Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Presenting piano in all its ramifications

Pianists Madhav Chari (left) and Anil Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Pianists Madhav Chari and Anil Srinivasan will take centre stage during a workshop to be held as part of The Hindu Friday Review November Fest on Monday. Time: Madhav Chari - 6.15 p.m. to 7.15 p.m.; Anil Srinivasan - 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

What participants will get is a peek at the basics and nuances of jazz, and how the piano can be used to perform various genres of music.

In his hour-long presentation, Madhav will provide a short introduction to jazz music using the tune “Happy birthday to you,” and discuss the different layers of the music.

Madhav will conclude by playing a short piece. This will be accessible to any general audience, even if they do not have a music background.

There will also be a 10-15 minute question and answer session wherein the audience can interact with him.

Says Madhav: “This will introduce jazz to everyone. Musicians who work in Carnatic and other forms of music will also benefit from this, as I start from the rudimentary level to explain the principles of jazz, and its history.”

Pianist Anil Srinivasan, known for adapting his chosen instrument to suit forms other than classical, will head a workshop on Carnatic music.

He will talk about the aspects of harmonics within Indian classical music, with explanations on progressions that work and those that don’t.

Also, about the harmonics from the Western classical tradition (the works of Erik Satie, Schoenberg, etc.) that apply when playing quasi-Impressionistic pieces in the Indian classical tradition.

He will talk about the piano as percussion, illustrating it using korvais of the Carnatic tradition too; the piano as embellishment, using two contemporary Carnatic compositions, and uses of the keyboard in highlighting/layering Carnatic melody. “The workshop will be about how the piano can be adapted to Indian classical music, its techniques and the like. My hope is that the participants take home the thought that the piano has immense potential, and that it is not restricted to any particular genre,” says Anil.

The workshop is open to all, and a maximum of 250 participants are allowed. Registrations are open on a first-come-first-served basis at the ticket counter at The Music Academy. Today’s concert of old hindi songs, The Golden Age, is sold out.

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