Anecdotes

Anecdotes

Musings of the Flute Maestros            Music Practice - Dr. N. Ramani   Mali was related to me and when he heard me playing the flute... 5 years ago

Musings of the Flute Maestros

     
     Music Practice - Dr. N. Ramani 

Mali was related to me and when he heard me playing the flute, he asked me to study under him. Lessons were mostly informal and the bulk of my learning was based on listening to him and playing with him. Whenever I asked him to teach me a particular kriti, his process was always to first notate the song to his satisfaction. I remember his painstaking notation for ‘Sarojadalanethri’ in Shankarabharanam. I might have learned 50 songs from him through this formal training, but the rest of my repertoire came from the informal lessons of listening and playing.      

     State of Music - T. R. Mahalingam (Flute Mali) 

The lack of creativity, and a rigorous set of rules for rendering concerts, have affected the popularity of music. And these jugal bandhis – they claim to bring about national integration - "is plain impossible."

     Concert Performance - Dr. N. Ramani 

Mali’s training involved a significant amount of freedom for me, but with it came a lot of probing on the nuances of music. I have been in situations where he posed great challenges to me on the concert platform. The first time I ever played kalpanaswarams in Bhairavi in thisra nadai in the second speed, it was on stage. He casually turned to me and indicated that I was the one to play the next round of kalpanaswarams.    

     Music Training - B M Sundar Rao (direct disciple of Flute Mali)

Today, with the development in science and technology, classes on messengers are on rise, but that does not serve the purpose. Many of my students overseas record music and acquire information through this method.

     Running Music Classes - B M Sundar Rao  

In rare occasions, some students have paid money as a token of appreciation. But I do not accept money as I believe music is divine and not meant for commercial purpose. 

   
     Opinion - Veena Dhanammal on Tirupamburam Swaminatha Pillai

Brother, I haven't heard this music anywhere after Sarabha Sastri passed away. I must hear alapana and tanam in the raga Kamboji only from you... please comply?

     Music Practice - Veena Dhanammal with Tirupamburam Swaminatha Pillai

Dhanamma, do you remember me? Just like old times shall we sing together the songs of Pallavi Gopala Iyer that we learnt from our teacher?

   
     Felicitation - Tirupamburam Swaminatha Pillai on Palladam Sanjeeva Rao

I'm accepting this honour only because I'm older to Pillai in age. No one can match him in merit.

 
     Opinion - Violinist L. Subramaniam on Flute Mali

When he began to play, people got so mesmerised, they were in almost a blissful state. No one would be angry that he was late. They tolerated anything he did because his music was so great.

     Opinion - B M Sundar Rao on Flute Mali's First Lesson

One day, out of the blue, he woke me up at 2 a.m. and took me to Sankey Tank. He asked me to get into the water and gave me my first lesson! He even took me to a cemetery and we slept on the graves there. He gave me many life lessons.

     Opinion - B N Suresh on Artistic Quality

One should judge an artist by the art he produces, keeping every other consideration outside the purview.

     Opinion - B N Suresh on Aspiring Flautists

Learn flute from flautists only. Listen to other artists and assimilate the best rejecting the junk. Let no money or fame lure you off the path of creative music. Never grow stale or desperate.