World Music Abi: Perspective

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Lord of the Written Word,

Saturday, 16 September 2023

Kurai Onrum Illai குறை ஒன்றும் இல்லை Vocal Violin

Happy birthday to M.S. Subbulakshmi!

This ragamalika composition (blended scales) is the first Ragamalika that I taught myself. I couldn't have done it without the legendary M.S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of Kurai Onrum Illai.

She is known as one of Carnatic female trinity.

This is the only Carnatic composition of C. Rajagopalachari and was popularised by MSS which is why I'm dedicating this rendition to her.

I have already covered Kaatrinile Varum Geetham on this blog which she sang in the 1940s!

I found a wikipedia article and various other articles like one from 2002 linked with the translation that explains the interesting context of the song. The meaning can also be ironic while also being thankful.

Where I behold you not

My light, my very eyes,

Protector of all earthlings

I know you sustain me

Lord of the Venkata Hill so pure

You meet my hunger, my thirst

My hope, my prayer

You keep me from harm,

Lord of the Sparkling Gems,

I need naught else

Father of the Seven Hills,

Naught else.

* * *

You stand — do you not? —

Veiled by a screen

Only the learned can part

For they are the learned

Which I am not

But no, no regrets have I.

Father to these hills

No regrets have I

Govinda !

* * *

In this benighted Age of ours

Lord —

The worst of all the Four —

You have entered

The sanctum

A shaft of granite

Where though I see you not

No regrets have I.

Boulder of strength

With the Ocean,

Heaving on your breast,

Of the purest compassion —

My Mother,

My very own, who grants

Anything I ask of her

Can I possibly have regrets?

The two of you, I know,

Stand there for me

Eternally

No regrets have I my Govinda

None, none whatsoever

Govinda! Govinda!

Tamil Lyrics:

குறையொன்றுமில்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா

குறையொன்றுமில்லை கண்ணா

குறையொன்றுமில்லை கோவிந்தா

கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாமல் நிற்கின்றாய் கண்ணா

கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாமல் நின்றாலும் எனக்கு

குறையொன்றுமில்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா

வேண்டியதைத் தந்திட வேங்கடேசன் என்றிருக்க

வேண்டியது வேறில்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா

மணிவண்ணா மலையப்பா கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

திரையின் பின் நிற்கின்றாய் கண்ணா

கண்ணா திரையின் பின் நிற்கின்றாய் கண்ணா

உன்னை மறையோதும் ஞானியர் மட்டுமே காண்பார்

என்றாலும் குறையொன்றும் எனக்கில்லை கண்ணா

குன்றின்மேல் கல்லாகி நிற்கின்ற வரதா

குறையொன்றுமில்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா

மணிவண்ணா மலையப்பா கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

கலிநாளுக்கிரங்கி கல்லிலே இரங்கி

நிலையாகக் கோயிலில் நிற்கின்றாய் கேசவா

கலிநாளுக்கிரங்கி கல்லிலே இரங்கி

யாரும் மறுக்காத மலையப்பா

உன் மார்பில் ஏதும் தர நிற்கும்

கருணை கடலன்னை

என்றும் இருந்திட ஏது குறை எனக்கு

ஒன்றும் குறை இல்லை மறைமூர்த்தி கண்ணா

மணிவண்ணா, மலையப்பா

கோவிந்தா கோவிந்தா

Carnatic Swara Notation and Lyrics Here

shiva ranjani

22 kharaharapriya janya

Aa: S R2 G2 P D2 S

Av: S D2 P G2 R2 S

pallavi

kuRai onRum illai maRaiMoorththi kaNNaa

kuRai onRum illai kaNNaa

kuRai onRum illai GOvinthaa

anupallavi

kaNNukku Theriyaamal niRkinRaay kaNNaa

kaNNukku Theriyaamal ninRaalum enakku

kuRai onRum illai maRaiMoorththi kaNNaa

caraNam 1

VEndiyathai thanNthida VEnkaTEsan enRirukka

VEndiyathu VERillai maRaiMoorththi kaNNaa

maNivaNNaa malaiappaa GOvinthaa GOvinthaa

kaapi

22 kharaharapriya janya

Aa: S R2 M1 P N3 S

Av: S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S

caraNam 2

thiraiyin pin niRkinRaay kaNNaa - unnai

maRai Othum NYaaniyar mattuME kaaNpaar

enRaalum kuRai onRum enakkillai kaNNaa

caraNam 3

kunRin MEl kallaaki niRkinRa varathaa

kuRai onRum illai maRaiMoorththi kaNNaa

maNivaNNaa malaiappaa GOvinthaa GOvinthaa

sindu bhairavi

10 naaTakapriya janya

Aa: S R2 G2 M1 G2 P D1 N2 S

Av: N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S N2 S

caraNam 4

kalinNaaLukkiranNgi kallilE iRangi

nilaiyaaga KOvilil niRkinRaay KEsavaa

caraNam 5

yaathum maRukkaatha malaiyappaa - un maarbil

Ethum thara niRkum karuNai kadal annai

enRum irunthida Ethu kuRai enakku

onRum kuRai illai maRaiMoorththi kaNNaa

maNivaNNaa malaiappaa GOvinthaa GOvinthaa

If you like this, check out the links below:

Help me reach my goal at https://ko-fi.com/worldmusicabi/posts

Website: https://worldmusicabi.blogspot.co.uk/

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Wednesday, 19 August 2020

Home - Sneak Peak Original song by World Music Abi

Home is where I'd like to be

Home is the safest place for me

Let myself be free

I'm alone here but not lonely

Is home a familiarity

To me, friends are family,

Is it a place to live in this big city

Or in the roots of my history.

The meaning of the song is derived from my feeling of "being at home" or comfort in certain places or around certain people more than others. It is about how I can express myself in my comfort zone while alone. "I'm alone here but not lonely" comes from that feeling of how it is okay to focus on things on your own.

Familiar things like people from my past, or songs from my teens or food from my childhood make me feel at home. Most of the time when we say home, we talk about the place we live in. "The roots of my history" is a reference to how some say "Go back home" in a demeaning way to us. It also is a history to our ancestral identity and culture that may be lost as time goes on and the world becomes more westernised.

I was inspired by Nalinakanthi Ragam when composing this song but actually ended up composing it in a mixture of Hamsathwani and Kedaram.

The idea that kickstarted this song came while I suggested an idea to the BAM & beyond team about having home as a theme for people to make their own content about.

If you like this, check out the following links:

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Wednesday, 5 August 2020

Vannam Konda Vennilave - வண்ணம் கொண்ட வெண்ணிலவே - Violin

Here's my violin cover of Vannam konda vennilave.

SPB has composed the music, sung and acted in this film. I was surprised to find out that it released in 1991.

I used my new studio equipment and software to record and edit the sound here.

I may or not upload notation depending on demand so let me know if you do want the carnatic notation.

This song is set to the Hindustani raga Piloo.

This song is a great one to get stuck in your head especially if you've heard it being sung.

The lyrics of the song are from the point of view of someone who describes their other half as the moon and they are missing them.

Vannam konda venn nilave = White moon who has colours

Vaanam viddu vaarayo = will you come down from the sky

Vinnile Eeramillai = The atmosphere is not wet enough

Unnai thoda Eni Illai = there's no ladder to touch you

Pakkathil Neeyum Illai = You're not next to me

Paarvaiyil Eeram illai = figuratively saying that his eyes are dry

Sonthatil paashaiyillai = no languages are needed for our relationship

Swasikka Aasai Illai = I've got no desire to breathe

Kanduvanthu solvatharku kaatrukku neram illai = The wind doesn't have time to deliver this message

Neelathai pirithu vittaal vaanathil ethum illai = If you take out the blue of the sky there is nothing left

Thalli thalli nee irunthal solli kolla vaazhkai illai = If you keep staying away, there isn't even a life speaking about

If you like this, check out the following links:

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Monday, 22 April 2019

பூமித்தாயின் குழந்தைகளே Bhoomi Thaayin

Sri Lanka has had a long and recent history of struggles. Many lives have been affected.

This Tamil song was written by Pulavar Sivanathan and is set in Raga Tilang. It has literal and metaphorical imagery that puts the struggles of the people into perspective.

I'm dedicating this video to victims of the Sri Lanka bombings. Check out my blogpost for the lyrics and translations for this song.

Tamil Lyrics with English Translation

பூமித்தாயின் குழந்தைகளே

தாய் முகம் தேடும் இதயங்களே

The children of Mother Earth.

The hearts that search for their mother's face.

குற்றம் செய்யாமல் தண்டனைப்பெற்றே

கூண்டினில் வாழும் பறவைகளே

The birds that didn't commit a crime are punished by entrapment in a cell.

கற்கையில்லாமல் கண்ணிமை மூடி

இருளில் வாழும் நெஞ்சங்களே

சொற்களில்லாத கவிதைகள்ளாகி

உயிருக்குள் உறங்கும் உணர்வுகளே.

Those who are living in the dark without knowledge of the outer world,

and the emotions that become poems without words.

பெற்றவர் எங்கே? படைத்தவர் எங்கே?

கேள்விகள் பொங்கும் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே.

அயலவர் அன்பில் நம்பிக்கை தேடி

அனுதினம் ஏங்கும் பிஞ்சுகளே.

Where are they who gave birth to me and those that created me?

Questions rise in my heart.

Searching for trust in the neighbour's love,

everyday the young yearn.

இயற்கையின் தலைவன் உலகினை படைத்தான்,

அரசியல் மனிதன் நிலங்களை பிரித்தான்.

மயக்கத்தில் உலகை அழித்திடும் மனிதன்

இருப்பதை பகிர்ந்தால் இறைவனும் சிரிப்பான்.

The leader of nature created this world.

Politicians split the lands.

The humans than are giddy wreck this world however

if it is shared, God will smile.

English Transliterated Lyrics

Bhoomi thaayin kuzhanthaikale

thaay mugham thedum ithayangale

kutram seiyaamal thandanai pettre

koondinil vaazhum paravaikale

karkaiyilaamal kann imai moodi

irulil vaazhum nenjangale

sorkalillaatha kavithaikalaaki

uyirukkul urangum unarvukale

pettravar enge padavar enge

kelvikal pongum nenjukulle

ayalavar anbil nambikkai thedi

anuthinam engum pinchukale

iyarkaiyin thalaivan ulaginai padaithaan

arasiyal manithan nilangalai pirithaan

mayakatthil ulagai azhitthidum manithan

irupathai pakirnthaal iraivanum siripaan

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