G.N. Balasubramaniam (GNB)

Carnatic composers (other than performing vidwans)
Post Reply
kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

Shri Coolkarni sir:
The sarasvati clip is a composition on Shr.ngEri ShAradA of ShrI NS rAmacandran, a great composer belonging to an illustrous Shishya parampara of ShrI tyAgarAja. Maybe once we get to complete one of these threads we'll discuss his compositions.

The reason for confusion is because there are a number of compositions in the same rAga with similar starting words.

Nonetheless, what a sarasvati!!! Rendered effortlessly with nice svara passages....

Here's the sAhitya of the GNB piece and let's discuss the meaning. Maybe someone cancome up w. the clip at a latertime.

rAga: sarasvati tALa: rUpakam

p. sarasvati namOstutE ShAradE vidyA pradE

a. karadhr.ta vINA pustaka varamaNimAlAlangkr.ta

c. naraharisuta vidhi lAlita navamaNiyuta kambukalE
surasEvA padayugaLE sudhAkAra samadhavaLE

sarasvati namOstutE = Prostrations to Goddess Sarasvati
ShAradE = ?? (Apte's dict. holds that ShArada means "bashful"/"modest")
vidyA pradE = who bestows knowledge
karadhr.ta vINA pustaka = Who holds in Her arms the lute and book
varamaNimAlAlangkr.ta = bedecked with resplendent necklaces of gems
nara = man
harisuta = ????
vidhi = ???
lAlita = adulated
navamaNiyuta = w/ elegant gems
kambukalE = kambukaNThi (one w/ a neck shaped like a conch shell)???

surasEvA padayugaLE = the Gods worship Thy Feet
sudhAkARa samadhavaLE = Who is as white(complexion) as the moon

coolkarni

Post by coolkarni »

The sarasvati clip is a composition on Shr.ngEri ShAradA of ShrI NS rAmacandran
Thanks for pointing it out.
will look for the REAL ONE

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

kmrasika

Hope this helps-sarasvathi namOsthuthE meaning was posted on bboard:

pallavi
sarasvati namOstutE shAradE vidyApradE
sarasvati = sarasvati
namOstutE = I pay my obeisance to you. SharadE
shAradE = O! shAradA
vidyA = Knowledge
pradE = One who gives
sarasvati, I pay my obeisance to you. O! SharadA, bestower of knowledge.

anupallavi
kara dhrta vINA pustaka varamaNi mAlAlankrta
kara = hands
dhrta = hold
vINA = vINA
pustaka = books
varamaNi = Precious gems
mAlA = garland
alankrta = adorned with
You hold Vina and books in your hands and are adorned with garlands of precious gems

caraNam
narahari suta vidhi lAlita navamaNi yuta kambhugaLE
sura sEvita pada yugaLE sudhAkara samadhavaLE
narahari = vishnu
suta = son
vidhi = brahma
lAlita = cared by
navamaNi = the 9 precious stones
kambhu = conch
gaLE = meck
sure = Gods
sEvita = served
pada = feet
yugalE = pair
sudhAkara = moon
sama = equal
dhavaLa = white
You are taken care by Brahma, the son of Vishnu. Your conch like neck is adorned by the nine precious gems.
Your pair of feet are served(prayed) by the Gods. You are as fair as the moon

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Post by Lakshman »

I have the clip sarasvati namOstutE of GNB sung by Trissur Ramachandran but it is part of a commercial CD.

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

[repeated post deleted]

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

Thank you, meena. We proceed with the bahudAri piece.

rAgam: bahudAri tAla: Adi

p. mArakOTi sundari mAnini
mAmavasadA jaganmOhini

a. ShArada vidhu samavadanE
nIrajadaLa sulOcani

c. nAradAdi pUjita pAvani
tAraka ripu Shubha janani
ghOrapApa santApaShamani
bhAramArtika phaladAyini

mArakOTi sundari mAnini = Oh beautiful/respectful One, having a bewitching form of that of a crore of Cupids!
mAmavasadA - Protect me always
jaganmOhini = Delight of the universe!

Sharada vidhu samavadanE = with a face like the full moon
nIrajadaLa sulOcani = having eyes resembling petals of the lotus

nAradAdi pUjita pAvani = O pure One worshipped by nArada among others
tAraka ripu = One who eradicates wicked ones by Her eyes alone
Shubha janani = mother in the purest form
ghOrapApa santApaShamani = One who alleviates/removes the affliction /pain accrued through the heinous of sins
bhAramArtika phaladAyini = Who confers boons to those burdened with strife

abadri
Posts: 183
Joined: 08 Jun 2005, 00:04

Post by abadri »

kmrasika,

An SKR rendition of sarasvati namOstutE
http://rapidshare.de/files/27307310/SKR ... i.mp3.html

gb_rajasekar
Posts: 42
Joined: 22 Mar 2005, 07:11

Post by gb_rajasekar »

Dear Badri,
This is not my father's composition. It does not start with Sri Saraswati..
this i have downloaded and checked , it is different.
I am sure Mr Coolkarni has this piece and he can upload the correct one

I am enjoying your discussions, but unable to participate as i neither know sanskrit nor the circumstances under which my father composed them nor do i know music. All I can say is that he hardly spent time on the compositions but only minutes for them, especially the sahitya.. so i leave it to your judgement regarding the same.
Rgds
Rajasekar

drshrikaanth
Posts: 4066
Joined: 26 Mar 2005, 17:01

Post by drshrikaanth »

GBR
I downloaded too and it is "sarawati naOstutE" in rAga saraswati which IS GNB's composition. The clip is mislabelled as "SrI saraswati" which reminds of MD's Arabhi composition. The song is preceded by an elaborate AlApane. But the quality of the recording is poor.

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

sarasvati namOstutE ShAradE by sree SKR (recording is good)

http://www.bigupload.com/d=010EAEFA

laxmiv
Posts: 45
Joined: 30 Nov 2005, 23:33

Post by laxmiv »

Meena,

I don't think this is GNB's compostion. The GNB composition goes like, " Saraswathi Namosthute,
Sharade Vidyaprade. I have this song by Priya Sisters. It is a commerical CD titled Ambal Krithis.

Laxmi

http://www.musicalnirvana.com/script/sh ... px?ID=1345

drshrikaanth
Posts: 4066
Joined: 26 Mar 2005, 17:01

Post by drshrikaanth »

Meena
laxmiv is right. The song posted by you is a different "saraswati namOstutE". Maybe SKR's own composition?

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

laxmiv

thanku for bringing it to my attention. Will correct my list.

one can listen to the priya sis. version @
http://www.udbhava.com/udbhava/songs.jsp?id=309

Maybe Lji can shed some light on the clip i u/l, when he returns from his trip.

knrh05
Posts: 162
Joined: 05 Feb 2010, 20:52

Post by knrh05 »

meena,
The clip you posted is the same one as coolkarni's original post. kmrasika has pointed it out as NS Ramachandran's composition.

Here's KSG's rendition (flute):
http://rapidshare.de/files/27619373/03_ ... i.MP3.html

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Post by Lakshman »

sarasvati namOstutE. rAgA: sarasvati. rUpaka tALA. Composer: N.S.Ramachandran.

P: sarasvati namOstutE sArasa bhava sammOda sandAyini
A: vara svarAlaya sthitE vAgIshvarivardE shrI
C: nigama shirOmaNI rUpiNI natajana paripAlini
jagajjanani nIlavENi rAmacandra vinuta vANi
tungA tIra vihAriNi tunga mangaLa vidhAyini
shrnga shaila nivAsini sangIta rasa vilAsini

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

Wow, just one song generated so much discussion. That's the best thing about this board 8). Than you, Shri abadri, that was the correct sarasvati of of GNB; S kalyaNarAman's renditions are shaped by his own wonderful and delightful vidvat that commands your attention and want to listen more of his renditions. The other sarasvati of was no less magnificent and delightful, as well.

Moving on, the two ShivaShakti pieces. Pls fill in/correct when necessary, esp the Telugu words which I guessed by context.

ShrIcakrarAja nilayE
rAga: ShivaShakti tALa: Adi

p. ShrIcakrarAjanilayE ShivaShakti aikhya rUpiNi
a. pAShAngkuSha bANEkshudaNDa pEShakalAdhari pAhi pAhi
c. ASharakula nAShini ShrISha kEShava sahajAmini
IShaguNa gAnatOShiNi kOShAntara sthitapOshiNi

ShrIcakrarAjanilayE = Resident of the king of cakrAs, the ShrIcakra
ShivaShakti aikhya rUpiNi = Whose resembles the very union of Shiva and Shakti

pAShAngkuSha bANEkshudaNDa pEShakalAdhari = adorned exuberantly with splendid noose, goad, arrow, and a stalk of sugarcane
pAhi pAhi = (to entreat) protect protect

Asharakula nAShini = WHo routed the demons
ShrISha kEShava sahajAmini = Who was also born in conjunction with the birth of the Lord of ShrI(vishNu)

IShaguNa gAnatOShiNi = Whose takes pleasure in musical extolment of Her beloved Lord Shiva's attributes(???)

kOShAntara sthitapOshiNi = Who dwells as the jIva within the 5 psychological sheaths (annamaya,prANamaya, manOaya, vi~jnAnamaya & Anandamaya)

vinutapAlini gadA

rAga: ShivaShakti tALa: rUpakam

p. vinutapAlini gadA vEga brOva rAdA?
a. canuvuna ninnusadA bhaji~njsalEdA
c. anupama dayAnidhi ninnuvinA evarammA?
tanujavairi sOdari tribhuvanEShvari Shangkari

vinutapAlini = Who protects her devotees
gadA = ???
vEga brOva rAda? = Why delay in protecting me?
canuvuna ninnusadA bhaji~njsalEdA = I will always sing praises of You with affection in my mind

anupama dayAnidhi ninnuvinA evarammA? = Who else is ever-merciful than Thee?

tanujavairi sOdari = Sister of VishNu
tribhuvanEShvari = Empress pf the three worlds
Shangkari = The auspicious

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

It was nice to hear a rare piece in this rAga. Again, pls feel free to correct the translation.

ShrI GBR Sir, I wanted to ask you whether there is a shrine for dEvi in the form of nAdarUpasundari in tamizhnADu or elsewhere in India.

niravadhi sukhadAyaki
rAga: malayamArutam tALa: rUpakam

p. niravadhisukha dAyaki ninnE nammaka lEdA?
a. parama karuNAkari paShupati manOhari
c. Sharat sOmabimba vadanE sarasija sahasrAra
varadAna nipuNa caraNE vandita janArti haraNE

niravadhisukha dAyaki = One that confers boundless bliss
ninnE nammaka lEdA? =???

parama karuNAkari = The most compassionate
paShupati manOhari = beloved of Shiva, the Lord of men

Sharat sOmabimba vadanE = Who face resembles the autumn moon
sarasija sahasrAra sadanE = Who is seated/resides on the thousand-spoked(petalled) lotus OR one who resides in the lotus of the sahasrAra cakra

varadAna nipuNa = The Granter of boons
caraNE vandita janArtiharaNE = Who allayas/alleviates distress of Those Who worship Thy feet

gb_rajasekar
Posts: 42
Joined: 22 Mar 2005, 07:11

Post by gb_rajasekar »

Dear Rasikas,
I confirm that the piece of SKR posted by Meena is definitely not my fathers. I am unable to hear Priya sisters piece now,, will listen at night and confirm.

Re kmrasika,
to my knowledge , there is no Nadarupasundari in any temple. In fact there is a photo of this devi in all his composition books as she is his Ishatadevatha for his compositions.

it is his own creation. He called Sri Kondia Raju one of the most famous artists of his time to come to our house, stay with us and do a couple of paintings. The mudras of the deity are my father's and it was painted by Sri Kondiah Raju in our house with details given by my father. He imagined this devi and had it painted. It is still there in my brother's house at Chennai, along with another painting. By mudras , i mean the abaranas, the articles in her hands etc.

He has used the word Nadarupasundari in a few compositions of his.

Rgds
Rajasekar

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

ShrI GBR Sir:
Thank you for verifying the nature of the deity. I had come across a list of the panchAshat (actually, 51) pIThAs of dEvi recently and didn't find this deity listed. And yes, the painting is included in the books of compositions of your father.

On the sarasvati clip, I just want to reiterate that I think the clip by abadri is the correct composition of your father(I think SKR has rendered the ciTTasvara as well).

Moving on:


rAga: Arabhi tALa: Adi

p. maRAvanunE ninnu maRavanunE
marakatAngi mAramaNa sOdari

a. varavANi kamalA sEvitE
vA~njcitArtha dAyika niratE

c. ciruta prAyamula nimci nIpada
dhyAnamE muktimArga manukoni
neRanammi yunnaja nura
cirasukha mosagu cintAmaNi yani

maRAvanunE ninnu maRavanunE = Would I ever forget You?
marakatAngi = One with an emerald-hued body
mAramaNa sOdari = sister of the spouse of lakshmi


varavANi kamalA sEvitE = sarasvati and lakshmi wait upon You
vA~njcitArtha dAyika niratE = You confer all that is desired

ciruta prAyamula = from young
nimci = ???
nIpada dhyAnamE = by meditating on Thy feet
muktimArga manukoni = leads to the path of salvation
neRanammi yunnaja nura = ???
cirasukha mosagu =???
cintAmaNi yani = Who is like the jewel that adorns the mind

Another GNB clip posted by coolkarni Sir on another thread. Gratitude to abadri for reviving it.
http://rapidshare.de/files/27297526/Rad ... i.mp3.html

rAga: Shubha pantuvarALi tALa: Adi

p. nIsamAna mevarulErani
nE pogaDa taramA? talli!

a. bhUsurAdi samsEvita kamalE
bhOgamOkshAdi dAyika vimalE

c. AsacE nI pAvana caraNamu
pAvana jEyu sunna vADugadA
vAsudEvuni priya sOdari
bhAsamAna Sharadindu kalAdhari

nIsamAna mevarulErani = Who is equal to You?
pogaDa taramA? = praiseworthy???
talli! = O Mother!

bhUsurAdi samsEvita kamalE = the gods worship Thee, O lotus-like One!
bhOgamOkshAdi dAyika vimalE = The most pure One, who bestows contentment and liberation

AsacE = ???
nI pAvana caraNamu = Thy blemishless Feet
pAvana jEyu = to purify???
sunna vADugadA = ???
vAsudEvuni priya sOdari = O beloved sister of vishNu!
bhAsamAna Sharadindu kalAdhari = Who is as radiant as the moon

Rigapada
Posts: 172
Joined: 25 Nov 2005, 08:48

Post by Rigapada »

Dear friends,
The meanings of some of the words left with ? marks is

as below:

p. vinutapAlini gadA vEga brOva rAdA?
gadA = you are the one who, vinutapAlini (vi) = protect

your devotees.

p. niravadhisukha dAyaki ninnE nammaka lEdA?

ninnE nammaka lEdA = did I not believe you?

c. ciruta prAyamula nimci nIpada
dhyAnamE muktimArga manukoni
neRanammi yunnaja nura
cirasukha mosagu cintAmaNi yani

c. ciruta prAyamula nimci = from young age, nI pada
dhyAnamE mukti mArgamu+anukoni
neRa = completely, nammi = believing, yunnAnura = I am.
cira sukhamu+osagu cintAmaNi yani = thinking that you are the cintAmaNi, the fabulous gem which gives lasting happiness.

From young age, I believed that you are the fabulous

gem that gives lasting happiness and that meditation of

your feet is the way to salvation.

p. nI+samAnamu+evaru+lErani = that there are none equal to you
nE = for me, pogaDa taramA? talli! = OMother! is it possible to praise?

a. bhUsurAdi samsEvita kamalE
bhOgamOkshAdi dAyika vimalE

c. AsacE = with hope, nI pAvana caraNamu
pAvana jEyu cunna vADa gadA = I am the one cleaning !

With hope of salvation, I had been serving your feet.

vAsudEvuni priya sOdari
bhAsamAna Sharadindu kalAdhari

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

Rigapada, thank u for the meaning to the Telugu words. Now we can u'std the meaning of the compositions better. Coolkarniji, abadri, cud we con't w/ the discussion w/ audio [please:-)] ?

knrh05
Posts: 162
Joined: 05 Feb 2010, 20:52

Post by knrh05 »

GNB Documentary video
11.5 minute MPEG includes a few seconds video footage of Sri GNB - uploaded in Rasikapriya group

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ra ... ssage/6912

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

---
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:13, edited 1 time in total.

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

----
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:13, edited 1 time in total.

gb_rajasekar
Posts: 42
Joined: 22 Mar 2005, 07:11

Post by gb_rajasekar »

Dear Rasikas,
Small correction. The function is on 24December Sunday and not tomorrow.
Rgds
Rajasekar

srkris
Site Admin
Posts: 3497
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 03:34

Post by srkris »

Ram and Lalitha Ram, Los Angeles residents
Ram is the LA resident, Lalitha Ram is not related to him. Lalitha Ram is not a lady. Its a pseudonym used by a friend of mine Mr. Ramachandran who works in Bangalore. He gave me a complimentary copy of his new book this morning. ;)

It's in Tamil, so it may not be readable by all of us, but it contains a lot of memorable information and anecdotes which the author has taken pains to collect from first hand sources. 176 pages.

kkumar29
Posts: 46
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 20:26

Post by kkumar29 »

Hi folks,

Can any of you provide details on how I can purchase these books and DVD from the US.

Thanks,
K. Kumar.

srkris
Site Admin
Posts: 3497
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 03:34

Post by srkris »


meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

---
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:13, edited 1 time in total.

jayaram
Posts: 1317
Joined: 30 Jun 2006, 03:08

Post by jayaram »

It's great to see GNB at the intro page.

Never realized I share my birthday with this great maestro! (I guess it's time for me to move out of the bathroom singing stage and try out some brisk brigas...:-)

Btw, srkris: GNB's death-date is 1 May 1965.
Last edited by jayaram on 04 Jan 2007, 01:03, edited 1 time in total.

srkris
Site Admin
Posts: 3497
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 03:34

Post by srkris »

Thanks for the information, I also replaced the image with a better one.

jayaram
Posts: 1317
Joined: 30 Jun 2006, 03:08

Post by jayaram »

srkris - GNB looks a bit tired in this photo. I liked the previous one better.

Btw, is there some place we can access the earlier images (of other musicians)?

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

---
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:13, edited 1 time in total.

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

Deleted
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 04:14, edited 1 time in total.

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Post by rshankar »

What a nice op-ed piece!

srinivasasarma
Posts: 89
Joined: 23 Oct 2006, 18:16

Post by srinivasasarma »

I am coming to this page, after travelling with the admirers of MDR, whom i worshipped, though i am one of the cousins of great GNB. I dint have much time to hear any music till abt 68-69. I was drawn to music
much later when there was not so much of tapes etc (were costly too) available and I was going to concerts
when i cud spare time. once when i heard MDR i could not come out, I became his parama rasika. Like me, there were many.
i wud share some of my knowledge on shri GNB and his "style".

srinivasasarma
Posts: 89
Joined: 23 Oct 2006, 18:16

Post by srinivasasarma »

Flg are found as GNB"s in a book in tamil "an index on compositions of carnatic music" compiled by mr p.v.gopalakrishna Iyer - Gitanjali art printers ,santhome, in addn. to what is stated in this page 1.
bhava padula-kamboji-adi
indha thamasa-kannada-rupakam
indha parakela-janaranjani-rupakam
innamum eno-denuka-aadhi
un puhazhai naan-yadukula kamboji-adi
eththanai naal indha- -do-
kurai theerkha-vardhani-adi
nannu brocheva-sahana-adi
mamava maathanghi-reetigowla-rupakam
maa ramanan-thodi-adi
nayeda-begada-chapu
ninnadi-kaanada-rupakam
ninne nambi-mukhari-adi
nee paadamulanu-sahana adi
perumaiyai-hindola vasantham-adi
padha saarasamulu-kamboji-adi
sri vijaya-vijaya nagari-adi
thaaladuva-bairavi-rupakam
raja rajeswari-bairavi-adi
vihasite poorna-poorna chandrika-adi
sarangadhara-sarnga-rupakam
yaar yennai-danyasi-adi
----
in addn to abv, i hv in my note one "nandheesam vandhe-rishabappriya"
----
pls check/guide
luvs/rgs

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Post by Lakshman »

Unfortunately P.V.Gopalakrishna Iyer does not provide references for any of the entries in his Index book.
He does mention the help he received from S.Kalyanaraman and D.Krishnaswami.
Also mentioned are SKR's disciples Smt.Leela, Smt.Brinda Venkataraman, Selvi Kulabhushani etc.

srinivasasarma
Posts: 89
Joined: 23 Oct 2006, 18:16

Post by srinivasasarma »

Lakshman- when i was talking to mr kalyanaraman during 87 or 88, (he wasone of my good friends in those
days) he said the details are correct.
to all: once mr s kalyanaraman sang a very nice aarabi/naadasudaarasa and its neraval "veda puraanaagama" i said it was the best i hv heard so far and he said "you are unlucky- you should hv heard from
my master this song"
in a.vikatan abt 50 yrs before they were writing "Ivargal sandhithaal" - how the discn wud be .... I remember 3 articles.
shri
ariyakkudi and maharajapuram viswanaatha iyer
gnb and madhurai mani iyer
sivaji ganesan and mgr
-- abt GNB i wont forget one thing.
around 1955 he came to my native place (mannargudi) to gv a marriage concert. i was around 16 then. my
mother was telling me that gnb is his cousin visalam's son. it was enough. i went to the house where he was
resting and introdued myself. he first offered me the tiffin and said "it is longtime since i saw yr mother. will
you bring her to the concert". my mother generally wont go out and i said i wud be there with my father,as he
had already recd the invitation. we attended the concert. (a nice kamboji - i remember). before he was driven to kumbakonam to catch the train he came to our house and was sitting with my mother for a very longtime and chatting abt the old days and the accompanying artists (I think shri lalgudi & shri u.sivaraman) were
seeing their watches !. if i had known their greatness, i wud hv prostrated them min 3/4 times. i was a good singer (no learning sono sa pa sa). when they were leaving my mother asked him ifhe would take me (oh
poor mothers) and keep me as his sishya "ivanai un sishyanaa eduthukkiriya"?. he said that it is very competitive field, there are mny who are suffering in this field,let him qualify and get into some job and then
think of music field.
--
frm a sabha secretary i heard that once for a concert he was approached by someone, 1500 for him, 1000. gn for both violin and mridagam. gnb replied "give me 1000, give PMI 1000 and LJ 500. whn askd abt it he replied
PMI is a great artist, he deserves more and he wil make the concert a success. No wonder they just loved him.
-
Many a time, i cud see GNB in shri sanjay subramanyam.
--
Krishna gana sabha organised a send off party to GNB when he was to leave for Trivandrum (abt 63/64) many artists came and i remember shri veena balachander said "the gain to trivandrum is a loss to madras"
it was the last time we saw him in mds.
----

cmfan
Posts: 7
Joined: 13 Nov 2006, 08:34

Post by cmfan »

Great New Bhani (GNB)!! I have heard this from one of the most acclaimed musician.

Coming back to his compositions, I have seen a documentary in Doordarshan where Shri Semmangudi (SSI) talks for a few mins about Shri GNB.
Some of the excerpts from the documentary are as below:
1) GNB was an educated and intelligent man
2) GNB used to use variety of taalams in his concert
3) GNB used his education effectively to kindle creativity and innovation in his music
4) GNB never used to sing his own compositions in his concerts etc etc..
Finally SSI commented on GNB's compositions: Once SSI asked GNB as to why isn’t he singing his own compositions.GNB's response was "if the compositions had life, then they will be popularised by his sishyas and their sishyas".Today GNB's compositions are being sung by many many musicians and are popular. Thanks to GNB's family for publishing the compositions and making it available for the public.

Another amazing quality of GNB was not to leave any mudhra on his compositions. This shows his self confidence and selflessness.

However there was one exception of GNB NOT rendering his own composition: GNB once rendered the kriti - paramakripa sagari - yadukulakambodhi in one of his concerts. I have heard this song and it is a very good one .

GNB was one of the most successful concert musicians and I used to ponder on the influences of a composer (vagayakarar) in his concert delivery. I consider there were quite a few influences of a composer in his concerts especially in making many kritis looking stunningly brilliant, attractive & popular. GNB's pronuniciation when he delivered the kritis was amazing.
GNB has also introduced many new kritis all through his career and popularized many rare ragas (malavi, dhenuka, dakka etc). I believe GNB was the one who had set the chittaswarams for Swaminatha Paripalayamam - Nattai - Dikshitar.I also heard that GNB was responsible for the chittaswarams for sobillu - jaganmohini . Can anyone confirm the sobillu sapthaswara part please.

On the other hand GNB's compositions are so elegant because of his hands on experience in kriti delivery and handling so many kritis. The compositions bring out clearly the characteristics of the raga and the kritis are so meaningful. I heard from someone that he was not telugu literate , but has composed so many songs in telugu. I think Goddess Saraswati has blessed GNB with such great skills/talents.GNB is really a prodigy, genius etc etc..(may be we will run out of words here!).

I also believe that GNB used to scribble the verses/his thoughts in pieces of paper in the night and the next day the same will be compiled by his illustrious sishyas as a composition and they would do the notation for these compositions.
Can I request GBR to confirm this please?


Any comments on the vagayakarar's influences in his concert delivery and vice versa?

gbb
Posts: 16
Joined: 23 Feb 2007, 06:56

Post by gbb »

gnb composed many songs including few new innovations but there is no MUDHRA for each songs.He did not note down the compositins with him, but taught to their deciples on that day itself.He is to put the notations in one raga and thala simeltaniously.he never changed them from one to another. the first form itself will be fine.

gbb
Posts: 16
Joined: 23 Feb 2007, 06:56

Post by gbb »

according to his close associates, the number goes nearly 100 plus. but only 80 compositions are published and released so far.all the 3 books are available in Karnataka Book House in Chennai. if you want i can give all contact details. they are sending to overseas also.

gbb
Posts: 16
Joined: 23 Feb 2007, 06:56

Post by gbb »

The Karnataka Book center,No.14,Sripuram 1st. Street,Near Ajantha Hotel, Royapettah,Chennai. 600014,India. further inf. will be sent later.

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

gbb sir:
Did tanjAvUr ShrI S kalyANarAman publish a book by himself other than the one he co-edited w/ ShrI TVR sir? The reason I ask is that Smt. S Bhagyalekshmy in her Index of 4000 Songs in Karnatic Music has mentioned some songs not published before and she credits ShrI kalyANaraman as the source for the info. Are the lyrics/audio for these available?

kmrasika
Posts: 1258
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 07:55

Post by kmrasika »

gbb wrote:so far.all the 3 books are available in Karnataka Book House in Chennai. if you want i can give all contact details. they are sending to overseas also.
I did see the books on one shelf on my recent visit there about a month-and-a-half ago. They have quite a decent number of copies. Yes, they do ship internationally.

gbb
Posts: 16
Joined: 23 Feb 2007, 06:56

Post by gbb »

Thanks for Meena for the article about Sri.GNB and also for 2 others appeared about him. I would like to add some thing about one RTP in the raga SAHANA sung by him.The details are:
-GNB with Sri Lalgudi and Sri Mosaiah- a local Mrindangam player.
-Place- Nanjancode=a marriage concert.
-Tape used-a old one- the tapes were costly and not freely available at that time and they used to record again and again on it.May be the reason for the quality of the tape.
-the quality is very below average-with lot of disturbances and volume variations.Except for the Pallavi-it is audible.The Raga alapana,swaras and ragamaliga swaras were excellent.
-it was up loaded in Rasigapriya web site some time ago.
-I thought it was omitted to mention in the article.May be it was written long time ago.
This is for Sri GNBs rasikas information.
I would like to add some interesting things happend in his concerts for the sake of his rasikas interst some time later if they like to know.Awaiting for the response.

coolkarni

Post by coolkarni »

gbb
GB Bhuvaneswaran ??
if yes , Welcome Sir !!
Welcome to the elder brother of GB Rajasekhar.
We all owe a lot to you and your family for the wonderful gifts of your fathers music, which we play here in this forum.We would be delighted to meet you at our next rasikas meet scheduled for March 18th.
We just fixed up the artist yesterday - more on that in the general section-GS Mani.
While describing a rare moment with Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and GNB , GS Mani recollected a 5 minute alapana of Andolika , sung for Bade saab, who was to sing a 40 minute version later in the evening.
" Ennamo Theriyale Appa, I have Listened to lots of masters in my day - many of them at close quarters- but somehow GNB used to make our blood race through our veins.this 5-minute alapana, as though he conjured up a diamond from his sleeve-like a magician-he effortlessly put it up for all of us to admire.
It was beyond description."
More on that story in the general section.
Welcome aboard !

gbb
Posts: 16
Joined: 23 Feb 2007, 06:56

Post by gbb »

Dear All,
Only 3 books were published-one by Sri GNB himself under the name Gana Bhaskara Manimali-notations checked by late.Sri T R Balasubramaniam (i956) Second by late Sri G.B.Doraiswamy-notations by late Sri T S Kalyanaraman and Sri V Ramachandran (1971) 3rd by GNB Foundation 92005) along with re publications of book 1 & 2.I do not know about the other books.For your information Sri T S K is also a good composer. He had composed one Thillana in the Raga Ghavathi also.( I saw some one was asking about the thillana in ghavathy raga) Few days ago, I was requesting Ms. Bhushany Kalyanaraman to publish his compositions soon.i will also will be too happy to know the details of other books on this subject.Pl. share the information to us to verify the correcness of the information.If it is correct , we will try to get the full details and publish them also.
I am delighted to go through this web site and along with my brother GBR I will share all interesting news about our father Sri GNB with you all.Sri GBR is activly participating in all the discussions and I will also share what little I know.Hope Sri Coolkarny will help me if I need any tech. help me to up load certain audios etc.I will be in touch with him soon.
To start with,I will try to up load fathers-compositions-6 varnams -except Varali varnam-,new innovations(according to our knowledge) and Tamil songs ( up dated up to 30/09/06) compiled by Sri GBR and myself.( of course with Mr coolkarnis help). Best wishes to all of you.

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Post by rshankar »

Sri GBB,
Welcome, and thank you for your generosity!

Jigyaasa
Posts: 587
Joined: 16 May 2006, 14:04

Post by Jigyaasa »

@srinivasasarma, I believe nandIsham vandE in rishabhapriyA is a composition of Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna, not G.N.B.

Post Reply