WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS!

 
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“Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats.” Cecily Morgan

In times immemorial, music existed! Not in the manner that it does today, but in the rustle of the wind, the whispering of the greens, the gushing of water and in the crescendo of a waterfall! It nestled in the buzzing of bees, in the melodious chirping of the birds and the sonorous rumbling of thunder… these were, perhaps, the first sounds that inspired the very idea of music. In fact, it was Shakespeare himself who said, “The earth has music for those who listen.”

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The very first musical instruments were believed to be bone flutes that came into existence in the Upper Paleolithic era. Different civilizations – Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Persian, Mesopotamian, Middle Eastern and of course, Indian, had their versions of ancient music that influenced the world.

In olden times, early man in hunter and gatherer societies also used crude instruments like rattles, drums and shakers out of gourds, reeds, bark and skins.

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There were also towering figures who were credited with creating music, such as our very own Hindu Goddess Saraswati, Shah Jamshed in Persian/Iranian culture and Jubal, the descendent of Cain in Christian mythology. In Chinese mythology, it was the famed musician Ling Lun, whose ear for tunes caught the songs of the mythical Feng Huang birds from where he invented the bamboo flute. The Muses in Greek mythology were also believed to play a part in having invented the arts, including music.

India had a rich repository of ancient music mentioned in Sanskrit, right from the four Vedas to the works of Kalidasa. Ilango Adigal wrote extensively about music in his Silappatikaram, which is considered one of the earliest Tamil epics. It is a glorious tale about the handsome young merchant Kovilan who marries the loyal and virtuous Kannagi, but is led astray by his passion for Madhavi, the beauteous courtesan. Music plays a significant role when the lovers sing about their love for each other and betrayal, in a music festival dedicated to Indra, the king of the gods. Later, they forsake their love and Kovilan returns to his faithful Kannagi who forgives him. She gives him her priceless anklet so that he can make some money to start life again.

When Kovilan tries to sell Kannagi’s anklet to a greedy goldsmith, he is unjustly accused of stealing the queen’s anklet. The incensed king has him executed without a trial. A heartbroken Kannagi storms into the king’s court and proves that the anklet belongs to her. She throws her anklet which breaks open, showering rubies on the floor. The queen’s anklet contained pearls within.

The king, filled with remorse, kills himself, and his queen, unable to bear the shame, soon follows suit. Kannagi’s fury still burns high and she curses the city of Madurai, burning it to the ground, till goddess Meenakshi, the guardian of Madurai, calms her down. Later, Kannagi was worshipped as a goddess holding an anklet in her hand, in parts of South India and Sri Lanka.

The Story of an Anklet - Silappadikaram - The Indian Quest Digital

Mian Tansen’s name is synonymous with Hindustani music. He was a celebrated musician in the court of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior who gave him his first break. Later, he was patronized by Raja Ramachandra Singh Baghel of Rewa. His amazing musical talent and his knowledge soon reached the ears of the Mughal emperor, Akbar. At the age of sixty, Tansen became one of Akbar’s Navaratnas, one of his nine gems, and he was given the title of Mian by the emperor. Tansen went on to compose many classical compositions which form the bedrock of Hindustani music. He was also a brilliant instrumentalist.

Tansen - Instagram

Every year, a national music festival is held near Tansen’s tomb at Hazira, Gwalior, in his honour. Selected exponents of Hindustani classical music are awarded with the Tansen Samman on the occasion.

There are legends galore about the virtuosity and brilliance of Tansen’s musical talent. It is believed that he could cause rain by rendering the Raga Megh Malhar and light lamps by performing Raag Deepak. His talents also included taming wild animals by singing to them.

Another famed singer and poet was Mirabai, whose bhajans about Krishna are sung even today with fervour. Mirabai was married to Bhoj Raj, the crown prince of Mewar, and her adoration for Krishna made her in-laws look upon her with rancour. She would immerse herself, singing devotedly to her blue god, and maybe it was her devout worship that made her escape attempts on her life by her husband’s family. It is said that they tried to poison her pretending to send her a glass of nectar. Miraculously, the poison did turn into nectar, or so the legend goes. They also promised her a basket of flowers, sending a snake to bite her, but again, she escaped harm. It was her music that kept her happy and it was her songs that have survived to this very day, though there are doubts about whether all of them were actually penned by her.

Mirabai - Wikimedia Commons

I come from a family of music lovers who firmly believe the Hans Christian Andersen quote which goes: “Where words fail, music speaks.” Right from the rich and meaningful melodies rendered by Hemant Kumar, Mohd. Rafi, Talat Mahmood,  Kishore Kumar, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar, to the more contemporary music makers like Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Kavita Krishnamurthy and the delightful Shreya Ghoshal, to bands like Colonial Cousins and brilliant voices like the husky Usha Uthup and the evergreen Arijit Singh, music has played a stellar role in all our lives.

When I was growing up, Beatle mania was still prevalent, but there were also albums by ABBA, Boney M, the Carpenters, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond (a favourite), Cliff Richards and so many more. The one movie that I can watch repeatedly is, without doubt, The Sound of Music, the story of the legendary Von Trapp family.

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And to end, if there is one song which brings a smile on my face and sets my feet a tapping, it is the brilliant song by Gene Kelly in which he dances ever so delightfully… Singing in the Rain. For those of you who have not seen it, here is the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0asbGJbLKc

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This list of mine is only a drop in the vast ocean of music, and as I hum a song, priding myself on being a bathroom singer, there is only one quote that comes to mind by the inimitable Henry Van Dyke.

“Use what talent you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

 This post is  a part of Mixtape Mood Blog Hope hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters.