(Piano)
How many times have you changed a decision
to forgive someone
after being determined not to
with the influence of a tune?
(Piano)
How many situations have you felt melancholic
and yet good about something?
(Piano)
How many times have you felt
that someone good-looking felt more beautiful
when the right music played?
(Laughter)
(Piano)
Do the notes matter?
Does the way the scales go up matter?
Does it matter if you have heard or learned the tune
when you were very, very young --
for it to give you that nostalgic transcranial attraction?
(Piano)
Indian ragas are tried and tested
and these are the ones I know for sure.
So instead of dissecting like in a lab,
why don't we play it and check out the results?
(Piano)
I want you to close your eyes, open your hearts --
(Piano)
The first tune is based on Raga Khamas.
It's a very popular Indian tune.
It will be played by Carnatic violin virtuoso, Ganesh.
(Music)
(Singing)
Thank you.
(Applause)
Now Shashaa will be singing a tune based on Raga Megh.
Interestingly, there are a lot of stories on Raga Megh Malhar.
Centuries ago it was sung to bring rains to a drought-plagued kingdom.
(Music)
(Singing)
(Applause)
Thank you.
A raga could be called a mode in Western music,
because Western music is mostly on equal temperament scales,
whereas Indian and Arabic music has microtonal nuances
in many such ragas and Malkauns.
The ascending and descending of notes plays a major role
in some of the Vakra ragas.
Very few composers have managed to bring out emotional music and miracles,
heightening the possibility of compositions.
The next song,
by Sanaa Moussa,
is one such song.
You might not know what it means,
but you can feel sublime beauty the way it's sung.
(Music)
(Humming)
(Singing)
Beautiful, thank you.
(Applause)
The next song is based on Raga Charukesi.
It was written by a Multani poet from 18th century India.
I think Charukesi has a power
to connect to the consciousness in a very empathetic way.
The poem says,
"You can break down a mosque, you can break down a temple,
you can break down any place of worship,
but you should not break a believer's heart
because in the heart is where God really resides."
(Music)
(Singing)
(Applause)
Thank you so much.
(Applause)