Music Awardee 2019: Kriteka Iyer
Kriteka Iyer is the 2019 music awardee. In this week’s post she shares with us her passion for music and her journey so far.
MUSIC IS OUR MUSE
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche.
Another expression that captures the essence of music is “where words fail, music speaks”. Music according to me is a dialogue between a musician and their audience. Music sums up all the expressions and emotions that a human experiences in their lifetime. I embarked upon my musical journey around 22 years ago and since then it has been a constant quest to understand, to relate and to express the music within me.
Hindustani Music, more often known as the north Indian music, is approximately 1000 years old. It is said to have come from the Vedas and the Upanishads while also finding its roots in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Since then it has evolved in its structure and form. During the 11th and 12th century the Mughals had a great influence on Indian classical music and it is during their rule that Carnatic music and Hindustani music were differentiated into separate practices.
I began learning Hindustani Classical Music at the age of seven and since then there has been no looking back. My initiation to music was under the guidance of my uncle Dr. Rajesh Iyer, following which I attended the Saptak School of Music, Ahmedabad and studied under Shri Vikas Parikh of the Mewati Gharana. My most rigorous training has been at the ITC-Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata under the tutelage of Padma Vibhushan Smt Dr. Girija Devi and Ustad Waseem Ahemed Khan in the Agra gayaki tradition. I have been trained in khayal and thumri, chaiti, dadra, holi, tappa etc. In addition to my musical training I also have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College and am currently pursuing my Masters in Music. I have performed at various cities all around the country.
Each raga has a special narrative, a mood and a discourse waiting to be heard. The path of musical discovery is endless and timeless. The moment we feel we have gained some insight and understanding of the music is also the moment we realise that we are only at the beginning, there are many facets still waiting to be explored. This can be in equal measure beguiling and disheartening. Sometimes the motivation and innovation to perform and create flows from within, on other days it needs to be sought out.
There are many aspects of music that I would like to study further. I am particularly interested in understanding the effect of different ragas on human moods or behaviour. I would also like to study exposing children to music at a young age can fosters intelligence and sensitivity. I am keen to simultaneously continue evolving my practice or riaz. I am currently creating innovative ideas and developing sustainable methods of increasing my musical training. I am also experimenting with a variety of mediums to create music in an ever growing digital world, therefore reaching a wider audience. My thirst for music is unquenchable and a lifetime is not enough to fully appreciate it.
