Shruti Vs Keys

Indian Classical music is based on the Shrutis rather than Notes or Keys as we call them on our(?) Harmonium. Harmonium is not an Indian instrument as we all know. It has origins in Europe and hence is not equipped to play all the Shrutis that are used in our classical form of music.

Dr. Oke  (MBBS MD) has invented a Harmonium which can play all 22 Shrutis !
He has been awarded the following for his pioneering research in the field of classical music.
(Courtsey www.22shruti.com)

• Thane Bhushan Award (Thane Municipal Corporation),
• Thane Nagar Ratna Award (Nagar Vikas Manch) ,
• Thane Manabindu Award (Maharashtra Times-Indradhanu),
• Anil Mohile Award (Siddhakala Academy),
• Swa.Savarkar Award (Savarkar Nyasa),
• Dr.Sharadini Dahanukar Hirvai Sanman (K.E.M.Hospital),
• Swara-Kranti Award (Nadabrahma),
• Best Music Director Award (Maharashtra Times) for Drama : Dnyanoba Maza
• Surmani (Sur Singar Samsad),and
• Leadership through Innovation Award (Wockhardt).

Please visit www.22shruti.com for more information on Dr. Oke's invention.

Sur & Taal ... Two sides of the same coin??

This is my first post of 2013.

I have been learning Classical Vocal from Mr. Vishal Moghe and Mr. Mukul Kulkarni these days.

Few days ago, my teacher, Mr. Vishal said, people think Sur and Taal are different, but in reality they are the same. I was puzzled, so I asked him, how so?

He said, a sur is a result of a sound wave which has a certain frequency. If that frequency changes, the sur gets altered. So when we say "a perfect sur", we know that the frequency of that sound wave is constant.

Now, what is frequency? its an interval after which the wave reaches its peak, which is the basis of a Taal as well !!!

Taal is basically beats being played at a certain frequency.

So technically both Sur are Taal are the same.

I found it quite interesting.

Hope this new year brings a lot of beautiful music your way :)

Cheers!