Pittsburgh_Patrika_July_2015

The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 20, No. 4, July, 2015
mellifluous they are), is inelegant, to say the very least. Going forward,
Sahana can correct this quite easily in their future programs.
2. When the vocalists render their pieces, the phrases in the lyrics
should come out loud and clear without getting drowned in the high-decibel
music from instruments such as guitars and keyboards. When we carefully
listen to Indian film songs in their original recordings, we can discern that
when the vocalists render the pallavis/charanams (or mukhda/antaras),
their voices come out clear in the front with the accompanying orchestra
music’s volume in the background in low volume, relatively speaking. In
the musical interlude between the pallavis and charanams (mukhdas and
antaras), the vocalists are absent, and the orchestra music is at higher
volume with great effect on the listening experience of the audience.
In the program the decibel level of the accompanying guitars and
keyboards almost drowned out the vocalists in a few pieces. High decibel
levels for the instruments during singing do not suit Indian film songs based
on melody, where the lyrics are at the very center. Sahana can correct this
by working with the professional sound engineers they hire.
Over all, it was a well-organized, well-rehearsed program with each
member on-stage and off-stage working with passion and dedication.
Acknowledgments: Niveditha Vasudevan, Monroeville and Anandi Balakumar,
Sewickley for the photographs. •
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