Vijay Kannan: Recent Episodes
Vijay Kannan
Indian Flautist | Composer | Producer | Collaborations | YouTuber | Electrical Engineer | PhD |
Youtube: http://youtube.com/AboutIndianMusic
Use of headphones is highly recommended :-)
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Please check song description on each track here... :-) thanks!! °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
I do collaborations sometimes. If you like the music, share it with people? :)
Cheerio Vijay
Download: Apple Music/iTunes: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/vijaykannan/gaanamoorthe Bandcamp: https://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com/track/gaanamoorthe
The fifth release of the Carnatic Projekt Series, a very favorite song of mine by Tyagaraja Swami in the raga Gaanamurthi, Gaanamoorthe. I hope you all also enjoy it as much as I do. Peace.
Details: Song: Gaanamoorthe Raga: Gaanamurthi Tala: Adi Tyagaraja Swami
Arrangement, Flute and Video: Vijay Kannan https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Releases in Carnatic Projekt:
Ep 1: Alaipayuthey Kanna - https://youtu.be/z56_VOYA_MY Ep 2: Mokshamu galadha - https://youtu.be/yZ6H8gCpB_0 Ep 3: Mahaganapathim - https://youtu.be/wKmp930_jQY Ep 4: Shakti Sahitha - https://youtu.be/kSXD-JMPnoc Ep 5: Gaanamoorthe - https://youtu.be/e4DDfOsv75M
Saint Thyagaraja, one of the Trinity of carnatic music, was a musical genius with single minded devotion for Lord Rama. He was born in 1767 in Tiruvarur in Thanjavur district. His parents, aware of the divine predisposition of their child, named him Thyagabrahmam, after Lord Thyagaraja, the reigning God of Thanjavur, whose temple marks this place. Saint Thyagaraja's life is full of accounts of his musical scholarship (impromptu compositions and extempore singing, inimitable singing skill with a voice spanning 3 octaves) and deep devotion. Several compositions of his mark his encounters with Lord Rama.
Reference: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
The Saint, content in his devotion, lived a simple life free from materialistic desires, on alms given by the audience that listened to his music as he sang on streets every morning. At least two incidences are known where he eschewed the company and patronage of a king, in order to serve ONLY ONE, the one in his heart, the Supreme Spirit.
His compositions speak of his love and longing for his beloved Shri Rama, entreating Him to come to him, to end the misery of separation. These songs depict the soul's longing for the infinite spirit. Along with his musical genius, Saint Thyagaraja was a self realised soul, who knew that the misery of the mind could end only when it merges in the Divine. Some of his compositions address the mind, even chastise the mind, asking it to focus on Him who delivers the soul from its delusion of sorrows and bestows upon it infinite bliss.
He is said to have received the divine gift of musical knowledge from Devarishi Narada. Several krithis of his are known, that are in praise of this Divine Sage.
For Saint Thyagaraja, music wasn't mere technical elegance or emotional expression but the path to attain salvation by immersing oneself in its devotion. Such was his life, his music, his habit.
One of Saint Thyagaraja's gems; in this unique raaga Gaanamurthi, the notes sweep across high and low places of feelings, evoking deep emotions for the one who carries the name of this raaga - Gaanamurthe. Gaanamurthe, Him, Shri Krishna who is Venugopala, the Divine one from whom music flows, who controls all rhythms of the Cosmos, of the 3 world's, protect me. He who is Divine Love, beloved of Shri Rukmini, friend of Arjuna; His glory, His valour as the infinite endless one from whom all these virtues spring, brims in this song.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/kSXD-JMPnoc Download/presave: iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/shakti-sahitha-single/1523189235 Bandcamp: https://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com/track/shakti-sahitha
The fourth release in the Carnatic Projekt is a Nottuswara of Mudduswami Dikshitar, A simple and beautiful composition in praise of Ganesha, Dikshitar had composed Nottuswaras similar to the western music ideas in the times of India under imperialist rule. I tried to do a string arrangement for this with Pianos, strings and flute.
Details: Song: Shakti Sahitha Ragam: Shankarabharanam (scale) Talam: Tisra Ekam Mudduswami Dikshitar
Arrangement, Flute, Video: Vijay Kannan social links: https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Releases in Carnatic Projekt:
Ep 1: Alaipayuthey Kanna - https://youtu.be/z56_VOYA_MY Ep 2: Mokshamu galadha - https://youtu.be/yZ6H8gCpB_0 Ep 3: Mahaganapathim - https://youtu.be/wKmp930_jQY Ep 4: Shakti Sahitha - https://youtu.be/kSXD-JMPnoc Ep 5: Gaanamoorthe - https://youtu.be/e4DDfOsv75M
Saint Muthuswamy Dikshitar is one of the trinity of carnatic music. His devotion to the Almighty, frugal mode of living, and unmatched range and skill in musical compositions (both lyrics and music) are well known. Born in Thiruvarur in 18th century, Dikshitar learnt music from his father, a celebrated musician. When iving in Madras (Chennai), he came across Western symphonies. Later, he became a disciple of Chidambaranata Yogi in Varanasi, where he became acquainted with Hindustani music too.
It is said that, after the demise of his Guru, when he moved to Tiruttani, Lord Muruga blessed him and initiated him into composing music.
Several incidences of his life are known, that portray his deep devotion to the Supreme.
As Saint Dikshitar played Veena, his songs are composed in a way suited to be played on instrument, or sung.
He was well versed in philosophy, scriptures, yoga and other sacred ancient teachings.
He has composed songs on multiple deities, including Ambal, Muruga, Ganesha, Shiva, Narayana.
These songs reveal the Saint's intimate knowledge of the names and forms of divine beings (nama rupam), their stories and the spiritual significance of these descriptions. To him, these divine beings were all personalities, with their attributes, preferences.
As he visited temples in specific places, he would compose songs exclusively in praise of the deity at that particular divine place (kshetra)
He was a realised soul who could see all deities as manifested forms of one Supreme Spirit. His songs, even as they describe beautiful, exciting tales of the deities at their kshetra; stories of various divine forms, stories of the temples, also speak of their spiritual significance. In these songs, the moral, emotional relationship of the devotee with each name and form melds with the philosophical truth, of Divine Consciousness as the fundamental reality of the universe.
The role of the Supreme Being as the Provider, Protector, and Controller of the Cosmos, His (or Her) nature as the Absolute Truth - Pure Existence (Sat), Consciousness (Chit), Bliss (Ananda) are evident in his songs.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKmp930_jQY
Download/presave: Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/mahaganapathim-single/1522176335 Bandcamp: https://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com/track/mahaganapathim
The third release in the Carnatic Projekt is Mahaganapathim, one of the most popular kritis of Mudduswami Dikshitar. One of my very favorite as well.
Details: Song: Mahaganapathim Ragam: Naatai Talam: Chatusra Ekam Mudduswami Dikshitar
Arrangement, Flute, Video: Vijay Kannan social links: https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Releases in Carnatic Projekt:
Ep 1: Alaipayuthey - https://youtu.be/z56_VOYA_MY Ep 2: Mokshamu - https://youtu.be/yZ6H8gCpB_0 Ep 3: Mahaganapathim - https://youtu.be/wKmp930_jQY
Saint Mudduswami or Muthuswamy Dikshitar is one of the trinity of carnatic music. His devotion to the Almighty, frugal mode of living, and unmatched range and skill in musical compositions (both lyrics and music) are well known. Born in Thiruvarur in 18th century, Dikshitar learnt music from his father, a celebrated musician. When iving in Madras (Chennai), he came across Western symphonies. Later, he became a disciple of Chidambaranata Yogi in Varanasi, where he became acquainted with Hindustani music too.
It is said that, after the demise of his Guru, when he moved to Tiruttani, Lord Muruga blessed him and initiated him into composing music.
Several incidences of his life are known, that portray his deep devotion to the Supreme.
As Saint Dikshitar played Veena, his songs are composed in a way suited to be played on instrument, or sung.
He was well versed in philosophy, scriptures, yoga and other sacred ancient teachings.
He has composed songs on multiple deities, including Ambal, Muruga, Ganesha, Shiva, Narayana.
These songs reveal the Saint's intimate knowledge of the names and forms of divine beings (nama rupam), their stories and the spiritual significance of these descriptions. To him, these divine beings were all personalities, with their attributes, preferences.
As he visited temples in specific places, he would compose songs exclusively in praise of the deity at that particular divine place (kshetra)
He was a realised soul who could see all deities as manifested forms of one Supreme Spirit. His songs, even as they describe beautiful, exciting tales of the deities at their kshetra; stories of various divine forms, stories of the temples, also speak of their spiritual significance. In these songs, the moral, emotional relationship of the devotee with each name and form melds with the philosophical truth, of Divine Consciousness as the fundamental reality of the universe.
The role of the Supreme Being as the Provider, Protector, and Controller of the Cosmos, His (or Her) nature as the Absolute Truth - Pure Existence (Sat), Consciousness (Chit), Bliss (Ananda) are evident in his songs.
Mahaganapathim is a short composition, with only 2 stanzas (Samashti Charanam) and describes Lord Ganesha, His preferences, His glory, as the mind dwells on Him in devotion (smaranam)
Download: Bandcamp: https://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com/track/mokshamu
Others: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/vijaykannan/mokshamu
The second track from my Carnatic Projekt Series, the epic Tyagaraja Swami kriti in Raga Saramati, Mokshamu Galadha. Peace.
Details: Song: Mokshamu Raga: Saramati Tala: Adi Tyagaraja Swami
Arrangement, Flute and Video: Vijay Kannan https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Previously released on Carnatic Projekt: Ep 1: Alaipayuthey Kanna - https://youtu.be/z56_VOYA_MY
Saint Thyagaraja, one of the Trinity of carnatic music, was a musical genius with single minded devotion for Lord Rama. He was born in 1767 in Tiruvarur in Thanjavur district. His parents, aware of the divine predisposition of their child, named him Thyagabrahmam, after Lord Thyagaraja, the reigning God of Thanjavur, whose temple marks this place. Saint Thyagaraja's life is full of accounts of his musical scholarship (impromptu compositions and extempore singing, inimitable singing skill with a voice spanning 3 octaves) and deep devotion. Several compositions of his mark his encounters with Lord Rama.
Reference: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
The Saint, content in his devotion, lived a simple life free from materialistic desires, on alms given by the audience that listened to his music as he sang on streets every morning. At least two incidences are known where he eschewed the company and patronage of a king, in order to serve ONLY ONE, the one in his heart, the Supreme Spirit.
His compositions speak of his love and longing for his beloved Shri Rama, entreating Him to come to him, to end the misery of separation. These songs depict the soul's longing for the infinite spirit. Along with his musical genius, Saint Thyagaraja was a self realised soul, who knew that the misery of the mind could end only when it merges in the Divine. Some of his compositions address the mind, even chastise the mind, asking it to focus on Him who delivers the soul from its delusion of sorrows and bestows upon it infinite bliss.
He is said to have received the divine gift of musical knowledge from Devarishi Narada. Several krithis of his are known, that are in praise of this Divine Sage.
For Saint Thyagaraja, music wasn't mere technical elegance or emotional expression but the path to attain salvation by immersing oneself in its devotion. Such was his life, his music, his habit.
In 'Mokshamu', in the beautiful engulfing notes of this philosophical song, the Saint ponders over this very theme; how music inspires devotion, and leads to salvation, Moksha ('jivanmukti', the realisation of the self, 'jiva', that liberates one from the cycle of births and deaths). The Lord waits to bless the devoted heart with His presence.
The Saint ponders, not as one who has doubts or questions about these, but as one who has already found the answer, and knows that answer to be true.
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/8gqg1G4dPow
Download links: Bandcamp: https://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com/track/azhi-mazhaikanna Apple and others: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/vijaykannan/azhi-mazhaikanna
For the sixth release, here is the Andal Tiruppavai set to Varaali ragam, Azhi Mazhaikanna. One of my very favorite tiruppavai set in one of my very favorite ragas.
Credits: Song: Azhi Mazhaikanna (Tiruppavai) Ragam: Varaali Talam: Adi Kodhai Andal
Arrangement, Flute, Video: Vijay Kannan https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Andal, also called Goda Devi, is revered for her devotion to Lord Krishna. So great was her devotion to the Lord, whom she looked upon as her husband, that she refused to marry anyone else. She would not even consider anyone else for that position - could any mere mortal even try to compete with the matchless spirit of the Supreme Lord - the embodiment of all perfection?
Long ago (between 5th to 9th century), in Srivilliputhur, near Madurai, Vishnu Chittar, who is reverently called Periyalvar (biggest among Alvars), found a little girl in his garden. He named her Goda Devi (gift from the earth). Periyalvar, who had no other children, brought up the little girl with great love and affection, and stories of Lord Krishna. He himself was a great devotee of the Lord, of Vatapatrasayi Krishna (Krishna who lies on a leaf as a baby).
At a young age, Andal fell in Love with Krishna, and resolved to marry none other. Fore she turned 16, Andal is said to have merged with Lord Ranganatha (Krishna, as He lies reclining on the bed of serpents, in SriRangam). Andal, who is considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, returned to Her eternal abode in Him.
Only 2 of her poems are known - Thiruppavai (sacred vow), 30 verses that describe His activities in Vrindavana, and Nachiyar Thirumozhi (sacred sayings of the Goddess), 143 verses describing her intense longing for Him. Rich in poetic beauty, these are considered a gift to literature.
In Thiruppavai, even as Andal describes Krishna's boyhood activities (when the Lord came down in a human avatar), aren't distant third person narratives, but speak of her passion for Him. Eloquent passion it was - unlike 'human passions' that must 'steer free of sin' and are often fickle, divine passion can take up eloquence that mere mortals cannot afford to (and indeed, 'passion' bestowed upon another human is wasted passion.) As she says in one of her poems, that she does not wish to be 'cured' of her affliction, only wishes for His lotus feet, that are the only cure.
Her poems are not only a part of 'carnatic music' but are recited or chanted in devotion by even those non-musicians, by ardent devotees of the Lord, in hope of evoking Supreme devotion in their own hearts. To go beyond rituals and mere lip service, to truly find Him.
Azhi mazhai kanna is a verse from Thiruppavai. Andal envisages Him as the Lord who showers rain.
Oh Lord, who is deep as the ocean, who showers rain, would You shower thy rain of Bliss on those parched for You.
Magnificence is thy form, thy body dark as storm clouds.
This universe - that within, and all without - thy hands hold - infinite power, infinite mercy, infinite blessing, all lie in them.
As the quiver of arrows from thy bow, showers rain for all life in the universe, would you shower inner bliss on those longing for You, thirsting for You.
An instrumental composition that I have done which features some amazing musician friends of mine. Durai Srinivasan on the Violin, Sundar Nagarajan on Guitar and Swaminathan Selvaganesh on Kanjeera.
This composition is based on the raga Bilahari.
Credits
Musicians Durai Srinivasan - Violin Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/DuraiSrinivas
Sundar Nagarajan - Guitar Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCkI5MZZBkw2oSAF-3tDnFGw
Swaminathan Selvaganesh - Kanjeera Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/93swaminathan
Composition, Arrangement, Flute, Morsing and Video - Vijay Kannan https://compiled.social/VijayKannan
Do like, share and subscribe for more videos... Do support musicians and please do remain safe during this Pandemic.
Love, Vijay Kannan
A very happy new year 2017 to all of you there!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syghyxEhyG8
I present this video as a dedication to A R Rahman, whose birthday falls on January 6th :D (Once I had completed the video, I couldn't wait to share it, so uploading it almost a week in advance ;-) )
I grew up in the '90s when A R Rahman had broken into the music scene with a blast through Roja. The music of A R Rahman from the '90s is very close to me and I would believe to many of us who grew up with A R Rahman during that period. So as a tribute to AR who turns 50 (can't believe that!!), I have put together a medley of eight songs, choosing one song for each year from 1992 to 1999.
The most difficult part was not in choosing a song for a particular year but rather in not choosing the amazing songs that kept coming from him year after year then. I hope I have done justice. Thank you A R Rahman for your wonderful music, which never fails to remind us of our childhood!
Do check the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syghyxEhyG8 as it will make more sense with the song changes and details being marked in the video. :)
Lots of Love, Vijay Kannan
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FluteVijayKannan Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndianMusicFan
Please do show your love by giving a thumbs-up for the video if you liked it (B-)). Also please do leave your comments and share it with your friends and loved ones too! :)
Also if you haven't already, please do subscribe to my channel (https://youtube.com/aboutindianmusic) and if you have already subscribed, Thank you! You rock!! :-D
Credits:
All songs originally composed by A R Rahman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Rahman)
Concept, Flute, Arranged and performed by Vijay Kannan Facebook: https://facebook.com/FluteVijayKannan YouTube: https://youtube.com/AboutIndianMusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndianMusicFan Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/Indian_Music_Fan
A flute piano medley of two superhit songs from Aashiqui 2 - Tum Hi Ho and Chahun Main Ya Naa. After a long time, I am uploading a cover song. If you like it, please do give a 'like', share it with your friends and family and in your social circles.
on Youtube: https://youtu.be/MO9SvQNy7LM
Also: Please Subscribe to my channel if you haven't already. More music is coming very soon and don't miss out. okay? :-D
Cover song credits:
Arranged and performed by Vijay Kannan
YouTube: http://youtube.com/AboutIndianMusic Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/indian_music_fan Bandcamp: http://indianmusicfan.bandcamp.com iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/vijay-kannan/id1097597197
Original song credits:
Song: Tum Hi Ho Movie: Aashiqui 2 Singer: Arijit Singh Composer: Mithoon Lyrics: Mithoon
Song: Chahun Main Ya Naa Movie: Aashiqui 2 Singer: Arijit Singh, Palak Mucchhal Composer: Jeet Gannguli Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Links to Artist pages available from the following wiki link. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aashiqui_2_%28soundtrack%29)
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Comments as always are welcome. °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°