Madurai Somu

Carnatic Musicians
varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by varsha »

remaining part of this concert - has a mind blowing kirwani rtp with msg .
very early msg perhaps - unbelievable skill and precision

https://archive.org/details/Somu-llgudi-vrBalanceTracks

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

TVG talks about Somu + Shanmukapriya (with TVG)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvX5_EycNmw

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by varsha »

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/quyml37 ... 20Somu.mp3

Kazhugumalai is very audible in this track as well

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Madurai Somu + Lalgudi + Sivaraman

RTP - Kedara GauLai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vihNC1hvDVI

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Madurai Somu + Lalgudi
Enna kavi pAdinAlum - NeelamaNi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjZYiN8Tbko

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Madurai Somu + V V Subramaniyam + U K Sivaraman

Dehimudham - Bharathi - Kadaram (Chandrakauns)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFPdhH6nV3c

vallknowme
Posts: 98
Joined: 14 Aug 2013, 22:17

Mr. Somasundaram, God Appointed Singer

Post by vallknowme »

Mr. Somasundaram is AN ABSOLUTE GENIUS. Listening to a concert by Madurai, the greatest ever and more, Somu where he tells the violinist (probably in the Madurai accent, not sure) - "Chandru, appidiye lipt (lift) kudukreenga enakku" .

What a pleasure to listen to Somu, the God appointed singer.

Rsachi
Posts: 5039
Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Mr. Somasundaram, God Appointed Singer

Post by Rsachi »

Well said, sir!
Here is a concert :
http://chowdaiahandparvati.blogspot.in/ ... u.html?m=0

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by venkatakailasam »

concert 41-Madurai Somu
Listen at:
http://myblogkumara.blogspot.in/2013/11 ... isten.html

01_Sri_Ramam_Abhogi_composer 47.20
02_Pahi_Pahi_Gajanana_Nata_composer-7.18
03 and 04_upacAramulanu_cEkonavayya_bhairavi_tyAgarAja-29.17
05-rAmA_sItA_rAmA_rAma_shankarAbharaNam_tyAgarAja-37.13
06-Shankara_Parameswari_Ragamalika
07-Madurai_Arasalum_Ragamalikaga_ulundurpet_shanmugam-22.34
O8- RAma NI NAmam-PUrvikalyANi 5.01

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by venkatakailasam »

Concert 107- Madurai Somu
Listen at:

http://myblogkumara.blogspot.in/2014/01 ... me-ii.html

Concert details:
001-Muruganai ninaindhu-Ragamalika
002-Chandrasekara-Thodi
003-sadA-madini--gambhIravANi--Adi—Somu
004-O RAma NI NAmam-PUrvikalyANi
005-Pasupathi Sankara_Dhakshayani
006-Alangattil Aadum Ayyan-panthuvarali
007-Thamasam enaiya-thodi

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by venkatakailasam »

Image


Concert 280-Madurai Soma Sundaram..
Mind blowing...enjoy..

Listen at:
http://myblogkumara.blogspot.in/2014/09 ... art-x.html

001-Pasupathi Sankara_Dhakshayani
002-Begada_RTP
003- Thamasam enaiya-thodi
004- Velavane-Shanmugapriya
005-Sri-Raja-rajeswari-Khambhoji
006-Siva Siva ena Radha

vallknowme
Posts: 98
Joined: 14 Aug 2013, 22:17

Re: Mr. Somasundaram, God Appointed Singer

Post by vallknowme »

Rsachi, thanks for sharing the concert.

In another concert, I was listening to in the morning...the genius goes like --> "I want it yagain (again)" --> and the violinist repeats the phrase he just played...same concert...he imitates Bhade Ghulam and groans ....

GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENIUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS..

MADURAI SOMU COMES DIRECTLY FROM GOD..

i want it yagain!!!


rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rajeshnat »

Pasupathy Sir
I read two articles since it is thamizh and I took my time to read it . It is just wonderful such a great musician with absolutely zero ego.He was totally at ease and kept rasikas in bliss . Thanks to you and also raju asokan who is the biggest somu fan.

His house at Lake Area in nungambakkam is very close to my house . I used to play street cricket during some days in 80's near his house . I knew he was a singer and I also knew he has sung that famous song marudha malai mAmaniyE but never knew his carnatic pursuits that much . On a funny note, there is a saloon near his house where many in our area used to go for haircut , I have heard many anecdotes where when he comes to saloon and during his hair cut or when he waits for his turn he used to sing. I vaguely recollect once I was a witness not sure what he sang may be it was a tOdi or shanmughapriya but must have had a lot of scissor cut sangathis with no scissor cut censor :D . He took his music to masses with shear love and bhakthi .

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Thanx, Rajeshnat, for sharing. ( Hope you read the other 2 too !)

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Poet Vaali's encounter with Madurai Somu
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/07/18.html

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Somu- Lalgudi -CSM
Sankaranai Thuthithadu - Ragam -Kuvalayabharanam - Gopala Krishna Bharathi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCwhKTn5-do

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Madurai Somasundaram -Thaye Yasodha -Ragam Thodi-Adi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLyCAPy_esc

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by venkatakailasam »

தம் குருநாதர் சித்தூராரை நினைத்து காண்களில் நீர் ததும்ப, கைகள் நடுங்க, வாய் துடிக்க, "எந்தன் குருவே சித்தூரார்" என்றும், "இசை லய ஞானமெல்லாம் இந்த சோமனுக்க சொல்லிக் கொடுத்த அந்த சுப்பிரமணியன்" என்றும் கச்சேரி இடையிடையே நினைந்து போற்றுவார்.

தம் குருநாதர் பற்றி ஆபேரி இராகம், ஆதி தாளத்தில் ஒரு பாடலும் இயற்றி தம் கச்சேரிகளில் பாடியுள்ளார். அப்பாடல் வருமாறு.

பல்லவி:
ஏழுமலை வாசனுக்கும் எங்கள் மதுரை செக்கனுக்கும்
எப்பவுமே ஒரு சொந்தமுண்டு

அனுபல்லவி:
கூடிவரும் அன்பருக்கு சொக்க பெருமான்
சோலைமலை அழகனுக்கு மைத்துனர் முறையாம்

சரணம்:
ப்ரணவ பொருளை சோமசுந்தரருக்கு
சொல்லி தந்த சீடன் சுப்பிரமணியம்
ஸ்ருதி ஞான ஸ்வரலய ஞானங்களெல்லாம்
சொல்லித் தந்த குருவாம் சுப்பிரமணியம்
இந்த சோமனுக்கு சொல்லித் தந்த குருவாம்
சித்தூர் சுப்பிரமணியம்
Courtesy:
http://www.maduraisomu.com/somu_varalaru.htm

Somu 061-12-Ezhumalai-Ragamalika.

http://mfi.re/listen/hfd8de3ezop68uw/So ... malika.mp3

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »


cacm
Posts: 2212
Joined: 08 Apr 2010, 00:07

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by cacm »

I feel sorry for those whose IGNORANCE WAS FED BY JEALOUSY.....GENIUS CANNOT BE DENIED FOR EVER....VKV.... IF MMI JUST STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS& LISTENED TO SOMU ON THE WAY TO TRAIN THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME! VKV

music1
Posts: 30
Joined: 09 Dec 2014, 17:49

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by music1 »

cacm wrote:I feel sorry for those whose IGNORANCE WAS FED BY JEALOUSY.....GENIUS CANNOT BE DENIED FOR EVER....VKV.... IF MMI JUST STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS& LISTENED TO SOMU ON THE WAY TO TRAIN THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME! VKV

CACM Sir, these 2 lines speaks volumes of Sri Somu's genius. What perhaps have been written over number of pages or spoken over hours have been beautifully summed up in 2 lines :) A GREAT GREAT ARTIST INDEED !

rahm221
Posts: 73
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 09:08

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rahm221 »

Hi Varsha,

Thanks for the uploads. In the archive.org/details/Conc02-llg-vr Part 2 at 4:24 there is a number beginning with Vandeham after raga alapana. Would you know whose composition it is?

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by varsha »

Would you know whose composition it is?
No . And 79 more such tracks , which I guess , I will not figure out in my life time. :D

rahm221
Posts: 73
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 09:08

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rahm221 »

Thanks Varsha, Would you know what ragam it is?

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by varsha »

Natakuranji

rahm221
Posts: 73
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 09:08

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rahm221 »

Yes indeed, thanks Varsha

venkysubrama
Posts: 2
Joined: 12 Dec 2013, 23:57

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by venkysubrama »

Vande Santam Hanumantam
composed by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji

sasip
Posts: 1
Joined: 23 Mar 2015, 23:48

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by sasip »

Dear Rasikas,
I have not listened to Somu Sir performing live; that's my bad luck. But whatever recordings that I have listened, it is observed that he didn't use to sing many of Dikshitar or Shyama Sastri krithis. I have heard recordings of Meenakshi Memudam and Maha Ganapathe (Natanarayani), but not many. Can someone throw some light to this?

Almost similar. I have not heard Sri. MDR singing any Papanasan Sivan songs.

Sorry if I am not right. Also please keep this thread live. So interesting.


Sasi

CRama
Posts: 2939
Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by CRama »

Yes Madurai Somu has not sung many Deekshitar Kritis.His USP was the tamil compositions which he used to put his soul and life into it which audience enjoyed and welcomed immensely. Many tamil songs- we do not know who is the composer- whether he himself has composed- .He had an immense stock of Thyagraja kritis.

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Chokka Lingame - Madurai Somu ...and see on the right more videos....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvcloi3R82A

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by varsha »

Also please keep this thread live. So interesting.
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/f0dk2d6 ... garAja.mp3

vintageaudio1954
Posts: 1
Joined: 26 Mar 2015, 19:54

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by vintageaudio1954 »

This is from the 1975 KGS concert with LGJ-UKS-SHY-THV-Mahadevan

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Madurai Somasundaram Lalgudi CSM - Bhairavi & Chandrakauns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKLj1e- ... Rr-hkOfYdc

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rajeshnat »

This post has nothing to do with the music of madurai somu. But i have few recollections of him in the time of mid 1980's to 1989 as he lived very close to where I lived in nungambakkam in chennai. His house was in Lake Area just opposite to his house is valluvar kottam. Right next to his house I used to play tennis ball cricket in my friends house . When some one hits a long shot towards deep longon the ball usually lands in somu house . I have had few recollections of going into his house and picking up the tennis ball . Some time just to play a bit of tantrums I and one more of my friend used to sing one line maruda malai mA maniyE murugaiyyA and there shri somu used to be there outside his house in the portico we yell that line maruda malai mA maniyE and then pick the tennis ball and go out and play. For many years i did not know that he was a carnatic musician but I thought he is the one musician who has sung maruda malai mA maniyE in doordarshan oliyum oLiyum.

I have also seen him in a particular barbar shop and I distinctly remember one or two occassions where he used to sing in the shop when he comes for a haircut or a shave . I have no clue what he sang but all i recollect him as an extremely lovable person , well if one listens to his music I can now extrapolate that personality. My father and chitappa used to talk some what with him.

Also there used to be a flood light night tennis cricket match near his home in nungambakkam corporation ground. I have seen him there also .

Also in the last season I had a chance to chat with VL kumar the violinist who has played a lot for somu in 80's . VL kumar told me an interesting anecdote about madurai somu .Many in the audience just hand over song lyrics either few hours before the concert or even just during the concert . somu just like that takes those and sings extempore in kutcheri in ragamaliga ragas and many in the audience used to love it . No practice just like that he tunes and sings - what daring confidence only madurai somu can do .I am not talking those tukkadas like enna kavi which he and /or anayampatti adisesha iyer have taken . But there are few viruththams or some tukkadas where there is a sudden thunder of loose words in praise of goddess rajeshwari or lord muruga - he just pours with music with utmost bhakthi- few like it and few have found it not so palatable . I love his music for his manodharmam ,charge and *endurance*.

Now over to Rsachi in sharing his outstanding recordings and also arasi can translate if possible to english ,pasupathy sir's wonderful writings on this one of a kind- maximum throw musician.

arasi
Posts: 16774
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by arasi »

Rajesh,
Love your recollections!

I am ready with a portion of the translation. Will keep at it the next few days.

Now, should I post them here, or as Sachi suggests, in a separate thread?

Rsachi
Posts: 5039
Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Rsachi »

The thread Somu will encompass many things. My idea of paying our tributes to a genius who went unrecognised with the SK title by MA is not going to be served well unless we start a separate thread (under Vidwans and Vidushis) with the qualifier. My last 2 cents.

Pratyaksham Bala
Posts: 4164
Joined: 21 May 2010, 16:57

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

Madurai Somasundaram - Top 100 Tracks :-
http://mio.to/artist/Madurai+Somasundaram/tracks

Rsachi
Posts: 5039
Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Rsachi »

Here are some magnificent concerts - in full- of Madurai Somasundaram:

http://chowdaiahandparvati.blogspot.in/ ... rai%20Somu

Six full concerts, each better than the other, with exquisite accompaniment -Lalgudi, MSG, MC, Chalakudy, Raghu, Dorai, Upendran....
Enjoy. So many hours of pure bliss.

dipukaruthedam
Posts: 37
Joined: 19 Jan 2016, 13:04

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by dipukaruthedam »

Recently, stumbled upon the below concert:

https://www.sangeethamshare.org/muralid ... utta-1969/

Amazing and wonderful (though audio quality is not great due to the older recording constraints)

Typical "Somu concert" in more than many ways -
- A full 4.5 hours concert! (I think this version has now become extinct!)
- What a flow of energy and enthusiasm!
- The "paddhathi" of Somu is his "own" version of the traditional one. He doesn't really need any warmups! In many of his concerts, he starts Nerval and swaras from the first song itself. Here, swaras appear in the first, then Neraval comes for the next two. The number of neravals and swarams he presents is generally much higher than others. (compare this with the current trend where one should feel happy if a neraval comes in the sub-main. Sometimes, a whole concert goes with just 1 or max 2 neravals).
- The mix of ragas is also notable, few common ones, with few interesting ones...
- Once can see how much he is appreciating the music as much as he is singing... It comes deep from his heart and the "Aiyyo..." that comes when he hears some wonderful replies by LGJ or by percussion itself is worth hearing :)
- The concert is worth listening just for LGJ returns as well! The way the concert gets embellished by his so lovely!
- There are also other typical stuff like stopping in between an alapana and saying "namaskaram, namaskaram" and continuing the alapana from where it was stopped!

Hope you all hear the concert and add additional points on the music, individual songs etc...

It would have been a treat to watch him live!

ram1999
Posts: 534
Joined: 26 Nov 2015, 17:20

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by ram1999 »

dipukaruthedam wrote: 21 May 2017, 23:00 Recently, stumbled upon the below concert:

https://www.sangeethamshare.org/muralid ... utta-1969/

Amazing and wonderful (though audio quality is not great due to the older recording constraints)

Typical "Somu concert" in more than many ways -
- A full 4.5 hours concert! (I think this version has now become extinct!)
- What a flow of energy and enthusiasm!
- The "paddhathi" of Somu is his "own" version of the traditional one. He doesn't really need any warmups! In many of his concerts, he starts Nerval and swaras from the first song itself. Here, swaras appear in the first, then Neraval comes for the next two. The number of neravals and swarams he presents is generally much higher than others. (compare this with the current trend where one should feel happy if a neraval comes in the sub-main. Sometimes, a whole concert goes with just 1 or max 2 neravals).
- The mix of ragas is also notable, few common ones, with few interesting ones...
- Once can see how much he is appreciating the music as much as he is singing... It comes deep from his heart and the "Aiyyo..." that comes when he hears some wonderful replies by LGJ or by percussion itself is worth hearing :)
- The concert is worth listening just for LGJ returns as well! The way the concert gets embellished by his so lovely!
- There are also other typical stuff like stopping in between an alapana and saying "namaskaram, namaskaram" and continuing the alapana from where it was stopped!

Hope you all hear the concert and add additional points on the music, individual songs etc...

It would have been a treat to watch him live!
3 artists in my opinion who get completely immersed in their own music, oblivious of what is happening around them, completely soaked in the art are MDR/Voleti and Somu. A class apart musicians !!!

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

931. சங்கீத சங்கதிகள் - 139
மதுரை சோமு - 5

டிசம்பர் 9. மதுரை சோமு அவர்களின் நினைவு தினம்.
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2017/12/931-139.html

kvchellappa
Posts: 3598
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by kvchellappa »

Lalitha Ramachandran's post in FB:
Somu's superhuman neraval and Lalgudi's incredible return:
https://soundcloud.com/lalitharam-ramac ... ng-neraval

grsastrigal
Posts: 861
Joined: 27 Dec 2006, 10:52

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by grsastrigal »

Almost one year, we have not discussed the legend.
Recently, Somu's centenery celebrations started with leged M.Chandrasekharan gave a special speech. Don't know anyone attended this ?!

https://www.vikatan.com/diwalimalar/201 ... ml#cmt-sec

There was an article in Ananda vikatan dipavali malar about Somu. Link is above.
I have one personal request
I want to have a function - like playing Somu's vintage recording, preceded by a speech. The author of the aoove article is Mr.Sukumaran. If any one knows his contact number, please provide me.

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Recently I got this vintage photo of Somu. Prof. Trichy Sankaran said it was not him on the Mrdangam and could identify only Mannargudi Natesa Pillai on Morsing.

Here's the link to picture:
https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/b4/gDlcFnGQ_o.jpg

I would appreciate anyone identifying the artists in this picture.

Thanks.

shreyas
Posts: 251
Joined: 03 Mar 2018, 13:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by shreyas »

@grsastrigal did you get my email?

shankarank
Posts: 4043
Joined: 15 Jun 2009, 07:16

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by shankarank »

Pasupathy wrote: 11 Mar 2019, 21:37 Recently I got this vintage photo of Somu. Prof. Trichy Sankaran said it was not him on the Mrdangam and could identify only Mannargudi Natesa Pillai on Morsing.

Here's the link to picture:
https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/b4/gDlcFnGQ_o.jpg

I would appreciate anyone identifying the artists in this picture.

Thanks.
Well this picture was posted by Raju Asokan here as part of some other concert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAj1aDCYPFY

He had the same and one other question - as to why Kanjira vidvAn is sitting in the front. I had replied there.

Only kanjira vidvAn that I know of that insisted on a front seat was SrI dakshiNamUrthy Achariar , the guru of Tiruchi SrI tAyumAnavan - as narrated once by Tiruchy Murali - the ghaTam vidvAn who is a student of the latter.

Raju had responded with a link to an article by @parivadini

https://carnaticmusicreview.wordpress.c ... yumanavan/

As regards the Mridangist , may be his student himself?

One can check with Tiruchi Murali or if @parivadini knows?.

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Thanks.
Yes, it was Raju Asokan who sent me that picture and asked me to post it here.
He has recently confirmed that Ganjeera vidwan was identified as Dakshinamurthy Achariar a disciple of Pudukottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai.

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by Pasupathy »

Pasupathy wrote: 31 Mar 2019, 15:31 Thanks.
Yes, it was Raju Asokan who sent me that picture and asked me to post it here.
He has recently confirmed that Ganjeera vidwan was identified as Dakshinamurthy Achariar a disciple of Pudukottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai.
correction : Raju Asokan says that he received the confirmation from "Lalitharam" that it is actually Thiruvengadu Subramanya Pillai, the nathaswara vidwan who is accompanying Somu on the kanjeera.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Madurai Somu

Post by rajeshnat »

One of the greatest musician whom we have to celebrate far more than what it is as of today in his centenary year.
Write up on Madurai Somu dated July 12th 2019 in The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/ ... 376662.ece

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