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The Rhythm Of Raja

Topic started by Vijay Venkatraman J (@ 203.197.154.44) on Tue Mar 14 10:38:16 EST 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Dear Friends,
I am starting this thread as of late I happen to hear people saying that "Raja is for Melody and Rahman is for Rhythm"! But in my opinion, Raja is the King of Everything! Because in Rhythm, He has done songs with rhythm instruments only like :

1)"Raja Rajadhi" - Agni Natchathiram
2)"Ilam Nenje Vaa" - Vanna Vanna Pookkal

etc.,etc., I would like to get more of His special rhythms! Please post relevant postings only!

NOTE : THIS THREAD IS FOR TFM FANS ONLY WHO KNOW RAJA'S HISTORY AND WHO DON'T MAKE ANY USELESS AND MISLEADING COMMENTS! PLEASE BE DECENT TOO!

Kindly join Maestro Ilaiyaraaja Fans club at:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/maestroilaiyaraajafansclub

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Responses:

• From: srikanth (@ host2.cvs.aa.net) on: Tue Mar 14 12:30:51 EST 2000
  
  1. MotA mAdai -- percussion
  2. Nila adhu vanathu mela -- drum and rythimc chords following the song.
  3. Nethu oruthara oruthram parthu --- percussion, harmonica scores
  4. AttAMa - percussion
  5. MeenamA MeenamA -- percussion
  6. Isai thodanguthaMa -- (one of his best in recent times) -- percussion
  7. Keladi Kanamani (follow the tambourine count, very interesting)
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.112) on: Tue Mar 14 13:15:42 EST 2000
  
  (8) muththirai ippOthu kuththidu
  (9) raakku muththu raakku
  (10)HTNI and NBW
  (11)gurucharanam
  (12)thakida thathimi
  (13)thaththaaram mozhi
  (14)aasayai kaaththula
  (15)ennai thaalaatta varuvaLo (heart beat)
  
  
  many more..
  
  
• From: Swami (@ nat135022.ericy.com) on: Tue Mar 14 13:17:25 EST 2000
  
  My fav.......
  Ninnukoori varanam from Agni Nakshatram
  
  
• From: rjay (@ brkfw0005.navistar.com) on: Tue Mar 14 13:41:26 EST 2000
  
  Whether it be new instruments or new styles,
  or new musical idea, Raja made us hear for
  the first time sounds and ideas in prominence.
  
  Raja will create a dramatic context
  where it will stand apart (through judicious use
  of building up, climax and silence).
  
  Rhythmic innovations:
  1. Bold use of pounding rhythm sounds:
  Ramanin Mohanam
  
  2. Restrained, but effective use of Mridangam:
  Andhi mazhai
  Poongathavae
  
  3. Pieces that made us identify the following
  instruments:
  
  Bongos - Thanee karuthurichchu (intro)
  Congo Drums - Pani vizhum iravil
  Morsing - Nitham Nitham nelluchoru
  Drums - Ninaivo oru paravai
  Drum fills, Hihats - Enna satham intha neram
  Melodic use of drum pads - Raaja, Raajathi
  Ghatam - Potri paadadi pennae
  Udukkai - Uchi vahundeduthu - interlude
  (rhythm played in Udakkai when the
  poojari sings and
  immediately taken up in ac. guitar
  against a sad shahnai solo)
  Udukkai also in Kaththirundu Kaathirundu
  African Marimba - First used in TFM in
  Raman aandalum Ravanan aandalum
  Hindustani Rythm syllables - Kavidhai
  Kelungal karuvil
  Kerala jhendai uruttal - Sundari neeyum
  
  4. Unusual sounds as rhythmic pulse:
  thigh-beat - Paruvamae pudhiya padal padu
  ural - Sinnanchiru vayadhil (M.Kokila interlude) Excellent call response duet between
  Ural and Mridangam.
  
  5. Use of bus-horn and conductor visil in
  En Kanmani.
  
  These are few things off the top of our minds,
  can surely find many many more.
  
  We also have heard MSV's innovations (Kaatrukenna
  veli intro is a great example) and Rahman's
  use of Thavil in Kadalikkum pennin kaigal. I
  would love if this thread goes on to remember
  good rhythm pieces and stylistic innovations
  from Raja, MSV and Rahman and KVM without getting into you-know-what!
  
  More later
  RJAY
  
  
  
  
  
• From: rjay (@ brkfw0005.navistar.com) on: Tue Mar 14 13:58:41 EST 2000
  
  6. Lots of new percussion sounds were
  introduced in the following early Raja
  songs:
  
  Aayiram malargalae malarungal
  Samakkoli koovudhamma
  Veththalae vethala vethalayo
  Maaman oru naal malligappoo
  Kaathodu poovuraasa
  
  7. Claves (sticks that create sodakku like
  sounds were effectively used as basic pulse
  in)
  Oru naal unnodu oru naal
  Rakkama kaiyathattu
  
  8. Rhythmic impression of a train sounds:
  Poovarasampoo poothachu
  Also (Brahma - raththiri neram rayiladi oram)
  
  9. Rhythmic impression of helicopter ride:
  Paranthalum vida maaten
  
  10. Comic effect using percussion
  Aha vandhiruchu
  Mamavukku kuduma kudumma
  
  11. Bongos as countermelody:
  En vaanilae ore vennila
  
  More later
  RJAY
  
  
• From: nakkeeran (@ inet-fw1-o.oracle.com) on: Tue Mar 14 15:09:30 EST 2000
  
  I liked the way he gave the 'train' impression in the following songs:
  
  - poongatru puthiranathu ( one of the interludes)
  - goods vandiyile.. ( prelude). i think it was a combo of guitar and another instrument i can't identify.
  
  songs that should easily pass for rhythmic content:
  - siriya paravai siragai virikka..
  - valaiyosai.. ( ultimate!)
  
  
• From: Diwakar (@ 206.175.177.136) on: Tue Mar 14 15:12:11 EST 2000
  
  1. Kavidhai paadu kuyile - Thendrale Ennai Thodu
  2. Oororama athu pakkam - Idhaya Koyil
  3. O vasantha - ?movie
  4. Puthiya poovithu - Thendrale Ennai Thodu
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.112) on: Tue Mar 14 16:05:54 EST 2000
  
  appaa..kottitteenga rjay. good post !
  
  
• From: kiru (@ surf0004.sybase.com) on: Tue Mar 14 16:17:08 EST 2000
  
  There are a lot of people who associate rhythm only with percussion. This is a fallacy. I guess you guys, specifically rjay have done a good job in exposing this.
  
  
• From: ¶Visiri (@ bonobo.tesserae.com) on: Tue Mar 14 16:17:29 EST 2000
  
  

  Basic diff. between IR and ARR in the usage of Rhythm is ARR use sampled percussion patterns while IR designs the pattern and mixes with the melody of the song. In ARR's music the sound will be totally diff. one with beat cycle being the same where IR's music beat pattern it self will be more different. IR has used cha-cha-cha/8-8 beat for most of his songs, with the same drum and congo set, but the focus has been on the tune and melody, which will make u to feel that its a different type of song or beat! ARR is don't even comparable with IR's rhythm patterning/designing. Some more songs, which came into my mind, other than listed here.
  Hey Paadal ondru Maasi Maasam Vaa Vaa Pakkam Vaa Oru Kili Uruguthu Poottukkal pottaalum Sorgamey Yendraalum Annaatha Aaduraar Pani Vizhum Iravu Oru Maina	PRIYA DHRAMADURAI THANGAMAGAN AANANDHA KUMMI SATHRIYAN OORU VITTU OORU VANDHU APOORVA SAGOTHARARGAL MOUNA RAAGAM UZHAIPAALI	Byla Ragge Disco   Waltz Congo Roll Thampattam

  
  
• From: rjay (@ brkfw0005.navistar.com) on: Tue Mar 14 16:39:37 EST 2000
  
  Visiri
  
  Good examples. But let us stay away from
  making sweeping generalizations like 'ARR uses
  loops'.
  (We can easily list a hundred examples of rhythmic innovations from ARR.) Let us avoid
  THE comparison, and keep the thread alive.
  
  Let us get ahead with a few more Raja Rhythms:
  (1980-82)
  
  1. A mini-mridhanga katcheri - Aayiram thamarai intro.
  
  2. A minimal (2 stroke) rhythm - Putham puthu kalai (new sounds in the interludes)
  
  3. Authentic Tamil melam beats:
  Kaettelao angae,
  Maman voodu machu voodu
  Podhuvaga en manasu thangam
  
  (KVM has done some great work in
  Chittadai kattikittu, and
  Pillaiyar kovilukku pozhudu soozha
  (which sounds very similar to Thiruppachi ;)
  
  4. Whole songs with single rhythm (but
  still not boring, may be the monotony
  was required for the soothing effect of Thalattu and light romance and devotion)
  Kanne kalaimanae
  Thendral vandhu ennai thodum
  Janani Janani
  
  5. Melodic tabla (Tabla tharang)
  Poongatru pudiranathu
  Pudiya poovithu
  
  6. Song entirely supported on Percussion:
  Kaatu vazhi pora ponnae kavala padaathae
  
  7. Neat integration of Tabla, Congo/Bongo into
  single loop:
  
  Thendral vandhu
  Pon maalai pozhudu
  Kanmani nee vara kaathirunthen
  
  More later
  RJ
  
  
• From: ECHO (@ t3-d-static-237.adsl.directlink.net) on: Tue Mar 14 17:11:26 EST 2000
  
  rj , seems like u have done phd and have no work today, :)... beautiful! raja chewingam guys should compile this and put this in the site. As u defend arr why dont u list of his works too in a separate thread.
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.112) on: Tue Mar 14 18:32:35 EST 2000
  
  chewingam - ROFL :-)
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.22.112) on: Tue Mar 14 19:09:22 EST 2000
  
  ECHO..ithu JFF naa OK. but, if you really mean it, you may seem to be belittle the efforts of those who have tried to put up a comprehensive site for IR.
  
  
• From: ECHO (@ fw1.directlink.net) on: Tue Mar 14 19:26:44 EST 2000
  
  its just for fun only, and make the guys to think too. if it had been a yet another site of raja, i wouldn't have opened my mouth.
  
  
• From: aruLaracan (@ psiphi.umsl.edu) on: Tue Mar 14 19:53:20 EST 2000
  
  ECHO,
  
  :-))). btw, RaajaNGAHM is NOT a name. it's an acronym. once one understands the acronym, remembering the name is as effortless as chewing a gum :-))
  
  the best song, imo, for the rhythmic effect of trains is manjcaL nilAvukku inRu orE sugam.
  
  listing out Raaja's waltz type (3/4 time sig.) compositions would be a never ending task.
  
  

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