Synopsis
Ilaiyaraaja reflects on being called the 'God of Music', expressing his humility and appreciation for fans while discussing his historic western classical symphony, 'Valiant'. He emphasizes his ordinary nature and the enthusiastic response from audiences.Key Takeaways
- Ilaiyaraaja humbly sees himself as an ordinary person.
- He made history as the first Indian to present a western classical symphony.
- Fans expressed appreciation after each movement of the symphony.
- Conductor Mikel Toms ensured precise performance of the symphony.
- The event brought pride to Tamil Nadu and India.
Chennai, Mar 10 (NationPress) One of India's most renowned music composers, Ilaiyaraaja, has recently made history as the first Indian to present a western classical symphony. He humbly stated that he views himself as an ordinary individual, and every time he hears a fan refer to him as the God of music, he reflects, 'You have diminished the divine to Ilaiyaraaja's status.'
Upon his return from London, where he showcased his groundbreaking symphony titled 'Valiant', Ilaiyaraaja expressed his gratitude for the warm reception from both the state government and the public.
During a media interaction, he shared insights about the concert and the overwhelming response he received. He remarked, 'Though people call me the God of music, I operate like a regular person. I do not harbor any grand notions about myself. When I am called the God of music, I consider it a reduction of the divine to Ilaiyaraaja's level.' He thanked everyone for their warm welcome and was pleased to see so many smiles.
While discussing the symphony and its performance, Ilaiyaraaja praised conductor Mikel Toms for his precision.
Ilaiyaraaja elaborated, 'This is no trivial matter. Composing music is one thing, but if everyone plays it differently, what happens? Conductor Mikel Toms made certain that each note was played with accuracy. I was only able to join them for the rehearsals.'
He also shared how the audience reacted with applause after each movement.
'The symphony consists of four movements. In western music, audiences typically wait until all four movements are concluded before clapping. However, our fans applauded after each one. The musicians and the conductor were taken aback. The conductor glanced at me and smiled, and I acknowledged with a grin, 'This is how it is meant to be.'
'For every movement, there was applause and appreciation, as our audience could not hold back their joy upon hearing the music. Our people enjoy expressing their appreciation in the moment,' a delighted Ilaiyaraaja remarked.
'This symphony has garnered acclaim from all music experts. It is due to your heartfelt wishes and joy that this event has become a significant milestone, bringing honor to both Tamil Nadu and India,' he concluded.
