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Posts Tagged ‘Violin’

We all know that the sky is the limit when it comes to entertainment opportunities in Los Angeles. The high demand for musical events and the abundant supply of musicians and bands make LA one of the best places where to look for great wedding music in Los Angeles. Due to its close proximity to Hollywood, LA is one of the best targets for musicians from all over the world. Consequently, this city’s great diversity makes it almost impossible not to find something that will perfectly fit into your event. When it comes to weddings, people tend to preserve the traditions within their culture, which implies a certain style of music for a certain event. Also, each culture follows a certain ritual when it comes to weddings, so a good place to start your journey in finding the perfect band for your wedding is to establish what parts your wedding is made of and where would you need a band. Regardless of the ethnicity, the culture, or the age group of the people that attend your wedding, the artists that serve this great metropolis will provide you with the perfect wedding music.Los Angeles wedding band members are usually very knowledgeable about the characteristics of the market they serve and adjust their repertoire based on the particularities of each and every wedding. There is no such thing as two identical weddings and the Los Angeles wedding bands know it very well. They will work with event planners, wedding coordinators, brides and grooms, and everyone else involved in the planning process to make sure that the celebration will be an absolute success, to the smallest detail. Everyone knows that the music is the salt and pepper of a wedding and everyone gets a little bit nervous when the time comes to take care of that task on the list. The countless challenges that a wedding band Los Angeles based has to face in order to survive in this highly competitive market force the musicians to permanently adjust their practice in order to meet the needs of such demanding clientele. With an extensive experience in the musical world, a professional Los Angeles wedding band will easily tailor its performance to match the atmosphere of any kind of ceremony or reception, even if more than one type of music is required for the same event.The large exposure to the musical arena that the residents of LA have, has altered these people’s tastes and made them more sophisticated and demanding when it comes to ceremony and reception music in Los Angeles. The abundant offer and competition in this particular market gave them power but, at the same time, made them more vulnerable. The variety of styles and the multitude of choices are immense and choosing a Los Angeles wedding band can become an overwhelming experience. The idea of having many choices available at your finger tip is quite a tempting scenario, but making the actual decision may prove not to be as fun as it seemed to be at the beginning. You may even end up completely disoriented and realizing that you don’t know what music you actually want.This is possible because the extended practice and experience of professional wedding musicians gives them the ability to play almost any kind of music style one can imagine. Famous wedding violin players usually do not limit their experience to only violin music for weddings; they play violin in any band and for any occasion, this making them familiar with various music styles. Over time they also develop an extra sense for perceiving the audience’s dynamics and adjusting their performance accordingly, which will prove very useful in moments when the music is the only one that could save something that wanted to be an extraordinary event but it is about to turn into something boring. We all know that most of the times, the music is the one that makes an event and wedding musicians are very well aware of this.I have recently attended a wedding where the music was provided by a string quartet and a small band. The string quartet was made of two violins, one cello, and one double base. I know; when people think of a violin, they usually picture a concert hall where unless you are into the classical music, you will soon fall asleep. This was not the case here. This string quartet put together a beautiful repertoire for this wedding, and created a very romantic atmosphere with their beautiful, timeless music for the wedding ceremony, including prelude, processional, candle lighting, readings and recessional. Then, they added drums to this string quartet, and seamlessly and smoothly created a transition from the ceremony into the reception, performing swing, jazz, tango, Latin, and Celtic music. They included all pop classics or everyone’s favorite movie themes! It was unbelievable! I have learned that the violin is a magic instrument! All my life I limited the life of the violin to the classical world, but this wedding opened my eyes. A violin can be used for elegant solo violin music for wedding ceremonies; jazz, swing, tango, latin, and bossa novas for cocktail hours and dinner parties; as well as fiddle music, funk, rock, blues, latin, ska, celtic, and dance music for receptions, holiday parties, and corporate events.The wedding musicians from a violin ensemble can usually feature solo, duo, and trio combinations, according to your event’s needs. Even if you require different types of music for more than one event in the same celebration, famous violin players for weddings usually play the violin in any band and are able to tailor their musical performance to fit the mood, the atmosphere, and the nature of the ceremony you have. If you want a classical touch to your wedding ceremony you will be using a solo violinist for weddings. This way, the actual ceremony will be just the beginning of a charming evening that the guests won’t soon forget. Following the ceremony, the violin ensemble can transform itself into a violin string quartet for receptions, bringing a touch of class to your after party. Then, with some drums and other exotic instruments such as a mandolin, or a flute, or an electric guitar, the band will invite you to an unforgetable night of joy, dance, and good disposition.

‘Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together…’-Mark Twain.

Sitting atop the trident of Lord Shiva , the Kashi, the luminous one, is the place where the eternal light of Shiva intersects the earth. The city of Shiva, the Mahashmashaana, the sacred circle of all Gods, city of Moksha- a place teeming with people, yet there is place for everyone. A civilization that historians have termed as one older than history, yet startles you when you come across its modern face

By virtue of being the oldest living city, Benaras has its own rich history, tradition and treasure of music. According to mythology, when Renu, son of Vishwamitra and Mahagovind founded Kashi (Varanasi), they also brought with them the Aryan traditions and the Vedic culture. Going back to history, we find numerous instances of dance, music and drama evolving in Varanasi. Excavations at Varanasi have shown a terracotta figurine in which two musicians are playing percussion instruments. The literature of ancient and medieval times also point out to a great tradition of music in Varanasi as in 14th century’s drama ‘Vikrant Kauravam’. The ‘Bhakti’ movement in the medieval period also contributed to the development of music in Varanasi. ‘Jataka’ tales narrate the storyeof Veena competition in the ‘Sudarshan’ city. Ashwaghosh in his famous work ‘Sunderananda’ describes Ganikaas of Kashi. In the 16th century Govind Chandra ruled Varanasi and during his rein Dhrupad was the royal music. It is said that Mian Tansen took birth in Varanasi. Texts say that Jaffar Khan, descendant of Bilas Khan (youngest son of Tansen), invented the instrument ‘Sursingaar’- lower part of which was made of hollow wood and steel plates were set in the upper part and the strings used were made of steel and brass, and gave his first demonstration of this instrument in the court of Raja Udit Narayan Singh of Kashi.

Varanasi, the seat of learning, virtually reverberates with the chants of Vedic hymns that are said to be the oldest genre of musical form. Dixitar (1776-1835), whose signature is Guru Guha-the most recent of the trinity of Karnatak music, is said to have studied Dhrupad in Varanasi. Of more recent times, Sitar maestro Bharatratna Pt. Ravi Shankar was born in Varanasi on 7th April 1920. Music is an integral part of this city of Natraj. The city has credit of producing several music virtuosos liked legendary Late Pt. Anokhelal Mishra, Late Bari Moti, Late Pt. Mahadev Prasad Mishra, Bharatratna Late Ustad Bismilla Khan, Padmavibhushan Late Pt Kishan Maharaj, Vidushi Girija Devi, Pt.Chhannulal Mishra, Vidushi Purnima Chowdhury, Pt.Rajan Sajan Mishra, Pt. Balwant Rai Bhatt”Bhavrang”, to name a few. Varanasi, the cultural capital of India, has always possessed a central position not only in the sphere of Indian Classical Vocal scenario but also has contributed much to the field of   Instrumental Music. Among the pioneers of Instrumentalists of Varanasi, the most revered and noted name is that of Pt. Laxmi Prasad Mishra. His descendants and disciples gave a wide platform to Stringed Instruments.

‘Sangeet Nayak’ Pt. Dargahi Mishra, a stalwart amongst musicians, played a vital part in promoting Stringed Instruments by producing disciples in the fields of Veena, Sarangi, and Sitar. His two sons, Sarayu Prasad Mishra and Govardhan Prasad Mishra were well known artists in the field of vocal and Sarangi. Mithailal Mishra was an acclaimed artist in the field of Veena and vocal. Musicians like Chote Ramdas Mishra (Veena), Pannalal Sharma (Veena, Surbahaar, Sitar), Shivprasad (Vocal, Sitar, Mridang), Kanta Nath Vyaas (Veena) and Srichand Mishra (Vocal, Sitar) played an important role towards the upliftment of Stringed Instruments in Varanasi. Amongst the string instrumentalists of Varanasi, Ustad Vaaris Ali was a huge personality and following his tradition were Ustad Ashiq Ali, Ustad Mushtaq Ali. Pt. Debu Choudhury of Delhi, disciple of Mushtaq Ali Khan, is a world renowned artist carrying forward the ‘parampara’ of his Guru. Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma too is related to the Banaras Parampara.

Legendary musician Baba Alauddin Khan Sahab’s disciples Pt. Ravi Shankar and Pt. Jyotin Bhattacharya (Sarod) are related to Varanasi. Pt. Ravi Shankar, as already mentioned, was born in Varanasi and Pt. Jyotin Bhattacharya resides with his family in Varanasi. Renowned musician Late Pt. Lalmani Mishra is a well known name in the field of Vichitra Veena who is known for his scintillating renditions on such a tough instrument. Carrying on his Parampara, his son, Late Dr. Gopal Shankar Mishra and Pof. Pushpa Basu are musicians of great repute.

Varanasi has a rich tradition of String Instuments of which Sarangi is one. Among the Sarangi players of Varanasi, Tamakhu Mishra has been a signature. He was not much into limelight and performative glamour. Other Sarangi players who made Varanasi proud of themselves are Sumernath Mishra, Sursahay Mishra, Kashinath Kinnar, Siya Ji, Birayi Ji, Sheetal Mishra, to name a few. Late Pt. Hanuman Prasad Mishra, father of the world renowned vocalists Pt. Rajan – Pt. Sajan Mishra was an artist of great repute.

Among the Guitarists of Varanasi, Sri Shibnath Bhattacharya (disciple of Late Pt. Nalin Mazumdar of Allahabad who was the first to play Indian Classical Muisc on Hawaiian Guitar), Sri Gopal Das, Dr.Sanjay Verma , Dr.S.Kamala are known figures in this field.

Bharatratna Late Ustad Bismilla Khan Sahab, a synonym of Shehnai is the most revered and noted name in the field of Wind Instruments. Vilayatu Miyan had been a great artist of this field and caryying on this tradition were Ali Baksh and Samsuddin Khan and finally Shehnai was taken to its heights by Bismilla Khan Sahab. In the present days we have Sri Ramashahkar , Sri Sohanlal who have taken the instrument ,which is almost a synonym of Hindu marriage, to its heights.

Also, the flautists who have made Varanasi proud of themselves are Sri. R.K.Srinivasan, Dr.Prahlad Nath,  to name a few.

Varanasi has been a confluence of musical genres. Not only North Indian Classical music but Karnatak music has been flourishing here too. Way back in 1964 Late Pt. V.K. Venkatramanujam, a violinist of great repute came to Varanasi and thus started the flow of Karnatak Music. Another stalwart violinist from South, Dr. ( Smt.) N. Rajam ( disciple of ‘Sangeet Martand’ Pt. Omkar Nath Thakr) stayed for a long time in Varanasi and headed the Faculty of  Performing Arts,B.H.U., as the Dean. Her renditions are of the Norh Indian style.

The tradition of Instrumental music in Varanasi has gone through various phases. Many a noted musicians have remarkably made Varanasi proud, bringing home laurels. Some noted instrumentalists of recent times are Late Dr Ramdas Chakraborty, Pt. Surendra Mohan Mishra, Dr. Rajbhaan Singh, Pt.Amarnath Mishra, Prof. Krishna Chakraborty (all Sitar) ; Prof. R.P. Shastri, Dr. V. Balaji, Dr. (Smt.) Jayashree Roy,Sri Sukhdev Mishra, U.H.R. Pradeep, Dr. Swarna Khuntia Sri Vijay Choubey (all Violin) ; Sri Santosh Mishra, Sri Kanhaiyalal Mishra, Sri Sangeet Mishra, Sri Sandeep Mishra( Sarangi) ; Dr. S. Kamala, Dr. Sanjay Verma (Guitar) ; Sri Rajesh Moitra, Sri Vibhas Maharaj (Sarod).

The style of performance as compared to the ‘Chaindaari’ of yester-years has changed a lot. The present day performances are comparatively in a faster pace with not much peace of mind and soul, which fulfils the demands of a commercialized society. This is what is the symptom of  the ‘Pop’- or rather the ‘Popular’ culture. By the impact of a Globalized market, improvisations in the built of the Musical Instruments has been carried out for the betterment of performances by the musicians of Varanasi. Artists like Dr. Vishnuchittan Balaji has designed a Violin which has eleven strings and this Volin has been named “Bala Bela” by Padmavibhushan Late Pt. Kishan Maharaj. Dr. V. Balaji has designed another Violin which has twenty-five string and has named it “Triveni Bela”. He is now working on a new set-up of a violin that has two necks in a body. Another technical improvisation that has been done by Dr. Sanjay Verma is that he has attached the ‘Daand’ of Tanpura to his guitar. Dr. S. Kamala has also made improvements in her Guitar by adding strings and has named it Shankar Guitar. As per the rendition on Guitar, the Guitarists have evolved the style of playing Chotakhyaal instead of the age-old Razakhani Gat and is accepted well. Violinists like Prof. R.P. Shastri and his disciple Dr. (Smt.) Jayashree Roy present their recital with a blend of Tantrakaari and Gaayaki Anga.

The changes that have been adapted in the built of various instruments have changed the tonal quality, which is more pleasing than of the yester-years and these  changes brought in by the instrumentalists of Varanasi have been acclaimed all over the world and has taken instrumental music to its heights.

Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, Western art, or ecclesiastical and concert music, in the period from the 9th century to the 21st century. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common practice period.
Classic music is still played by many of today’s musicians. European classical music is largely distinguished from many other non-European and popular musical forms by its system of staff notation, in use since about the 16th century.
Classical and popular music are often distinguished by their choice of instruments. The instruments used in classical music were mostly invented before the middle of the 19th century. Some of them had been designed even earlier, and codified in the 18th and 19th centuries. They consist of the instruments found in an orchestra, together with a few other solo instruments such as the piano, harp, accordion, and organ.
The great majority of classical music gear fall into six major categories – bowed strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard, and the guitar family. The first four form the basis of the modern symphony orchestra.
The classical guitar was originally a Spanish-derived, six-stringed instrument. It is played using a plectrum or the finger-nails, with frets set into the fingerboard. Popular music tends to use amplification for both the six-stringed instruments and the four-string bass guitar. The guitar family gradually supplanted the lute which had come to prominence during the Renaissance.
The piano is widely used in Western music for solo performance, chamber music, and accompaniment. It is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the piano’s versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the most familiar musical instruments.
The piano is sometimes classified as both a percussion and a string instrument. In the period from about 1790 to 1860, during the Mozart-era, piano underwent tremendous changes, which led to the modern form of the instrument. Early technological progress owed much to the English firm of Broadwood, which already had a reputation for the splendor and powerful tone of its harpsichords.
The accordion is played by compression and expansion of a bellows, which generates air flow across reeds. A keyboard or buttons control which reeds receive air flow and therefore determine the tones produced. The accordion’s basic form was invented in Berlin in 1822 by Friedrich Buschmann. The accordion is one of several European inventions of the early 19th century that used free reeds driven by a bellows.
The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the family of string instruments, which also include the viola and cello. The oldest documented violin to have four strings, like the modern violin, was made in 1555.
Significant changes occurred in the shape and structure of the violin in the 18th century, particularly in the length and angle of the neck, as well as in the bass bar. Most of the old violins have undergone these modifications, and hence are in a significantly different shape than their forerunners, undoubtedlys with differences in sound and response.