The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, December 6, 1977-Page 7
South Indian classics USE
SECRETARIAL SKILLS
performed with verve ro GET INTO
YOUR CHOSEN FIELD
Jan Hammer
The Jan Hammer Group and Shadowfax, two progressive jazz quartets, will appear Friday, December 9 at 8p.m. in
EMU's Pease Auditorium.
Talking Headsrides New Wave
By S. RADHAMOHAN,
S ATURDAY NIGHT, Ann Arbor
enthusiasts of Carnatic (South
Indian) classical music were treated
to an excellent concert by Balachan-
der, one of the best contemporary
interpreters of this music form.
Balachander's instrument is sthe
Veena, the national instrument of
India, which resembles the Sitar but
has fixed frets and is more ancient in
origin. Since Balachander has mas-
tdred the Hindustani as well as the
Carnatic styles of Indian music, he
has equal facility with the Hindustani
Sitar.
Saturday's recital began with a
short and sweet exposition of the
Raga (scale) Bahudari, bringing out
the essence of the Rage with judi-
ciously stressed plucking of the key
note (ga). Balachander then ren-
dered Tyagaraja's "Brova Bhara-
ma" in Adi Tal (rhythm), coursing
through the Pallair and Anupallair
portions with very fine nuances and a
crisp Swaraprastara (note improvi-
sation).
THE KRITI (song), Anandamrith-
akarshini by Dikshitar, in the Raga
Amritavarshini, was the next item.
The exposition of the Raga (penta-
tonic scale) had occasional Hindu-
stani style touches, and Balachan-
der's dexterity with the instrument
was evident in the Veena-Mridangam
(a South Indian percussion instru-
ment) dialogue that followed.
The main item of the program was
the artist's Raga and Tana in the
Melakarna Charukesi as a prelude to
Tyagaraja's Kripaya Palaya in Mis-,
ra Chapu Tal. The delineation was
richly traditional and left the small
audience elated. The Swaraprastara
was intricate and involved, and was
followed by an excellent solo by
Krishnamurti, who accompanied the
artist on the Mridangam.
Balachander Wound up the recital
with a potpourri of Ragas played in
the Hindustani style, including Desh,
Behag and Sindhu Bhairavi, followed
by a teasingly rhythmic folk tune.
This was the perfect ending to a
delightful evening of music. Hope-
fully the Carnatic Music Association
of Michigan, which arranged the
rectial,will bring more of this music
to the Ann Arbor area.
OUR
GRADUATES
GET MORE THAN
DIPLOMAS
ENROLL NOW
FOR WINTER TERM,
BEGINS JANUARY 17
Executive, legal,
and medical secretarial
TAYLOR BUSINESS
INSTITUTEf
611 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI.
48104
769-4507
By ALAN RUBENFELD
T HE NEW WAVE takes on many
varied appearances. Most listen-
ers equate New Wave with such bands
as the Ramones, or the Sex Pistols. Ac-
tually, New Wave music is so varied
that it would be a major injustice to
throw it all in one "punk" category.,
Talking Heads suffers from a guilt by
association. The band got their start at
CBGB's, 'the mecca of the punk move-
ment. They record for Sire Records,
known for it's punk bands. But forget it.
Talking Heads' music is not punk!
Their first album, Talking Heads, '77, is
one of the best debuts of 1977.
One concession must be- made here.
Talking Heads does retain links to the
punk brigade, not because of sonic
boom volumes, but because they have
broken up rock music to its basic forms.
They can pride themselves on the
sophisticated anti-sophistication of
their music and lyrics.
Talking Meads got their start several
years ago at the Rhode Island School of
Design. RISD and its students were at-
tempting an, anti-intellectual approach
to their art.1his method permheated the
mdsic of Martina Weymouth, Chris
Franz, and David Byrne. Their sound
represented a turn against the heavy-
handed sophistication attempted by
most musicians of the early 1970's.
ARTISTS' PROGRAM
NEW YORK (AP)-A federally-
funded program aimed at the develop-
ment of jobs for unemployed and under-
unemployed artists has been
established here at fhe Foundation for
the Community of Artists.
The program, which is called Art
Work, is New York's first such project
under the auspices of Washington. It is
designed to serve both visual and per-
forming artists from the area who meet
federal eligibility requirements. It will
offer free job development, counseling
and placement.
To qualify for the program, artists
must be unemployed for five con-
secutive working days, or receive some
form of public assistance, or be under-
employed and-or "economically disad-
vantaged," that is, have a yearly in-
come below the current federal pover-
ty-level standards.
MOVING TO NEW YORK in 1975, they
began to perform at various clubs, re-
ceiving a warm reception for their
minimalist format. This basic ap-
proach to rock made them compatible
on bills with such bands as the
Ramones and Television, groups with a
penchant for basics of rock and roll.
Talking Heads' music is unequivocal-
ly original. The songs combine bouncy,
upbeat tempos with a unique vocal
flavor. The group's physical appearan-
ce is representative' of their music:
clean and sweet. I might even play this
record for my mother.
David Byrne is Talking Head's
vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, with
an infectious voice that grows on the
listener'. Martina Weymouth's bass
playing is colorless. Chris Franz's
drumming is consistently steady, and
gives the music strength. Keyboardist-
guitarist Jerry Harrison alone demon-
strates verve through his musicianship,
but this should be expected. Harrison's
former band was the original Modern
Lovers, considered by some to be the
first punk band of the 1970's.
TALKING HEADS would not 'have
made a record solely on their musical
prowess. Their strength lies in their
lyrics. They do not attempt to lose you
in romance, but offer instead massive
doses of reality. Take "No Compas-
sion," for example:
What are you, in love with your problems?
I think you've taken it a little too far.
There's nothing cool about having a problem.
Don't expect me to explain your indecision
Go talk to your analyst, isn't that what he's paid for.
"Psycho Killer" lays it on the table:
We are vain, we are blind
I hate people when they are not polite
Psycho Killer, qu'sst-ce que c'est
Byrne's voice sounds ominously
threatening, almost violent as he
strains the words to the song.
Talking Heads is too good a band to
miss. The group's brilliant approach to
music provides creativity that shows no
limits. Talking Heads '77 begs to be lis-
tened to.
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