WOMAD

Dr Natesan Ramani

From India

SPIRIT of INDIA with flautist Dr N Ramani Natesan Ramani, loved and admired, is the most eminent flute player of modern times in the Carnatic (South Indian) tradition. Like the North Indian flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, he has become a legend in his own life time, honoured by the Indian President with the coveted “Padmashri” award. He has been invited to major Indian and international music festivals, which include Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne.Dr Ramani’s flute playing has been likened to “the first birdcall” (The Age). His simple 12-inch soprano flute is a piece of  bamboo with holes in it – nothing fancy - capable of amazing power and beauty. Pandit Ravi Shankar, on hearing Ramani’s flute while waiting at the Madras airport, was so moved that he asked to be taken to his home to be introduced to him. The Sydney critic Jill Sykes found Ramani’s music “pure and unadorned like the voice of a boy soprano…as well as a vigorous explosion of sound…complex and subtle.” A deeply religious man, who observes silence one day in the week – “to improve my breathing” – and travels barefoot for 3 days once a year to offer prayers at his sacred shrine, Ramani faithfully renders the compositions of the 3 saint-composers of South India, as well as his own. He is accompanied by two famous percussionists and his brilliant son Thiagarajan, another fine flute player. The two flautists play jugalbandhis (competing and complementary duets) - an exciting form of music-making.