Albi Ya Albi (Nancy Ajram)

 The great month of September, let me begin with a lovely Arabic song that I came across a couple of days ago... thanks to Kalam Eineh, the earlier Arabic/Egyptian song, that has really caught my ears and heart). 

This one is by Nancy Ajram, titled Albi Ya Albi (My heart, oh my heart!)... another love song, with soothing music and apt lyrics too! 

My heart oh my heart, leave me oh my heart 

It's not the right time to fall in love again

I can't now and I can't do anything about it

I don't know what happened to my heart

May be I loved you, you were the taste of love

...

Saiyaara: love, music and mental well-being

 I watched the Hindi movie Saiyarra today... 

Am truly impressed! After long feel contented to have watched some great acting and a beautiful story.  

Liked most the acting and direction of the movie.  For first timers playing the lead role in a full length movie, I should say, they've done a fabulous job.  Of course, cinematic liberties aside, they appear spontaneous, and perfectly grooved into the role/character.  

Add to that I liked also very many other aspects which the story writer and the director have wonderfully woven into the love story.  It is true that the movie is primarily a love story - and a beautiful one at that too.  But along with it, I hope the audiences also take note and the media promote this movie as a support for the cause of mental well being.  Alzheimer is one mental illness that is specifically mentioned and spoken of, but I guess, it is a good beginning to help us Indians take the stigma out of such mental illnesses.  The movie also shows and explicitly states - rightly - how some such situations can be sensibly handled: the aspect of family support, regularity, role of emotions, medication, ambience...  

Then there is the family dimension that is upheld by the movie.  Be it in and through alcohol addiction, or facing Alzheimers... the irreplaceable strength and support of a loving and caring family.  The ending scene of the wedding, adds to the Indian cultural aspect of marriage and togetherness. 

The aspect of music serves as the invisible backbone/background of the whole movie.  But in a very clear way proving that music can be a very sensible way of handling mental well being. Well, let's say linking music, emotions and memories.  In this context, music evoking emotions and thereby reliving memories.  Those who have experience or know something about Alzheimer will realise the great link between the non-cognitive aspect (repeated actions, habits, hobbies...) and memories. 

Last but not the least, a typical characteristic of India: cricket!  Though not really necessary, the scenes and involvement of cricket into the storyline does not seem totally out of place.  

Goblin: Stay with me

One particular piece of music, I'm unable to get out of my head... 

Musical history

Only last night did I discover that most of my favourite music bands were from Ireland!  The Corrs, Boyzone and Westlife.  All from Ireland. 

My exposure to contemporary English music began when I was at Nashik for my Masters' in Philosophy.  Till then, it was glorious Hindi music only.  Some occasional Konkani songs which Papa played at home. But they were almost by-heart given the fact that there were a couple of which Papa liked and they were on eternal replay mode! 

The only two audio cassettes I ever bought: one of Shammi Kapoor while on a school excursion to Delhi (that was for Papa) and the second one of The Corrs while at Pune for a course at JDV.  Not sure if I bought another one, while at Kondadaba.  But if I did, it was of Westlife.  Then there were some occasional songs I liked here and there but as for these three bands, I somehow liked almost all their songs. 

That said, ABBA and Boney M. were the best!  Literally grew up listening to these songs while at home. They were in Dad's collection which he received from the German family he worked for.  

Pehli taarikh (First of the month)

It suddenly occurred to me that years ago when we were kids at home, Papa used to very faithfully tune into the radio on the first of every month at 7 am to listen to this particular song or jingle (I don't remember if they played the whole song or only part of it) on All India Radio.  One of those lovely old tunes and old memories!

Invariably there was great excitement on the first of every month, in anticipation of the salary...

All heaven declares...

The music of the hymn 'All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord...' is very soothing.  Am not very much touched by the lyrics but the music is quite good.

I watch the sunrise...

Have heard this hymn just a couple of times earlier, and always felt greatly at peace at those moments.  We sang it today at the diamond jubilee ordination celebrations of Fr Peter Burns.  Like most the words of the chorus... endorsing my conviction that He is always with me; it is I who needs to feel His presence!

...You are always close to me, following all my ways.

May I be always close to You, following all Your ways, Lord!

I WATCH THE SUNRISE...

I watch the sunrise lighting the sky,
Casting its shadows near.
And on this morning bright though it be,
I feel those shadows near me.

But you are always close to me 
Following all my ways. 
May I be always close to you 
Following all your ways, Lord. 

I watch the sunlight shine through the clouds,
Warming the earth below.
And at the mid-day, life seems to say:
"I feel your presence near me."

For you are always . . . 

I watch the sunset fading away,
Lighting the clouds with sleep.
And as the evening closes its eyes,
I feel your presence near me.

For you are always . . . 

I watch the moonlight guarding the night,
waiting till morning comes.
The air is silent, earth is at rest –
only your peace is near me.

For you are always . . .

Joseph and his amazing dream coat

I was thrilled to watch once again the amazing musical 'Joseph and his amazing multi-colour dreamcoat' this time put up by the school and staff of the Salesian school.  The added thrill was that Fr Marco was playing the role of Pharoah.

I first was part of this great piece of art while studying philosophy at The Divyadaan, Nashik.  I was part of the technical team and hence was thorough with every bit of the musical.  Watching it again after 18 years flooded my mind with all the memories associated with all the rehearsals and characters played back then by the Brothers!  Branco as Joseph, Emma as the narrator, Blany directing the whole play, Cletus Pats as Potipher's wife, Claudius choreographing and guiding me with the technical tricks, Chris as Jacob, Bastin as the baker, Parish youth dancing the calypso and jive, the "zone B" problem with the amplifier being operated by Wyman, Shanker and James Kariuki at the spot lights, ... !!

The performance today was quick and beautiful.  The children were truly amazing. All the actors, except Pharaoh, were students. Only the musical accompaniment had some staff members.  The casting and choreography was slightly different from the one I still remember of Nashik but the same lyrics, same thrill, same excitement.  The experience was different though... this time as a spectator.  But every now and then I found my eyes welling up remembering my Nashik days!

And of all the songs, the best one, then and now, is the one titled 'Any dream will do...'

El Lute (Boney M)

The only song that I remember from my childhood days that caught my attention for its lyrics was El Lute (Boney M).  The two things that caught my attention then (and even now) were:

He taught himself to read and to write...
With a price on his head, people still gave him bread...

Eleuterio Sanchez Rodriquez, known as El Lute, was at one time listed as Spain's 'most wanted' criminal.  He was a legendary Spanish outlaw who escaped several times from prison after being convicted and sentenced at age 23 to 30 years for murder.  While in prison, he learned to read, earned a law degree, and became a writer, continuing to protest his innocence of the charges.  He was pardoned and released on June 20, 1981, at the age of 39.  

Read more (on wikipedia)

Chiquitita (Abba)

For some strange reason, remembered this song ... Chiquitita sung by Abba.  Remember hearing it as a boy at home.  Papa had an audio cassette and this was one of my favourites.

This and Fernando.  Somehow the music was gripping!

Gabriel's Oboe (Ennio Morricone)

Speaking of the movie Silence and comparing it with other movies around the theme of Evangelisation, I could not but listen once again to the haunting music of the movie, The Mission by Ennio Morricone... especially this one:

Lovely music and voice

One of the songs that I've been listening to quite a few times these past days. Nothing about the lyrics but the melody is really very very touching.  And for music it is just the piano.  Together, the smooth piano and the soulful voice, create magic!  Lovely music - just plain voice and the piano! 

Maahi Ve (A.R. Rahman)

Today while driving back home I heard the last bit of a particular hindi song on the radio.  Somehow it made a nice impression and so I sat this night at the computer trying to find out that song. It turned out to be from the movie Highway... and the singer and musician, the great A.R. Rahman.

While the music itself is very appealing, the lyrics (by Imtiaz Ali) too make meaning.  Add to it the magical voice of Rahman itself.
...shadows console me that you are with me...
... you speak in my silence...

As I glanced at the comments after the song, I was struck by the truth of the following comment by someone named KS Nathan.... and something I too attest to (emphasis added):

It is a true say that Most of rahman's songs are for an individual rather than mass.Of course the mass will come later.But his songs are more enjoyable in solidarity over publicly listening because the song makes our brain to think automatically..And that is a good feeling especially when someone is disturbed mentally or happy or even sad.

All of me

His fingers merely seem to be flying barely touching the keys!

Liturgical music and singing

Here's a nice piece on liturgical singing - or rather, the dearth of it! We need more singing

While at Kondadaba, the Brothers, over the years - if not out of conviction, at least out of compulsion - learnt that liturgical singing is not synonymous with 'noise-making'; or that music does not necessarily mean loud blaring music which drowns the singing altogether; or that liturgy is meaningless without brand new hymns - even if they are sung only by a couple of members in the choir.

The case is not very different from our Brothers here. Music is not music, unless it is blasted; music is not music if not heard by everyone, even if it is at the cost of the singing; what is more important is the keyboard and tabala and all possible musical instruments, while the singing itself is the last on the list of priorities.

Liturgical music is basically an ACCOMPANIMENT for the singing, and singing itself is a form of prayer - certainly not a performance.

Music from thrash...

Landfill Harmonic film teaser from Landfill Harmonic on Vimeo.

People realise that we shouldn't throw away thrash carelessly... well, we shouldn't throw away people either. [Concluding words of the inspiring and creative video]

Symphony

The feast day of all the saints can very well be celebrated as a day of Symphony.  True to the characteristics of an orchestra playing a symphony, all the saints put together offer a very rich mosaic of what God is capable of doing in and through the lives of people who are open to His directives.  Different musical instruments play different notes at varied intervals, which individually may or may not stand out, but when played in unison, produce a beautiful symphony.  So too all the - canonised and non-canonised - Saints, together in their own way produce a beautiful symphony of love, service and commitment to God and His people. 

Stay the same

Here's one song that I really loved a decade ago. Suddenly I remembered this song by Joe McIntyre and checked for it on the youtube. It is quite meaningful. I remember playing it as a gift for a good friend of mine while in Nashik during Mass.

To believe...

Here's a very touching prayer song on ... To Believe.

Before I lay me down to rest

I ask the Lord one small request

I know I have all I could need

But this prayer is not for me

Too many people on this day

Don't have a peaceful place to stay

Let all fighting cease that your children may see peace

Wipe their tears of sorrow away

(Chorus)

To believe in a day

When hunger and war will pass away

To have the hope amidst despair

That every sparrow's counted

That you hear each cry and listen to each prayer

Criteria for prioritizing

Among the many things that Don Bosco learnt and mastered, music was an important feature. Something he passed on to his sons, as well. However, during his formation to Priesthood, he was once drawn into playing the violin for a party. The merriment and mood created by his music disgusted him so much that he broke the violin and never again touched it.

This set me thinking: Do I sift my talents? Do I prioritise and accordingly focus my energies? And perhaps the most important of all, what criterion do I have for such a prioritization?