Indian piece ‘Jaijaiwanti.’ Indeed, the two different classical music traditions have similar ragas, albeit with different names. But it is often said by North Indian musicians that their music is for the heart, while the music of South India appeals more to those given to mathematical, virtuosic wizardry. A sweeping generalisation, no doubt, but you do begin to see the point on ‘Ananda Nadamaduvaar,’ which represents the joyous dance of Lord Shiva, and which ends with a rousing round of mathematical combinations. It's capped by a glorious improvised duet between percussionists Tanjore K Murugaboopathi on mridangam (barrel-shaped drum) and V Suresh on ghatam (clay, water-pot drum). There's also a poem by Meera Bai, North India's famous mystic poet, set to music by Nirmala Rajasekar, in ‘Raga Desh’, This is an excellent collection of ragas: some of the short pieces here are sure to provide the perfect introduction for newcomers to this music.