An appreciation for instrumental/classical music

You have to celebrate a few folks on Youtube. Inadvertently I am contributing to increasing their subscribers or viewers. But that is not my aim. 

The general scheme of these creator's content goes like this: they get on video chatting platforms like omegle (now shutdown), and, via pranks, do their performances. It is really wholesome to watch. It is what got me hooked into violins and piano performances. Some of the popular pop music such as Arcade (by Duncan Lawrence) when played instrumentally will really move you - it will "elevate your soul". 

The artist names are the following:

1. Rob Landes
2. Marcus Veltri
3. Frank Tedesco

They sometimes do collabs. They also have their independent YouTube channels. 

But keep in mind, I am fully aware that there are other artists I am unaware of. Please don't be disparaged in any way for the mere non-mention. These artists I have shared can be thought of as a good starter pack to help you appreciate instrumental music.

Why Bro? No Indian Artists?!!

However, I am sure people would ask me, why I do not know of any similar Indian artists? All I could find was Rishabh Raj. But he is young. And ever since Omegle stopped their video chatting service - he too has stopped creating content it seems. I don't know the person directly to know why he is like that. I don't want to pry on the person's private life either.

I tried to listen to Carnatic music for a while. I didn't get the feel for it. However, I did watch a fusion dance video which had a blend of Carnatic music and a modern song. Can't recall it now. 

Promoting Indian Classical Music

Firstly, I don't think I am qualified to discuss how to promote our culture's music. But if we had to start somewhere given where "we" are "now", I would say focus on fusion. However, this isn't advice I would want to give to any future performers, musicians, music producers, etc. It is really up to them to discover how to really do this.

Where are our street performers?

Someday I wish to see street performers. But do you know why I (or perhaps you) really "want" this? It is probably because I have seen some of those artists mentioned above do this, but in their country or perhaps in some European countries. They do it sometimes in public spaces such as airports, cafe's, etc. In our country, perhaps this activity is restricted to public malls. 

In our history and culture, I think music was mainly performed for the aristrocrats. It used to be held in the courts and palaces of that time. It was not "performed" for the "general public". I am not implying that it was restricted; merely that it was never "performed" for that audience. However, at some point in our history that could be true. "Performing for the street" is another challenge in itself. 

Music or classical performances were reserved for the elite class in the beginning. If you think of Beethoven/Mozart - I am not sure if they are known to have performed for gratis and out in the streets. But historically anywhere I guess this was how it started; it is a known pattern. This very much resonates European history. But they evolved into street performances slowly. I suppose it had a great deal to do with a period in time called Renaissance. In many European cafes of today, in popular tourist destinations, we may find flash performances in small eateries/cafes/etc. Someone would bring a piano, and, while that person is performing an audience request, someone else would chime in with vocals, or another instrument, etc.

In the Indian cities, we get to see a different flavor of "flash performances" - usually a dance. But the chances are that these "so called" performances are part of some corporate promotion programme - like a college arts/technical fest, or, a company's product promotion, etc. Of course, a mortal can't just decide to do this and execute. For e.g. in malls, we require permissions from the mall facility manager, etc in advance to do this. In other public places, we might need appropriate permission from the police or the municipality or panchayat.

But where would "our" street performers perform?

In my native town Calicut, I thought SM Street or the beach, could be a good place. In Bengaluru, perhaps the subway in Kempagowda Bus station. But the issue is the crowd. For one thing, you might have the noble intent to perform on gratis, but it might pile up into a public nuisance for no fault of your own. Basically, a nightmare for the police at some point. Apart from that, imagine you have a hat or a bowl to collect money from your interested audience...there may be people, which may be sometimes little mischievous children, who may plunder the money and run away. But foremost, you have to be a good performer.

Therefore, I can think of public malls as a "relative" safe place. But that would definitely cost money and space, and perhaps even the services of the mall security. But most importantly how would a mall manager or owner decide to allow a less-known artist to perform? I will decline to answer this because I am sure many aspiring performances will "figure out" the answer.

But "Street performers" beware

Our Indian history hasn't had a classical renaissance like Europe did. On one level, the renaissance was a cultural integration of art, science, and philosophy. And one of the subtle themes of this "movement" was the re-discovery of many works of classical antiquity. 

I am not a renaissance expert. But I think, it is how I have become a fan of Archimedes. Most of my generation might have heard the "eureka" story. But the chances they heard about - noli tubare circulos meos - are relatively lower. It is also one of the reasons many of our country's current generation of English literature students - curse the fact that they have to learn the works of Shakespear. 

It is a failure at some level. But that failure has evolved into an extreme phenomenon called jingoism or aggressive (sometimes regional) culturalism. However, if at all public performances are being given, do expect miscreants with this agenda in mind. 

But I do hope this is something we solve peacefully someday.

Silence. Itch. NEP

[Originally written on linked-in]

This post is a strange critique on NEP. Any modern Indian would be familiar with that term. It is strange because, I am NOT going to critique it. I am not going to mention anything about our esteemed Nation, it people, its bizarre policies, bizarre politics, etc. Maybe I am going to refer you to some geography that is part of this Nation. And, that geography has been part of the Indian subcontinent since 50 million years; after the dinosaurs got extinct.

Food for thought.

Ever wondered about the radius of Earth??!

So why should you?

Out here in LinkedIn, I assume you don the hat of a job seeker, or, an envier. I am sure that statistically speaking, it is more of the latter. We all want better salaries, careers, career prospects. But really what are "you"? What do "you" "seek"? Those are somewhat existential questions. You probably already know or don't know the answer to that stupid question. "Knowing" is one part of the whole affair. That specific fact is not that important; it has no real utility to your immediate life.

I may probably make you realize how ignorant you are. You are a healthy envious animal. Do you hate me for it? Are you a networker? Are you the envier? Whatever "you" are, please don't hate me. I am not motivating other people in your life to blame or shame you for this. And I really hope they don't do this. If they do, they are really short-sighted p****s.

There are some things (or some facts) we have learned at school. They are buried in the recesses of your brain somewhere; they offer no immediate utility to life. All of us would have at some point studied quadratic equations - does it have any significance in your life? Is your life any better than not having learned that? (Unless you are an animator who works at Pixar).

Most members in our species live in dwellings called houses. Today it may have different names - hostels, PGs, apartments, dorms, studios, office spaces, etc. (You can even add caves, trees, footpaths(??) to that list). And even if not, the next fact that I am going to extensively write about will still hold truth... Anywhere you are on the earth (with the exception of the poles), if you choose to remain stationary enough, and that you have the line of sight to the skies, you will always see the Sun rise and set.

Even if you forgo that technicality of line of sight, the event still happens. Even if you are inside a house well protected from the elements of the weather, or, you are somewhere on the Mariana Trench with kilometers of ocean above your head, just accept the fact that given the constraints the sun will rise and set on that point on Earth, as long as you are stationary. But you are more likely to witness this if you are away from the poles. So, if the house or hills could talk to you, and you asked them about this, they'd probably agree.

But have you ever wondered why is that so?

Most modern intelligible humans know the answer to this question. We know that the Earth rotates about an axis. In addition to that we also know that the Earth revolves around it's star - the Sun. And it is what gives the Earth, a night and a day. It is what gives our Earth its seasons. Our species have known these for centuries. Hence these are things that neither gives you special social status (or recognition) at crowd gatherings, nor it is something that puts food to your plate at your home. My boss or current employer is definitely not going to give the compensation raise for writing blog posts. However, I hope neither takes this fact to their hearts. I understand that it is how well I do my duty and the relative economy that decides my compensation growth. I both fear and respect that.

Have you ever played with balls and torches as a kid? Together? I am sure the current generation might have a different answer. I am sure the answer to this will be unanimously, yes. Even if you have not, it is easy to imagine what the next thought experiment looks like. This isn't something we learn at school. I mean you need not learn it in school. In fact, I can be sarcastic to state that this topic is definitely "out of syllabus" in your schools. Your observant self may have made note of this because of which your brain has a faint recollection. And thus it is easy to imagine this. (For most of the human population).

Now consider that same exercise for the next few paragraphs. If you have a torch, turn ON its light, and hold a ball in front of it, does the whole ball get illuminated? Of course not! There is a portion of the ball that is always relatively dark. Now imagine a point on the ball surface. Further imagine that you rotate the ball about a vertical axis. Do you notice how that point moves? (Of course, do not place that point anywhere on the vertical axis).

Well, you don't need to be Einstein or a scientist to deduce this next fact. It is exactly what is happening to your house or hill! It is because the earth rotates about an axis. You can trace out that point on the Earth...wherever you are! (But remember the constraints). It starts out from one illuminated side (Sun rise), and, traverses on to the other illuminated side (Sun set). If it traversed any more further, the point experiences "night time". And it's easy to see that the point traces out an arc of a circle.

This fact in itself isn't all that awesome. In fact, I would expect most readers here say...So what?! Imagine telling that ignorant person, that I am going to do some arithmetic next.

Very sorry. I "am" going to imply doing some calculations!

However, I don't "really" need to do them, much less convince you to do the same. But, I have a strange "itch". I did spend a great part of my youth in educational institutions called schools. These institutions have somewhat guided me; it has allowed me to figure out how to live in a society. That word, "institute" is but a mirage, and it will only be that way - unless I give thought to a few people in my life and over those years - my teachers and friends. I thank them. And I thank my parents too. They were not the ideal educationalists; they were ordinary people. They are not the direct reason I write this post today. But I was a fool at that point in time, my youth, to really not appreciate that "school" is a privilege. They ALL delivered. I have learned how to converse with people; figure out what I want; and plan to get them. The next sentence may sound like an anti-climactic use of my education; but it is my style of writing. So, if I am hungry, I can eat food from a restaurant by paying money, etc. If I am sick, I can find a doctor; I can explain the doctor my problem and later buy the medicines for the cure.

However, that itch is not about what my education or my writing style has bestowed upon me.

Math or sciences isn't the motivation here. I am just playing with some facts; in the process I am applying a few things I learned at school. The emphasis is on the word "applying" and not "school". I look at a few things I learned from school as "tools". I can candidly admit that our species does not "apply" enough. I am somewhat wrong and right here. I will defer that discussion to a later post. (Perhaps). I am using the tools for a "thought experiment". And, I have unbeknownst to you, invited you to a strange thought experiment. Do you value "thought experiments"? Does your society value them? Do you and your friends discuss "thought experiments" at your colleague's Indian wedding? Will your boss discuss it? ☠️Or will you talk about it at your boss/colleague's funeral? ☠️☠️

So that house or hill has "moved" on earth. In physics, we call this displacement. I don't want you to think of it with such "heavy" terms. If it has moved, we can compute the distance. And that is why one would need know about the radius of Earth. But before that you'd need the distance formula that would apply for this specific case. We need to know how to compute the circumference or perimeter of a circle. We need to compute speed here. And, I can't move hills or Himalayas to convince you why we need to know the speed...but TRUST MY ITCH. 🙈

I don't really remember...the radius of earth. And I am sure a great many don't know the formula to compute the circumference of a circle. Or even how to compute speed. They may not be able to recall it quickly enough. However, why the hurry NOW? "You" are that job or career seeking healthy envious animal. You don't have to give a high school EXAM.

If you and I were stuck on an island with internet, we have the resources to find that answer. Yet, it is more likely, we'd quickly search about how to get rescued from that situation. And it is very critical that the other person be rescued, since I might have already said - have you read my blog posts??...😅

There is no hindrance to calculate other than your access to get the answers to certain facts, and your will or interest. And remember it is somewhat of a privilege. Speed is the total distance covered by the total time taken to cover that distance. The facts required to compute this are all an internet search away - at your fingertips. And you have the calculators to compute this - it somewhere in your phones or laptops!

And if you substitute those values, apply a bit of logic, and do the simple calculation, the answer will come to 500 kmph. I have greatly approximated here. Actually, the act of approximating did start a few paragraphs before this. There is an "accurate" answer. But trust in me; the relative inaccuracy...it's all fine.

The next few paragraphs, is something your phone, laptop, or, possibly even education, or even the internet, can NOT give you...You have to use your brain...And I mean this in the most literal way. No you don't have to pluck it out of your skull. ☠️. Do not be offended. Do not hate me. You may need to imagine or feel certain things...TRUST MY ITCH

Can you imagine how fast is 500 kmph? It's much faster than domestic cars on the Bengaluru-Mysore express way, or the Autobahn. The top speeds of formula one (F1) racing cars are about 360 kmph. A Boeing 747's flight speed is somewhere close to F1 cars. The fastest cricket ball thrown by a bowler is about 161 kmph. If you closed your eyes now, and, imagined all this, you may probably hear the sound. Perhaps even feel the breeze. That whizz, roar, whoosh, or fizz - however you want to describe it.

Now open your eyes. Look at the plethora of inanimate objects you are surrounded with. You see them every day. If you are inside your home reading this - it is your phone or laptop. May be look away for a moment - notice all the appliances in your home. The television, the ceiling fan. The door, the window, the fridge. The walls. Step outside the house for a little bit and walk away at little so that your eyes can perceive the entire house facade. Now allow (the romantic) me the liberty of imagining that you lived somewhere in Ladakh. Do not be limited by the financial or physiological capacity to image this. If you stepped out of the house (or hotel room or home stay), you would see many magnificent hills. Ponder that scene for a moment. Ponder about the magnificent and silent Himalayas. May be take a stone in your hand. Or a pen. Or a pin and drop it. Observe that. Repeat it a couple of times...

Where is the sound? Where is the chaos? It made a sound when that object hit the floor or ground. But prior to that instant, I repeat the same question to you - Where is the sound? Where is the chaos?

You can always recall a school librarian blurt "pin drop silence". If you understood the essence of this post so far - that act should be anything but silent. But it strangely is...WHY?

The quadragenarian that I am now, I do wonder what if my teacher demonstrated all this, and then asked that question - Where is the sound? Where is the chaos? ...And in that instant the bell rang...

A famous American youtuber/podcaster I follow these days - Neil deGrasse Tyson - the host of Startalk said something about the America school system. It goes something like - at the end of a school year before the start of vacations, when that bell rings - the children are so happy; they don't have to study or learn anything for the next few months. When that vacation ends, the children as somewhat depressed that they have to go through the ordeal of learning again. But if Americans have figured this out, it would be the opposite. They'd be a little sad that the learning is going to stop.

A child that has to appreciate all this, HAS to pay attention in class, to the teacher. And the teacher should deliver. Of course, many generations of parents or teachers, even students might regard the above effect something that would only happen in a dream or in cinema. It would never happen in the real world. If you are a parent today, do you want to express/predict here what your kid may actually do or feel here? Perhaps use the thumbs up emoji 👍 and comment if your kid is going to be positively influenced by this. Comment with a thumbs down 👎 if not. Actually, both parents and students are welcome to do this.

Yeah, I know the kingdom of humanity, and, your privacy concerns are out to bite you! For example. What if your kid saw this and then later in life decides to sue you! Or your best friend or nosy relative made fun of you for doing this. I definitely do not want to be responsible for that. 🙏 I deeply respect your privacy. In fact, someday I do want to write about that topic.

But do something now. For me! Show it to your teachers, the teachers in your kid's school - your kid's school principal or headmaster. Share it to your kids - they aren't mature today to understand that school is privilege. It's okay. This post might someday become the proof. Share it with your friends, your boss, your colleague, your cousins, parents, or even your spouse.

Yes! If not for me, definitely your parents, teachers, and school friends - because school is a privilege. They ALL deserve a token of thanks. If my writing style gets in the way I do ask for their and your forgiveness. If my style does get in the way, please drop in with feedback. I will take it seriously; that is a promise. Right now, I am asking your help for more readership. But first believe that "all this" is much more than that.

TRUST MY ITCH