Stringing an orchestra for veena

The Veenavani Centre for Music is promoting the veena in a three-hour concert on Sunday.

KAVITA KAKHANDIKI

Sticking up to traditional music is rather difficult in this fast moving era. Especially when it comes to learning some of the traditional instruments like sarangi, veena and sitar. People prefer learning fast track music like jazz and fusion rather than classical.

But Shanti Rao, renowned veena artiste and founder of Veenavani Centre for Music, has proved that with little innovations in traditional instruments one can attract more students.

A master in both the old Mysore and Tanjavur style, Rao has learnt under maestros like Chittibabu and R K Suryanarayana Rao.

She says that earlier veena was considered as one of accompanying instrument but by bringing in new techniques, Suryanarayana Rao and Chittibabu tried to make it an entity by itself.

Many of the updated versions of veena such as the double string veena innovated by Veena Vidushi Shanti Rao, vichitra veena innovated by Vishwamohan Bhat and others have received acknowledgments for there wonderful tonal quality.

At present, she has more than 20 disciples who are at different levels of training. They are being trained both in traditional and contemporary forms. To promote some of the senior students of Veenavani Centre for Music, a three-hour concert, 'Veene Talamela’, a symphony on veenas, is being organised at Heritage Academy, Koramangala on Sunday.

The programme by Rao and her disciples is divided into four parts where every student is given an opportunity to prove themselves. They will present Ragamalika, a composition by Veene Subanna of Mysore in chorus, followed by Manodharma Sangeetha, wherein each student would play individually and prove his or her mastery. They would be presenting raga Karaharapriya. Ranjanamala, a composition by Chittibabu and Tillana composed by Suryanarayana Rao would follow later.

They will be accompanied by V Krishnamurthy Achar on mridangam, by C N Anand on tabla and by Srisaila on the ghatam.

The most interesting part of the programme would be a lecture-demonstration by Prof T R Balakrishnan of Chennai, who has innovated `Balaveenai’.

This is a modified version of veena and can be carried easily by dismantling it. He is presenting it for the first time here. This programme, starting at 4.00 pm, is being sponsored by S Sadanand Mady and Vasundhara Rao and the entry is free.

For further details, contact Shathi Rao at 663-A, `Raksha’ 17th cross, II stage, Indiranagar or call: 25257946. Mobile- 9844165875, 9243118022 or on Website www.shantirao.tripod.com.