Melodious measure

Although Mysuru of yester years was a home to vocalists as well as exponents on different musical instruments, apart from scholarly composers of lyrics of outstanding literary value, everyone of them as legend in his or her own lifetime, the than town, hosting a small population, got overshadowed by Bengaluru and Madras (now Chennai) by virtue of name and fame bestowed upon Gayana Samaja in the former city and Music Academy in the latter, in addition to other music sabhas in both cities. Names of Veene Sheshanna and Subbanna, violin (piteelu) T. Chowdaiah, Swaramurthy V.N. Road and Vasudevacharya in the august company of the last king of the erstwhile princely State of Mysore Jayachamaraja Wadiyar come sweeping across the minds of connoisseurs of music in Mysuru effortlessly. Citizens of Mysuru can now hold their head high as patrons of classical music, thanks to the growing presence of accomplished artistes in all forms of music as well as functioning music sabhas in the city.

In keeping with times, Mysureans, like those in the rest of the State as well as the country, have ungrudgingly demonstrated that they readily lend their ears to both mellifluous concerts by artistes rendering lyrical compositions in classical style and also musical evenings where film songs dominate.

Unlike in the days past, when the society took note of the star performers in their chosen art, music or painting or dancing or any other, only after reaching star status, most of them well past their middle age, we cannot be blind to the emergence of children, even sub-teens, virtually outdoing the elders on stage.  The ongoing weekend evening telecast of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ has proved a great hit with music-loving viewers. Adult artistes, both those who have played their stellar role as the behind-the-stage gurus for the kids and those who are holding their listeners spell-bound during concerts have every reason to witness glorious future for music and artistes in years ahead in the State.

In the foregoing context, it is heartening to read the news in a daily last week under the heading ‘Music in Schools’ programme begins in Mysuru.’ The trinity a) Department of Kannada and Culture, b) Mysuru District Administration and c) Department of Public Instruction that has taken the music-promoting initiative merits unalloyed adoration for the melodious measure as it were. The measure is blessed twice for nurturing music as well as education.