Or Bad Seats Yield Good Insights
by Harshada Shangarpawar
Certain experiences linger in our minds, resurfacing time and again, compelling us to capture them in words. One such experience for me was attending an open-air Carnatic classical concert by a renowned musical duo.
For those unfamiliar with Carnatic classical music, it is a rich and ancient tradition of music from South India. Performances typically feature a main vocalist or duo, accompanied by musicians playing instruments like the violin, mridangam (a double-headed drum), ghatam (a clay pot), and tambura (a long-necked lute providing a continuous harmonic drone). The genre is known for its improvisational elements, where musicians explore and expand upon traditional ragas (melodic frameworks) and talas (rhythmic cycles).
The View from my Seat at a recent Carnatic Classical Concert
Picking the Best Seat
Concert venues often restrict the audience to sitting in front of the performers, but this particular venue was different. It was packed with enthusiastic season pass holders, while people like me, with single-day tickets, had to find the best seats we could. My seat, which I thought was 'bad' ended up giving me an almost backstage view, a vantage point that offered a unique perspective on the performance.
From my spot, I could observe not just the main vocal artists but also their five accompanists, each masterfully playing their instruments: the tambura, ghatam, violin, and mridangam. The music was undeniably surreal, but what captivated me most was witnessing the ensemble's teamwork.
All for One and One for All
I saw how the artists communicated with subtle glances, signalling when to pass the melodic lead to another. It was fascinating to see them sense when an accompanist was ready to take the spotlight and seamlessly shift the focus. This delicate balance of give-and-take illustrated the importance of teamwork in creating a harmonious performance. Each musician had a role, and their ability to listen to and support each other transformed individual talents into a cohesive, magical experience.
I could also discern who was guiding the performance—the lead vocalist, orchestrating the flow, and the tambura players, a steadfast presence maintaining the mood and the pitch. Watching the tambura players reminded me that the most unobtrusive member of a team can sometimes be the most important!
Music Wins
Reflecting on this concert, I added it to my list of unforgettable musical experiences. Humans, I believe, are unique in their ability to create such performances. Music, in all its forms, has a magical quality that touches everyone it reaches, uniting us in a shared, transcendent experience. And at the heart of it all is teamwork—the silent, powerful force that turns individual talent into collective brilliance.
This article includes content edited with the help of ChatGPT, an AI tool by OpenAI.
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