The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A nine-day treat commences for veena enthusiasts

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Sunday, Sep 14, 2008
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A nine-day treat commences for veena enthusiasts

Staff Reporter

A series of concerts will take place till September 21

— PHOTO: K.V.SRINIVASAN

SPECIAL Association: Member of Parliament Kanimozhi (left) with her former guru veteran vainika Kalpagam Swaminathan at ‘Veenarpana’ in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Music lovers could treat themselves to rich veena recitals in an exclusive nine-day festival that began here on Saturday.

Organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and The Veena Foundation, New Delhi, in association with Narada Gana Sabha, Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha and Karthik Fine Arts in Chennai, ‘Veenarpana’ - The Veena Navarathri, is being organised in memory of L.M. Singhvi, former president, IGNCA and of The Veena Foundation.

Inaugurating the festival, Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi said that veena was one of the most challenging instruments to play. “Even if someone is mediocre, it will show very badly in his or her playing. This instrument, therefore, warrants rigorous practice for the musical aesthetics to reflect in the artiste’s playing,” she said.

She commended V. Raghurama Ayyar, secretary-general, The Veena Foundation and adviser, IGNCA for having come all the way from New Delhi to organise a festival featuring veena music exclusively. “He is passionate about reviving the instrument’s popularity among listeners,” Ms. Kanimozhi said. “We will ensure that we do our part in promoting the instrument through Chennai Sangamam,” she added.

Ms. Kanimozhi said that it was a privilege to be part of the function as she got to meet her former guru veteran vainika Kalpagam Swaminathan. “As a little girl, I learnt under madam for a few years and troubled her lot,” she reminisced with a smile.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Raghurama Ayyar said veena was not only the quintessential symbol of the science of music, but also gave immense peace and tranquillity. A series of concerts and lecture-cum-demonstrations will take place till September 21, featuring noted artistes of different guru-sishya paramparas, the organisers said.

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