Madras Music Season

Every year during the months of December and January Madras, or currently known as Chennai, hosts a great music festival. It takes place over six weeks and is called the Madras Music Season. During this annual event a number of kutcheris, both large and small occur for enthusiastic audience. A kutcheris is a concert in the genre of Carnatic music. The musicians in these concerts are extremely skilled and are respected as much as they are enjoyed.

The festival attracts audience members from the surrounding region and the rest of the country. It also draws in many people internationally. Many of the guests staying in one of the hotel Madras are there specifically to experience this incredible music festival. Audience members represent populations from around the world and it is a great example of demonstrating the power of music to bring people and cultures together. Based on the Carnatic genre of music, this has been an educational experience for many people. Carnatic music is generally associated with the southern Indian subcontinent and it is performed by a small ensemble of musicians. It generally includes a vocalist with melodic accompaniment such as a violin and there is an element of rhythm.

The festival began in 1927 and has experienced a great deal of transition and change. It was originally intended to showcase the top musicians in the Carnatic genre and also offered workshops and included award ceremonies. It expanded to include up and coming musicians and became a platform for their work to be seen. Today the festival includes a number of dance and drama pieces and has grown extensively from its early days. The festival has been considered to be one of the largest cultural events in the world and the number of performances as well as audience members continues to grow.