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Yesudas: "Hindustani is a river, Carnatic is an ocean"

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AR

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Jan 25, 2012, 9:41:36 AM1/25/12
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I happened to read an article on Yesudas at the following link:

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_...sp?n_id=127148

[BEGIN QUOTE]
"Yesudas, addressing the gathering after accepting the award, compared
Hindustani music to river and Carnatic classical music to ocean.
“Carnatic music is backed by 72 independent Raagas, and it is inspired
by nature. It has the power to strengthen the roots of culture.
Because of these qualities, this music has gained global recognition,”
he reasoned."
[END QUOTE]

I wonder what would have prompted Yesudas to make such a claim. Does
he mean to say that Carnatic music is inspired heavily from
Hindustani?

Sanjeev Ramabhadran

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Jan 25, 2012, 1:38:28 PM1/25/12
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Can't access the link - can you please repost?

Sanjeev

Havanur

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Jan 25, 2012, 1:39:58 PM1/25/12
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Comparisons are odious, even when the subject is melodious!

However, my favourite comparison between HCM and CCM was given by a
Kannada writer named BeeChi. CCM is like the desi daru. It rises fast
but the effects wear off quickly. HCM is more like a French wine,
needs time to take hold of your senses but the happy hangover lasts
longer.

Havanur

AR

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Jan 25, 2012, 1:47:57 PM1/25/12
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On Jan 25, 1:38 pm, Sanjeev Ramabhadran
Here is the link again:

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=127148

Imnot Apadmashri

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Jan 28, 2012, 7:41:10 AM1/28/12
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On Jan 25, 11:39 pm, Havanur <havanur...@gmail.com> has a unique
analogy for the HCM/CCM comparison ...

> ... but the happy hangover lasts longer.

Happy hangover, Havanur? One can total you are a teeteller ... hic! I
teel you, a tell-toll... hic! well, you know what I mean.

DG

bnadig

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Jan 30, 2012, 2:29:40 AM1/30/12
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Last time I checked, BeeChi was mighty happy sipping some fine French
wine...

Chetan Vinchhi

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Jan 30, 2012, 6:04:31 AM1/30/12
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On Jan 25, 7:41 pm, AR <aji...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> [BEGIN QUOTE]
> Because of these qualities, this music has gained global recognition,”
> he reasoned."
> [END QUOTE]

Without getting into the problems with making such comparisons in the
first place, is Yesudas saying that CCM has gotten more global
recognition than HCM?

C

KALYAN KOLACHALA

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Jan 30, 2012, 2:03:53 PM1/30/12
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I think Yesudas is referring to 72 melakartas in Carnatic against 10
thaats in HCM. However, against an arguably greater melodic diversity
in Carnatic, we have many more genres/styles in HCM (Khayal, Thumri,
Ghazal, Bhajan, Qawwali etc).

Kalyan

Warren

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Jan 30, 2012, 2:10:36 PM1/30/12
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Over-analysis of these sorts of remarks is a good option for timepass,
but isn't it obvious that Yesudas is making an empty rhetorical
flourish designed to offend neither party? The "river" analogy is a
nod to the North Indian location of the Ganges (and its metaphorical
counterpart, the oft-touted "Swarganga"). The "ocean" analogy is
because he needs something else with lots of water in it; while the
ocean may not be as holy as Ganga-Jamuna, it's bigger. This way
everybody's honour has been satisfied. What a diplomat!

WS

Abhik Majumdar

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Jan 30, 2012, 5:27:49 PM1/30/12
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> Over-analysis of these sorts of remarks is a good option for timepass

I agree. This is a non-issue if there ever was one.

Abhik

Vivekanand P V

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Jan 30, 2012, 9:40:37 PM1/30/12
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> Yesudas, addressing the gathering after accepting the award, compared
> Hindustani music to river and Carnatic classical music to ocean.
> “Carnatic music is backed by 72 independent Raagas, and it is inspired
> by nature. It has the power to strengthen the roots of culture.
> Because of these qualities, this music has gained global recognition,”
> he reasoned.


It may be that the reporter has inadvertently joined two sentences
from a speech. But had the lines followed each other as they appeared
in this news bit? I think we ought to be suspicious.


Chetan Vinchhi

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Feb 1, 2012, 1:54:13 AM2/1/12
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On Jan 31, 12:10 am, Warren <war...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Over-analysis of these sorts of remarks is a good option for timepass,

LOL - esp at your usage of "timepass" :) Isn't that part of the reason
we are here?

> but isn't it obvious that Yesudas is making an empty rhetorical
> flourish designed to offend neither party?

Not so obvious. Your interpretation is interesting.

In any case, my question was about the global recognition claim. Apart
from MSS at the UN, what other instances of such recognition come to
mind? OTOH, plenty of musics without such, ahem, profound qualities
enjoy truly global reach.

C
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