The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class="no-js"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1" /> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#141414"> <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" content="#141414"> <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" content="#141414"> <meta name="google-play-app" content="app-id=in.scroll.android"> <meta name="twitter:app:name:googleplay" content="Scroll.in App for Android"> <meta name="twitter:app:id:googleplay" content="in.scroll.android"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Scroll.in News (RSS 2.0)" href="https://feeds.feedburner.com/ScrollinArticles.rss"> <title>The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?</title> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/opensearch.xml" title="Scroll.in"> <link href="scroll_in" rel="publisher"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-16x16.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-32x32.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-96x96.4cc034945103e3d2a902c9f81dceb823.003.png" sizes="96x96"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-160x160.7d97c537daffcf114789e9abfa5fb07f.003.png" sizes="160x160"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-57x57.277cea0346eb4df5b677579fca717306.003.png" sizes="57x57"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-72x72.53ee5cb4271f912e403784b41ffd9311.003.png" sizes="72x72"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-114x114.9dc8c17e787ea5a8d991fe66621ed49a.003.png" sizes="114x114"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-144x144.b71c766a62abe812b4b37e7f21e91e56.003.png" sizes="144x144"> <meta property="og:title" content="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?"> <meta name="description" content="In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? "> <meta name="author" content="Chitra Srikrishna"> <meta property="og:description" content="In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? "> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204187-wklvrmooah-1730273982.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="600"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="315"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Scroll.in"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in"> <meta name="keywords" content="Music, Kadri Gopalnath, Carnatic music, Carnatic instrumental, Carnatic vocalists"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204187-wklvrmooah-1730273982.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? "> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?"> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="twitter:site:id" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?"> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? "> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="Text"> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"> <meta name="dcterms.language" content="en_US"> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2024-11-24T11:30:00+05:30"> <meta name="dcterms.available" content="2024-11-24T11:30:00+05:30"> <meta name="dcterms.publisher" content="https://scroll.in"> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Chitra Srikrishna"> <meta name="dcterms.subject" content="Music, Kadri Gopalnath, Carnatic music, Carnatic instrumental, Carnatic vocalists"> <meta name="atdlayout" content="articlepage"> <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=1313224234, app-argument=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Music"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Kadri Gopalnath"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Carnatic music"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Carnatic instrumental"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Carnatic vocalists"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <link rel="schema.DCTERMS" href="https://purl.org/dc/terms/"> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://amp.scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" }, "headline": "The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/204187-wklvrmooah-1730273982.jpg", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "keywords": "Kadri Gopalnath, Carnatic music, Carnatic instrumental, Carnatic vocalists", "datePublished": "2024-11-24T11:30:00+05:30", "dateModified": "2024-11-24T11:30:00.554792+05:30", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chitra Srikrishna", "sameAs": "https://scroll.in/author/23921" } , "publisher": { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo-235x60.f692efa0f186cc40d85a5dac45e3a4af.003.png", "width": 235, "height": 60 }, "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in", "https://www.twitter.com/scroll_in", "https://plus.google.com/scroll_in", "https://instagram.com/+ScrollIn"] }, "description": "In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? " } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo-235x60.f692efa0f186cc40d85a5dac45e3a4af.003.png", "width": 235, "height": 60 }, "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in", "https://www.twitter.com/scroll_in", "https://plus.google.com/scroll_in", "https://instagram.com/+ScrollIn"] } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "potentialAction": { "@type":"SearchAction", "target":"https://scroll.in/search?q={search_term_string}", "query-input":"required name=search_term_string" } } </script><link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" /> <noscript> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" /> </noscript> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://scroll.in/static/css/base.c7db6452ea74e8650f36.003.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://scroll.in/static/css/article.44db8ef81dd28b20a77d.003.css"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-G1T78Y8E5C"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-G1T78Y8E5C'); </script> <script> (function() { var faLink = document.createElement('link'); faLink.type = 'text/css'; faLink.rel = 'stylesheet'; faLink.href='https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.0.6/css/all.css'; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(faLink); })(); </script> </head> <body class=" scroll"> <div id="app-banner-container"></div> <nav class="main-navigation skeleton-navigation" id="main_navigation"> <div class="scroll-top-nav"> <div class="scroll-top-nav-wrapper"> <div class="scroll-top-left-nav"> <a href="#" class="hamburger-menu-container scroll-navigation-more"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="18"> <path fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" d="M18.776.256H1.256C.566.256 0 .818 0 1.504c0 .687.565 1.248 1.256 1.248h17.488c.69 0 1.256-.561 1.256-1.248 0-.686-.534-1.248-1.224-1.248Zm-17.52 9.992H14.85c.69 0 1.256-.562 1.256-1.248 0-.686-.565-1.248-1.256-1.248H1.256C.566 7.752 0 8.314 0 9c0 .686.565 1.248 1.256 1.248Zm17.52 5H1.256c-.69 0-1.256.561-1.256 1.248 0 .686.565 1.248 1.256 1.248h17.488c.69 0 1.256-.562 1.256-1.248 0-.687-.534-1.248-1.224-1.248Z"> </path> </svg> </a> <ul class="scroll-top-left-nav-links non-list-items"> <li> <a class="newsletters hide-on-mobile" href="/newsletter">Newsletters</a> </li> <li> <a class="gift-membership hide-on-mobile" href="/gift-membership?utm_source=navbar">Gift Membership</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="scroll-top-center-nav"> <a class="scroll-logo-wrapper" href="/"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo.0f68c78dd023e2598248ea107feba562.003.svg" alt="Logo"> </a> <a class="scroll-logo-wrapper members-logo-wrapper" href="/"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-member.6be777075e9d469c2c2f1e1821e04169.003.svg" alt="Logo"> </a> </div> <div class="scroll-top-right-nav"> <div class="button-group"> <a href="//scroll.in/contribute?utm_source=web_navigation_bar" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button brand-button become-member-button"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/coins-icon.e7de2a252144b8daed137824d8a08028.003.svg" alt="" class="hide-on-mobile"> <span class="hide-on-mobile">Become a member</span> <span class="hide-on-desktop">Subscribe</span> </button> </a> <a href="#" id="getAppNavButton" class="button-wrapper hideOnApp"> <button class="button scroll-app-entry-button"> <span>Get app</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/signin" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button signin-button"> <svg width="18" height="18" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M9 1c4.414 0 8 3.586 8 8s-3.586 8-8 8-8-3.586-8-8 3.586-8 8-8Zm0 .827a7.173 7.173 0 0 0-7.171 7.17c0 1.652.565 3.168 1.515 4.39 1.561-1.765 3.53-2.738 5.656-2.738 2.127 0 4.095.973 5.656 2.738a7.065 7.065 0 0 0 1.515-4.39A7.173 7.173 0 0 0 9 1.828Zm0 1.84a2.888 2.888 0 0 1 2.889 2.889A2.888 2.888 0 0 1 9 9.444a2.888 2.888 0 0 1-2.889-2.888A2.888 2.888 0 0 1 9 3.666Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> <span class="hide-on-mobile">Sign in</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/search" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button search-button"> <svg width="12.5" height="12.5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M12.102 11.496 9 8.388a4.929 4.929 0 0 0 1.148-3.18A4.948 4.948 0 1 0 .25 5.19c0 2.73 2.223 4.958 4.949 4.958a4.86 4.86 0 0 0 3.156-1.15l3.12 3.108c.09.09.197.144.322.144a.383.383 0 0 0 .305-.144c.197-.143.197-.43 0-.61ZM1.164 5.19a4.052 4.052 0 1 1 8.105 0A4.067 4.067 0 0 1 5.2 9.25a4.037 4.037 0 0 1-4.035-4.06Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" stroke="#C5C5C5" stroke-width=".5"></path> </svg> </button> </a> <div class="nav-tooltip scroll-app-tooltip hideOnApp" id="scrollAppNavTooltip" style="display: none"> <span class="nav-tooltip-title"> Take Scroll With You </span> <small class="nav-tooltip-description">Download the app to read our award-winning journalism on the go and stay up-to-date with our notifications.</small> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp on-navigation-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-square-logo.9e100dd6eb50cbf476dd78e0586bb366.003.svg" alt="Get the app"> <span>Get the app</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from navigation"> <span>ANDROID</span> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOS App Upsell clicked from navigation"> <span>iOS</span> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="button-group members-button-group"> <a href="//scroll.in/gift-membership" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button gift-membership-button"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/gift-icon.36686dc2eba39329075a214cc01c7e84.003.svg" alt=""> <span>Gift Membership</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/search" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button search-button"> <svg width="12.5" height="12.5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M12.102 11.496 9 8.388a4.929 4.929 0 0 0 1.148-3.18A4.948 4.948 0 1 0 .25 5.19c0 2.73 2.223 4.958 4.949 4.958a4.86 4.86 0 0 0 3.156-1.15l3.12 3.108c.09.09.197.144.322.144a.383.383 0 0 0 .305-.144c.197-.143.197-.43 0-.61ZM1.164 5.19a4.052 4.052 0 1 1 8.105 0A4.067 4.067 0 0 1 5.2 9.25a4.037 4.037 0 0 1-4.035-4.06Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" stroke="#C5C5C5" stroke-width=".5"></path> </svg> </button> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav-feed-links-container"> <ul class="nav-feed-links-wrapper non-list-items"> <li data-stop-js="1" class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="All News Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Home </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56439/common-ground" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Common Ground Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Common Ground </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56455/the-india-fix" data-category="Mobile" data-label="India Fix Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The India Fix </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56120/eco-india" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Eco India Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Eco India </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/latest/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Latest Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Latest </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/reel/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reel Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Reel </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/magazine/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Magazine Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Magazine </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/video/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Videoblog Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Video </a> </li> <li class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-trending scroll-navigation-trending has-submenu"> <a href="#" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Trending Clicked from menu" class="ga-track has-flex"> Trending <div class="navigation-icon-container"> <svg width="8.195" height="4.751" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M.185.19A.616.616 0 0 1 .64 0c.17 0 .34.057.454.19l3.013 2.993L7.1.19a.652.652 0 0 1 .909 0 .652.652 0 0 1 0 .909L4.562 4.566a.652.652 0 0 1-.91 0L.185 1.1a.652.652 0 0 1 0-.91Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <ul class="non-list-items" style="display: none"><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1078936/is-your-digestion-fast-or-slow-find-out-with-the-sweetcorn-test-and-what-it-means">Is your digestion fast or slow? Find out with the ‘sweetcorn test’ and what it means</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079035/callisthenics-or-the-gym-whats-better-for-strength-training">Callisthenics or the gym – what’s better for strength training?</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079222/the-usas-latest-puppet-regime-the-usa">The USA’s latest puppet regime – the USA</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1079281/rush-hour-surge-in-indians-seeking-us-asylum-all-participants-of-indias-got-latent-booked-more">Rush Hour: Surge in Indians seeking US asylum, all participants of India’s Got Latent booked & more</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079127/no-place-to-call-my-own-a-slow-start-makes-way-for-a-realistic-portrayal-of-womens-relationships">‘No Place To Call My Own’: A slow start makes way for a realistic portrayal of women’s relationships</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079130/writing-is-a-journey-inside-your-head-and-sometimes-the-outside-world-is-an-obstacle-defne-suman">‘Writing is a journey inside your head and sometimes the outside world is an obstacle’: Defne Suman</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079084/the-other-mohan-a-gripping-tale-of-not-just-the-empire-but-of-lives-buried-in-historical-records">‘The Other Mohan’: A gripping tale of not just the Empire but of lives buried in historical records</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079074/culinary-memoir-a-family-gathers-for-feasts-and-recalls-fond-memories-of-uttar-pradeshs-fine-foods">Culinary memoir: A family gathers for feasts and recalls fond memories of Uttar Pradesh’s fine foods</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/reel/1078779/soft-porn-cinema-and-the-making-of-indian-desire-darshana-sreedhar-mini-on-her-book-rated-a">Soft-porn cinema and the making of Indian desire: Darshana Sreedhar Mini on her book ‘Rated A’</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1079240/uttar-pradesh-school-named-after-1965-war-veteran-abdul-hamid-rechristened-pm-shri-school">Uttar Pradesh school named after 1965 war veteran Abdul Hamid rechristened PM SHRI School</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079197/beerbiceps-controversy-why-is-the-bjp-going-after-its-own-cheerleader">‘BeerBiceps’ controversy: Why is the BJP going after its own cheerleader?</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/reel/1079101/chhaava-review-a-brutally-violent-version-of-maratha-history">‘Chhaava’ review: A brutally violent version of Maratha history</a> </li></ul> </li> <li class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-sections scroll-navigation-sections has-submenu"> <a href="#" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Sections Clicked from menu" class="ga-track has-flex"> Sections <div class="navigation-icon-container"> <svg width="8.195" height="4.751" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M.185.19A.616.616 0 0 1 .64 0c.17 0 .34.057.454.19l3.013 2.993L7.1.19a.652.652 0 0 1 .909 0 .652.652 0 0 1 0 .909L4.562 4.566a.652.652 0 0 1-.91 0L.185 1.1a.652.652 0 0 1 0-.91Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <ul class="non-list-items" style="display: none">  <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/76/politics" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Politics</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/107/culture" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Culture</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/105/india" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">India</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/3554/world" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">World</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/3/film-and-tv" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Film and TV</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/4/music" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Music</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/80/books-and-ideas" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Books and Ideas</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/77/business-and-economy" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Business and Economy</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/83/science-and-technology" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Science and Technology</a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/roving/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="In pictures Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> In Pictures </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/announcements/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Announcements</a> </li> <li> <a href="//shop.scroll.in" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Bookshop Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Bookshop </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/field/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Field Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Field </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/pulse/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Pulse Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Pulse </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/elections/2024" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Election 2024 Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Elections 2024 </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div id="infoModal"></div> <div class="error-message warning" style="display: none"> <p><i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle"></i><span class="error-message-block"></span></p> </div> <div id="modal-container"></div> <div class="tooltip-container" style="display:none"> <div id="tooltip"></div> </div> <div id="teleport"></div> <div id="contributeModal"></div> <div id="notification-alert-banner"></div> <div id="GDPRAlertBanner"></div> <div class="main-container " > <div class="below-navigation-banner-wrapper"> <section class="ad-loader"> <div class="circle-border"> <div class="circle-core"></div> </div> <span class="ad-loader-text">Ad</span> </section> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0' class="header-bidding below-navigation-banner"></div> </div> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; window.gptSlots = window.gptSlots || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([0, 0], []) .addSize([320, 50], ["fluid", [300, 250]]) .addSize([768, 50], ["fluid", [300, 250]]) .addSize([1050, 250], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90]]) .build(); window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"] = googletag.defineSlot( '/21719278143/scroll-web-all-below-navigation', [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], "fluid"], 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0') .defineSizeMapping(mapping) .addService(googletag.companionAds()) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting('refresh', 'true') .setTargeting('refreshcount', '0') .setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); googletag.pubads().enableVideoAds(); googletag.enableServices(); if (false) { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(true, true); } else { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); } }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0'); }); </script> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel trending-carousel carousel-is-sticky"> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-wrapper"> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-navigators"> <a href="#"> <div class="navigator previous-element-navigator"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="4.9" height="8.8"> <path fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M.2 4.8 4 8.6a.5.5 0 1 0 .8-.7L1.3 4.4 4.8.9A.5.5 0 1 0 4 .2L.2 4l-.2.3v.2c0 .1 0 .2.2.3Z"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <a href="#"> <div class="navigator next-element-navigator is-active"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="4.9" height="8.8"> <path fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M.2 4.8 4 8.6a.5.5 0 1 0 .8-.7L1.3 4.4 4.8.9A.5.5 0 1 0 4 .2L.2 4l-.2.3v.2c0 .1 0 .2.2.3Z"></path> </svg> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-content"> <header> <span>OTHERS ARE</span> <h3> Reading <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/notification-bell.f310cc4281baa94bf6880b656db03c3c.003.svg" alt="icon" class="hide-on-dark"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/dm-notification-bell.817f465fce370fcee485dc3b087448f6.003.svg" alt="icon" class="show-on-dark"> </h3> </header> <ul class="sticky-bottom-carousel-content-container" id="cardsWrapper"> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1078936/is-your-digestion-fast-or-slow-find-out-with-the-sweetcorn-test-and-what-it-means"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205764-swrthklebs-1739254396.jpg" alt="Is your digestion fast or slow? Find out with the ‘sweetcorn test’ and what it means"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">1</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Is your digestion fast or slow? Find out with the ‘sweetcorn test’ and what it means</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079035/callisthenics-or-the-gym-whats-better-for-strength-training"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204349-guzaosawkp-1731317514.jpg" alt="Callisthenics or the gym – what’s better for strength training?"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">2</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Callisthenics or the gym – what’s better for strength training?</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079222/the-usas-latest-puppet-regime-the-usa"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205833-fkzfegfkrw-1739705296.jpg" alt="The USA’s latest puppet regime – the USA"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">3</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>The USA’s latest puppet regime – the USA</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1079281/rush-hour-surge-in-indians-seeking-us-asylum-all-participants-of-indias-got-latent-booked-more"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205373-aacoayhqxy-1737105018.jpg" alt="Rush Hour: Surge in Indians seeking US asylum, all participants of India’s Got Latent booked & more"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">4</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Rush Hour: Surge in Indians seeking US asylum, all participants of India’s Got Latent booked & more</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079127/no-place-to-call-my-own-a-slow-start-makes-way-for-a-realistic-portrayal-of-womens-relationships"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205488-fjxbmotfog-1737781277.jpeg" alt="‘No Place To Call My Own’: A slow start makes way for a realistic portrayal of women’s relationships"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">5</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>‘No Place To Call My Own’: A slow start makes way for a realistic portrayal of women’s relationships</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079130/writing-is-a-journey-inside-your-head-and-sometimes-the-outside-world-is-an-obstacle-defne-suman"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205801-fgyxalxzca-1739441647.jpg" alt="‘Writing is a journey inside your head and sometimes the outside world is an obstacle’: Defne Suman"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">6</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>‘Writing is a journey inside your head and sometimes the outside world is an obstacle’: Defne Suman</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079084/the-other-mohan-a-gripping-tale-of-not-just-the-empire-but-of-lives-buried-in-historical-records"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204244-xautytdqxq-1730710475.jpg" alt="‘The Other Mohan’: A gripping tale of not just the Empire but of lives buried in historical records"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">7</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>‘The Other Mohan’: A gripping tale of not just the Empire but of lives buried in historical records</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079074/culinary-memoir-a-family-gathers-for-feasts-and-recalls-fond-memories-of-uttar-pradeshs-fine-foods"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205785-gdahlcnycg-1739348677.jpeg" alt="Culinary memoir: A family gathers for feasts and recalls fond memories of Uttar Pradesh’s fine foods"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">8</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Culinary memoir: A family gathers for feasts and recalls fond memories of Uttar Pradesh’s fine foods</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/reel/1078779/soft-porn-cinema-and-the-making-of-indian-desire-darshana-sreedhar-mini-on-her-book-rated-a"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205663-zgznjrdnxs-1738749516.jpg" alt="Soft-porn cinema and the making of Indian desire: Darshana Sreedhar Mini on her book ‘Rated A’"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">9</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Soft-porn cinema and the making of Indian desire: Darshana Sreedhar Mini on her book ‘Rated A’</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1079240/uttar-pradesh-school-named-after-1965-war-veteran-abdul-hamid-rechristened-pm-shri-school"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/205842-iaysractgu-1739774655.jpeg" alt="Uttar Pradesh school named after 1965 war veteran Abdul Hamid rechristened PM SHRI School"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">10</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Uttar Pradesh school named after 1965 war veteran Abdul Hamid rechristened PM SHRI School</p> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="server-articles" class="article-page scroll-article-page">  <article id="article-unique-1075043" data-series-id="0" class="article scroll-article normal-article scroll-in-article" data-seo-title="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?" data-title="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?" data-permalink="https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" data-id="1075043" data-cb-authors="Chitra Srikrishna" data-cb-categories="Scroll.in, Music" data-in-viewport="true">  <header> <span class="orange-tag"> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/36853/making-music"> Making music </a> </span> <h1>The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?</h1> <h2>In the absence of song lyrics that play a crucial role in making the songs relatable, how can instrumentalists hold their own? </h2>  <div class="article-meta-container-with-comments"> <div class="article-meta-container"> <address><a href="//scroll.in/author/23921" rel="author" >Chitra Srikrishna</a></address> <div class="article-time-container"> <time datetime="2024-11-24T11:30:00+05:30" class="article-published-time"> Nov 24, 2024 · 11:30 am </time> </div> </div> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp near-timestamp-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <span>Read in App</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from article header"> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOs App Upsell clicked from article header"> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </header>   <figure class="featured-image"><picture class="aspect-ratio-placeholder image-width-1200-height-630"><img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/204187-wklvrmooah-1730273982.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?"> </picture> <figcaption class="featured-image-caption"> Nirmala Rajasekar. | Nirmala Rajasekar via Facebook. </figcaption> </figure>   <div class="article-content-container">  <section class="article-content scroll-article-content normal-article-content large-6 columns"> <div id="article-contents" class="article-body"> <p>In Carnatic music, concerts with instrumentalist headliners such as the veena, flute or violin are a small fraction of performances at most music festivals, including the biggest one of them all the Chennai December season. Most concerts are centred around the vocalist.</p><p>One reason why instrumentalists struggle to find audiences for their concerts is the importance of song lyrics in Carnatic music. In Indian classical music, whether it’s Carnatic or Hindustani, the essence lies in three elements: melody (raga), rhythm (tala) and lyrics (sahitya). While melody and rhythm may require some listening experience to appreciate fully, the lyrics play a crucial role in making the songs relatable and even able to evoke a transcendental experience for the listeners.</p><p>This is especially true for Carnatic concerts with their vast collection of devotional songs in various South Indian languages.</p><p>“Instrumental concerts need a bit more elevated understanding of the music [by the audience], which is why it remains a niche field,” said Shashank Subramanyam, a self-taught flute maestro from Chennai who gave his first public concert when he was six.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-embed cms-block-embed-youtube has-subtext" data-iframe="<iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nwx4SOZu1hI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Raga Vagadeeshwari | Shashank Subramanyam | Ragam Tanam Pallavi | Music of India"></iframe>" data-embed-type="youtube" data-thumbnail="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nwx4SOZu1hI/hqdefault.jpg" data-embed-id="Nwx4SOZu1hI" data-embed-loaded="false" data-height="113" data-width="200"> <div class="static-wrapper"> <div class="thumbnail-wrapper" style="background-image: url('https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nwx4SOZu1hI/hqdefault.jpg')"></div> <span class="video-play">Play</span> </div> <figcaption>Flute maestro Shashank Subramanyam at the Darbar Festival.</figcaption></figure><p>Audiences “are able to relate to the sahitya [lyrics] more than the raga aspect”, agreed Dr RV Raghavendra, founder and managing trustee of Ananya GML Cultural Academy, a Bangalore-based organisation that has been promoting performing arts for more than 25 years.</p><p>While organising concerts at Ananya, Raghavendra’s team solicits the opinion of rasikas who regularly attend the organisation’s concerts. “They [the rasikas] tell us how the sahitya of a simple Purandaradasa song is more important [to them] than the raga part of the concert,” he said.</p><p>However, Raghavendra acknowledged that if the performer is a well-known instrumentalist, the decision to host a concert by them becomes easier. “We had no problem getting people for a saxophone concert by Dr Kadri Gopalnath as he had a fan following,” he said.</p><p>But it becomes a challenge for young instrumentalists, he noted. “In an auditorium that seats 350 there are 40 to 50 people at such concerts” said Raghavendra.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-embed cms-block-embed-youtube has-subtext" data-iframe="<iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yv82nF9Ko4U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Guhan Venkataraman - Krishna Nee Begane - Yamuna Kalyani"></iframe>" data-embed-type="youtube" data-thumbnail="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yv82nF9Ko4U/hqdefault.jpg" data-embed-id="Yv82nF9Ko4U" data-embed-loaded="false" data-height="113" data-width="200"> <div class="static-wrapper"> <div class="thumbnail-wrapper" style="background-image: url('https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Yv82nF9Ko4U/hqdefault.jpg')"></div> <span class="video-play">Play</span> </div> <figcaption>Dr Guhan Venkataraman </figcaption></figure><p>It has not been any easier for Carnatic instrumentalists outside India. “I think that the opportunities have stayed somewhat consistent, at least here in the US,” said veena player Dr Guhan Venkataraman, 28, who lives in San Francisco. Venkataraman gave his first veena concert when he was 12 and performs at least once a month.</p><p>Globally acclaimed veena player Nirmala Rajasekar, who lives in Minnesota, echoed this sentiment. “I cannot say the situation is not good [for me] but I think it could be better with more instrumental concerts,” she said. “I don’t think anywhere it is equitable and a vocalist always seems to have the most number of performances in any festival and that’s how it has always been.” </p><p>Rajasekar gave her first public concert when she was 13 years old and has been playing in main concert slots for more than four decades, including at the famed Chennai music season in December.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-embed cms-block-embed-youtube has-subtext" data-iframe="<iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nziy-dBBJn0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Nirmala Rajasekar"></iframe>" data-embed-type="youtube" data-thumbnail="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nziy-dBBJn0/hqdefault.jpg" data-embed-id="nziy-dBBJn0" data-embed-loaded="false" data-height="113" data-width="200"> <div class="static-wrapper"> <div class="thumbnail-wrapper" style="background-image: url('https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nziy-dBBJn0/hqdefault.jpg')"></div> <span class="video-play">Play</span> </div> <figcaption>Veena Vidushi Nirmala Rajasekar and herensemble.</figcaption></figure><p>Venkataraman, who is on the AI team of a biotech firm, noted that it is extremely difficult for an instrumentalist to make a career a career in music. “It is exceedingly difficult to earn a name, and it is even harder to maintain a name,” he said. “While the ceilings of a stellar music career can make you a legend, the floor of a steady income is so much higher to sustain a lifestyle, especially here in the US.”</p><p>Rajasekar agreed. “I have many promising students, playing fantastically but what they’re going to do, we’ll have to wait because I know that some of them want to become professional musicians,” she said.</p><p>Venkatraman hopes that as time goes on, it will be better for instrumental musicians. “It’s a chicken-and-egg situation,” he said. “What will come first, more opportunities for musicians, or more instrumental musicians?”</p><h3 class="cms-block cms-block-heading"><strong>The way forward</strong></h3><p>In the absence of song lyrics, how are instrumentalists holding their own? “This is where the science of music plays a part,” said Subramanyam, the flute player. “I don’t always say intellectual music sells to the masses, no matter how good it is. Virtuosity is never easy and in that aspect flute has done very well with its range and adaptability.”</p><p>Though Indian instruments with a long pedigree such as the flute, veena, nadaswaram and violin (which has been Indianised for over a century) continue to face challenges being the headliners, it has not stopped a series of other western instruments appearing on the Carnatic stage. The guitar, the mandolin, piano, saxophone and clarinet have appeared on the Carnatic stage at different periods.</p><p>As with any change, audience reactions have ranged from curiosity and at times disdain and dismissal to surprise and kudos. Yet artists old and young have taken the risk of not merely trying out these instruments but in many instances promoting them by playing them exclusively and helping them thrive. This happened, as music writer A Seshan eloquently put it, through a “process of adoption, adaptation and assimilation” to the Carnatic idiom.</p><p>Instrumentalists and concert organisers have attempted many innovative ways to bring instrumental concerts to performance spaces. Festivals such as the Nadhaswaram Music Festival, Violin Vaibhavam, Vipanchika Mahotsavam and the recent Mahindra Percussion Festival in Bangalore have not only created opportunities for instrumentalists but also made audiences aware of newer musical sounds and artists.</p><p>Ensembles like the Veena Gaanam featuring more than 30 veena players on stage at the annual Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana for the last decade have been a way to highlight the stringed instrument.</p><p>Creating such opportunities for musicians playing similar instruments in an ensemble have also been uplifting since Carnatic concerts are typically solo oriented. “Creating space to bring multiple veenas is one way I have found that brings in a lot more interest, because so many things can be harnessed and can make it [the performance] more interesting,” said Rajasekar who conducts the Veena Gaanam. “People have started to wait for this [event] to happen every year.”</p><p>Collaborations with instrumentalists from other musical genres have created opportunities in global music festivals. Maithree, an ensemble formed by Rajasekar in 2018 with Carnatic mridangist Thanjavur K Murugaboopathi, cellist Michelle Kinney, and brothers Pat (clarinet) and Tim O’Keefe (drums) have created original music with Indian, Irish and Turkish tunes.</p><p>Subrahmanyan has collaborated with musicians across genres such as sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee, guitar players Vishwa Mohan Bhat and John McLaughlin and Pierre Dorge and his New Jungle Orchestra.</p><p>A Carnatic Quartet, an ensemble of violinist Shreya Devnath with Mylai Karthikeyan (nadhaswaram) Praveen Sparsh (mridangam) and two thavil artistes Adyar G Silambarasan and Gummudipoondi R Jeevanandham blend classical, folk, and electronic music, as well as collaborate with artists who perform Villupaatu, a traditional folk art form from Tamil Nadu.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-embed cms-block-embed-youtube has-subtext" data-iframe="<iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qt-JVsYn4Ug?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="A Carnatic Quartet: Ekla Cholo Re"></iframe>" data-embed-type="youtube" data-thumbnail="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qt-JVsYn4Ug/hqdefault.jpg" data-embed-id="qt-JVsYn4Ug" data-embed-loaded="false" data-height="113" data-width="200"> <div class="static-wrapper"> <div class="thumbnail-wrapper" style="background-image: url('https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qt-JVsYn4Ug/hqdefault.jpg')"></div> <span class="video-play">Play</span> </div> <figcaption>Ekla Cholo Re </figcaption></figure><p>All these innovations are creating opportunities for instrumentalists, but they have yet to significantly impact the traditional circuit of sabhas or organisations that hold concerts. Addressing the curation process and programming approach of sabhas is crucial. As Subramanyam noted, “Barring a few sabhas, there has not been much change year after year in terms of programming and concert format.”</p><p>Some instrumentalists argue for a paradigm shift in making instrumental music more dynamic and vocal-like. Prasanna, a guitarist, expressed this view in an interview with <em>The New Sunday Express</em>. “Jazz is constantly evolving, while Carnatic music is static,” he said.</p><p>Word of mouth about artist calibre remains a factor influencing concert opportunities. However, social media has significantly changed the landscape, providing vocalists and instrumentalists with easier ways to build their brands and connect with audiences. This has made it somewhat easier for organisers to feature them.</p><p>Nevertheless, young and popular instrumentalists like Ramana Balachandhran (veena), Mylai Karthikeyan (nadhaswaram), and JA Jayanth (flute) are still relatively few in number compared to their vocalist counterparts in the circuit.</p><p>By utilising innovative teaching methods, developing new platforms and forming collaborations across genres, instrumentalists could enhance audience appreciation and create more opportunities for themselves.</p><p><em>Chitra Srikrishna is a Carnatic vocalist based in Bangalore. Her website can be accessed </em><a class="link-external" href="http://chitrasrikrishna.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp below-article-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-square-logo.9e100dd6eb50cbf476dd78e0586bb366.003.svg" width="20" height="20" alt="Get the app"> <span>Get the app</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from below article"> <span>ANDROID</span> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOS App Upsell clicked from below article"> <span>iOS</span> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="contributeBlock"></div> <i class="mail-us-section"> We welcome your comments at <a href="mailto:?Subject=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F&to=letters@scroll.in" target="_blank">letters@scroll.in</a>. </i> <ul class="article-tags-list"><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Carnatic-music" class="tag-menu"> Carnatic music </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Kadri-Gopalnath" class="tag-menu"> Kadri Gopalnath </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Shashank-Subramanyam" class="tag-menu"> Shashank Subramanyam </a> </li></ul> <div class="below-article-share-block no-comment"> <ul class="article-share-sheet show-for-large"> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-whatsapp show-for-small-only"> <a href="whatsapp://send?text=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F%0A%0Ahttps://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Whatsapp share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fab fa-whatsapp"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Facebook share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-facebook fab fa-facebook-f"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F&url=https%3A//scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences&via=scroll_in" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Twitter share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-twitter fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-email"> <a href="mailto:?Subject=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F&body=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Email share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-email fas fa-envelope"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-reddit"> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences&title=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reddit share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-google fab fa-reddit-alien"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-print show-for-large"> <a href="/article/print/1075043" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Print button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fas fa-print"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div>   <div class="share-bar-mobile fixedsticky hide-for-large"> <div class="tablet-width-container">    <ul class="article-share-sheet"> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-whatsapp show-for-small-only"> <a href="whatsapp://send?text=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F%0A%0Ahttps://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Whatsapp share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fab fa-whatsapp"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Facebook share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-facebook fab fa-facebook-f"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F&url=https%3A//scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences&via=scroll_in" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Twitter share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-twitter fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-email"> <a href="mailto:?Subject=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F&body=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Email share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-email fas fa-envelope"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-reddit"> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://scroll.in/article/1075043/the-carnatic-world-is-dominated-by-vocalists-how-can-instrumentalists-find-larger-audiences&title=The%20Carnatic%20world%20is%20dominated%20by%20vocalists.%20How%20can%20instrumentalists%20find%20larger%20audiences%3F" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reddit share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-google fab fa-reddit-alien"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-print show-for-large"> <a href="/article/print/1075043" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Print button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fas fa-print"></i> </a> </li> </ul>  </div>  </div> </section>  <aside class="article-recommended-list-container large-3 columns" id="recommendedArticlesBar"> <div class="article-related"> <h3>Related</h3> <div class="card related-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/reel/963235/separated-by-distance-united-in-their-vision-the-music-of-benedict-taylor-and-naren-chandavarkar" data-label="Clicked from related article section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/142590-ntuwyruyjp-1591632533.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Separated by distance, united in their vision: The music of Benedict Taylor and Naren Chandavarkar"> </figure> <h4>Separated by distance, united in their vision: The music of Benedict Taylor and Naren Chandavarkar</h4> </a> </div> </div> <div class="card-container-parent"> <h3>Trending</h3> <div class="article-recommended-list"> <ol class="cards-container"> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1078936/is-your-digestion-fast-or-slow-find-out-with-the-sweetcorn-test-and-what-it-means" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/205764-swrthklebs-1739254396.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Is your digestion fast or slow? Find out with the ‘sweetcorn test’ and what it means"> </figure> <h4>Is your digestion fast or slow? Find out with the ‘sweetcorn test’ and what it means</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079035/callisthenics-or-the-gym-whats-better-for-strength-training" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204349-guzaosawkp-1731317514.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Callisthenics or the gym – what’s better for strength training?"> </figure> <h4>Callisthenics or the gym – what’s better for strength training?</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079222/the-usas-latest-puppet-regime-the-usa" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/205833-fkzfegfkrw-1739705296.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="The USA’s latest puppet regime – the USA"> </figure> <h4>The USA’s latest puppet regime – the USA</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/1079281/rush-hour-surge-in-indians-seeking-us-asylum-all-participants-of-indias-got-latent-booked-more" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/205373-aacoayhqxy-1737105018.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Rush Hour: Surge in Indians seeking US asylum, all participants of India’s Got Latent booked & more"> </figure> <h4>Rush Hour: Surge in Indians seeking US asylum, all participants of India’s Got Latent booked & more</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1079127/no-place-to-call-my-own-a-slow-start-makes-way-for-a-realistic-portrayal-of-womens-relationships" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/205488-fjxbmotfog-1737781277.jpeg" loading="lazy" alt="‘No Place To Call My Own’: A slow start makes way for a realistic portrayal of women’s relationships"> </figure> <h4>‘No Place To Call My Own’: A slow start makes way for a realistic portrayal of women’s relationships</h4> </a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </aside>  </div>  </article> </div> <div id="vue-articles"></div> </div>  <div id="bottomStickyWrapper" class="bottom-sticky-banner-wrapper engagement-bar hide hideOnApp hide-for-large" > <section class="ad-loader"> <div class="circle-border"> <div class="circle-core"></div> </div> <span class="ad-loader-text">Ad</span> </section> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3" class="header-bidding bottom-sticky-banner"></div> </div> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; window.gptSlots = window.gptSlots || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([0, 0], []) .addSize([320, 50], [[320, 50]]) .addSize([768, 50], []) .addSize([1050, 250], []) .build(); window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"] = googletag.defineSlot( '/21719278143/scroll-web-all-bottom-sticky', [[320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3') .defineSizeMapping(mapping) .addService(googletag.companionAds()) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting('refresh', 'true') .setTargeting('refreshcount', '0') .setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); googletag.pubads().enableVideoAds(); googletag.enableServices(); if (true) { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(true, true); } else { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); } }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3'); }); </script> <div id="search-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> var PWT = {}; //Initialize Namespace var notifyId; var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; var gptRan = false; var loadGPT = function() { if (!gptRan) { gptRan = true; var gads = document.createElement('script'); var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); } } // Failsafe to call gpt. setTimeout(loadGPT, 1000); PWT.jsLoaded = function(){ //PubMatic pwt.js on load callback is used to load GPT loadGPT(); }; (function() { var purl = window.location.href; var url = `//ads.pubmatic.com/AdServer/js/pwt/159549/2471`; var profileVersionId = ''; if(purl.indexOf('pwtv=')>0){ var regexp = /pwtv=(.*?)(&|$)/g; var matches = regexp.exec(purl); if(matches.length >= 2 && matches[1].length > 0){ profileVersionId = '/'+matches[1]; } } var wtads = document.createElement('script'); wtads.async = true; wtads.type = 'text/javascript'; wtads.src = url+profileVersionId+'/pwt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(wtads, node); })(); </script> <script> !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); apstag.init({ pubID: '0835b91a-5d46-4392-b08d-7f2a8466259b', adServer: 'googletag', simplerGPT: true }); googletag.cmd.push(function(){ // TODO: Make ad unit ids dynamic notifyId = window.OWT.registerExternalBidders(['div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-1', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-2', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3']); // Notifies OpenWrap that there are some external bidders for which it has to wait before calling GAM. apstag.fetchBids( { timeout: 2e3 }, function(bids) { apstag.setDisplayBids(); window.OWT.notifyExternalBiddingComplete(notifyId); } ); }); </script> <script> (function() { var _Scroll = window._Scroll || {}; _Scroll.siteLang = "en"; _Scroll.baseLink = '//scroll.in'; _Scroll.currentName = 'scroll'; _Scroll.isBrand = ''; _Scroll.months = ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June', 'July', 'August', 'September', 'October', 'November', 'December']; _Scroll.weekdays = ['Sunday', 'Monday', 'Tuesday', 'Wednesday', 'Thursday', 'Friday', 'Saturday']; _Scroll.timelines = ['Today', 'Yesterday']; _Scroll.quantifiers = ['ago', 'seconds', 'minute', 'minutes', 'hour', 'hours', 'day', 'days', 'month', 'months', 'year', 'years', 'a', 'an' ]; _Scroll.subscribed = false; _Scroll.userGroups = {"expired": "expired", "registered": "registered", "subscriber": "subscriber", "unverified": "unverified"}; _Scroll.subscriptions_enabled = false; _Scroll.isCanvasShown = false; _Scroll.comments_enabled = false; _Scroll.showBannerAds = true; _Scroll.adx = {"canvas_enabled": false, "enabled": true, "openwrap": {"amp_profile_id": "2477", "enabled": true, "pub_id": "159549", "web_profile_id": "2471"}, "out_of_page": {"in_article": {"div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-oop-in-article", "mapping": [1, 1], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-oop-in-article"}}, "slots": {"below_navigation": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-below-navigation", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0", "mapping": [[], ["fluid", [300, 250]], ["fluid", [300, 250]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90]]], "sizes": [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], "fluid"], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-below-navigation"}, "bottom_sticky": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-bottom-sticky", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3", "mapping": [[], [[320, 50]], [], []], "sizes": [[320, 50]], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-bottom-sticky"}, "in_article": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-in-article", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-2", "mapping": [[], ["fluid", [300, 250], [430, 430], [1, 1]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [430, 430], [1, 1]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [1440, 520], [1, 1]]], "sizes": [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [430, 430], [1440, 520], [1, 1], "fluid"], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-in-article"}}}; _Scroll.gonativeApp = false; _Scroll.articleFeed = 'series'; _Scroll.seriesTitle = 'Scroll.in'; _Scroll.gaId = 'G-G1T78Y8E5C'; _Scroll.publication = 'scroll'; _Scroll.electionWidgetArticles = {"1075969": {"chart_id": 23, "limit": 288, "source": "ECI/media reports"}, "1075986": {"chart_id": 24, "limit": 81, "source": "ECI/media reports"}, "1078889": {"chart_id": 25, "limit": 70, "source": "ECI/media reports"}}; _Scroll.experimentMap = {"membership_exp_international_5_subscription": {"base": [2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 18, 20], "variant": []}} _Scroll.membersOnlyTag = 'Member Exclusive' window._Scroll = _Scroll; })(); </script> <script> (function() { var _Scroll = window._Scroll || {}; _Scroll.lastArticleId = 1075043; _Scroll.seriesId = 0; _Scroll.categoryIds = [4]; _Scroll.templateMap = {'normal': [1, 11], 'thin': [2, 3, 4], 'pollable': [10], 'audio': [5], 'deal': [9], 'recipe': [12]}; _Scroll.notShowingCoverFor = [3, 4]; _Scroll.isMembersOnly = false _Scroll.load_bulletin = true;_Scroll.isFromHomePage = false; window._Scroll = _Scroll; })(); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@id": "https://scroll.in/category/4/music", "name": "Music" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@id": "https://scroll.in/topic/36853/making-music", "name": "Making Music" } }] } </script> <script crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.4.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <script crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/vue/2.5.17/vue.min.js"></script><script src="https://scroll.in/static/js/common.ccf8421bd0eba953f2cd.003.js"></script> <script src="https://scroll.in/static/js/article.e47dea9ebf2f23eaa704.003.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The Carnatic world is dominated by vocalists. How can instrumentalists find larger audiences?