Chennai: As the little ones let their fingers to do their magical work on the keyboard, mellifluous tones emerged, transporting everyone present there to another world. It was an evening of record breaking music and soothing performances by the 109 disciples of M S Martin, who had no difficulties breaking the existing record by playing continuously for 15 minutes.
The musicians broke the record of the 107 American musicians who had played for five minutes. Brought up in a music family, M S Martin has been learning music from childhood. After graduating from the Music College, he received the title Isaimamani and later started his own music school called Mellifluous Melodies on Keyboard.
With strong vocal training, Martin wanted to produce vocal notes on a keyboard, the result of which was seen at the Music Academy on Sunday. The chief guests of the evening included Aruna Sairam, M S Viswanathan and director Balachander. Balachander beamed with pride as his grandson was also one among the 109 children who created the record.
In 2009, Martin entered the Limca Book of Records for having orgnaised an effort that involved 75 keyboardists. All of them had then played for two hours at a concert. This time, his 109 disciples (all of whom were in the age group of seven to 17 years) played different raagas for 15 minutes, enabling Martin to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
Martin said, “I wanted to prove through my disciples that it is possible to play Carnatic music on the keyboard. Well, all my kids had to work hard for six months to create the record. It is their hard work that has fetched me this honour. The composition is my own and it started with Hamsadhwani and moved on to Keeravani. I brought in Kalyani, Sindhubairavi and Desh. To give a little patriotic touch to the composition, I infused Vande Mataram towards the end.”
His passion for carnatic music is so well appreciated that all his disciples can understand every single note of his while he is conducting. “If you want kids to listen to you, then you have to show love, and bring out their passion and talent for music." Towards the end, Sruthi Martina, daughter of Martin rendered Nila Kaigirathu from Indira, which was later played by the children on the keyboard. This routine evoked a standing ovation from the audience.
"I was confident that I could easily break the record. I didn’t plan anything while composing. It all happened on the spot and was recorded and taught to the children during the practice sessions," said an enthusiastic Martin, after successfully breaking the record.
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