Presidential address by his excellency
Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor of Tamil nadu
at the Inauguration of the 82nd Annual Conference and Concerts at Music Academy, Chennai on 15. 12. 2008 at 5. 00 p. M.

 

I feel it a great honour and pleasure to preside over the 82nd Annual Conference and Concerts of the Music Academy in the esteemed presence of His Excellency Shri .M.Hamid Ansari, the Vice-President of India.

            Music is the complete expression of the soul reflecting the inner life. Music grew along with the culture & civilization. Indian Music is a perfection of melodies and the history of the system of Indian music dates back to Vedic times.  The earliest music of India is evident in Vedic literature, the Samans representing the earliest songs. Evidences reveal that besides vocal music, instrumental music also formed a part of Vedic rituals. It is learnt that the music of India developed from the Saman music and Gandharva Veda is said to be the primary treatise of music.

            In Ramayana, the earliest epic of the world, Valmiki describes the history of Sri Ramachandra in metri and rhythmical beauty. It is narrated that the sons of Sri Rama, with the beauty of their voices thrilled every one.  The root knowledge of music and dance is the science of emotions. Raga system is the essence of Indian music and the specialty of our Indian music is its melody.

            Music is the essence of civilization. The important and essential aspect of music is purity of sound.  It is the modulation and rhythm that brings the melody of music.  Our musical traditions and the varied dance forms are our nation’s richest heritage. They have now attracted the globe interest and are captivating audience across the world especially in U.S., UK, Malaysia & Singapore.  We should take our rich tradition of art, music and dance to our younger generation.

The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle once said,
“By music a man becomes accustomed to feeling the right emotions. Music has the power to form character”.

            Every school and college should give importance to art, dance, drama and music.  It is imperative that we nurture in children the interest in art right from their early school days. Educational institutions should introduce Art – music, dance, drama as an essential part of their curriculum.  It will not only help the children to learn them but will also build them as persons of character.

            The mothers, who start cradling their child with a lullaby, should take up the sacred responsibility of keeping the lamp of sangeet burning bright in their homes.  They should install in their children a love and a commitment to learn music at their tender age. The onerous responsibility of taking music to the next generation lies with the parents, the music stalwarts, the performing artists and the Sabhas.

The months of December and January are melodious. The air of Chennai is filled with the melody of music. This should spread to all the districts. It is necessary that Sabhas chalk out plans to conduct programmes of great exponents in districts coinciding with our festivals.  It will be a source of inspiration and will help to spread our rich tradition, art, dance, drama and music to the younger generations.  It is heartening to note that the December – Chennai Music Festival is one of the largest music festivals in the world and about 2000 concerts will be  conducted  by the  80 Sabhas.

            I congratulate Music Academy for patronizing Art - Music, dance and drama and for its dedicated service for spreading our rich art and tradition. The services rendered by Music Academy for promotion of classical music and dance deserve commendation.

Dr.Rukmini Devi Arundale opined,
“There are two points that needs our attention.  One is training of the voice.  This is much neglected today. Secondly having developed the voice, it is necessary to sing like true Indians and not like Western opera stars.  Each country has its own innate genius. Our country’s unique gift is that a musician has to be creative”.   It is necessary that the young budding artists are nurtured on these lines. 

            I am confident that the conference of eminent musicians, composers and musicologists from Indian, Asian and European countries would promote our rich art and culture and pave the way for maintaining it in its pristine form. 

            I congratulate Clarinet Maestro Shri A.K.C.Natarajan on being conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi Award.

            I convey my warm felicitations to Shri N.Murali, President and members of the Executive Committee of Music Academy, art exponents, artists, musicologists, scholars, connoisseurs of Art, and all the Rasikas.

            I wish the 82nd Annual Conference and Concerts and the Music Festival all success.
Jai Hind.