Gedenkfeier für Dr. Pia Srinivasan am 16. Mai 2022

Pia Srinivasan Buonomo
(Reinbek, 1. März 2020)

Um Pia’s Persönlichkeit gerecht zu werden wollen wir heute mehr als “nur” Abschied nehmen, wenn wir uns zunächst einer respektierten wie engagierten Forscherin und Förderin der indischen Musik erinnern: gemeinsam mit ihrem Ehemann Srinivasan (“Srini” für Pia und viele von uns) öffnete sie Türen, die anders verschlossen geblieben wären. | Begrüßungstext >>

“Heute ist die karnatische Musik noch in hohem Maße lebendig. Der Besuch eines Konzertes gehört zu den zentralen Erlebnissen eines Indienaufenthaltes. Wie immer mehr Menschen aus Asien und Europa mit ihren ganz anders gearteten Musiksystemen feststellen, kann diese Musik leicht auch solchen, die zu ihr erst sekundär Zugang finden, zu einem nicht unwesentlichen Lebensinhalt werden.” – Begleittext von Pia Srinivasan für die preisgekrönte Schallplattenaufnahme Sambho Mahadeva Vina/South India (Live Aufnahme mit Rajeswari Padmanabhan & Karaikudi Subramanian)

Tribute to Pia Srinivasan – vocal, vina and tambura
Tamil song by Sreevidhya Chandramouli & Chandramouli Narayanan

“Im Westen aufgewachsen ging Pia auf eine musikalische Reise, die sie zur südindischen Musik führte. Auf bewundernswerte Weise gelang es ihr, zugleich Freundin, Schwester und Schülerin von Rajeswari – Interpretin der Karaikudi Lautentradition – zu sein. Ihre Musik studierte und förderte sie. Gemeinsam mit Srinivasan stellte sie sich zugleich in den Dienst großer Anliegen unserer Zeit.”

“Blossoming from the West, she embarked on a journey to spotlight us. Attracted by South Indian music, Pia came in search of our Karaikudi Veena. Among a thousand women is the only Pia, a friend as well as sister of Rajeswari, seer of history, and student of the crown jewel–Goddess Sarasvati who is the Queen of Veena … and with Srinivasan was dedicated to serving the world” – Tribute to Pia Srinivasan by Chandramouli Narayanan tuned by Sreevidhya Chandramouli >>

Pia Srinivasan mit Rajeswari Padmanabhan & SA Srinivasan
Kumudam (Tamil Zeitschrift, 1969) | Nachruf >>

Musik zum Nachhören (Auszüge)

1. Sankarabharana Raga (Alapana, Tanam)
Rajeswari Padmanabhan & Karaikudi S Subramanian – Vina, Tanjore Upendran – Mridangam – CD Sambho Mahadeva Vina/South India (Juni 1975 live in Berlin)
2. Sobhillu Saptasvara – Tyagaraja kriti – Jaganmohini – Adi Tala
“O Mind! Praise the divine forms of the seven musical notes”
Rajeswari Padmanabhan & Karaikudi S Subramanian – Vina, Tanjore Upendran – Mridangam – CD Sambho Mahadeva Vina/South India (live in Berlin, Juni 1975)
Vina-Lehrerin Rajeswari Padmanabhan (Kalakshetra 1999) © Ludwig Pesch
3. Pia Srinivasan – Vina, TR Sundaresan – Ghatam (Auszug 0:46, Konzert in Wentorf)
Pia Srinivasan in Reinbek
4. Lied gesungen von der Sangitam Gruppe geleitet von Pia Srinivasan mit TR Sundaresan – Kanjira (Auszug 1:33, Konzert in Wentorf)
5. Pallavi komponiert von TR Sundaresan als Tribut an Pia Srinivasan und SA Srinivasan
Srīnivāsa Pia Priyāya Namaste – Sangīta Sāhitya Rasika
Hamsānandi Raga – Catusra Jati Triputa Tala (Atita eduppu)

Wir erinnern uns voller Liebe an Pia und Srinivasan, herausragende Kenner und Förderer der klassischen Musik und Literatur.

“Let us pay homage to Pia and Srinivasan whom we remember fondly for their support of music and learning “

6. Ranjani Mala composed by T Sankara Iyer, gesungen von DK Jayaraman 
“O procuress of happiness, with lotus-soft eyes, soft-spoken one, procuress of delight to the mind, who mothered the god of love, You the one to purify all and everything” (translated by SA Srinivasan)

“Oggi abbiamo cominciato un pezzo in un altro raga, Ranjani, che mi era piaciuto molto in un concerto. […] Suoniamo e ripetiamo il pezzo nel raga Ranjani […] Fuori intanto continua a diluviare: sarà il monsone che arriva con ritardo o dipende dal raga Ranjani? Che sia un malai raga (un raga che porta la pioggia)? Rajeswari dice di no.”

Heute übten wir ein neues Stück im Raga Ranjani, der mir während eines Konzerts gut gefallen hatte. Als es stark zu regnen begann, fragte ich Rajeswari, ob der verspätete Monsun von diesem Raga abhinge, er somit als Regen-Raga gelte. Sie sagte ‘nein’.”– Pia Srinivasan in ihren memoiren Il raga che porta la pioggia

7. Sudhamayee – Muthiah Bhagavatar Kriti – Amritavarshini Raga – Rupaka Tala
Seetha Doraiswamy, Jalatarangam

“One who is the source of the immortality nectar, priya- loved, kamini- who is loved, aananda- bliss, joy, amritha- nectar of immortality, varshini- who showers, rains” – Translation on https://www.karnatik.com/c1045.shtml

Reviews and feedback for
Il raga che porta la pioggia >>
Paola Buonomo liest Auszüge aus den italienischen Memoiren von Pia Srinivasan: Il raga che porta la pioggia (Aufnahme: Ludwig Pesch 16.05.2022)

Tribute für Pia Srinivasan

Photo gallery for sharing freely: Remembrance by Paola Buonomo (Naples) >>

Familienbeitrag Wolfgang Thies

Pia und Srini waren wir jahrzehntelang verbunden. Was wir an ihnen schätzten, lässt sich nicht mit wenigen Worten umreißen. Offenheit, freundliche Zu­ge­wandt­heit, menschliche Wärme, Achtsamkeit, Bildung, Liebe zur Musik, geistige Regsamkeit bis ins hohe Alter, ihre Treue zueinander – das sind nur einige Stichworte. Unsere Begegnungen mit Pia und Srini haben uns jedesmal bereichert. Durch Pia lernten wir klassische indische Musik kennen, und bei einem Besuch in Reinbek bekamen unsere beiden damals noch jugendlichen Töchter eine kurze Einweisung an der Tambura. Zu der Zeit wohnten wir schon in Bayern, und bei unseren Kontakten per E-Mail und Telefon war die Entwicklung unserer Kinder immer ein wichtiges Thema für Pia. Unsere ältere Tochter schrieb, dass sie Pias ansteckende Begeisterung für die indische Musik, ihre Freude am Gesang, ihre herzliche und aufgeschlossene Art, ihre Gastfreundschaft, Energie und Lebensfreude sehr bildhaft in Erinnerung habe, und die jüngere Tochter bekräftigt dies. Wir sind dankbar dafür, dass wir Pia und Srini kennengelernt haben und über so lange Zeit mit ihnen in Kontakt waren. Uns bleiben wertvolle Erinnerungen an zwei liebenswerte Menschen.

Mein Bruder schrieb mir über Pia: vor meinen Augen sehe ich sie immer noch zu Zeiten des Altonaer Konzerts von Rajeswari Padmanabhan, an das ich mich immer gern erinnere. Die Welt wird wieder ein kleines Stück ärmer, wenn liebe Menschen, die das Leben eine lange Zeit begleitet und bereichert haben, sie verlassen.

“I will miss her presence in my life a lot.” – Eminent Carnatic vocalist Kiranavali Vidyasankar

Kalakshetra Beach in Chennai (ca. 1974-1975) © Carol Reck

“Pia and Srini were both very dear to us over the decades since we met in the late 60s in Madras. We’ve shared some good times, experiences and lots of music together.” – Carol Reck also speaking on behalf of her late husband, Prof. David Reck (Amherst University)

Day places its golden veena
In the silent hands of the stars,
To be tuned to Eternity’s raga

Rabindranath Tagore: The Jewel That is Best
by William Radice (2011)

Book release & Foreword: “Arangilum Munnilum Pinnilum” – Gopal Venu and Kerala’s thriving performing arts

Foreword to Gopal Venu’s new book in Malayalam, titled Arangilum Munnilum Pinnilum; shared by Vinod Kumar (Chennai/Dubai) during the book release online event held on 16 November 2021: an opportunity to reflect on shared cultural roots, values and an association spanning several generations via both, the author’s parents and those of the present writer. In short, one of those rare occasions when light may be shed on the role played by renowned performers and teachers whose contributions to artistic life and training have stood the test of time for all to see and enjoy:

Photo © Natanakairali

The distilling of art education, sharing of knowledge and dissemination of a timeless tradition is best evidenced in Shri Venu’s work on his now legendary ‘Navarasa Sadhana’ workshops that are now attended by dancers, theatre artists, writers, actors, rasikas and even simple folk who carry a deep interest in the art of abhinaya.

Learn more: “Navarasa Sadhana: A system of acting methodology for actors and dancers” by Gopal Venu on Narthaki.com, India’s Gateway to the World of Dance >>

Inquiries on Navarasa Sadhana workshops: abhinayakairali@gmail.com

P. Sainath awarded 2021 Fukuoka Prize for “promoting civil cooperation”

Selected for the Grand Prize for promoting civil cooperation through his writing

Noted journalist P. Sainath has been selected as one of the three recipients of the Fukuoka Prize for 2021. Mr. Sainath will receive the ‘Grand Prize’ of the Fukuoka Prize while the Academic Prize and the Prize for Arts and Culture will go to Prof. Kishimoto Mio of Japan and filmmaker Prabda Yoon of Thailand respectively.

In a statement issued by the Secretariat of the Fukuoka Prize Committee, Mr. Sainath was described as a “very deserving recipient of the Grand Prize of Fukuoka Prize”. The Secretariat noted his work for creating a new form of knowledge through his writings and commentaries on rural India and for “promoting civil cooperation”.

The Fukuoka Prize is given annually to distinguished people to foster and increase awareness of Asian cultures, and to create a broad framework of exchange and mutual learning among the Asian people. The Grand Prize has earlier been awarded to Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh, historian Romila Thapar, and sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Eleven Indians have received the Fukuoka Prize so far.

115 people from 28 countries and areas have received the Prize in the past 30 years. The Prize was established in 1990.

Source: The Hindu, 28 June 2021
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/p-sainath-awarded-2021-fukuoka-prize/article35018139.ece
Date Visited: 29 June 2021

“Cover Your Country” by PARI: Rural people speak about their lives through photos, narratives, film, and audio materials | RuralIndiaOnline.org >>

Why Carnatic Music Matters More Than Ever

by Ludwig Pesch

Published by Shankar Ramchandran on behalf of Dhvani Ohio | Read or download the full article (PDF, 800 KB, updated 19 June 2021):

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License

Sruti Magazine (October 2018)
Learn more on carnaticstudent.org:
A brief introduction to Carnatic music >>

For this musicologist and author, there are good reasons to believe that Carnatic music matters, perhaps more than ever and almost anywhere in the world. So why not perform and teach it in the service of better education for all, for ecological awareness or in order to promote mutual respect in spite of all our differences? And in the process, get “invigorated and better equipped to tackle the larger issues at hand”.

Related post

What makes one refer to Carnatic music as “classical or art music”? | Carnaticstudent.org >>

New CD – Classical instrumental and vocal music from North and South India

The CD consist of two live concerts, one is vichitra veena from Dr Mustafa RASA, and my live concert in Carnatic music at the Vilnius University Theatre performed 2018 featuring Raga Abohi. The CD is also available in digital form in this link.

INDIA IN MUSIC. Dr. Mustafa Raza + / Manickam Yogeswaran +
KUKŪ Records SMF 6-005, 2020
Unique CD recorded and realized in Lithuania with mega stars of India – Dr. Mustafa Raza + from North India playing vichitra veena and owner of golden voice of South carnatic – Manickam Yogeswaran +
12 pages comprehensive booklet in English included.