A glimpse of the ‘science of music’

From the instruments used by modern choral music groups to those used by tribespeople have been showcased at Naadam 2015.

Naadam 2015, an international ensemble of the science of music, organised by the Inter-University Centre for Science of Music at the Mahatma Gandhi University got under way here on Wednesday with an exhibition of hundreds of rare musical instruments.

From the instruments used by modern choral music groups to those used by tribespeople have been showcased at the exhibition being organised at Mammen Mappillai Hall.

The centre of attraction at the exhibition is Joseph Fernandez of Thiruvananthapuram, whose extra ordinary collection has already earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. He has collected the largest number of musical instruments in the world.

He also makes the instrument and plays them.

His collection includes ‘pora’, ‘thumbi’, and ‘karimaram’ used by the tribespeople of Kerala and ‘Didgeridoo’, an instrument used by the Australian aboriginal people.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister for Forests. Vice Chancellor Babu Sebastian presided. An international music festival and an inter-university music competition have also been organised. The three-day international seminar on the science of music will get under way on September 25.

On Thursday, the festival will showcase Classical (solo), both from Hindustani and Carnatic.

Tabla Vadan by Retnasree Aiyer and Shehnai Vadan by Shailesh Bhagavat and team will be part of the cultural events.