us1c o our ears

Chennai explodes with Carnatic music in December providing the perfect opportunity to reflect on the power of these beautiful sounds

Music has been a part of life since lnuuans arrived on earth. Life wid1out music is almost unimaginable. Indian mytho logy is fiUed with stories of music and rhythm as art forms as ancienr as d1e primordial sound, Lord Shiva's cosmic danc e and d1e Vedas.

Staying in South Lidia, especi ally at Chen.nai, in December, you cannot escape from being surrounded by classical music. During this rime the rain y season has come to an end. People u1 Chennai begin to ta.LI{ about 'tl1e seaso n'. \'qhac the y mean of course is the music season.

The Madras Music Academy, along ,vith other major sabhas, the major associarions dedicated to music and dance, becomes the centre for aU music l overs. I c is as much a social gad1ering as a concert attendance. Over the ye ars it bas taken o n a global feel co it b y including music and musicians of various genres from within India and overseas.

Chennai has a tradirion of celebraring the music season when the weather is. at its mildest. From December 1 rill mid-Januar y the

16 JANUARY (1) 2014 city is buzzing with well- known artis ts, both vocal and instrumental, performing at various venues. Music is certainly in the air in Chennai. This rradirion started in che late 1920s by the then stalwarts of Carnacic music and continues to get better by tl1e yeaL

The roo ts of Carnatic mus.ic are in singing tbe praise of divini ty and d1e manifestations o f creatio n around us. Steeped in the spit:itual tradition, the composers evoke tl1e hig hest emotion in d1e si ngers and listeners. Extempo r ising within the parameters of tl1e Rar(goS, melodies, and the prescribed rhydrn1s, the Taalas, allows the singers to exhibit their prowess. This is such a feature of d1e concerts, that no one concert is ever the same as another.

One of the weU-known Carnacic singers in. che yollnger age g r oup now is T. M. Krishna. His book A S 011/hcm Music- the Komatic sto,y published by HarperCollins has drawn much attention chis month. ln an interview, Krishna highlighted the reasons for wriring about music. This search into the history of music, he says, led him to question more about d1e philosophy of music, think about himsel f and his place in society. Nor being a musician, it led me to reflect on the p lace of music in our lives.

Power of music

It is a well-accepted fact that music has a central place in almost everyone's life, whatever the genre, c lassical, pop, rock or 6.1m rnusic. Many popular sayings uphold the importance of music in our lives. "Music is the universal language of mankind," "music soothes d1e s avage heart," " where words fail, music begins / speaks". "Music expresses cha t which cannot remain silent''. Metaphorica.Uy, we say, ' 'it was music to m y ears" or "hear d,e music behind d1e words".

Simple everyday experiences validate the power and value of music. From the chirping of birds, the luUabies Sllng by m od1ers to pacif)• babies, to famous writers describing music as d1e energy that inspires from within and sustains chem, it has held a special place in civilised society

Khalil G ibran, the famous Persian poet wrote "Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife" Li the turbulence of everyday world, music has tl1e power to allow one to find tl1e peace we seek within.

Value of music

Music is an experience. I t defies desnibing in words. Yet, evidence is now emerging from various areas about irs tberapeucic value. We have much anecdotal e,Tidence. AU over the world, from devotional music .in Hindu temples and homes, the Gregorian chanting in churches co Su6 music, every majo r religion bas assigned a special place for the m u sical rendering o f prayers and ways a devotee can express meir devotio n. Hindu m ythology ab ounds in stories of babies in the womb being lulled by tl1e music a mother hears during her pregnancy; Modern birthing units play class.ical music ro ease the labour of childbirth.

The tberapeuric val ue of m u sic is now weU researched and recorded, wim neuroplasricity, the capacity o f the brain to adapt and forge new neuronal pamways as the simation demands, providing new evidence. Music therapy as an adjunct to physical or psychological therapy is now an accepted profes sion. lt is now weU recorded chat music has d1e power to reduce high blood pressure, treat migraines and act as a power ful de-stressing agent. Music as a core fi.rncrion of tl1e brain is shown in babies' responses to lullab ies. Ir uses shared neural circuits with speech. A well- known example of this is how we learm our ABCs. The maj ority of any music is structured, predictable and organised, and the brain responds to chis. Stroke patients have been taught to walk and patients in comas bave s hown reacrions to musfr. Ln psychochetap), music helps to tap into emoti<;ms difficult to verbalise In p;itients with dementia, p laying music from their earlier age helps in c0t=unicating with them

Friedrich Nietzsche, sums it up die most accurately when he says, "without music, l ife would be a mistake".