Doubt about singing
By vanny
@vandana7 (98854)
India
April 12, 2016 9:13am CST
Ok...Indian classical music is ..I like it, I don't blame you if you don't.
Anyway, the doubt does not pertain to your tastes.
It pertains to movement of hands and facial expressions and movement of head...
Indians would understand what I am talking about...
So this morning I was listening to an aria that is the ringtone in a mylotter's smartphone..
Me being me and that being music...I had to listen to it.
Notes were high ...really really high.....my voice would crack like tamarind tree's branches if I tried..
But the lady was so calm as she sang ...didn't seem to struggle to sing it...soprano..
So I am asking ..why is it so..
Is such movement of hands while singing unique to Indian classical...
How is it in Japanese singing...
Do sopranos shake their head while singing...or to get those notes...
I wouldn't mind you all adding a few melodious music pieces for me to listen too..lol
Thanks in advance..
23 people like this
17 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I have noted what you say about the Indian culture in singing and performing Vandy. I so admire the grace of it all and it is quite unique no other like it.
I also like the grace of the Asian singing and so forth.
So lovely movements.
Now to stay still completely is something that I am not sure which culture does. But surely there are some that do exist.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (98854)
• India
12 Apr 16
@TiarasOceanView ...Awesome...I think sopranos do not sing rapidly right? I will hear it properly tomorrow morning...then I will get back to you Oshy...thanks for the link...so that is Maria Callas...wow...she sings really well..
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
12 Apr 16
@vandana7 Here are some lovely sopranos..judge them if they are moving lolz:
Maria Callas,Jone Sutherland,Leontyne Price,Montserrat Caballe,Natalie Dessay,Diana Damrau,Cristina Deutekom,Edita Gruberova,Cecilia Bartoli...etc
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Apr 16
I don't think I have ever listened to India music. I'm not much for classical music either, I like the more modern music. The youtube video I have linked here is a band called Shadowfax, I like them very much. The name of the song is Shadowdance. Hope you enjoy it. Also look up Windham Hill on youtube, wonderful mix of artists
Del album con el mismo nombre de 1983 Shadowfax fue un grupo de rock experimental y jazz, fundado en 1972 entre los amigos Chuck Greenberg (saxofon), Phil Ma...
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
12 Apr 16
i love both music groups also. even though i don't know what is being said. lol
3 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
12 Apr 16
The only time i loved Indian Classical was because of Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. Those lovely days of Doordarshan and the songs of Unity for spreading Patriotism. I loved Pandit Bheemsen Joshiji.
As for their antics and moves, it is almost in all forms of Indian Classical - be it the Vocals or Tabla or even Santoor or even the Flute. Though I understand the why in flute, but I have no idea why they all do it.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98854)
• India
12 Apr 16
@thesids ... But I like Indian classical..Prabha Atre, Kishori Amonkar, Parveen Sultana, Kaushiki Chakraborty..Anand Bhate, and many others. I often listen to them..
If you do not listen to full stretch of ragas check this jugalbandi..
Of course the girl didn't sing as well as she sang earlier...but her voice is superb.
Sniti Mishra SPECIAL APPEARANCE on Saregamapa 2012. A Classical Fusion with a participant Vishwajeet.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
12 Apr 16
AHHHHHH.......!!!!!
LOL I had to make some noise since we are talking anout music. I don't think I sing very well. Mom and her two eldest sisters can/could sing very well. 
Alrighty! About classical music I haven't listened or tried it much. I can recant names of classical singers and that is where my knowledge ends! 
Like you were amazed by the singer's ability to keep calm while touching high notes. I also was amazed by Shankar Mahadevan's "Breathless"
Alrighty! About classical music I haven't listened or tried it much. I can recant names of classical singers and that is where my knowledge ends!
Like you were amazed by the singer's ability to keep calm while touching high notes. I also was amazed by Shankar Mahadevan's "Breathless"2 people like this
@vandana7 (98854)
• India
12 Apr 16
Check one of my favorite modern classical singers singing and her hands movements
I think your parents would be able to appreciate this lady...I like Kishori Amonkar also..:)
You will understand...and you said you hear Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan..he shakes a lot..lol
His son also .:)
Shankar Mahadevan shakes his hands...:)
I don't know if you heard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuRse2hbCzc&nohtml5=False
Watch his hand...in contrast see Maria Callas (soprano) in the link given by Oshy...
So my contention is, we associate such movement in our minds..lol.
It is not necessary..for getting those sounds.
A mesmerizing performance by Kaushiki Chakrabarty with Soumik Datta on Sarod and Pt. Vijay Ghate on tabla; Parmomita Mukherji on harmonium and Allarakha Yami...
1 person likes this
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
13 Apr 16
Those movements are like swimming with the tide, one musician told me so.
1 person likes this
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
13 Apr 16
@vandana7 Stories related to classical music are interesting too. I am sure you are aware about story of Tansen and Baiju Bawara. Its was like Baiju Bawara had hatred for Tansen and he wanted to win competition against Tansen so he went to teacher of Tansen called Swami Haridas a devotee of lord Krishna. Haridas told Baiju that classical music is a conduit for connection with god and only way to learn it properly is by eradicating hatred and greed from your mind. Baiju Bawara agreed to that and managed to become even bigger singer than Tansen by beating him in a competition at Fatehpur Sikhri. I am not sure this is historically correct though.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48434)
• Mojave, California
12 Apr 16
I imagine it has a lot to do with culture and what has been passed down through the years.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98854)
• India
12 Apr 16
I suppose..but it also has something to do with copying the teacher to seem like an expert. lol. If the teacher is habituated to some actions, the student tends to copy those..just like small children. Scientifically I don't see why a person needs to move hands to sing when other humans are not doing similar things.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48434)
• Mojave, California
12 Apr 16
@vandana7 That is a good point. Maybe they just need a musical instrument put in their hands. It could also be it just helps with nerves.I know that is why many singers started playing guitars and piano's because they focused on playing and not the crowd so much.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306538)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Apr 16
I think it makes it more enjoyable for the listener to watch a person sing who moves in such a way. I've seen it not just with Indian music but others as well. Whether it makes it easier to reach those high notes, interesting idea. I would say doubtful, but I might be proven wrong.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
12 Apr 16
I think the Indian Classicals are beautiful. The Japanese do a lot of hand movement too, and with fans. It is all beautiful.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
12 Apr 16
@vandana7 No, not all.
1 person likes this
@saurabhrmp (2283)
• Hyderabad, India
14 Apr 16
I heard lot of classical songs (as I am indian :-) ) and also my sister did MA in Music subject. So, I like indian classical music as a change.
1 person likes this
@firdosh07 (15)
• India
12 Apr 16
there is something unique in our indian classical music...and i just love their lyrics..
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98854)
• India
12 Apr 16
I don't find much about Indian classical lyrics..lol. I mean, what can you think of
Sakhi mori Rumjhum, baadal barase, garaje, raina andheri, kaari bijuri chamke, kaise jaaon mein jal bharan..
My dear friend Rumjhum, clouds are pouring, and rumbling, it is still dark night, and sharp lightening is shining, how should I go to fill water...
What is great lyrics about that? lol. But when they sing, it becomes awesome..
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
18 Apr 16
I don't know, I never seen or heard an Indian classical song. Is there a video of one that is your favorite?
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
15 Apr 16
I've never heard of Indian classical music, whats it like? What kinds of instruments are used? Is there any on youtube?
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
16 Apr 16
It's normal to have hands accompaniment while singing.That is body language promotion of feeling and meaning.
