Karnataka Shastreeya Sangeeta

On November 10, 2012 S. Sowmya performed for Sruti a thematic performance showcasing Classical Carnatic melodies with folk influences.  She was accompanied by Bharat Sundar on vocal, B.U. Ganesh Prasad and Parur M.S. Ananthakrishnan on the violin, Neyveli Narayanan and Trivandrum Balaji on the mridangam and K.V. Gopalakrishnan on the kanjira. 

Folk song describing the fortune-teller woman getting into a trance as she is saying the fortune.  Sowmya highlights in this rendition the folk treatment to a ragam that is also used in classical music.  From the 1:40 mark, note the rhythmic vocalizations by Neyveli Narayanan and the playful interaction with the song.  

Sowmya Carnatic Folk

Vocal: G Ravi Kiran
Violin: B Ananthakrishnan
Mridangam: B Ganapathiraman


04 Marubalka Sriranjini

A Violin, Cello, Guitar, Keyboard and Drum machine remix of Massive Attack's Teardrop blended with Thyagaraja's Brova Bharama (video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXIc3iwEM8&feature=youtu.be)

Key: A
BPM: 77
Raga: Bahudari (for most part)
Guitar tuning: Open-D (tuned to D major)
Song meaning and lyrics: http://www.karnatik.com/c1002.shtml

Poster credits: Original by Simon Stratford (http://www.simonstratford.com/portfolio/illustration/teardrop/)