What is Rasaanveshanam?
I have decided to share this for the renewal of ideas among current core members and also to set the expectations for new core members.
We discussed over many sessions the scope of Rasaanveshanam. The blog Rasaanveshanam.blogspot.in tries to capture it.
The vision of Rasaanveshanam is "journeying together in quest of great musical experiences".
It translates into four types of activities as discussed:
1. Physically travelling together to kshetras of Carnatic music - Trinity and others, temples, historic places, and spending time savouring the lyrics, the compositional impetus, life stories of musicians and saints, and the music, all of which deeply enriches the Carnatic experience.
2. Hosting intimate concerts at home, with only Rasaanveshanam core members and their guests, enabling a close interaction with musicians. Key themes - home setting and hospitality, great music at close quarters, small group for better interactions.
3. Spending time together in the context of music - maybe attending concerts, or just sitting together, singing to each other, playing some tracks and discussing them etc. This is an ongoing activity already.
4. Serving the larger cause of music appreciation by arranging thematic/lec-dem type of concerts of veterans and very knowledgable "non-mainstream" artistes. This last activity was intended to be thrown open to even outsiders, at a venue easily accessible. For this purpose we did not want to go and book expensive sabha halls. Ananya Sevasadan in Malleswaram seems ideal for such an activity.
How often do we do each of the four, and how much money, and which artiste etc. is all up for discussion time to time. We are not mandating anything. It is never an either or choice among the four.
For example, having a concert of Vyasarapadi Kodandaraman, a famous nagaswaram vidwan, in a venue like Ananya seems great. Because we think our efforts and money are well spent if the rasikas who attend Ananya programmes also come. That is the subject of co-hosting.
There is an important difference between concerts at home and item 4. Say Ananya. There will be no catering, no spend on the hall or mike or seating etc, the payment will be mainly to artistes. There will be a 2 minute intro to Rasaanveshnam and the event will be co-promo with Ananya in the media and their newsletters etc.
To add some important exclusions:
Will Rasaanveshanam become a sabha with public membership? No.
Will Rasaanveshanam conduct music festivals and sell tickets? No.
Will Rasaanveshanam get sponsors and ads? No.
Will Rasaanveshanam become a byword in music circles like Gayana Samaja or ISS or Unnati? No.
Will Rasaanveshanam sell music recordings and videos? No.
An important inclusion:
Does the core member have any commitment? Yes, very much. The entire event each time will be hosted on cost-sharing basis. Of course if the concert is held in anyone's home there will be added strain and responsibilities for the host; but whatever costs can be detailed and estimated will always be shared equally immediately after each event by the core members with the 'host' core member.
We estimate around six concerts at home every year and the total outflow per year will be Rs 20—25K per core member.
Happy Rasaanveshanam in the Jaya samvatsara!
