AFTERMATH OF CUCKOOS MUSICAL NOTES ................

Looking back, I find that the number of blogs during the year is far from anything to boast about - only one, to be precise. And, I am running out of time - like in the limited over versions of cricket - the 50 over and 20 over varieties. When India's second innings reaches the slog overs, we get tense, especially with the asking rate apparently seems unassailable, and a player like Ravi Shastry is still (?) at the crease.....

Wake up man, wake up, says my conscience - just as the reminders on my mobile message box threatening that my Jio plan is expiring very soon, and I will be left high and dry without internet, and the sky will fall down in 2 or 3 days......

But, I will come to that later. To set the records straight, let me add a tail piece of my earlier blog in 20016......

http://anandforever-anand.blogspot.in/2016/07/

TAIL PIECE:

Well, after reading my latest blog - (see the link above) - some one asked me,

"What are the (b) and (#) mentioned in your blog when you describe about western notes?"

'Ahhaa, subah, subah ek thagda bakra mil gaya... Aaaj iskaa satya nash karne ke baad baakee sab ...' I told myself , 'Golden chance to exhibit and expose(?) my musical knowledge'

(Between us, my knowledge of music is very very very insignificant, by the way) 

However, the exhibitionist in me shook himself, and told my 'fan',

"That's a very intelligent question. I liked it and am happy at your thirst for     knowledge. Come, sit down..  "At that moment, I could see the desperate plight in his face - he would be  cursing all his stars for his unconditional offer as the proverbial scapegoat to some one like me, right on a Sunday morning....

"You see, they call them, major and minor in Western music. Just as we say, 'shudha' or 'saadhaarana' and 'chatushruthi' or 'Antara'....."

There was this blank look in his eyes, and I couldn't miss it.

"I shall explain in simpler terms", I told. 

"For example, D and D(b) are equivalent to our Shudha and Chatushruthi Rishabha. Similarly, F(#) and F represent our Shudha and Prati Madhyama."

"And just as we have two variations for (Re) Rishabha, (Ga) Gaandhara, (Ma) Madhyama, (Pa) Panchama, and (Ni) Nishada - the 'kaishiki' and 'kakali' variations. They have their own D(b) and D, E(b) and E, F and F(#), A(b) and A, & of course, B(b), and B ......"

Having sufficiently confused him, I let out a looooong sigh of relief.

"But, you said the 7 swaras originated from the sounds of different animals and birds. Then how come the variations?"

Aahhaa ... That was a terrific trap. I did not bargain for such clever doubts. I should have known where I was heading to when I penned the blog....... 'Think Anantha, think ...' I told myself,  'And be fast..'😟

🔆 And like a thunderbolt, the answer struck me,

"Offo, thoo bhee kaisaa bewakoof ho yaar, the minor notes are the ones that were let out when the animals and birds were hungry, and obviously, the major notes are the ones let out by them when their stomach was full ........"

Before he could come out with more 'intelligent' doubts, I told him,

"Take care, and have a great day ...."

YOU TOO - have a great day............

anand ..............

FOREWORD ......

F O R E W O R D   (NOT “forward” …..)

That is sunrise at the Besant Nagar beach today morning. 

Awesome!                                                   

There is a small change. “Krishnarpanam” will come later, because, it is about music, and on a more serious ‘note’. Now here is what happens this morning during my usual routine.

Let’s start with the background. The other day, I had a haircut. That unfortunately made the barren area more barren. The guy at the saloon had done some real terrible job. And he charged 120/- which was too much to say the least.

Here, I must recall the conversation I had with my elder son, some two years back when he was fresh after his return from the US (for good). He had come down to Chennai from Bengaluru. That day also, I had a haircut.

I kind of lamented to him that these guys charge exorbitantly and 120 bucks for a haircut is outrageous. 

I was expecting at least a ‘thso, thso..’ 

Instead, he said, “On the other hand, you should be happy, Appa.”

                                                                

“How do you say that?”                                                                                               

“Actually, he has given you 50% discount”, he told me with a chuckle.

“What makes you think so?” I quipped.                                                                             

“He should have charged 120/- first for locating the hair in your head, and then, 120/- for the cutting”

I wanted to tell him if the dog has its day, the puppy’s day can’t be far off. But controlled myself with great effort, for the fear that he may get annoyed, and go back to the US…….

Any way, have you noticed that in all the beach photos I send, there is a dog in the frame? (not in the manger, thankfully!) May be a coincidence, or intentional perhaps, as in the famous ‘Bobanum Moliyum’ cartoon by Toms in the Malayala Manorama Weekly – Elsewhere among the blogs, you can find one I had penned on “Dog’s days”

http://anandforever-anand.blogspot.in/2013_05_01_archive.html

I had, in fact, taken a leaf from the hilarious “meen” scene of Kamal Hassan in the movie ‘Michael Madana Kama Rajan’. Click the link below when you have the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUnBkw5fSYY

I was telling that this morning during my walk, I was donning a red cap in an obvious attempt to camouflage the barren area. The oldies, that is, my beach acquaintances, (very close, close, distant, hand-waving, and all varieties) were very lavish in their smiles today, showing all their 20 odd teeth. Normally they give out a wry half smile, or at best, a half-hearted hand wave. What is different today, I wondered. May be they are jealous, “Who is this handsome young man?” I consoled myself. Perhaps they were laughing to themselves “Romba Mukhyam …” looking at my new red cap.

Jokes apart, ideas for most of my blogs germinate during those hours. Many a times, I feel lazy to record those thoughts somewhere in black and white, though. Perhaps your brain cells are most active during the wee hours. That could be the reason why our parents insisted on our going to bed early and get up before sun rise and study.

Tail piece:

In his classic “Dasavatara Sthothra” (Gita Govindam), the great poet, Jayadeva sums up his description of the ten avatars of Mahavishnu, like this. In one sloka, you get to understand the avatara lakshya of all the ten incarnations of the lord.

Vedan udharate, jagan nivahate, bhoogolam udbibhrate

       ,                                               

Daithyam darayate, balim jhalayate, kshatrakshayam kurvate,

                                                

Paulasthyam jayathe, halam kalayate, karaunyam aathanvate,

                                          

Mlechan moorchayate, dashakritikrute, krishnaya thubhyam namaha…..

Watch out for my next blog on music … very soon.

“good bye” till then.

Anand