Likhati » Nirvanashatakam http://www.likhati.com Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:41:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.likhati.com http://www.likhati.com/wp-content/cbnet-favicon/182.JPG Likhati Undevotional Music http://www.likhati.com/2006/03/01/undevotional-music/ http://www.likhati.com/2006/03/01/undevotional-music/#comments Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:36:00 +0000 u https://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/2006/03/01/undevotional-music/ On the occasion of Shivratri last weekend I started looking for a musical rendition that I liked of that beautiful poem of Adi Shankara's, the Atmashatakam or the Nirvanashatakam. Even those who aren’t religiously inclined like the poem, and it’s a real pity that it hasn’t been set to some truly spectacular music yet.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of “devotional” music being churned out that is guaranteed to bring you out in a rash and takes you to new heights of irritability rather than the meditative calm that’s usually intended. Tinkly, tankly, sentimental and with too much sugary instrumentation. One could always, of course, listen to the devotional category sung classically and one only has to turn to the old favourites like MS for that, but really it would be nice to have something different in the lighter forms.

Another problem is that we just don’t seem to do choral music as well as they do in the West. Even really bad Christmas choirs sound better. So we should stick to single voices and restrained instrumentation until we learn how to sing in groups.

Oh, and what’s with those booming voice-overs and introductions by men with overly honeyed voices? Examples of these voice-overs are here and here and in countless other places.


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