Ilaiyaraaja : A Musical Movement (9)

The Other Banana

In this episode we dive into Raaja’s most ambitious album - Thiruvasagam in Symphony. We discuss the historical origins and similarities between the 2 schools of music that Raaja consciously combines, breakdown elements in each of the songs, and address the need for humility when engaging in the critique of such attempts.

Topics Covered:

Initial listening experience and how it has evolved over time

What is an oratorio and how did the form evolve?

What is the form of the Thevaram tradition and what does it bring to the album?

How Raaja combines the two forms as part of the album

Bouquets, brickbats, and the hollowness of both when it comes to TiS

Participants:

Mahesh

Deepauk

Bala Chidambaram

Musical References:

St.Matthew's Passion

Raaja talks about the forms laid out for us by his predecessors and his intent of creating TiS

a clip of Hariprasad Chaurasia

Handel's Messiah

Pannum pathamezhum

Thalaye nee vanagaai

Insert part about criticisms from Raaja

Putril Vaazh