Nada Priya is an east-west neo composition fusion for Indian violin solo, Indian percussion, Indian drone (tambura) and Western wing ensemble. Each of the three movements of the piece - fast, slow, fast - comprise of a cadenza which is improvised by the violin soloist.

The composition starts with tonic, followed by dominant. The tonic and dominant are athe two most important tonalities in Karnatic (South Indian) music. The tambura, used in all classical concerts, is tuned to the tonic and dominant. The tonic is variable from performer to performer.

In the opening statement, the very first of the 72 scales, which form the basis of the melodic concept of South Indian tradition, is used, then going on to other ragas. (Raga is the melodic concept in Indian musical tradition).

The composition comprises typical musical exchanges between the ensemble and the violin soloist; the phrases, long at the outset, get shorter and shorter.   The composer has used a small motif from the very first geetam (simple musical paragraph that students learn with lyrics) namely Malahari by Purandaradasa in praise of lord Ganesha, the elephant faced god in Hindu mythology.

The Second movement (slow) uses some Indian sliding ornamentation techniques(Gamakas), typical of Indian tradition.

The third movement is based on one of the derived schemes of the 72 parent scales - the pentatonic scale, without the third and the seventh degrees.  The remaining five notes are like those in a major scale.  The concept Nadai, where each beat is sub-divided into 3,4,5,7 and 9 or their multiples is also used.

The repetition of musical phrases three times, which is a typical feature of the Indian tradition is also used in this composition.

This compostion was original commissioned by the Ensemble Instrumental de Grenoble and the premier concert was broadcast by French radio.  Since then it has been performed with several chamber orchestras including the East German Halle Chamber Orchestra.

This composition is dedicated to the memory of Purandaradasa regarded as the father of South Indian Carnatic muscial tradition.  Purandaradasa(1484 -1564) perfected a systematic approach to train the student of Carnatic music which is a continuation of the older Indian musical tradition.

ENSEMBLE INSTRUMENTALE DE GRENOBLE * ** +
Maestro Bores de Vinodgradow
Grenoble (France)

COLLEGIUM INSTRUMENTALE HALLE
Maestro Stefen Leissmr
India (To Celebrate Days of GDR Culture in India - Six Performances)

MILWAUKEE MUSIC ENSEMBLE 
Maestro Kevin Stalheim
Milwaukee

LEIPZIGER KAMMERORCHESTER >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
Germany (Part of a special week of Dr. Subramaniam where he performed Indian Classical, his orchestral compositions and Bach’s. The concert with the orchestra was at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, where they performed the Bach Double Concerto in D Minor with Dr. Subramaniam playing the 1^st Violin solo part.)

London Symphony Orchestra
L.Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam
Conducted by Mark Locket

     

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