The Celtic Raaja (King)

[Sunil_M88]

I’m kind of at the stage where “Vaanam Mella” has taken over my life... lol ...I’ve been eating, drinking and sleeping this song!

I hinted it would be great if The Maestro released an all out Celtic album. (But I don’t mind an odd shade(s) of the Indian influence.)

I'm going to start compiling a list of Celtic sounding numbers by Raaja Saab, please contribute?!

Drum roll... Introducing, Celtic-gnani, Mother Nature’s favourite child!

With its foundations in folk music, Celtic music just like Jazz has this beauty whereby it doesn’t possess a pattern or rigid formula and is all about unpredictability. This quality makes this musical genre highly unique and appealing. This music genre never ceases to transport me and other listeners to the mountains, woods and lakes but Raaja Saab does not have to compose a Celtic sounding piece in order to do this. Many of his compositions, regardless of genre will transport us to the places above anyway.
Musical notation is associated with people who are trained in and can read and write music and folk doesn't require this as it is all about playing and singing from the heart and delivering the message directly to the listeners heart. Raaja Saab, who comes from a rural background understands the pulse of every people in every region, their culture, their emotions, their way of life and IMO he is the only Indian artist that displays many qualities possessed by Celtic songs. He does more than transporting the listener to Mother Nature. The subtle sounds and the importance given to instruments and writing a single note really do induce a haunting sound that continues to linger even after a song has finished.

With this thread, we shall truly venture into the mysterious caves where Raaja Saab conjures up such emotional enthralling pieces.

Happy listening and nandri, vanakkam!

[V_S]

Very nice thread Sunil. Should be very interesting. As per my understanding let me start with Kaattu Vazhi Thunbam illai from Thandavakone and Aavani Thumbi from Snehaveedu. Not sure if it will fit here though.

[V_S]

If we go three decades back when Raja was in initial phase, I could think of Senthaazham poovil from MuLLum Malarum. A very breezy song which brings beautiful landscapes in front of us. I think it is mix of western folk and TN folk brilliantly blended.

[baroque]

Sunil,

Are you saying the bgm is CELTIC MUSIC GENRE (Irish, Scottish origin) & try to collect this genre of music by Ilayaraja? - Raja's bgm in some songs have few different genres

or

trying to collect 'compositions of with bgm evoke nature imagery!'

some random example both IR & Non-IR for HILL-SIDE imagery..

1. prelude of manchu kurise..... evokes mystical hill side flute.
2. prelude flute of malargalil aadum...ilayaraja for hill-side imagery
3. prelude folk flute of koo koo endru kuyil again reflects hill-side surroundings! enture composition's flute bgm is superb.
NON-IR examples..
4. nature mood, calls in bgm -
hill-side imagery kuchch dil ne kaha...Hemant Kumar's flute prelude with Asha's humming!
5. ethereal lilting bgm of yeh dil aur unki....

There are few compositions reflect river, boat-ride imagery etc..

For COOL WEATHER, MIST IMAGERY ETC.. Check early Ilayaraja's albums like Aradhanai, Enakkaga kathiru etc.. they will have compositions of your interest!

In this particular composition, in charanams female vocalist sounds shrill in higher octaves! spoils the sugam/aesthetic.

I yet to get physical CD!

[Sunil_M88]

Thank you for your contributions!

V_S sir, if you feel it will fit here, then it will fit here...

I probably sounded naive when I expressed, "he is the only Indian artist that displays many qualities possessed by Celtic songs." Why am I struggling to compile a list then, when I should already know songs which contain these qualities...

Some claim that different Celtic music has much in common and some don't. We are here to discuss the latter, so there is definitely no obligation here.

Vinatha mam,

BGM of a song doesn't necessarily have to be full on WCM/Celtic, there are many numbers by The Maestro where there's hardly any WCM BGM but the melody has a complete Western Classical feel.

Here's an example. Mannil Intha Kadhal on Violin by Sarvanan Vijayakumar. I don't know if it's how he's playing the violin but subtract the BGM and concentrate on the sole melody. I don't find anything Indian about the melody.



for Aradhanai, I just heard "Ilampani thuli vizum neram" and this proves that you have exactly figured out the type of music I'm looking for in our list.

[Sunil_M88]

Melleyonnu from Malayalam movie, Manassinakkare (2003)

K. J. Yesudas and Jyotsana behind the mic.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fRajX5GhDwM

[Sunil_M88]

Pandathe Nattinpuram from Malaylam movie, Ponmudipuzhayorathu (2005)

Ilaiyaraaja

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Suo_MQQ06ac

[baroque]

yeah... pandathey's prelude flute is celtic!

kadhal thiruda....PIC POCKET... has celtic bgm

http://www.thiraipaadal.com/tpplayer...714%27&lang=en

poova kelu....azhagar samiyin.... celtic bgm



Raja rehashed his telgu tune in a hindi movie



kaise kahe....


oru naal oru kanavu......



CHECK THE ALBUM PAGAL NILAVU!
RAJA HIMSELF HAS SONG MAINA MAINA MAAMAN..

[baroque]

SECOND CATEGORY OF YOUR SEARCH...'MOOD INVOKING...'

MYSTICAL MOOD COMPOSITIONS!

உறவெனும் புதிய வானில் பறந்ததே இதய மோகம்......

Bass கிடார் marvel with பியானோ, flute , ஜில்லென்ற ஜானு's humming, caressing பாலா ...

scinthillating prelude & interludes ..

beautiful second interlude with singular violin, piano strokes, Ganges of strings join with guitar!



*************************************

there is another album, ilayaraja fans dig is
MEENDUM ORU KADHAL KADHAI!

ATHIKALAI NERAME......MAGICAL BGM





ENAKKAGA KATHIRU is a must listen to all music lovers!

[Sunil_M88]

Thanks mam, you’re doing a solid job, please continue!

The following are from 1985 onwards containing WCM/Celtic shades:

Prelude of Mandhira Punnagaiyo, Mandhira Punnagaiyo - 1986
Ennulle ennulle, Valli – 1993
Prelude of Anba Thayai, Mahanadhi – 1994
Thendral Vanthu Theendum, Avathaaram - 1995
Siraichaalai - 1995
Thathi Thathi, Thalaimurai - 1998
Alapirandha Maharasa, Veera Thaalatu - 1998
Malai En Vedhanai, Sethu - 1999
Ram Ram, Hey Ram – 2000
Lajja Title Credits – 2001
Appadi Paarkethanna (Melody), Ivan – 2002
Second interlude of Onnavida Indha Ulagathilae, Virumandi - 2004
Interludes of Kaattu Vazhi, Adhu Oru Kanaa Kaalam – 2005
Flute prelude of EnguPiranthathu, Vishwa Thulasi - 2005
Thoorigai Indri BGM, Ajantha – 2007
Karuga Mani, Azhagar Malai - 2009
Kai Veesi, Nandalala - 2009
Rangu Rangu, Prem Kahani (Kannada) – 2009

We shall start to crack on with discussions once there are a sufficient number of songs!