Michigan music to heal Chennai flood wounds

Hundreds of musicians are also among the lakhs of people who were victims of the unprecedented floods. Many have lost all their musical instruments, which are their lifeline. Areas like West Mambalam, KK Nagar, Tambaram, Chromepet and Adambakkam host scores of families who directly or indirectly depend on music for their livelihood on a day to day basis. These localities are among the worst affected places in the city.

Realising the need to lend a helping hand to these shattered musicians, Mark Stone is organizing the concert and noted NRI Carnatic musician Madurai R. Sundar will also be performing in the concert. Mr Stone has sent an email confirmation to Deccan Chronicle that he has organised the fundraiser event at which he will be performing. Mr Sundar also confirmed that he will be performing alongside Mark.

“Everyone needs time to heal. The psychological effect of the storm and the resulting damage cannot be underestimated. May prayers are with all those who are affected, especially the musical fraternity”, Sunder said in the email.

Mark Stone is no stranger to Indian music fraternity, especially musicians of Tamil Nadu. Mark has recently started a new group, the Mark Stone Trio, which brings together celebrated world percussion traditions of India and Africa with the lyricism of the violin to create a vibrant new global soundscape. In recent years, Mark has expanded his global music compass to include South Indian traditions through his work with Joe Reilly and the Carnatica Brothers K.N. Shashikiran and P. Ganesh with whom he has performed several concerts during their annual visits to Michigan for the Tyagaraja festival in Cleveland.

R. Sundar, secretary of Hamsadhwani which organises a NRI festival every December season, said there is general talk among all the sabhas that something must be done for musicians affected by floods.

In the process, efforts are also being made to revive the Federation of City Sabhas, which became inactive after the demise of Narada Gana Sabha founder Krishnaswamy early this year.