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Is your home always playing a tune? Is it soft or loud? Harmonious or discordant? Keep an ear out, and jot down what you heard. Share it here, win a prize!
  • Category: Reward Programs
    Points:10

      

    If your home had a musical melody...listen, and tell us! Creative Writing Contest

    Around our home, we hear different sounds, from the activities of family members, appliances, doors and windows, etc. Even at night, when it is relatively quiet with occasional passing traffic, do you hear the house itself creaking? And what do you hear when it hums or plays a tune or melody? Listen...and tell us!

    Theme: If your home had a musical melody/tune...

    What you have to do: Think of how your home has its own distinctive musical melody/tune. Is it of the loud rock & roll type? Or something less exuberant? Perhaps a bit sombre? Submit a write-up that, when we close our eyes and focus on listening, we can "hear" your home's tune. The text should start with the sentence 'If my home had a musical melody/tune (you can use either or both, as you wish)'. Submit your entry as a response to this thread. You can edit it before the closing date to correct mistakes, but you cannot change the melody/tune which you focused on.

    A few rules-
    1. You can submit only one entry. It should be written in English, but you can use regional words if required to describe the melody/tune if you are referring to the melody/tune of a particular type of Indian/Western music genre/instrument. Adhere to our site's policies and guidelines, and do not make any references to weapons, medications, etc
    2. The entry should be a general write-up and not a poem or a story, brought out creatively.
    3. You can incorporate one or up to a maximum of two musical melodies/tunes. It should be crisp and well-written, with a uniqueness to it.
    4. The text should not exceed 400 words. We will give leeway to a few extra words, but not more than five. There is no minimum word limit. Do not give any links in the text.

    The rewards-
    Up to two best write-ups will each win a cash prize of Rs. 60/-. In case of only a single best entry, a second prize of Rs. 50/- will be announced. Based on quality, other entries may get enhanced points and cash credits up to a maximum of 25 points and Rs. 25/-.

    Closing date of entries: 26th June 2024.

    Go on...keep your ears open, listen to your home!
  • #780297

      

    Points:2
    Everyone,

    As per this request, the closing date of entries has been extended from the 24th to the 26th. We hope this extension will get more entries.
    When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust! ~ John C. Maxwell

  • #780402

    Points:7 (₹ 7)
    If my home had a musical melody/tune it would be the melody of old Hindi film songs. I am very fond of those old melodious songs, the tune and lyrics of which is still present in our minds as we listened them years back. As I am listening to these songs time and again, the whole house reverberates with its echo and appears singing back.

    These old songs sung by the great singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishor Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Muhammad Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhonsle, Mukesh and some others are a thing of joy forever.
    Even when I am not playing these songs in my mobile phone or audio player there are these melodies coming to me emanating from the walls of the house as if they were embedded there by shear force of music and are enthralling me from time to time.

    When I am sitting in a silent atmosphere in my house, I listen to these whisperings coming from all the sides as if the house is ejecting back these melodies to its favourite listener.

    I am amazed with the intensity of music that could do such feelings in our minds that even in absence of the playback track kept on we have the melody going on in our minds continuously flowing like a perennial river.

    That is the effect of these old songs on us and that is the power of music.
    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #780436

      

    Points:1
    Tomorrow is the closing date of this reward program, and it is sad to see only one entry so far. Isn't anyone interested in participating?!
    When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust! ~ John C. Maxwell

  • #780439

    Points:5
    If my home had a musical melody swinging away the stress with the endorphins, the mood enhancers released, it would be the rhythmic tune of the oonjal (swing) swaying back and forth during my childhood. Later, it became a fast, swing band for the grandkids of our family. It was just a piece of furniture beautifully carved, chained with striking lively rhythmic jingles, synchronizing a cherished livelihood of our whole family. With the morning, cool breeze, the oonjal creaked waking me up to rest for a while before getting ready for school. Sometimes, we all tend to eat, chat, study, take a nap, and fight with the swinging rhythm of the oonjal. Occasionally, it became a sleeping mattress at night with the humming tune evoked by the gentle swaying, a natural tranquilizer.

    This swinging melody of oonjal is associated with our diversified culture and region during wedding occasions and temple festivals, complementing the swing's rhythm. The oonjal ceremony is a traditional ritual in marriage in some parts of India. Having a cultural significance, oonjal and music are intertwined reflecting a style of art and community bonding. It does have either a soft base, a hard base, or a rotating base if it is less weighed.

    Traditionally, it is known for the classical component of rendition and folk while composed for kids in rural areas. Some musical instruments like the tabla and harmonium, can create a holistic sense of experience and resonance of ragas aligned with the rhythmic motion of oonjal. It reflects the pulse of life too, which has ups and downs. Yet, the leisurely swinging on an oonjal evokes a sense of relaxation, contentment, and nostalgic memories, I feel. The gentle rocking (dancing) movement soothes the mind leading to spiritual elevation and contemplation.

    In a nutshell, the rhythm tuned by the oonjal in the Indian context exhibits a fusion of tradition, solace, and literature of music. Music, of course, is a language of universality breaking the barriers and bonding the souls. Since the oonjal sways gently and resonates a combination of tunes, its rhythm of music harmoniously connects people across the universe and the generations.
    --
    This entry wins the second prize in the contest

  • #780459

    Points:8 (₹ 8)
    If my home had a musical melody/tune it would be Hindustani Classical Melodies.

    I have interest in classical music especially the hindustani classical genre. This is a quite old musical evolution and many artists contributed to this genre. The tunes under this system belong to various Ragas as stipulated in Indian music system. The songs of various types including general songs, prayers, and recitations are sung in many Ragas under the hindustani classical system and some of the prominent Ragas are Dadra, Yaman Kalyan, Pilu, Bhairavi, Puria Kalyan etc.

    Many artists are well known for their contributions in this genre and some worth mentioning are Ravi Shankar, Pandit Shivkumar, Zakir Hussain, Aneesh Pradhan, Laxmi Shankar, and others.

    It is said that we feel as per what our minds are contemplating or wish to hear. People think about their hobbies and engagements while taking test as those things go on in our brain in the background. It is true with the music also. As I hear the classical music in my house so whenever I come back I feel my house welcoming me with those tunes which are actually embedded in my mind but appear to be coming from the inside of the house. It is the affiliation and affinity that does it and arouse such feelings in us.

    Even if I am busy in some general work the tunes and lyrics of these classical songs resonate in my mind and the whole house seems to be reverberating with those pitches which are so soothing to our minds.

    Many researchers and scholars who have done work in the area of hindustani classical music, opine that this type of music is very good for soothing our senses and making us calm and quiet enjoying the rhythm and flow of those melodies. I fully agree with the observations of these scholars who have found such effects of the classical musical creations.
    Knowledge is power.

  • #780462

    Points:25 (₹ 25)
    If my home had a musical melody/tune it would be the melody of Carnatic music. As a member of an orthodox family from a small village, I only heard Carnatic music during my childhood. My grandmother used to hear the songs of great singers from South India daily. That made me love Carnatic music; whenever a chance came, I used to enjoy this music.

    Those days All India Radio used to broadcast music concerts of very famous singers of yesteryears like Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, MS Subbalakshmi, Nedunuri Krishna Murty etc. There are many melodies in this music in Bhairavi raga, Ananda Bhairavi raga, Mohana raga, Klayani, Sankarabharanam etc.

    As I grew my interest in hearing music increased. My wife also likes the same music. So immediately after our marriage the first item we purchased was a tape recorder and we used to get the songs of famous artists we used to hear daily. Those days we two were staying alone and we were newly married. We used to spend evenings together with Carnatic music songs and we feel that our life should also go like that music. My favourite ragas are Mohana, Ananda Bhairavi and Kalyani.

    Slowly family became big and my responsibilities increased so we were missing those sweet moments. Family responsibilities and professional responsibilities have taken over. We shifted to our new own house. Again, some melody has come to our lives. My daughter-in-law plays violin and whenever we get a little time, we used to ask her to play the same and we started enjoying it.

    Now I have three granddaughters and they are the future of the family. Whenever I hear their voice, I feel like I am hearing a good Carnatic melody from a famous artist like Subbalakshmi or Srirangan Gopala Ratnam. When the three of them sit together and start singing the rhymes I feel so happy as if I am in a concert.

    My first granddaughter is learning vocals and whenever she sings a Keerthana, I will get excited and feel as if she has become a great artist in the field of music. These three granddaughters made my house a musical melody with their childhood acts and conversations. I am enjoying my retired life with these three who filled my heart with full of sweet melodies.
    drrao
    always confident

  • #780470

    Points:6 (₹ 6)
    If my home had a musical melody/tune it would be the melody of Bhajan and kirtan. My mother was very pious lady. Now she is no more. But She was completely dedicated towards bhakti marg. She used to offer prayers for three hours daily. During festival days, she used to God's bhajan and kirtan in loud voice. Sometimes, when she won't present at home but sounds as if spiritual song coming from wall of home. Since child hood, I have seen my mother singing spiritual song. Some spiritual song have embedded in mind to this extent so that automatically I start singing. In my family, few members play guitar but they try to play same Bhajan in guitar which was sung by my mother. Some Bhajan are so emotional our eyes are filled with tears after listening this. Hearing Bhajan brings immense happiness and delight. No doubt, Singing and listening to Bhajan promotes tranquility and peace of mind. Our home is full of spirituality and other members are also in same way.

  • #780482

    Points:5
    If my home had a musical melody/tune, it would be harmonious, sometimes discordant, but
    usually a 'jugalbandi'. The music within my family symbolises the two very prominent musical instruments: harmonium and tabla. It would be a dream to expect a family without any brawls when it consists of different generations and age groups. Every age group has their choice regarding food habits, films and music, fashion sense, or any other section of life that leads to arguments and dissatisfaction.

    Isn't it too much to expect a family of three generations to present melodious tunes without tussle? Arguments and disagreements are bound to happen, but mutual understanding and agreement are also common in a family of different generations when the family members have pure souls. My family exhibits harmonious living after being distinctly different, just like a harmonium and a tabla. The music played on a harmonium conveys sweetness, pathos, energy, power, divinity, and other emotions and attitudes which touch every human heart. It's the same with tabla. Sometimes, both instruments create a 'jugalbandi' by complementing each other; at times, they can counter and bring out a quarrelsome environment, which we usually see in families where mutual understanding varies from time to time. The same is the case in my family. It pains at times but is not unusual. The disharmony flies away on its own, and the family sticks together and becomes each other's accompanist, which impacts my home harmoniously.

    Isn't it too much to expect my generation's choices to match with the upper and younger generations? Every family consists of people with a different mindset. Something may be in common but usually differ in many ways, just like the sound of a harmonium varies from tabla. The same is the case in my family, where my son usually differs and sets his sound loud and clear. It creates confrontation, and the family misses the aesthetic touch of a 'jugalbandi'. Interestingly, the mismatch evaporates within a short span and once again, we become one. It starts a free flow of harmonious music in the family, similar to a harmonium and tabla when set together, that plays a harmonious tune, which leaves a calming effect on everyone in the family.

    --
    This entry wins the first prize in the contest
    shampasaid


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