Chennai: A narrow pathway, right next to Cosmopolitan Club on Mount Road, leads one to a recently renovated building. The musically aware in the city and outside it will immediately recognise the impressive, British-era structure that houses Musee Musicals, the oldest music store in Chennai. With large doors and thick walls, it once housed elephants belonging to the Parthasarathy temple.
First founded in 1842 as Misquith and Co, Musee Musicals holds the distinction of being a hallowed space for not only musicians, but anyone inclined towards classical music.
The list of musicians to have been associated with them is impressive, for it includes, among others, none other than maestros Ilayaraja and A.R. Rahman. They are also one of the largest examination centres for the Trinity School of Music outside London.
Said classical pianist Anil Srinivasan, “Musee Musicals, with its rich history of over 170 years, is a natural habitat or rather a home for musicians. With most of the existing music spaces extremely restricted, it is refreshing that the management here allows musicians to come and play their music.”
Always a pioneer, they have now brought a change to the traditional concept of music showrooms. On Thursday, a sunny afternoon, the door of the store was held wide open when it saw the inauguration of the largest experiential music zone in the country.
“For those intending to step into the world of music, to have a feel and sound of the instrument before buying it is absolutely essential. We wanted to provide the best environment for our patrons, and for that, we made no compromise,” says Kishore G. Das, CEO of Musee Musicals Pvt Ltd.
Thrown open by famed violinist L. Subramaniam and ace drummer Sivamani, the occasion rekindled their fond memories of the store. Said Sivamani, “I still remember coming here as a child to buy my first instruments. Back then, there was no place to buy quality instruments. The present generation is extremely lucky; youngsters can get any instrument easily.”
If it seems to some that classical music is being overtaken in popularity by other genres, Subramaniam begged to differ. “There will be no end to classical music, be it Western or Indian. It’s always nice to hear the other forms of music, isn’t it?”
