The G Clef

Thursday, November 24, 2005

First Indian Oratorio Thiruvasagam by Maestro Ilayaraja

திருவாசகத்துக்கு உருகாதார் ஒரு வாசகத்துக்கும் உருகார்
one who does not get moved by ThiruvAchakam will not be moved by anything else.
-- Rev. G.U. Pope

George Uglow Pope popularly known as Rev. G.U. Pope or G.U. Pope is a Christian missionary who spent many years in Tamil Nadu and translated many Tamil texts into English. His popular translations include Tirukkural and Tiruvachagam.

Thiruvasagam. Written by Mannikkavasagar, one whose words are like gems wrote the eighth ThirumuRai consisting of ThiruvAchakam, ThiruvempAvai and ThirukkOvaiyAr. He was born in ThiruvAthavUr in the late 8th or early 9th century A.D. He was a minister in the PAndya Kingdom but when he was sent to purchase horses for the army, he spent all the money in religious pursuits. Lord Sivan is supposed to have blessed him with his grace and saved him from the wrath of the King.

Maestro Illayaraja The famous Music composer of south india, attempted to compose this Tamil script into a magnificant western musical form called Oratorio . Its really superb master piece by this great leagend. In this music he composed 2 song in form of western March and in Ballet form.
In second song Illaraja tryes to combine the Manikkavasagars tamil script with G.U. Popes English Translation into one and make it wonderful Song.

The Album contains six tracks.

1. Poovaar Senni Mannan ( Singer : Illayaraja & Chorus) :
The album starts with the song " Poovaar Senni Mannan", which has booming chorus and soulful singing by Illayaraja.
A great start to the Album. In western this is called as March. Manikkavasagar calls those people who want to follow hime to reach lotus feet of the lord.

2. Pollaa Vinayen ( Singers : Illayaraja,Ray Harcourt) :
This is the crown jewel of the Album. Its a lengthy piece with lyrics in both English & Tamil. Tamil lyric by Mannika vasagar and English: a translation of original lyrics. Translatted by Rev. G.U. Pope.
Stunned composition and excellent orchestration. Raja oozes with emotion in this song.

3. Pooerukonum Purantharanum ( Singers : Illayaraja,Bavatharini) :
A melodious song with a strong carnatic base. A typical Raja's unique duet.

4. Umbarkatkarasaey ( Singer : Illayaraja) :
Another Soulful number. Wonderful singing and excellent orchestration. Here poet expresses his feeling after hugging the Lord. In this song, Manikkavasagar asks the lord who is already in his captive, how he will be seen in other places.

5. Muthu Natramam ( Singers :Unnikrishnan, Madhu Balakrishnan,VijayJesudas,Manjari,Asha,Gayathri & Chorus) :
A very "crispy" song with wonderful chorus. This song is almost like a Western Ballet.

6. Puttril Vazh Aravum Anjen :
Raja's tribute to Manickavasagar. The song has nice "wordy" interludes in the beginning . Poet express his feeling of his fear. The starting stanza depects the emotion of the poet to the sumeet.

The "Thiruvachagam" is a must buy for music lovers and hope Raja continues such musical endeavors in the future.To paraphrase one of raja's film songs " Raja Kayya vecha adhu raanga ponadhillai".This is definitely a stunning fusion of Western Classical & Carnatic music. I bow to his genius.
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Posted by Rajmahendra :: Thursday, November 24, 2005 :: 218 Comments: