Fusion Carnatic Music

CARNATIC FUSION
MUSIC
Aditya Subbaraman
Devashish Rane
Nikunj Mittal
What is Fusion?
Fusion as explained in Layman terms can be thought of as a combination of Western instruments in
our own traditional songs or vice versa. It could also be thought as incorporating a certain genre of
music such as Jazz,Rock in carnatic music. Fusion has been on development since the 70s and a lot
of renowned musicians are credited with the popularizing Fusion Music.
Some of the notable examples are Sitar Maestro Pt Ravi Shankar fusing Indian traditional music with
the famous Jazz player, Bud Shank and George Harrison playing the song ‘Norwegian Wood’ on the
Sitar.
Initially fusion music was highly limited in Europe and North America. But artists like John McLaughlin
and his Mahavishnu Orchestra to name a few pursued this trend of music with great authenticity which
led to this kind of Music being more popular across the globe.
Development Of Fusion
Fusion is not a very old trend in Indian Music. But the origin of fusion in India is said to have begun with
Ali Akbar Khan’s performance in the United States. In 1955 he recorded a microgroove LP as a soloist.
He was later asked to compose music in films for instance The Householder(1963). During this period
fusion music was extensively used and and was widely appreciated.
His association with Bob Dylan, George Harrison etc initiated his brother in Law Pt Ravi Shankar into
fusion who then popularised it in India.
Soon after Indian artists like Badal Roy, Bihari Sharma for instance recorded and performed and with
Jazz artists like Miles Davis. John McLaughlin in the 80s with his Mahavishnu Orchestra was joined by
L Shankar, Zakir Hussain and other renowned artists.
How Is Fusion Done?
The idea of fusion is basically mixing two different types of genres. It can be as simple as using a Sitar or
Violin in a rock performance to modifying a piano to make it sound like an electric guitar which is a
common practice in Jazz fusion. Indian performers like Mahesh Raghavan are also credited with
incorporating Carnatic Music with Dubstep and Electronic Dance Music.
Karaikudi Mani performing with 104

other artists on the occasion of World
Music Day 2018.
The Concert of Bangladesh
The concert of Bangladesh was a series of benefit concerts led by Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison
and Indian Sitar player Pt Ravi Shankar. It was to raise international awareness of and fund relief of
refugees from East Pakistan following the Bangladesh Liberation War Genocide. Apart from the above
mentioned musicians it also featured Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston etc.
Popular Carnatic Fusion
Artists
Shusheela Raman
● Born on 21 july 1973, Raman is a British-

Indian celebrated music composer, singer,
fusion artist.
Popular works
● Nagumomu, which is a fusion of Raga
Abheri and Algerian Rai music. It is believed
that Abheri attains its full flowering in
Nagumomu.
RAGA ABHERI
Arohanam: S G2 M1 P N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S
MAHA GANAPATHIM, is a dikhshitar composition in the majestic
Raga Nattai, which is an ode to Lord Ganesha recreated and fusioned
with Jazz.
Raga Nattai
Arohanam: S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S
Avarohanam: S N3 P M1 G3 M1 R3
Awards and Recognitions.

● Her album SALT RAIN (2001) was nominated for MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE.
● Nominated for World music award(2006)
Nagumomu- https://youtu.be/anAgK10KG4w
Madras String Quartet
● Founded in 1993 , MSQ is based in Chennai
and they specialise in fusion of south indian
classical and western classical.
MEMBERS
● V.S.Narasimhan (1st Violin)
● Hemanthraj Muliyil (2nd Violin)
● B.J.Chandran, (Viola)
● V.R.Sekar (Cello)
[Viola is tuned a lower on fifth than Violin , and a

higher on Octave than Cello]
Works
● RAGA SAGA, in this pure carnatic songs are set against a harmonic
background of cellos and bases.
● RESONANCE, the most popular album by MSQ comprises of 9 songs.
Song Composer
Varnam Ragamalika Adi Patnam Subramania Iyer
Esane Rupakam Papanasam sivam

SONG RAGAM THAALAM COMPOSER
Rahguvamsa Kathanakuthooh Adi Patnam S Iyer
alam
Mokshamu Adi
Sara sara Kunthalavarali Adi

samarai
Mohanalahari Adi V.S.Narasimhan
Chinnanjirukiliye-ragamalika-tisra ekam - https://youtu.be/mwHvnZy_aPk

Mahesh Raghavan
● Carnatic music fusion artist.
● Aims at presenting carnatic music in
contemporary ways for modern audiences .
● Uses an iPad for replicating sounds of string
instruments.
● He has created his own sound called XITAR.
WORKS
● His most popular creation is project FLAIR:
Carnatic Music 2.0. Where he produces what is
known as the new age carnatic.
● Girls like you(carnatic mix)-
https://youtu.be/ZoYpq7pmqMw
Manjunath BC
● Born in 1976.
● Son of renowned percussionist Dr B K
Chandramouli.
● Popularly known as Konnakol Express.
● Konnakol is the art of performing
percussion syllables vocally in South
Indian Carnatic music.
● He himself specializes in Mridangam, as
taught by his guru the great ghatam and
mridangam player Sri K N
Krishnamurthy
● He has had the pleasure to accompany greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Dr TK
Murthy, The Mysore Brothers as well as international acts like Turkish Sufi
singer Kani Karaka, Italian pop star Lucio Dalla among others.
https://youtu.be/RaeM8mzEzI8
More Artists-
● Agham
● Indian Raga (bunch of MIT students mixing western music with
indian taals and instruments)
● Indian Jam Project (popular for creating indian classical covers of
western music)
● A R Rahman, most celebrated indian artist and oscar winner,
composer and singer known for his classical touch into bollywood.
Different Types of Carnatic
Fusion Music
Carnatic Pop
● Most modern popular songs utilise the major scale or the

natural minor scale
● These correspond to the swaras of Raga Shankarabharanam
and Raga Natabhairavi respectively
● Pop songs tend to be simple to follow and are generally in 4/4
● This time signature is referred to as Aadhi Thaalam in carnatic
music
● I feel it imposes a lot of constrictions on carnatic music for the
sake of mass appeal. Carnatic bollywood, on the other hand, is
a lot more interesting.
Carnatic Rock
● Rock music is typically characterized by distorted/ amplified

electric guitar
● Since the advent of progressive rock in the 70s, rock has
always made an effort to incorporate elements from other
genres
● Carnatic rock is possibly the most popular variant of carnatic
fusion music and can be said to have a dedicated subculture of
its own
● It was brought to mainstream appeal by the efforts of artists
like Raghu Dixit Project, Agam, Thaikkudam Bridge
Original : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0h5Bz6CPWY (Raga
Nalinakanthi)
Rock Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkvNnRjIhPE

(based on Manavyalakincharadate by Saint Thyagaraja)
Carnatic Metal
● Although metal evolved from rock it can now be considered a

separate genre due to its lack of mainstream appeal
● Although they antithetical at first, the varying rhythmic
structures, known as djent in metal, act as a common point for
the two genres creating something quite interesting
● Metal and Carnat
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r63Frq6e2aY
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFXhGeAODBA
Carnatic Jazz and Carnatic Orchestra
● The free structure of jazz, it’s usage of chromatic scales, it’s

improvisational nature provides jazz with the ability to fuse with
a variety of genres.
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqO_DxrqX4c

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CARNATIC FUSION

Karaikudi Mani performing with 104

● Born on 21 july 1973, Raman is a British-

Awards and Recognitions.

[Viola is tuned a lower on fifth than Violin , and a

Varnam Ragamalika Adi Patnam Subramania Iyer

Esane Rupakam Papanasam sivam

Sara sara Kunthalavarali Adi

Mohanalahari Adi V.S.Narasimhan

Chinnanjirukiliye-ragamalika-tisra ekam - https://youtu.be/mwHvnZy_aPk

● Most modern popular songs utilise the major scale or the

● Rock music is typically characterized by distorted/ amplified

Rock Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkvNnRjIhPE

● Although metal evolved from rock it can now be considered a

● The free structure of jazz, it’s usage of chromatic scales, it’s

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