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Conference throbs with beats of ‘parai’

PUDUCHERRY: Sessions on musical patterns, history and changing status of ‘parai’ and the future of ‘parai’ enabled scholars and faculty members to take a closer look at the ethnomusicological perspectives on the changing status of ‘parai’ at a conference held recently.

According to a release, the Department of Anthropology of the Pondicherry University organised a one-day conference on “Ethnomusicological perspectives on the changing status of the ‘parai’.”

It brought together three groups of performers of the ‘parai’ from various parts of Tamil Nadu, and scholars.

An extensive discussion on the future development of the ‘parai’ and its use within the Tamil culture and media was part of the conference.

The first session concentrated on the comparison of various musical patterns and there was a close musical analysis of the various beats, transition, specific ritual and social use to understand the regional specificity of the music and its semiotics, said the release.

In the second session, the history and changing status of the ‘parai’, its previous uses, recent changes in the use of the instrument in both village ritual contexts as well as urban political and social contexts were discussed.

Later, an interactive session about the future direction and use of the instrument was held.

An open air performance of “Thappattam” by various troupes was held as part of the valedictory function.

Students, scholars and faculty from Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture, Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam attended the conference.

Among others, Director of Culture and Cultural Relations of the University A. Balasubramanian, Zoe Sherinian of the University of Oklahoma and Head of Department of Anthropology A. Chellaperumal were present, added the release.

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