Topic started by pvsubramanian (@ cpe-66-75-177-235.socal.rr.com) on Sun Apr 28 21:37:16 .
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I am las Angelews for the past 4 months . I attended all concerts being conducted by ASouthIndian MusicAcademy. Cerritose. A surprise is that at ther time of thani avarthanam also no one is leaving the seat. whereas in tamilnadu rasikas were waiting for thaniavarthanam to faciitate to go out ones for all or for chat. Why? Almost all musicicians are singing for minimum 3to 4hours. No body leaves the seat till Mangalam here.Whereas in tamilnadu rasikas are watching the watch for quick escape yours pvsubramanaian

Responses:

• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-64-175-241-30.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Wed Aug 6 20:48:19
  
  Rasikas are alike wherever they are and this is quite evident from the CDs of live concerts released by US based Fine arts organisations. One can invariably hear the musician's appeal to the rasikas to " please not leave " during the 'thani'. It is really disgusting to note the disappearance of audience during thani avarthanam. BTW, can this portion not be edited out before the CD is released.
  
  
• From: Nick (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Fri Aug 8 06:12:06 EDT 2003
  
  This topic has often been discussed. Here in UK also it would be very unusual to see people leaving during the thani. We could talk about respect, but it seems to me that audiences here seriously enjoy thani as much as any other part of the concert.
  
  Some suggest that in Indian audiences, the thani is not appreciated as calculations are not understood. Why then, do these people stay for calculated parts swara kalpana, varnam, thillana, etc? It is hard for me to comment on behaviour of Indian audiences, as I have spent so little time there and can only go on hearsay. Perhaps people looking at their watches are more concerned with social aspect of the program and don't really care about the music?
  
  
• From: Nick (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Fri Aug 8 06:15:50 EDT 2003
  
  In my limited experience of *Indian* concert going, I was surprised at how *short* the concerts were! This was in Chennai season; the criteria seemed to be to cram as many performers into one day as possible.
  
  
• From: Nick (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Fri Aug 8 06:22:35 EDT 2003
  
  Balakrishnan, you have to visit UK! come and enjoy our concerts here and see the genuine respect and enjoyment for Carnatic music in our audiences!! Even in Temple programs, where there will always be some just sitting and chatting, most of the people will be be attending to the music.
  
  Maybe Britain (and America?), in a couple of generations will have become the home of S. Indian music! Imagine the talk in Chennai: "I remember proper concerts here, but now you have to go to London...". Just imagination. I hope it will not happen!!
  
  
• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-64-175-241-30.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Sun Aug 10 12:42:51 EDT 2003
  
  
  Nick - May be, the UK rasikas are unique in that respect (I'll probably take up your offer and check it out one day). Sadly, the concerts in Chennai and SF-BayArea are plagued by this thani-exodus.
  
  I remeber an indicent in VenusColony-Chennai a few years ago, where Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam (accompaning Kadri) abruptly stopped playing Thani and summoned TVG (the organizer). TVG had to appeal to the rasikas to stay back. If Bhaktavatsalam had to undergo this treatment, I can only pity the lesser mortals.
  
  How do we treat this menace ? Should the artists "scrub" thani from their concerts all together ? Or, Should rasikas learn to "put up" with thani ?
  
  
• From: Vidya (@ dialup-67.72.205.47.dial1.detroit1.level3.net) on: Mon Aug 11 01:35:09 EDT 2003
  
  In a 1956 concert recording Ariyakudi-Mani Iyer ARI comments that rasikas leave as soon as the tani commences (a reason which I don't wish to elaborate here :) ] .He also added that the audience in that particular concert stayed only because it was Palghat Mani Iyer.
  So What's new??
  
  
• From: Nick (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Sun Aug 24 06:50:54 EDT 2003
  
  Nothing new:-( Percussion is just not that popular. Even in my hippy days many of the audience used to head for the bar when they sensed a drum solo coming on in a rock concert. Mind you, some of those drummers dud go on a bit;-).
  
  Ultimately the audience will do what they want. Music is, after all for the audience --- the performers can play anytime --- and the concert foprmat will be 'market-driven'. I just pray that the the thani does not disapear as a result of this.
  
  
• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-67-118-12-114.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Sat Sep 13 23:14:22
  
  Interesting tit-bit, Nick. So, the "percussion walk-out" seems to span nationalities and music styles -- and this trend has been going on since 1956 (according to Vidya).
  
  If "percussion" could withstand this treatment for 50-odd years, there's no reason to believe it wouldn't survive another 50! By then, I hope the rasika-taste takes a U-turn for good.
  
  

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