Chennai has a rich tradition of classical music. Carnatic music enjoys well informed & sophisticated audience. Chennai Sangamam brought classical music to the open. To the commoner it came without any cost, thanks to the top line carnatic classical artists who gladly sang in the parks & beaches.
The classical tradition is an ancient & sophisticated art from stretching back over thousands of years. Originating in the temples & performed by the devadasis, the classical styles have been associated with mythology, philosophy & spiritual beliefs of the Hindu culture and in more recent times, the Islamic tradition, classical dance has its roots in the Natya Shastra, the earliest known written text on comprising speech, mime, dance & music and lays down the principles governing technique & aesthetics.
Chennai music & dance festival is a celebration of classical music & dance of South India (Carnatic Music) held during mid December to mid January in the capital city of Chennai.
The festival comprises over 1500 performances of Indian classical music, dance and other arts. Scholars, critics, artists and art lovers from all over the world come to Chennai to enjoy the performances, seminars, discussions, lecture-demonstrations etc. The events are held across the city by art organizations or ‘sabha’, as they are locally called. The major venue is The Music Academy, Madras at T.T.K. Road, Chennai.
You can stay at Alcove Serviced Apartments in Chennai to attend the festival in 2010 to 2011.
The ‘Margazhi festival of dance & music’ started early back in 1927, to commemorate the anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, was later adopted by various organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city. The Tamil month of ‘Margazhi’ is a sacred month of the Hindus. South Indian Classical music (Carnatic Music) which has its roots in the devotion to the gods has been a traditional form of worship from the immemorial.
The city comes alive with the festival, which has now developed, into a cultural extravaganza with more than 2000 participants in over 300 concerts. The festival also knows as December season also attracts expatriate Indians & scholars from around the world.
Performances include Vocal & Instrumental music, Dance – solo & group, both by junior & senior artistes. Even upcoming artists get a chance to perform along with well-established artists. The music includes songs in various South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu & Kannada & instruments like Flute, Veena(a large string instrument), Goottuvadyam (similar to Veena but without frets). Nagaswaram (pipe), Thavil (precussion instrument), Mridangam (drum) & even Ghatam (a mud pot).
The season goes on till mid January when the scene shifts to Tiruvaiyaru to celebrate the birth of one the greatest Carnatic composers & one of the trinity of music – Thyagaraja