A Living Tradition
The Lalgudi Bani
The Lalgudi Bani is a creation of Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman's genius — a musical philosophy where melody takes the forefront, and technique is viewed only as a means of expressing it.
The bani aspires to make the violin sing. It is a blend of melody and rhythm — each complementing the other — where rhythm, while intricate and fascinating in itself, is necessarily an undercurrent, subservient to melody. In the interpretations of ragas, the bani prides itself on its ability to outline their defining melodic forms within the first few phrases.
In the rendition of a kriti, the Lalgudi bani encapsulates the spirit of the composer and composition, bringing to life the meaning and mood of the lyrics. This naturally requires the choice of appropriate tempo, gamakas (oscillations), and related musical nuances — all informed by deep bhakti towards music, composer, guru, and the Almighty.
A study of Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman's numerous exquisite compositions, solo and accompaniment performances reveals his genius, artistic sensitivity, technical brilliance, research orientation, respect for tradition, urge to innovate, and keen aesthetic sense. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi carries this tradition forward — rooted and resilient, free-flowing and flexible, ever searching for the meeting of emotion and empathy that defines the bani.