From: sunder@IASTATE.EDU (Sunder B Athreya)
Subject: Re: M. D. Ramanathan
Reply-To: sunder@IASTATE.EDU (Sunder B Athreya)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 14:37:20 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.062936.9815@colorado.edu>, manu@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU
(Njan) writes:
> In article <1992Jul20.232617.4469@colorado.edu> manu@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU
(Njan) writes:
> >In article <1992Jul20.091648@IASTATE.EDU> sunder@IASTATE.EDU (Sunder B
Athreya) writes:
> >>It is heartening to learn that you are an MDR enthusiast. I further agree
with
> >>you that his music was of a very high quality albiet of a philosophical and
> >>cereberal bent. What I do not agree with you about is your conclusion that
MDR
> >>was the "most unappreciated musical genius of carnatic music". He has
> >>considerable following amongst the cognoscenti, all of whom appreciate the
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> I'm curious to know where you got that information from... seems like you
> have done considerable research to make such a statement...
> 
> I had to go around > 30 music shops in 6 different south Indian
> cities to get hold of an MDR cassette! ( I did this last month! ). Finally,
> I got it from a small shop in Madras which exclusively deals in classical
> music ( that's all I saw ). They had "one" copy of the cassette I was 
> looking for. The shopkeeper later told me that though MDR was a great
> singer, his style isn't too popular among people. ( I guess he knows
> what he is talking about! ) If this is any sign of MDR's popularity, then
> I stand by my previous statement... given that you could find a GNB or
> Ariyakkudi cassette in any of the shops I mentioned... ( both of them
> died > 20 years before MDR )
> 
> >>distinct style of music brought in by MDR and are probabably not quite so
> >>condescending about their discovery. So please feel a little more at ease
and
> >>enjoy your MDR.
> 
> now, who's being condescending?
> 
> Njan

If "enjoy your MDR" is condescending then wishing somebody have a nice day would
be condescending too. So well wishing is probably not such a good idea eh!
Anyway it is true that you will find more prerecorded cassettes of GNB, Madurai
Mani and Ariyakudi as you mention. You are right we are talking about yesteryear
artists and they flourished before the era commercial cassettes in classical
music. The point being that the cassettes that you find of GNB, Mani Iyer and
Ariyakudi at shops are hardly representative of their talents. Also more
importantly it does not prove that their music was appreciated better than
MDR's.  It must also be mentioned that the market has evolved to the point of
serving niche customers.

        All the musicians mentioned above had their own distinct styles. GNB
amonst other things is also credited with (just as MDR is) bringing in a
distinct style. Well, GNB just won more hearts and I am sure he was not
undeserving of it. Same goes for Mani Iyer. So there existed some other highly
accomplished artists who took their share of the pie of following. Each has
enough to offer for a liftime of exploration and enjoyment.

         Also it must be mentioned that there are several talented vocalists at
this time. To mention a few KVN, OST and Hyderabad  brothers, (the recently
deceased Santhanam) and Seshagopalan. It is not clear just how much following
each one of them has. You realise that MDR competes with them too. Also let us
not forget the several great instrumentalists who captivated and continue to
captivate large numbers of music lovers.
         
          I guess my point is that carnatic music has a lot to offer in terms of
variety and endeavouring to devine the  beauty, grandeur and excellence in each
style is probably a better idea. Now then if you have to take up this issue of
lack of appreciation for MDR, KVN or the likes then I think you would have
lament about the larger issue of lack of following for some serious music etc,
which is in all likelyhood a very sticky wicket. Happy listening.
                             
                                                               Sunder
                                                
Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.classical