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Is IR is the first asian to score symphony

Topic started by e.hari (@ ww-tb05.proxy.aol.com) on Mon Mar 9 01:20:56 EST 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Recently I saw a program in CNN, about a hongkong composer, who composed a symphony. Sony was relesing it. Even today in NJ local paper, carried an article on other chinese composer, who is
releasing a symphony. Guess what, it is also sony.

I dont know whether people who said that IR is
the first asian, have done their home work properly. Anyhow I have fed up seeing this, and
it is so sad to see IR and his royal fans concentrating on annan and tambi songs, instead of
real thing.
IR should have used Bangalore Miss world function to premiere part of his symphony. I wonder why
cant go and ask for a time slot in a program like
filmfare or other important programs and premiere
his symphony in little pieces, just to get people
attention. After all symphony sound should be universal, and what is the wrong in creating some media hype. Even the popular stars like madona needs promos and hype for their new releases.
IT is the high time for IR to hire some media
promotors, if he is really thinking of doing some
thing with his symphony. Otherwise it will end up
like NBW or HTNI, no one in north of Kummdipundi will ever get a chance to hear it.

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Responses:

• From: NOV (@ 202.184.134.10) on: Tue Mar 10 03:15:15 EST 1998
  
  e.hari - I think you know more (answer to your question) than most people here. :-)) Maybe you can do some research and enlighten us.
  
  As far as IR's symphony is concerned, we have to be patient and wait for its release on Chithirai Puththaandu. Whatever the reasons for the delay, DO NOT have any doubts regarding the quality.
  
  
• From: Rajaraman (@ 192.122.135.224) on: Tue Mar 10 04:14:26 EST 1998
  
  E.Hari
  
  IR is the first asian to compose for RPH.
  
  
• From: MPR (@ dyn07.iacc-t23.ndsu.nodak.edu) on: Tue Mar 10 11:27:00 EST 1998
  
  NOV:
  
  Instead of going unnoticed like HTNI and NBW, Ilaiyaraaja must talk to some big record companies and make sure to be a big hit. If it takes 5 or 10 more years to make this happen, no problem, I can wait.
  
  
• From: e.hari (@ ww-tf02.proxy.aol.com) on: Tue Mar 10 22:45:24 EST 1998
  
  The reason for writing this, is my disappointment
  with the whole issue. I dont know why he is
  not trying to take the symphony music to the
  people.
  Marketting is very essential in todays
  music business. The best way to go is introducing the music pieces little bit in functions and programs, slowly it will gain people's attention. I think he should target atleast whole india for the release. I did not even see any article about his symphony, other than in tamil magazines.
  Articles in filmfare, today, have much wider impact, which he really needs now.
  
  After watching and hearing news about the chinese
  composers, I start questioning whether IR is
  the first asian composer to score a symphony. Though our people's knowledge about world music
  is very good, I donno know how many know about
  other asian composers. Anyhow, I am going to write
  to the local news paper to know more about this
  composer and his music. I do hope that IR will make us happy in releasing it soon in a grand
  manner.
  
  
• From: MPR (@ dyn07.iacc-t23.ndsu.nodak.edu) on: Wed Mar 11 11:09:11 EST 1998
  
  e.hari:
  
  I guess Chinese and other East Asian country people are verymuch involved in western classical music. In PBS (a public broadcasting service)television, I've seen many active participants from those countries in many concerts. They may be the second generation of immigrants from East Asia who are residing in US, but their interest in western classical is higher than ours. My thinking is those people might have composed symphony longtime back and Ilaiyaraaja is not the first one from Asia. I'm looking forward to the feedback you're getting from your local newspaper.
  
  I agree with you, IR should promote this album like he never did before. pop albums-ke OOraiyE kOOttum pOthu, indiAvilE yArum panna mudiyAtha sAthanaiyai pannirukkum Ilaiyaraaja nanrAga velivara seiyavEnum. Will it be well received by the Indian audience is a serious question.
  
  
• From: Madhan (@ 202.41.117.55) on: Thu Mar 12 11:34:33 EST 1998
  
  Friends,
  
  I got messages from Pyramid Audios International., saying that they KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IR's SYMPHONY RELEASE ON APRIL,14TH, 1998?
  
  I got the same reply from both the U.K.Branch and the Singapore branch of Pyramid Audios. What is this ? idhu yenna pudhu kuzhappam ? first clarify this, then we will talk about the Symphony.
  
  Madhan,Goa.
  
  
• From: MPR (@ dyn07.iacc-t23.ndsu.nodak.edu) on: Thu Mar 12 11:43:10 EST 1998
  
  Madhan:
  
  I don't think Pyramid Audios will release Ilaiyaraaja's symphony. If they have the copyrights, then why they don't release it? I believe Ilaiyaraaja is waiting for the right record company to release it, which is obvious reason for this delay.
  
  
• From: Madhan (@ 202.41.117.55) on: Thu Mar 12 12:55:01 EST 1998
  
  MPR:
  
  In that case , what is all this fuss about the Symphony to be released on Tamil New Year's Day, this year ?
  
  Something is wrong somewhere.
  
  
• From: MPR (@ dyn07.iacc-t23.ndsu.nodak.edu) on: Thu Mar 12 13:14:50 EST 1998
  
  Madhan:
  
  That's unconfirmed news came in Ananta vikatan sometime back. I don't believe in any stories till Ilaiyaraaja himself announces!!!
  
  
• From: IRF01 (@ ) on: Sat Sep 18 02:01:24 EDT 1999
  
  
  
  This is an English translation of an article that appeared in Ananda Viktan some time during August 98. I fully share the feelings of this writer and Ilaiyaraaja owes an answer to all his fans.
  
  ----------------------
  Where is Ilaiyaraaja?
  
  
  I am a lover of music. Particularly Ilaiyaraaja's music. That is more because basically I love instrumental works, western classical works. And I know there are millions like me out there whom, I am sure, will share my feelings expressed in this article.
  
  Of course, there are some people who will proclaim that any music with out words is like a body without head. Let us not bother about such frogs in the well. We can only pity them. They can not understand that just because instrumental music does not belong to us it need not be bad. Composing a music specifically for an instrument or a group of instruments is certainly not an easy task. You would understand if you think about the fact that the music played by the so called instrumental vidhwans here is primarily the music composed for vocal singing.
  
  This is addressed to the conscience of Ilaiyaraaja. The Ilaiyaraaja who has been missing since 1993 July.
  
  In 1993 July Ilaiyaraaja recorded his first major western classical work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He announced this with a great fan fare press conference and rightfully it was covered widely by the entire journalistic community in this country -not only in English language dailies and magazines but also in all regional language news papers and magazines.
  
  On his return from London after the recording also he addressed a press conference where he narrated his experience of working in a new area with a new orchestra in an alien country. The press gave a wide coverage for this also. For nearly two years, numerous functions were organized to felicitate Ilaiyaraaja on his achievement. Again, not only in Tamil Nadu but even in places like Bombay, Kerala and USA. Topping it all was the grand function organised by the film industry in Madras in which the conductor John Scott and other representatives from the Orchestra participated. In the mean time he was given honorary doctorates in three universities for his achievements.
  
  It is all okay. Nobody disputes the fact that Ilaiyaraaja deserves all that. But the irony is, what has he given in return for all these adulations and honors heaped on him for his achievement? The least he can do is to give the chance to these people, his own people, to listen to that music, that he recorded in London played by that great institution called Royal Philharmonic Orchestra(RPO).
  
  But has he done that? No, he has not done that till date. Actually he should be feeling guilty for not doing that. Is he? Why has he not done that? What stops him from doing that?
  
  Has he developed a cold feet, second thoughts and doubts as to whether his first work would be accepted by the critics as a true western classical work? Is he afraid that critics will tear him to pieces for writing some thing in a new format?
  
  I understand what Ilaiyaraaja used was a 80 piece classical symphony orchestra of the RPO and the music is in five independent movements (according to the news reports appeared at that time). I am not one of those fortunate few like the big wigs of Ilaiyaraaja's circle who would have got a chance to listen to his Symphony. So I have no way to describe that music.
  
  But I know Indian music and I know western music too. And I have been following Ilaiyaraaja's music for the past 18 years (though on and off I have been living outside India). I can safely guess the kind of music that would be.
  
  A beautiful mix of east and west. But not in the context of a "novelty item" or a fusion of East and West in ways which have already been explored. Should be full of melodies, haunting tunes and challenging orchestrations. Must have used dialogue and imitation extensively. It should contain lot of his own Indian influences particularly in rhythms but over all adhering to the western classical idiom. That is the kind of music that he has been writing for films all along and when he has written his first big, independent work the continuation of these elements is natural.
  
  Of course, I may be wrong. It is quite possible that finally what has come out is some thing totally unconventional and path breaking. But certainly it should be a good music to listen to. When you consider the fact that one of the best orchestras in the western classical world in London has agreed to play that music then it must be really an interesting music.
  
  Actually, when you think about it, what is music? To quote Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) one of the great composers of the 19th century "What music talks about is just man in all his different aspects (that is feeling, thinking, breathing, suffering)". These words could be ascribed to just about any composer.
  
  But does Ilaiyaraaja not aware of the saying "Any composer's first work is not always a matured work". Why does he not have the guts to let the world listen to his music and make their own judgements instead of he himself deciding that it is not fit for public consumption. From when has Ilaiyaraaja become afraid of critics? To our knowledge all his professional life he has been a rebel who has defied rules and regulations. Then how come suddenly he has changed his colour? Even Brahms (1833-1897) had his fear before writing his first symphony. Brahms said "I shall never write a symphony! You can't imagine what courage it takes to resolve to do that when you can hear the steps of that giant". Brahms was referring to his illustrious predecessor Beethoven (1770-1827). This he said when he was 40 and had already won fame in Europe for his remarkable chamber music, piano pieces, choral works and songs. Of course, with such reservations Brahms completed his first symphony in 1876, some twenty years after he had started work on it and after that he wrote many symphonies and all of them continue to be world's favourite concert items even today.
  
  From his first film "Annakkili" Ilaiyaraaja has been a path breaker. From then onwards his evolution and progression to the present level of writing a full scale western classical work is gradual but in gigantic progression. At first he was termed just as a folk tune charmer. Then slowly he started showing his knowledge of carnatic classical music. And his orchestrations also started showing a beautiful mix of melody and powerful arrangements. Purists may not have liked it. But can you forget the "Mohanam" varnam beautifully turned into a lovely song as in "Agninatchatram"? Can you forget that song with out "Avarohanam" in "Sindu Bairavi"? I believe his "Vedic Chants" is still a hot selling album in which he has made an 8 year old girl chant the Vedas, against the tradition. And we can not deny the fact that he elevated film's background scoring to an art form. So much so, even the themes he used in the films background music became humming tunes. And even today there is no one like him who can carry an entire film through on the strength of his background music alone.
  
  With his arrival on the scene, for the first time in India, we got a complete music director who does every thing-composing, orchestration, arrangement of instruments and writing notations. A music director who unlike his predecessors and contemporaries, not dependent on faceless orchestrators and arrangers who are in plenty in the Indian film industry. That is, Ilaiyaraaja's music alone is one hundred percent his own creation. Today for most of the Hindi films the music director whose name appears in credits composes the songs only. Even for this he gives the tune and some orchestrator/arranger does the rest. The film's re-recording music is mostly not by him. It will be either by some nameless arranger or some music director from the south. Actually in today's world any one can become a film music director. No great job really. What you require is a good collection jaz, pop, rock music CDs, that is all.
  
  People may pounce on me for this. But the fact remains Ilaiyaraaja is the only composer in India, even today, who composes the entire music mentally and puts it directly on paper. That is, composing at the highest possible level. If you have seen the film "Amadeus" -the film on the life of Mozart, then you would understand what I mean. Apart from Ilaiyaraaja there are only two composers capable of writing notataions-Vanraj Bhatia and (Laxmikant)Pyarelal in Bombay. But certainly not at the speed of Ilaiyaraaja. To compose music what Ilaiyaraaja requires is just a pen and paper, that is all.
  
  Just when every one thought that Ilaiyaraaja has settled into a pattern, he again surprised every one by bringing out two independent albums. But even in these two works Ilaiyaraaja has been a path breaker. His albums "Nothing But Wind" and "How to Name It?" proved that .
  
  For the first time in the annals of the history of music, fusion has been explored and exposed in depth by Ilaiyaraaja. Though fusion has been attempted by many others, this is the first successful attempt, where he has altered and shaped the meaning of fusion into its actual interpretation and has given this interpretation not only self-expression but also a correlation of the traditional and modern techniques in music. But the sad part was that these two interesting works did not reach all the possible audience throughout the world because of poor marketing. More over they are not performing music-that is nobody else can perform that music.
  
  In the mean while he composed his own krithis in carnatic music, even performed in a concert during one of the December seasons in Madras. Of course, it is the same tragic story again. Those krithis are not available in vocal form. But surprisingly they are available as an instrumental album-all the krithis played by Mandolin Srininivas. It never ceased to puzzle me how on earth Ilaiyaraaja decided to release the instrumental version first when no one has heard the vocal version of these brand new krithis.
  
  If he is not releasing this new western classical work for his own whims and fancies then he is not being truthful to his creator. From a man who is supposed to be having a spiritual bent of mind this is strange. Any music once written should reach the widest possible audience. Many enchanting musical pieces written by great composers like Brahms, Mozart, etc. were never performed by any orchestra during their life times. Not because they did not want to. But they did not have the resources to commission an orchestra to play it. So some of their glorious music that the world enjoys now, they never had the chance to hear. They just wrote what they heard in their mind, that is all.
  
  Ilaiyaraaja must know very well that writing a symphony or a large work of that kind is not an easy task. Writing a music for a concert hall performance is very, very difficult. Because the balancing of various instruments have to be on the score unlike a studio recording where you have the mixing console to do that job. Even if you write, getting an orchestra to play that, more so by a giant like the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is not some thing possible for every body. But having crossed all that if this man says no to the world then some one has to put sense into him that he just does not have the right to do that.
  
  Though there are some Indians in the international classical music scene no one has come to this level. There is a Zubin Mehta. But he is only a conductor and not a composer. And there is Ravi Shankar, L Subramaniam, et.al. But they are all performers primarily. Even when they do some thing with a western orchestra it is more like a fusion music. With a clear separation between the western orchestra and the Indian players, with a lot of jugalbandi type interaction between the players. And that kind of music can not be played by anybody else. Because these works contain lot of things the performer/composer has composed to show his mastery over his chosen instrument.
  
  If you take Yanni's music, it does not fall under any idiom. Critics always tear him apart whenever he releases a new album. I also don't rate his music very high in terms of composition scale or colours. It is a gentle jugglery of electronics with some live instruments like strings and percussion and each piece is not more than 5-6 minutes. It is some thing like the music of Paul Mariat.( Apologies to Paul Mariat for this comparison because his music is far superior in colour and structure like Ilaiyaraaja's songs).
  
  But Yanni's last album "Live at Acropolis" was in the top ten audio CD list for a record 124 weeks in the second spot. It has sold 17 million copies so far. And the Video album of the same recording has sold 2 million copies and it was also in the top ten music video list in the first position for 76 weeks. The reason is simple. People like his music. I am sure Ilaiyaraaja's music will touch the heart and soul of many people living in many part of this world provided he gives them the chance to listen to his music.
  
  Ilaiyaraaja has written a music which is accessible to any market where classical/instrumental music is liked and listened to. More over, for the first time he has written a music that can be performed by any western classical orchestra throughout the world-like the music of the greats like Ilaiyaraaja's own favourite Bach. That is, for these kind of concert music, once the music is released on CDs/Tape, normally the full score would also be published so that any orchestra can play it in their concerts.
  
  But after coming this far, now Ilaiyaraaja himself is the stumbling block between his music and the world. And the fact remains he has no moral rights to do that. Once written, that music belongs to this world. Not to him. It is for the world to decide what to do with that music. That decision is not his.
  
  By doing this he is not doing justice to his people who are proud about his achievements and are hoping that he would continue to write more such works which will stand the test of time instead of wasting his energy in the trash films at Kodambakkam. After all, given the quality of our films they do not need an Ilaiyaraaja, isn't it? He may not like to live outside India. But sitting in Murugesan Street, T Nagar he can spread his wings of music throughout this planet Earth. I would not term Ilaiyaraaja a film music director. Ilaiyaraaja is a composer who happens to be working in the film medium all these years. So his present commercial rating in the film industry would not be relevant to him unlike other film music directors. He is still one of the most original composers India has produced in recent times. You can not take it away from him.
  
  Why has Ilaiyaraaja not released his new music yet? That is the question uppermost in the minds of people who have been waiting for the past four years to listen to his new music. Though on and off we have been hearing about the possible release of this new album (even recently there was a question to Madhan on this and after checking with the people concerned Madhan answered that it will be released soon).
  
  In this 50th year of Indian independence it would be a grand occasion if Ilaiyaraaja releases his work. He would not be just telling the world what an Indian can achieve in the highly complex, traditional western classical music. He would be giving a very good reason to his people to celebrate the victory of the Indian spirit and its unquenching thirst to conquer new frontiers.
  
  Tamilian has got a very bad trait in him called "modesty". Modesty beyond a point is not a virtue. And covering one's lack of self confidence under the guise of modesty is still worse. Otherwise a Tamil would not have lost the opportunity to lead this country. The fact remains that he did not take it up when the opportunity knocked at his doors the first time.
  
  Like wise, Ilaiyaraaja is losing up a great opportunity that life has thrown at him. He has all it requires to become one of the great composers of this century. After his grounding in India for the past 20 years, he has the knowledge and experience to burst on the international music scene. And now is the right time for that.
  
  And Ilaiyaraaja can not keep on putting the blame on God whenever he is asked about the release of his new work. What does he expect God to do-to come and finalise a good record label with good terms for him? He can not keep on fooling his fans and admirers by invoking God's name all the time. He is infact trying to fool the people. But the fact is he is fooling himself also in the process.
  
  In the recent interview in Vikatan he has said that what he has served sofar is only pickles and papad and the feast is yet to come and he can write music that can stand for 200 years, etc. Come on, you first give us what should be a good feast sleeping in your cupboard for the past four years. And let that music do the talking. Not you.
  
  It is exactly four years since Ilaiyaraaja recorded his symphony. It is sad but it is quite possible he may be creating another record of sorts- the longest gap between the recording and release of any music in any part of the world in this century.
  
  Come on, my country men, it is time to start another series of felicitations to the Maestro for this singular achievement.
  
  Any takers?
  
  Will the Maestro come out of his shell?
  
  Either to let the world listen to an Indian symphony; or to accept a new series of felicitations and honors.
  
  Of course, now he has a choice!
  
  
• From: TRAP (@ leo.ece.neu.edu) on: Sat Sep 18 15:42:10 EDT 1999
  
  IRF01,
  
  Thanks for the translation of this very interesting article.
  Not only does the article questions illayaraja's attitude but also gives us an insight into his amazing talent.
  Frankly i did not know illayaraja was so good in his field, though i have always loved is music.
  I hope illayaraja releases his symphony ASAP for all of us to listen and enjoy.
  
  

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