The Biggest Regatta - Vallam Kali
Synopsis
This is an illustrated book with actual photo images helping to build authentic imagination during reading. It is mainly and truly about the biggest paddling regatta as well as the biggest team sport in the world. Here, there are no substitutes or bench players. Those who are in the boat are all active participants during the entire race!. The event is described in many contexts of the race, competition, accompanying festivities, age-old rituals, the communities living in the secluded hamlets of the region, the rich biosphere & environment, natural beauty of the land, the prolific number of rivers, canals & reclaimed farmlands; the flood and miseries it causes; traditional & superstitious beliefs of the people in the many myths & Mythologies. The book provides a parochial as well as a global perspective on many themes affecting, people, geopolitical, 'socioeconomic & cultural' systems prevailing. It is hilariously entertaining, at the same time, seriously thought-provoking; exposing and vilifying the bad; the antisocial elements & entities. The book highlights many of the unique systems and beliefs and elevate the status of this exceptionally pristine ecosystem the inhabitants strive to preserve in the face of many adversities. Ultimately, it raises awareness and consciousness among the readers to diligently explore and find better ways to maintain a sustainable world that we could be proud to hand over to the succeeding generations.
The theme and contents described here are formed mostly from actual experiences, interactions, observations, stories told by elders, eyewitness accounts heard in the past & present, as well as media documentaries on a variety of subject matters. The facts are complemented with analogies and comparisons, providing plausible explanations. The author attempts to conjure up an 'immersive' virtual reality' experience of the events, describing lifestyles of the past in an interesting, informative, nostalgic, passionate, authentic style, details, and presentation. It is the genuine hope that the readers will enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty of the land, Vallam-Kali, folk-festivals, and the events in several more ways when they really get a chance to see this superlative event of joy, happiness, spirit, participation, passion, and history.
A courteous reminder: As it contains several specialized terms, vernacular language/phrases, as well as some rarely used vocabulary, readers are advised to refer and familiarize themselves with the glossary of words included in the very last pages of the book!
The book contains references and description of:
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Vallam-Kali as a folk festival & competition, the passion, and excitement surrounding the regatta
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The Genesis of the claim 'God's own Country'; how did it all come about and in the context of mythology. All explained in the periodic scientific and captivating chain of events
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Scenes & Background story of the Kutta-naadu region, with its biosphere- a large number of Paddy fields & Palm groves, flora & fauna, fish & fowl, cows & cattle, birds & animals, sights & scenes
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Poetry by the renowned 'Nimisha Kavi' (instantly poetical/extempore poet!)
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Explanation of various customs & traditions, ceremonies & rituals, myths & Mythology explained with its meaning and significance
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congenial relationship of the inhabitants, the agrarian lifestyle, traits, social structure, the cordial community spirit; their affinity to water, tide & waves; the extreme seasonal sufferings from the monsoon floods; ensuing devastation, financial losses, gloom & misery
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A fascinating tale of village life in the sense- “the world is a village”!
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Historical significance, ages-old traditions, nuances & subtleties associated with the Vallam-Kali; its influence on building strong and caring communities
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thoughts occurring in the mind of a child who has been seeking the truth, meaning, and righteousness, as learned from the catechism, civic lessons, and moral stories narrated by grandparents
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A truly gigantic human endeavor!
The reclamation of land 'Pata-Sekha-rams' (large contiguous acreage of agricultural fields) for rice cultivation from the depths of the vast and turbulent Vembanadu lake basin
the resultant transformation of the region; the enormous economic boom and benefits; the escape from poverty and deprivations
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the heroic tasks involved, monstrous travails, and struggles encountered in this adventurous undertaking
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A glowing tribute to the ancestors and history makers for their glorious accomplishments
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the heritage & legacy they made to the population and humanity
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A passionate discussion on the plight of farmers & farming, their heavy debt burden, in both local and global perspectives. The frantic and desperate migration pattern currently witnessing in the world
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the betrayal by the thoughtless governments; its severely detrimental policies, the ramifications on farming, the struggles of the population
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The building of a Chundan- Vallam, the fervent passion of the artisan carpenters. The Science of boat building, the meticulous attention paid to the fine details
A homage to the carpenter who painstakingly designed, crafted & built a unique masterpiece
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The ceremonious and ritualistic launching of the Chundan-Vallam with great fervor and fanfare of the whole village community
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An absorbing & eventful 'Chenda melam/ Pancha Vadhyam' performance conducted in musical and 'show business' fashion; a fascinating comparison between Western & Indian music styles & performance
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The “The incredible women, their eminent role” as expounded by the inspirational principal of a convent run college
The significant contributions the large 'Nursing community' makes to the economic well-being of Keralam, besides the noble health services they render to the suffering and distressed patients
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The “Sadhya”, the communal banquet on the occasion of the launching of the Chundan; the menu & cuisine- the elaborate manner, and style with which they are prepared and served, explained in 'eyewitness' commentary
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Vanchi-ppattu (the anthem of the oarsmen), its significant role in the races; the themes, rhythm, articulation, and meaning
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Analytical discussions, juxtaposing occidental & oriental philosophies and viewpoints
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Ancient art forms enacted at the venue at the 'cultural heritage' festival
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An insightful, descriptive running documentary of the 'end to end' Television broadcast operations helping readers understand the 'behind the scene' activities and the applied technologies in the broadcast of live events
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Interesting events chosen from the lives in the hamlet in the rustic, realistic and facetious manner
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Some childhood memories, stories, experiences, thoughts, interwoven with anecdotes & incidents, narrated with authentic nostalgic feelings
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A thrilling, scintillating, resonating 'Running commentary' of the race itself in great details
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The delay & suspense encountered in the announcement of the race that results in many dramatic events, twists, and turns
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The 'crowning & staging' of the winning Chundan; the celebrations honoring its momentous victory
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Gulf Malayalees & the diaspora watching the race; the economic impact and international cordiality created by the NRIs (Non-Resident-Indian or expatriates/diaspora)
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A Futuristic proposal for the development, revitalization, and preservation of the Vembanadu region in its original pristine state, elucidating various schemes and 'state-of-the-art' technologies applicable today for the renewable energy production & power generation that could permanently end the debilitating power outages which occur too frequently in Kerala
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a candid discussion of the law & order situation and the rampant dishonesty among its politicians, law enforcement agencies, bureaucrats, and business communities
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the "Scourge & curse of Kerala" the frequent 'Harthals' (a total shutdown of all activities); its crippling effects on the investment climate, and general economy. The devastating effect on its population
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An urgent call to action for research, innovation, good governance & leadership
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Picture collages from the scenes of Vallam-Kali, bundled with other interesting visuals
“A book, truly informative, captivating, and interesting till the end with a suspense-filled ending!”
You are cordially invited for an absorbing reading!
The First Concert
Synopsis
The story is about the first concert held in a newly opened futuristic Amphitheater on the occasion of its Grand gala opening.
The concert, with all the delectable musical pieces, is interspersed with several episodes of drama, mystery, surprises, suspense, 3D Laser light shows, Television & audiovisual effects. Several strange and mysterious events pop up sporadically along the way and gradually evolve into rather significant parts of the story. The concert, unlike any others, provides the audience a fully 'immersed' (able to be an integral part of it) experience. They are entertained, enchanted, enamoured, and pampered to unprecedented levels; ultimately become active participants in the events.
The concert hall, itself is a “Xanadu” (a place of great marvels and contentment), 'par excellence' (a degree of excellence, beyond comparison) in terms of its architecture, physical beauty, artistic decorations; superb acoustics, 'beyond the state of the art' technical perfection and performance; appointed (abundantly supplied) with futuristic visual and listening features; light & television production techniques, bringing out the inner beauty by sharpening listener’s musical acumen and appreciation.
The visual and auditory circuits reside in our brains in close proximity to each other. Crosstalk, mutual stimulation, and interactions occur in natural ways. The features designed into the auditorium tend to accentuate (intensify, emphasize) the effects to unprecedented levels to afford the listeners with the utmost in listening pleasures.
In order to assist readers whose mother tongue is not English or who are not readily familiar with the inner workings of musical concert details with a facile reading, explanatory or qualifying remarks. Similarly, idiomatic phrases are placed in 'parentheses' next to the word itself. Meanings of difficult words are also given. There are a number of anecdotal events and explanations stated to elucidate certain critical points. They include relevant and useful information to make it worth the read and keep the book a source of resourceful information with interesting facts.
Besides providing entertainment and a ‘novel-like’ drama, suspense and mystery, the book strives to unravel certain hidden wonders of our environment & nature, the Biological sciences, technology, traditions, customs, attitudes, the plight and lifestyles of humanity we witness in the world around us.
The book should benefit readers in many different ways!
Elise's concert
The first concert is being given by a charming, young, rising star- singer Elise, who recently burst into fame and recognition with her song
“Just say, I heard you ! ”.
The song is actually a Parody of the internationally popular 'guitar concerto', by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo “Concerto d' Aranjuez (Concert of 'Aranjuez) ”
The song is based on the singer's own childhood event, which seems to have a significant impact on her life, development as a singer and her anthropocentric (viewing and interpreting everything in terms of human experience and value ) outlook on humanity.
People love to hear her extraordinary voice, with octave ranges (F3-A6) from contralto (female alto voice) to 'coloratura' soprano (The ornamentation of music written for the voice with high sustaining notes, florid passages & leaps, including trills, riffs and runs ) almost matching the Berliner "world entertainer", the great Ivan Rebroff who was credited with having a vocal range of (F1-A5).
The following is the theme and the 'muse' (the inspiration that motivates a poet, artist, or thinker) of Elise's song. At first, she simply wrote it as a poem before it blossomed into a hit song.
This is from her diary & manuscript:
't was a long, long time ago! in my childhood when
I was just a little girl, feeble, fragile and timid
We're there in our own boats, amongst many groups
moored right across the banks, lined with tall coconut palms
along a meandering canal, separating swaths of green rice fields
watching the fireworks on the fiesta at the Edathua church
with our respective companies of siblings, aunts, uncles, and friends, sitting on the deck under the canopy
singing, clapping and admiring
shouting words of joy and wonder
at the spectacular sparkles, sprinkled across the evening skies
You were cute and handsome, flamboyant and jolly
projecting an air of adventure and importance
wore a yellow shirt with blue stripes
knickers with shoulder straps
neatly combed thick curly black hair
jovial and jocking, as I recall
in the vivid recollection of the moment
Suddenly there came!
a batch of thunderous cannon bolts, the boat swayed to one side
in the sudden shock and exultations from the people on the deck
it tipped! tossed, threw me off into the reflecting waters
the girl from the highlands
afraid of water, was out of breath, sinking
gasping and throwing up hands in utter panic
My own company of people did hardly notice!
Like a lightning, you jumped right into the water
dived and lifted me, pushed me ashore with few long sweeps
which periodically gave me rare air to breath
to the banks, to the safety
and into the outstretched arms of my alarmed parents!
You made a gymnastic backflip, pushed off and
swarm back to your boat in rhythmic, elegant backstrokes
that's the last I saw of you, then vanished from sight
in the darkness that was hastily falling
but not from my mind!
certainly, not!
Boldly, in the following year, I came early
moored at the same spot; I scoured, searched, asked
You were not there!
I felt the whole place were empty!
I was heartbroken; nevertheless hoped you would come later
just wanted to say my thanks in person; face to face
instead, I wanted to return home and cry my heart out, all alone!
Your face is slowly fading from my mind
also the gravity of the danger
fearing the real possibility, I wrote it in my personal diary
now it has become a popular song!
I ask the audience every time if they had heard of you
if, any, recall anything, anything at all!
or have you ever seen you since?
You might 've done many good deeds
touched and charmed many hearts since
with your kindness and valor
as if it's your sublime duty
without seeking reward or recognition, not even a word of thanks
self consciously, but selflessly
so unique and spontaneous; usefully gifted to you
in good grace and abundance!
I learned swimming since then
another ‘repertoire’ of survival skill
it helps me tremendously, to improve lung power
stamina, curves, and figures
clears the sound cavities; strengthens vocal cords
toned and streamlined throat muscles
helps my musical capabilities; helps posture
both enormously!
Now, I can hit up to the G6 note effortlessly!
with many great attributes, a facile range for extended notes
voice control, flourish and delicate vibrato
those unique gifts I acquired
only 'cause of you!
I say a little prayer for you
before starting my performance
this song renews my remembrance, faith in humanity
it brought me fame and recognition
a fair living and happiness
I am a singer
again, 'cause of you!
I keep singing
imagine singing to you
in a nostalgic thanksgiving melody
sending an emotional, longing plea
hoping you will hear it someday, somewhere!
if you hear my song anywhere
simply whisper in your mind
I heard you!
that will be a real joy
a true recognition
beyond all awards
and adulations!
God bless you!
my invisible friend...
the long lost friend
my lifelong friend!
In her school, she won an award for this poem and was published in the yearbook at her college. One of her professors was quite moved by her story as well as how well and sincerely she expressed her sentiments. He thought it was too good to remain forgotten in a yearbook. So, he rewrote it to suit an internationally well-known tune. It is this song she is going to open her concert with.
The songs from the concert are posted under MUSIC VIDEO and YouTube channels Bodoll mm llc or Aurora Bobbyalis
Singing simplified!
Learn to sing any song!; better and faster too!
Note:
Those who have purchased any of the music books, and signed in may access several video tutorials, exercises & learning resources on the "Private access channel"!
This book provides tips to improve singing abilities with the actual resources each of us has. “Each sound is unique and is of course music to own ears!”
It should help people who possess no formal musical education or know very little about it; who are simply eager to learn to sing pop, film or folksong and do it as fast as possible. Our lives are hectic. We are required to perform many chores, work, duties, and responsibilities. But, we also need fun, entertainment and relaxation as well to have a good healthy balance and wholesome minds. Singing is a joyful experience. This is written with a lot of care, revealing many hidden attributes of music, explained in musical, scientific and acoustic terms and meanings. Yet, it is to be treated as a layman's version for any aspiring musician. Please be reminded that it is not written by a musicologist or music scholar, describing all the in-depth musical theories and intricacies!.
Nevertheless, it describes essential aspects of helping to learn singing at a very accelerated pace providing simple, easy steps to help music enthusiasts to achieve the stated goal!
When my children were quite small, they asked me how to do a thing. I simply said “look at it, think about it; and try it out!”; of course, 'look' meant to analyze the pattern/layout/structure & settings.
It is applicable here too!
The insights provided here must also help in the learning of many other skills and trades tools, as there are a lot of similarities among all the processes. Some concepts and keywords are highlighted in coloured fonts, which may be further explored by people seeking to further their understanding.
Many different characteristics of music, vocal singing and instrument playing are discussed in this book. One has to take a graded approach in covering each of them. The same concepts are sometimes explained in different ways to address the needs of wide-ranging music enthusiasts with different backgrounds and goals as well as levels of proficiency.
We do always hear and listen to conversations. We are captivated by political speeches, even if they don't make sense; enamoured by sermons, although the stories spoken are esoteric and never seen in real life or nature. Children love to hear stories at bedtime. Mothers sing lullabies to babies. They refresh minds and body; eases tension; lulls the child to sleep. We hear thunder; we shudder and fear. All sounds carry a sense, impression, information, and effect. There are certain sounds we love to hear especially those that are sweet-sounding and tuneful.
That's music!
Table of Contents
lullabies 4 Chapter 1 5 Chapter 1 5 reed 5 polyphony 5 reverberations 6 unison 6 Chapter 2 8
Chapter 2 8 pharyngeal 8 cavities 8 vocal range 8
Bass 8 Baritone 8 Tenor 8 Alto 8
Soprano 8 pitch 9 Chapter 3 11 Solmization 11
keyboard 11 solfege 11 solmization 11 Sapthaswarams 11
sharps 11 flats 11 alternating notes 12
C Major 12 Chapter 4 14 Melody 14 Melody 14
Harmony 14 Harmony 14 Rhythm 14 thalam 14
ragam 14 Chapter 5 15 ASCII 15 Legend 16
tuplets 16 Kalyani 16 genre 16 Register 17
spectrum 17 flare 18 Pause 18 humming 18
LMH 19 soft/virtual keyboard 19 Annotate 19 Articulations 19
Ornamentations 19 Legato 19 Staccato 19 Accent- 19
Trill 20 Crescendo 20 Decrescendo 20 Dissolve 20
Fade in 20 Fade out 20 Sequence coding 21
Chapter 6 24 rasas 24 Sanskrit 24 umlaut 25
Salutations 25 Chapter 7 27 Lyrics/verses 27 Verse 28
hook 28 choruses 28 riffs 28 ostinato 29
motif 29 climbs 29 Chapter 8 30 Finding Form 30
Refrain 30 Indian diasporas 30 Chapter 8 31 Vocal anatomies 31
voice range 31 Oscillator 31 vocal tract 32 tremolos 32
Vibrato 32 semitones 32
The main organs involved in voice production: 32
VoiceBox 32 Resonator 33 larynx 33 frequency 33
Resonator 33 Chapter 9 34 vocal cords 34 Adam's apple 34
Exhaled 34 Trachea 34 adduction 34 abduction 34
inhalation 35 phonation 35 Chapter 10 36 hydrated 36
voice rest 36 Chapter 1 37 Chapter 11 37
Chapter 11Singing in a band 37
tempo 37 Quarter note 37 whole note 38 16th 38
8th 38 Triad 38 triplet 38 Tha-pa-Tha-pa 39
concert pitch 39 A4 = 440 39 wavefront 39 auditory perception 40
fundamental frequency 40 harmonics 40 overtones 40 envelope 40
timbre 40 Chapter 12 41 Melody list 41 accidentals 41
The 5ths 41 Chapter 13 43 Music Scales 43
Octave 43 interval 43 Minor scale 43 The Major Scale 43
Major Scale 43 tetrachord 49 Chapter 14 51 Melodic Minor 51
Modulation 52 major 3rd 52 minor 3rd 52 5th key relationship 54
Chapter 15 54 Chapter 16 56 Keynotes 56 clusters 56
Chapter 17 57 Chapter 18 58 ultrasonic 58
This book offers study, analysis, lessons & instructions for playing the instrument with a high level of proficiency and skill. It provides in-depth insights into the theory and practice in the different aspects of music. The various concepts are explained in terms of musical, scientific, mathematical, acoustical, audio/sound properties as well as the human qualities of the brain and mind in enjoying the melody, harmony, rhythm, and emotions in the music.
The 'Stradella' bass chord structure is elaboratively explained to make the proper playing of chords and rhythm much easier. There are prolific multimedia resources in the book for elucidating and simplifying various topics and concepts.
Besides, an exclusive music video channel is created for viewing learning videos, tutorials, practice pieces, and exercises which should make the learning process further friendlier. Please use the buttons below to go to the synopsis or to the "Private access channel" as you wish.
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Index of video tutorials
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Let'play accordion!
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Keyboard
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Octave
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Finding C
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Note interval Part 1
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Note interval Part 2
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Music scale
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minor scale
9. Chords Part 1
10.Chords part 2
11.7th chords
Coming Soon!
Other Books Coming soon:
Book: 5 V I n c e n t, the magnificent
This is a story of a boy from the fisherman's community on the Arabian sea coast, who has grown more practical and accomplished than his scholastic peers; some belonging to upper and elite classes of the society.
Mainly due to his uncanny acumen and sagacious perceptions of various topics & subjects, as well the age-old social prejudices, he suffered rude indifference and painful isolation. It made him dejected and extremely reclusive.