Yet even today
Copernicus’ are born questioning
traditional beliefs…We may oust Galileos but
as long as civilization exists the inner conscience of a society will
continue to question our acts and
time the great healer will
ensure that we
people who commit mistakes atone
for their mistakes …if
societies are to thrive.
…A
philosopher making a lot of noise? No
those are elegant thoughts from a
carnatic vocalist….Can’t believe it? …Me too...
A couple of weeks ago, I
had taken special permission from the Principal of my college to attend the
inaugural-cum-plenary session of a Multi- disciplinary research conference
organized by the University of Kerala. I particularly wanted to attend the talk
entitled Music, Science and Society which was to be delivered by Sri TM.Krishna.
Prior to the talk, I have had occasions to listen to vocal renderings of his music which has an ability to enthrall. Initially, I was unsure whether the carnatic music vocalist would be capable of illuminating my thoughts too… But I was wrong, in fact the words quoted above are food for thought from TM.Krishna’s talk.
Prior to the talk, I have had occasions to listen to vocal renderings of his music which has an ability to enthrall. Initially, I was unsure whether the carnatic music vocalist would be capable of illuminating my thoughts too… But I was wrong, in fact the words quoted above are food for thought from TM.Krishna’s talk.
Here are a few
more from my scribbling
pad which I am still trying to
make sense of …
Have you ever asked yourself
whether there is any relationship between music, science and society?
Let me begin by identifying
similarities if any between music and science:
*Both the musician and the scientist is engaged in a
form of investigation- The
scientist tries to use tools to invent new things; The musician tries to invent new music by
handling melody, rhythm and text.
*Both the musician and
the scientist are driven by a
human desire to express… to contribute
something to the society.
So what can the musician draw from science? In
composition of a musical piece, the musician is
working on the acoustics of
science. He/ she in trying
to find out why a combination of sound works
or why it enthralls
the listener. This is in a way
related to the application of logic commonly found in science. Good music has a logic of its own
and a
musician in composing good
music is in a constant struggle to
discover a structural enigma… a beauty
detached from ones own self.
A scientist in an
attempt to understand something as for
instance when he/ she tries
to establish the relationship
between the cause and effect of something, the
effort he/ she is engaged in is a
struggle! But the moment of discovery of
the cause and effect of what one was
trying to find out, would naturally bring out
a shriek of joy…. as it happened
in the case of the cry ‘EUREKA’!!!
Now ask yourself, was the
cry ‘emotional’ or ‘intellectual’ …. Did
not the scientist
experience something? Did he/she not
employ a technique
for finding the solution?....Was
it not similar to the struggle of the musician to find the right combination of
rhythm, melody and text to produce an experience
of joy..
So you see
what the musician produces and
what the scientist discovers ultimately
turns out to be useful to society…
‘Musical’ thoughts indeed!!
