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bethlakshmiSo... I am now facing an artistic choice. Aparna suggests two peices for the gig this weekend:
- a Devaranama (Amma nimma...) - the second, slighly more intricate Devaranama I have learned. It's a lovely devotional song to the child, Krishna. The "have you seen my son, ... blah, blah, blah... oh, and did I mention he's blue?" song that Morwenna and Yevsha often tease me about.
- The Ode to Guru Purandara Dasa - a more meditative devotional song sung to the sage who composed the Devaranama listed above. It's a prayer for insight and guidance, with more complex rhythm and footwork.
Now... the challenge. I initially picked the Devaranama - it's easier, I've known it longer, and I feel very comfortable with my ability to do it - even if I'm still sick. I wrote up a little blurb and event sent it to the organizers. The Ode to Purandara Dasa is a bit tougher, and although I know the footwork, I'm just coming out of having a bit of a mental block.
The problem? I listened to the Devaranama's tape today - Aparna and I did field recordings of her singing both of these songs - they are not exactly fantastic, from a recording perspective. Richie would laugh with scorn. Well... the Devaranama tape sucks noticeably more than the ode to Purandara Dasa. It lags - I think the recorder's batteries were low - and it's soft. And it's soft and low - another reason I suspect a battery problem. Aparna is an alto, but she's not THAT low.
Both have a few mess-ups, where Aparna is silent, or starts with the wrong phrase. But the Guru Purandara Dasa song could possibly be fixed with clever editing. The Devaranama cannot due to the nature of the "bug". And the lag is sucky - the song is supposed to be upbeat, not droning. Although it's is Yashoda looking for her son... it's not a dirge, it's a quick moment-in-the-life-of.
So... I vastly prefer the tape of the peice that I think is dance-wise a bit weaker. It's not awfully weak - or Aparna would not have suggested it. But it needs a few days of polish (thankfully, I have a few days...). But I need to write the organizers and beg for a change to the program. As far as I can find out - they aren't publishing anything, this is just info for the M.C. But... I hate being a flake and changing the plan... and once changed, I can NOT change back.
Making my own recording on this short notice is out of the question too. I'm not THAT good. Mine would have other bugs, and I would spend valuable time trying to fix it and not working on the choreography. And, though I have sung Devaranama while dancing, I don't want to do it for this public an audience - especially while recovering from a cold. And I don't think the space will be intimate enough for me to fill it with my voice (while dancing) even on a good day.
So... thoughts? Devaranama or Ode to Purandara Dasa?
ARGH!!
Side note: bought spangly trim and little bits of stretch-shininess... auditions for the Baby Dolls will at least be SHINY! :) Whee!
- a Devaranama (Amma nimma...) - the second, slighly more intricate Devaranama I have learned. It's a lovely devotional song to the child, Krishna. The "have you seen my son, ... blah, blah, blah... oh, and did I mention he's blue?" song that Morwenna and Yevsha often tease me about.
- The Ode to Guru Purandara Dasa - a more meditative devotional song sung to the sage who composed the Devaranama listed above. It's a prayer for insight and guidance, with more complex rhythm and footwork.
Now... the challenge. I initially picked the Devaranama - it's easier, I've known it longer, and I feel very comfortable with my ability to do it - even if I'm still sick. I wrote up a little blurb and event sent it to the organizers. The Ode to Purandara Dasa is a bit tougher, and although I know the footwork, I'm just coming out of having a bit of a mental block.
The problem? I listened to the Devaranama's tape today - Aparna and I did field recordings of her singing both of these songs - they are not exactly fantastic, from a recording perspective. Richie would laugh with scorn. Well... the Devaranama tape sucks noticeably more than the ode to Purandara Dasa. It lags - I think the recorder's batteries were low - and it's soft. And it's soft and low - another reason I suspect a battery problem. Aparna is an alto, but she's not THAT low.
Both have a few mess-ups, where Aparna is silent, or starts with the wrong phrase. But the Guru Purandara Dasa song could possibly be fixed with clever editing. The Devaranama cannot due to the nature of the "bug". And the lag is sucky - the song is supposed to be upbeat, not droning. Although it's is Yashoda looking for her son... it's not a dirge, it's a quick moment-in-the-life-of.
So... I vastly prefer the tape of the peice that I think is dance-wise a bit weaker. It's not awfully weak - or Aparna would not have suggested it. But it needs a few days of polish (thankfully, I have a few days...). But I need to write the organizers and beg for a change to the program. As far as I can find out - they aren't publishing anything, this is just info for the M.C. But... I hate being a flake and changing the plan... and once changed, I can NOT change back.
Making my own recording on this short notice is out of the question too. I'm not THAT good. Mine would have other bugs, and I would spend valuable time trying to fix it and not working on the choreography. And, though I have sung Devaranama while dancing, I don't want to do it for this public an audience - especially while recovering from a cold. And I don't think the space will be intimate enough for me to fill it with my voice (while dancing) even on a good day.
So... thoughts? Devaranama or Ode to Purandara Dasa?
ARGH!!
Side note: bought spangly trim and little bits of stretch-shininess... auditions for the Baby Dolls will at least be SHINY! :) Whee!
