Kalpa Media House | Special Article by Rasikapriya |
Are you surprised by the statement ‘see the sound of music’? Can music be seen? Is sound a visual phenomenon? What is Cymatic? The world of sound and music is entirely unknown to the hearing impaired! Can they be helped to enjoy music? If so, how can it be made possible? All these intriguing questions are being answered by interesting scientific experiments and a new perspective given for musical presentations.
This great service has been undertaken by SciArtsrus, a U.S. based non-profit organisation founded by Dr. Ranjini Ramachandra Koushik. The organisation has been promoting science, Arts and Music, creating opportunities through several initiatives like science meets music, dance and visual arts, Art abilities for all, a global initiative to provide opportunities for physically challenged artists, cross-country artists.
Dr. Ranjini, being a biochemist and a molecular biologist herself has a broad perspective in arts, science and related fields. Her multi-directional approach and vision have led to a global development in the nature of art performances, bringing in several innovative inclusive ventures.
In December 2025, SciArtsRUs organised its 6th Edition of Marghazhi matram with the theme “hearing and listening” with series of varieties of concerts to aid hearing impaired to be able to enjoy music. Notwithstanding many programs where science meets music, with opportunities for cross-culture artists and physically challenged artists blurring across abilities, cultures and disciplines as well.
One such unique program was presented by her versatile son Rishab Koushik for the Marghazhi matram 6th Edition festival at Bharathiya Vidya bhavan. Rishab, a multi-talented teenager from California, is a multi-genre classical musician-vocalist, Piano and key-board artist, disciple of Vid. K.N. Shashikiran and Smt. Srivaralaxmi Maya and has a huge musical lineage. He started his debut performance at 9 years of age and since then has given inclusive concerts at several prestigious venues at Chennai and several places in the U.S.
At the festival Rishab presented Cymatic Carnatic-see the sound of Music, a novel scientific approach using an upcoming branch of study, namely Cymatics. A unique experiment by Sri Rishab Koushik and team was a configuration of vocal music presentation simultaneously with sign language interpreter, a dancer along with a unique display of cymatics.
Cymatics is a study of visible sound. The surface of a plate, membrane or diaphragm is vibrated and regions of maximum and minimum displacement are made visible in a thin coating of particles, paste or liquid. Depending on the driving frequency and geometry of the plate different patterns emerge. The field has influenced visual arts and music. Lot of research has been conducted to generate cymatic images of music. The wave patterns which result can be very striking creating visual analogies of natural patterns.
Such patterns can help hearing impaired to see and enjoy music on a different perspective. The sign language interpretation can add to their reception of music. This intriguing experiment to reach out to the differently abeld audience was the goal which was a very fruitful endeavour and kept all audience deeply absorbed.
Rishab was ably accompanied by Vid. Madan Mohan on violin, Senior mridangist Vid. H.S. Sudhindra on mridangam, Vid. Nerkunam Manigandan on Morsing, Smt. Ranganayaki on Abhinayam and Sri Deva was the sign language interpreter.
During his wonderful presentations of various compositions such Endaro mahanubhavulu of Sri Thyagaraja, Very nice portrayal of raga Pantuvarali, apparamabhakti, niceswara patterns the cymatic patterns were changing along with the pitch, intensities and flow of music and rhythm. Several interesting patterns emerged as he continued with alapana of followed. Abhinaya interpretation by the dancer was equally catchy. The main piece in the majestic ragathodi which was presented with confidence along with the lovely Krithi Koluvamaregada, nervaland swara prasthara mat thambura chaikonimust have been registered pleasantly by the hearing impaired who were very engrossed in the concert.
The thaniavarthanamset a different rhythmic mood on the cymatic display from which audience could not take their eyes off even for a moment. The entire presentation was remarkable including the concluding bhajan and thillana of Lalgudi G. Jayaraman in Revathi. All through the concert very apt abhinayam was presented by Smt. Ranganayaki. Sri Deva did a great display of sign language interpretation. Cymatic patterns continued to enamour and successfully assisted the hearing impaired to enjoy the concert in a new perspective.
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