Nirmala Rajasekar - Understanding Carnatic (South Indian) music
Lake Agassiz Regional Library sponsored a seven day residency in music and culture where attendees experienced melody and rhythm in Carnatic Music.
Event Dates and Locations:
05/15/2010 – Fosston Library
05/16/2010 – Gonvick LINK Site
05/17/2010 – Fertile Library
05/18/2010 – Norman County West (Hendrum) Elementary School/Climax School/Ada Library
05/19/2010 – Twin Valley LINK Site/Ulen LINK Site
05/20/2010 – Frazee school/Lake Park-Audubon Elementary school/Historic Holmes Theatre (Detroit Lakes)
05/21/2010 – Rothsay School/Moorhead Library
Partner Organization(s): (Hendrum) Norman County West Elementary School in Hendrum, Climax Public Schools, Frazee-Vergas Public Schools, Lake Park-Audubon Public Schools, Rothsay Public Schools. The partnering schools provided the venues for the program.
1,493 people attended the program.
The attendance at each location was as follows:
Fosston – 38,
Gonvick – 8,
Fertile – 40,
Hendrum (NCW) Elementary School – 145,
Climax School – 95,
Ada – 34,
Twin Valley – 21,
Ulen – 20,
Frazee-Vergas Elementary School – 506,
Lake Park Audubon Elementary School – 335,
Detroit Lakes – 80,
Rothsay Elementary School – 106,
Moorhead – 65
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, post-test; End user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status
A Summary of surveys from the program is: Please rate the quality of this program and circle a number (on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being excellent):
- Average of each site reporting: Ada – 5, Detroit Lakes -- 4.64, Fertile – 4.70, Fosson – 4.88, Gonvick – 5, Moorhead – 4.83, Twin Valley – 2.66, Ulen – 3.55
What did you like best about the program?
- (4) Explanations by word, Questions and answers
- You don’t get to see a lot of Indian music in places like Detroit Lakes, MN – very often, so this was a real treat. Indian culture absolutely fascinates me.
- (15) The music & explanations
- Extremely accomplished musicians – they make it look so easy!
- I liked how she explained about carnatic music
- It was nice to see & hear a veena played and to hear music from another part of the world
- Her talking
- (9) Its uniqueness & beauty; new cultural experience
- Congeniality & special connect in between the plays
- Thought it would be more singing
- (3) The music! The visual beauty. The performers’ personalities.
- Hearing a new musical style
- A taste of a different culture’s music
- Nirmala’s flirtatious smile toward drummer; her turquoise dress’ history of instrument was very interesting, but hard to hear.
- Playing
- The sound
- Fantastic Music
- (4) Her variety of musical sounds – history of her program & instrument
- (7) Everything
- Her style of playing, enthusiasm
- (2) Stories
- She was a teacher, explaining each thing
- (5) Culture & beautiful music
- (3) Lots of new info
- The playing of the Veena
- Educational, enjoyable, cultural, one of the best that we have had
- Listening to an instrument I’ve never heard before & learning how it works
- The exposure to a different kind of music
- Very beautiful music
- I can’t decide – it was all great
- Liked it all very much
- The explanation that she had to help us appreciate the music
- Intimate, location for such a unique special professional performance in our rural area
- Interaction between the 2 artists; learning about the instrument
- (5) History of the veena and the music of Indian
- (2) The performers were wonderfully talented and very informative, also very personable
- That it was a music/instrument performance from another culture. Loved the informative introduction & interaction aspect
- Letting go to listen to music
- (2) Her thorough explanation on her music & instrument
- (2) Audience interaction
- The music and the time (7pm on Friday)
- (3) Historical info was fantastic!
- (3) The music and the knowledge of the music
- It was beautiful!
- The lecture
- The performance was excellent, she is very talented
- The depth of it
- Very original
- Seeing old instruments
What would you change about the program? Program flier?
- (3) Possibly lower volume – did not see flier
- (5) Have more singing
- I couldn’t understand a word she said, she was holding the mike incorrectly
- (3) Needed to have more publicity
- Have performers talk slower
- (2) Difficult to understand dialogue
- Very informative!
- Maybe add a dance tone with perhaps belly dancers
- Voice not loud enough
- Different space; we were cramped
- Less “technical” info, more stories, ballads, folklore and applicable history of the music
- A full instrument concert if possible
- (3) Have it longer
- More of this and other art forms
- (8) More music
- More advertising – should have had a full auditorium
- Possibly some popular tunes on the veena
- (2) More time to listen
- I wish the whole ensemble was there
- (2) I wish there were more songs played during the program, it could have been advertised as a program instead of a concert
- (10) Nothing - GREAT!
- More music less talk
- Have it during the week (M-Th) might have a even better turnout
- Have it be longer with more audience participation
- More performing with 2+ musicians
- Very good program
- Location
- (2) Nothing
- It’s a little lengthy!
- To something we could understand
What other programs would you like to see offered at the library?
- Puppetry performance
- Simple lessons on the language of signing
- Educational Theatre – like the one at Tech School
- (12) Any kind of cultural program this is exotic to Minnesota
- Acapela
- (3) More music, art, nature
- (2) Blues/Jazz/ Folk
- More musical groups such as Bluegrass, Gospel
- (2) Children’s events
- Any unique musical or literacy groups you can schedule
- More of everything
- Historical lectures or re-enactors – Red River Valley history, more folk music & native American programs – music, crafts, storytellers
- Whatever you are able
- More music & history
- I think you do a nice job with variety, especially kid friendly
- Singing
- More singing & dancing
- (3) Other music events – doing a nice job
- Lectures, Music, Plays – enjoy all that have been presented
- Classic guitar
- Music from around the world
- Scandinavian culture programs
- I most enjoy the music programs, but a magician might be entertaining
- Anything educational in any way, this one fit beautifully because it was educational & musical
- Demonstration/class on the art of making books/bookbinding
- Demo on how to make or mix music on the turntables or computer
- An adult “Lock In” with music, like DJs on turntables
- More on ethnic music – This was great!
- Poetry events, dance
- Historical presentation, positive self help programs
- Alternative information – non mainstream
- Children’s literature programs
- (2) More Veena
- Different artists
- Hardanger Fiddle
- Polka & other Norwegian music; Gospel music
- (2) Country or Old time
- Any would do
- Guitars, Accordions
Prior to this program, have you ever attended a program at the library or sponsored by the library? Yes - 71 No - 68 How did you hear about the program? Check all that apply.Program flyer – 18Information/poster at the library – 25Information/post in the community – 9Library newsletter – 4Library web site – 10Newspaper/magazine – 54Radio – 8Television – 0From library staff – 16From another person – 33 Check your age range:Birth – 5 (5)6-17 (24)18-54 (80)55 or over (64)