This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-38915853

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
How an Indian maestro is taking classical music to the masses How an Indian maestro is taking classical music to the masses
(about 5 hours later)
India's southern Indian city of Chennai (Madras) is witnessing a musical revolution of sorts.India's southern Indian city of Chennai (Madras) is witnessing a musical revolution of sorts.
Leading the way is celebrated classical musician and Ramon Magsaysay award winner TM Krishna.Leading the way is celebrated classical musician and Ramon Magsaysay award winner TM Krishna.
The Carnatic music vocalist has critiqued the south Indian classical music industry for being under the dominant preserve of the upper-caste Brahmin community. He wants to create more inclusive egalitarian spaces where the arts of all communities come together in the city.The Carnatic music vocalist has critiqued the south Indian classical music industry for being under the dominant preserve of the upper-caste Brahmin community. He wants to create more inclusive egalitarian spaces where the arts of all communities come together in the city.
To that effect Krishna has been seen across Chennai, on various platforms, taking his music outside the hallowed portals of the city's prestigious sabhas or music halls, setting a personal example.To that effect Krishna has been seen across Chennai, on various platforms, taking his music outside the hallowed portals of the city's prestigious sabhas or music halls, setting a personal example.
Krishna took his music, spoken of in sacred terms by most performers, to a fishing village on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Chennai.Krishna took his music, spoken of in sacred terms by most performers, to a fishing village on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Chennai.
Open to the sky and sea, the entire village served as a concert hall for the alternate festival, the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Vizha that "celebrates oneness" this month.Open to the sky and sea, the entire village served as a concert hall for the alternate festival, the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Vizha that "celebrates oneness" this month.
Krishna has joined hands with Nityanand Jayaraman, a prominent social activist, to make the village a venue for holding open-air concerts with the aim of "bringing down barriers, equalising spaces and de-classing the arts".Krishna has joined hands with Nityanand Jayaraman, a prominent social activist, to make the village a venue for holding open-air concerts with the aim of "bringing down barriers, equalising spaces and de-classing the arts".
"Krishna is using art to heal differences and break stereotypes and liberate the art to new spaces," says Mr Jayaraman."Krishna is using art to heal differences and break stereotypes and liberate the art to new spaces," says Mr Jayaraman.
The festival included a coming together of different forms of music and art alongside Carnatic music.The festival included a coming together of different forms of music and art alongside Carnatic music.
The music of the marginalised - devotional music by a community of transgender people and dirges of Chennai's slums, for example - are being taken to "a concert space for the first time," says Krishna.The music of the marginalised - devotional music by a community of transgender people and dirges of Chennai's slums, for example - are being taken to "a concert space for the first time," says Krishna.
He has even hosted "concerts in spaces symbolic of day-to-day life", such as in crowded public buses and and railway platforms across Chennai.He has even hosted "concerts in spaces symbolic of day-to-day life", such as in crowded public buses and and railway platforms across Chennai.
Krishna believes that this effort is an important step "in addressing many cultural and artistic hegemonies and hierarchies".Krishna believes that this effort is an important step "in addressing many cultural and artistic hegemonies and hierarchies".
UnusualUnusual
Krishna is an unusual Indian maestro who has taken the traditionally upper-caste classical music to the lower-castes and disprivileged.Krishna is an unusual Indian maestro who has taken the traditionally upper-caste classical music to the lower-castes and disprivileged.
He has travelled to war-ravaged Jaffna in Sri Lanka to perform and engage with Tamil students.He has travelled to war-ravaged Jaffna in Sri Lanka to perform and engage with Tamil students.
And back home, he has engaged in unconventional activities, like setting the lyrics of song by a local alternate rock band called Kurangan to Carnatic ragas (The basic musical modes which denote "moods" in Indian classical music) and releasing a video to highlight the environment degradation unfolding in a local creek.And back home, he has engaged in unconventional activities, like setting the lyrics of song by a local alternate rock band called Kurangan to Carnatic ragas (The basic musical modes which denote "moods" in Indian classical music) and releasing a video to highlight the environment degradation unfolding in a local creek.
"Such collaborations from the traditional world of Carnatic music with other genres and current issues make it more accessible", says Kuber Vasuki of Kurangan. "Such collaborations from the traditional world of Carnatic music with other genres and current issues make it more accessible", says Kaber Vasuki of Kurangan.
Coming from the orthodox traditions of the south Indian classical music world, Krishna's outreach programmes are, many believe, a first of its kind.Coming from the orthodox traditions of the south Indian classical music world, Krishna's outreach programmes are, many believe, a first of its kind.
David Shulman, one of the world's foremost authorities on the languages of India, writes of Krishna as one, "for who music is a medium for public moral statement and an instrument for making peace".David Shulman, one of the world's foremost authorities on the languages of India, writes of Krishna as one, "for who music is a medium for public moral statement and an instrument for making peace".
Krishna's Magsaysay award citation read that Krishna saw Carnatic music "was a caste-dominated art that fostered an unjust, hierarchic order by effectively excluding the lower classes from sharing in a vital part of India's legacy.Krishna's Magsaysay award citation read that Krishna saw Carnatic music "was a caste-dominated art that fostered an unjust, hierarchic order by effectively excluding the lower classes from sharing in a vital part of India's legacy.
Politics of artPolitics of art
He has questioned the politics of art and made an active effort to widen his knowledge about the arts of the Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) and non-Brahmin communities.He has questioned the politics of art and made an active effort to widen his knowledge about the arts of the Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) and non-Brahmin communities.
Moved by the persecution of Tamil novelist Perumal Murugan whose writings on caste angered Hindu groups, Krishna set to music and sang an evocative poem of the writer.Moved by the persecution of Tamil novelist Perumal Murugan whose writings on caste angered Hindu groups, Krishna set to music and sang an evocative poem of the writer.
Carnatic music, traditionally set to songs composed by Hindu devotional poets of the 17th Century and beyond, is a genre associated with southern Indian classical music.Carnatic music, traditionally set to songs composed by Hindu devotional poets of the 17th Century and beyond, is a genre associated with southern Indian classical music.
Dated more than 2000 years ago, it evolved from the devotional canon of hymns and verses set to tune as musical prayer offerings in temples across southern states.Dated more than 2000 years ago, it evolved from the devotional canon of hymns and verses set to tune as musical prayer offerings in temples across southern states.
From the temples it found its audiences in the courts of kings and by talented performers.From the temples it found its audiences in the courts of kings and by talented performers.
Later it moved to concert halls across the southern cities. Chennai's famous Carnatic music "season" - held from December to January - is a century old.Later it moved to concert halls across the southern cities. Chennai's famous Carnatic music "season" - held from December to January - is a century old.
Musical concerts are held across Chennai and these concert halls are frequented by the upper castes as patrons and with predominantly Brahmin performers.Musical concerts are held across Chennai and these concert halls are frequented by the upper castes as patrons and with predominantly Brahmin performers.
A century later Krishna is calling out his community of classical musicians to make their music more meaningful by sharing its beauty with all kinds of people.A century later Krishna is calling out his community of classical musicians to make their music more meaningful by sharing its beauty with all kinds of people.