Veena Raja Rao

Carnatic Musicians
Post Reply
meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

is this kannada article on sree veena rajo rao?
http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/nri/art ... jarao.html

srinidhi
Posts: 227
Joined: 09 Feb 2010, 08:59

Post by srinidhi »

He mentions that, as a young boy he got carried away and used the anyaswara a few times while playing shEshaNNa's tillAna (probably in the palace), and was taken to task by his teacher for this.

-Ramakriya
In Doreswamy's own words


"I played with my guru in the Rama Mandir Rama Navami celebrations conducted by Bidaram Krishnappa. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bagavathar, Chowdiah and others were present. My guru asked me to play Chenchurutti. While expanding it, I introduced the sadharana gandharam. My guru flew into a rage, because he disapproved of its usage. In a sarcastic way, he commented, 'you have become a big vidwan.' After the performance, when the listeners had left, Chowdiah asked my guru, 'Why did you snub this boy? He is the one who is going to perpetuate your style.' That is a memorable event"
Last edited by srinidhi on 17 Jan 2007, 09:59, edited 1 time in total.

ramakriya
Posts: 1876
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 02:05

Post by ramakriya »

Thanks Srinidhi for refreshing my memory.. What I wrote was based on what I remembered reading in Sudha, in the 80's.

-Ramakriya

ramakriya
Posts: 1876
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 02:05

Post by ramakriya »

meena wrote:is this kannada article on sree veena rajo rao?
http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/nri/art ... jarao.html
Yes..It is!

srinidhi
Posts: 227
Joined: 09 Feb 2010, 08:59

Post by srinidhi »

Ramakriya,

Translation reqd please. Whenever you find time. Thanks

Raja Chandra
Posts: 362
Joined: 16 Oct 2005, 12:39

Post by Raja Chandra »

ramakriya wrote:Thanks Srinidhi for refreshing my memory.. What I wrote was based on what I remembered reading in Sudha, in the 80's.

-Ramakriya
Please read my earlier post dated 10-9-06 @

http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=119&p=10

What appeared in kannada magazine sudha is now available in a book form as stated in my earlier post.
Last edited by Raja Chandra on 17 Jan 2007, 22:33, edited 1 time in total.

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

Post by meena »

ramakriya

pl. do translate or provide the gist. thanks

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Meena,
That article in Thatskannada.com was written (by me) in August 2005 about a CD released as a tribute to
Veena Raja Rao.
California based Smt. Veena Kinhal, Raja Rao's daughter and disciple has rendered (on Veena, of course) two of Raja Rao's compositions in that CD alongwith compositions of TyagaRaja, a Purandara Dasa pada and a Veena Seshanna Tillana.
The article reports about the CD release function wherein
Sri. R K Srikantan and noted music/art critic Mysore V Subramanya, among others reminisced about Raja Rao, his music and his contribution.

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

Post by meena »

sreeni

Thanku :)

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

Post by srkris »

Hi guys, please bear with the moderators, they are also humans and they need to handle both welcome and unwelcome cases, so their nerves are tried a bit more than other members. Plus, they are volunteering here. I can assure you they bear no malice.

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

Post by jayaram »

srkris - It takes less effort not to say anythng, than to post something. So it behooves the moderators also to show some moderation and restraint when they chastise someone here.

We don't want meta-moderators now, do we? :) (now that would one role i'd love to have!)

cmlover
Posts: 11498
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Post by cmlover »

You like 'mAruti sEvita jaya jayaram'.
In reality you will not even dream about being a
meta-moderator if you met a moderator :)

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Veena Raja Rao's AIR broadcast from Bangalore station (1969 approx)
I am not able to confirm the accompanying artists - it is most likely Vidwan H Puttachar on Mridanga and Vidwan K S Manjunath on Ghata.

I am indebted to Mr. Krishna Prasad in Bangalore for his help in enhancing the audio quality of these files.

http://rapidshare.com/files/21666356/Ve ... i.mp3.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/21666357/Ve ... _.mp3.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/21666358/Ve ... a.mp3.html

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

Post by drshrikaanth »

Sreeni-avare
cennAgide. dhanyavAdagaLu

vs_manjunath
Posts: 1466
Joined: 29 Sep 2006, 19:37

Post by vs_manjunath »

Dear Sreeni,

We lived in Basavangudi(Bangalore) and your father was a regular visitor to our book shop VS & Sons and Your father and my father were very good friends. Your father's concert photo with Sri Rathnagiri Subba Sastry and Mridangum Rajachar( who was a priest at Karanji Anjaneya temple, Basavangudi) have brought my memories afresh. This photo must be atleast five(5) decades old.Nice that you have introduced this thread about father.

vs_manjunath
Posts: 1466
Joined: 29 Sep 2006, 19:37

Post by vs_manjunath »

Sri Veena Raja Rao was such a famous artist, a street in NR Colony in Basvangudi( Bangalore South) is named after him-"Veena Raja Rao Rasthe".

coolkarni

Post by coolkarni »

Dear Sreeni

many many thanks for these links.A real treasure , indeed.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Dear Coolkarniji!
I am the one who is truly thankful to you! I am glad I chanced upon this forum and I am glad I got to know you, and with your help, I was able to connect with Mr. Krishna Prasad - without his help, I would not have been able to publish these records.
I have not given up my hope of unearthing more of my Father's music from Radio stations or from some private collection.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Let us picture this! Sometime in the early 1970s, Vidwan Raja Rao has decided to resume the Purandara Daasa and Tyagaraja Utsava he was known to host at his house! As "the day" approaches, there is festivity in the typical middle class neighbourhood in N R Colony, Bangalore!

Music enthusiasts have packed the modest middle-class house! Fortunately for us, Vidwan Gopinatha Das (of the famed Prabhat Kalaavidaru) has sent his "boys" to take care of his Guru's need for the "mike" (as it was known to us!). Fortunately for us, someone in the audience even has a tape recorder at hand!!

Vidwan Ratnagiri Subba Shastry is accompanying his Guru on the violin, once again, as he has done numerous times for the past FOUR decades! Vidwan Rajachar, ever enthusiastic to provide Mridanga accompanyment is in his usual form!

After paying homage on the Veena to the great Masters of the past, Raja Rao has switched over to a homage in the form of vocal rendering! And, here is what we have - a scintillating Srimadaadi Tyagaraja (Kalyani, Mysore Vasudevacharya's)

Please bear with the attached recording - it begins half-way through the song, but runs through to the completion of the song!

I would love to hear your comments about the magic that is created by Shri. Ratnagiri Subba Shastry on the SEVEN stringed violin!

http://rapidshare.com/files/22016573/Ra ... a.mp3.html

vs_manjunath
Posts: 1466
Joined: 29 Sep 2006, 19:37

Post by vs_manjunath »

Sri Ratnagiri Subba Sastry's Kalyani in the seven stringed violin is just superb. In some places, we get a feeling it's Chowdiah's violin. Nice that we had an occassion to hear your father's vocal music.

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

Post by meena »

sreeni / manjunath

Vidwan Ratnagiri Subba Shastry- do u have any info ?

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

Post by rshankar »

Sreeni Rajarao wrote:I would love to hear your comments about the magic that is created by Shri. Ratnagiri Subba Shastry on the SEVEN stringed violin!

http://rapidshare.com/files22016573Raja ... a.mp3.html
The sound is majestic and wonderful!

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Unfortunately I do not have much info. about Vidwan Ratnagiri Subba Shastry. I believe he was very close to my Father in age, perhaps 3 to 5 years younger. It has been documented that he was my Father's prime disciple, and that their association goes back to early 1930s when both of them had moved to Bangalore. He had accompanied leading artistes of Karnataka and was honoured by Karnataka GanaKala Parishat and such organizations. He was also a Music teacher in a school in Bangalore.

He and his wife Smt. Sundaramma were very gentle by nature and doted upon us kids in the Rajarao family (they did not have children of their own). I believe they returned to his native place (Ratnagiri, I am not sure where exactly it is located) in the early 1980s.

Besides the pictures I had posted earlier, I have some more pictures of him from 1940s approx. I shall post them next time.

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

Post by meena »

thanks sreeni, pl. do most the pics.

Im A Skal Man
Posts: 25
Joined: 11 May 2007, 07:12

Post by Im A Skal Man »

Sreeni,
Thanks for the images and sounds from your father. I started taking lessons from your sister, so its great to get the family background.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Today, Nov 28th is the day my Father passed away, back in 1979.

In his memory, I would like to present this link to one of his very limited recorded music available to us.

This is the same gramophone record from 1930s that I had uploaded earlier in January 2007. Since many new rasikas have joined our Forum, I hope it's ok to present it again.

http://www.archive.org/details/VeenaRajaRao1930sAlbum


I would also like to present this link below where vidushi Veena Kinhal has rendered (on Veena) one of his kritis - haratanaya sree siddi vinAyaka, in nAta rAga, Adi tALa.

http://www.archive.org/details/VeenaKin ... enaRajaRao

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Remembering my Father on his 100th birthday (March 26th)!

Remembering an artiste who has left his mark as a vaiNika, gAyaka, vAggEyakAra, Guru, .........

Announcing the formation of Ganakalabhushana Veena L Raja Rao Foundation, and plans for centenary year celebrations in Bangalore on July 4th and 5th, 2009.

Details are being worked out for the July celebrations - plans include producing albums to bring to light Veena Raja Rao's compositions, publishing an updated edition of a collection of his compositions, and re-printing some of his works (texts on sangIta shAstra).

A website is in the works, projected to be ready by June - will showcase interesting pictures and newspaper clippings from 1930s onwards!

Centenary year celebration event here in Detroit area on March 28th, 2009: veena recital by
Smt. Veena Kinhal (announced under Music and Festivals section)

For now, a remembrance of a Father I was privileged to know (and rather unfortunate to lose at a very young age), and sharing a cherished picture (from the 1920s or early 1930s):

Image

cienu
Posts: 2387
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 11:40

Post by cienu »

Wonderful picture of your father Sreeni :) Wish the function at Detroit all success.

I shall definitely try to make it for the function in Bangalore in July 2009.

coolkarni
Posts: 1729
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

..
Last edited by coolkarni on 27 Nov 2009, 18:11, edited 1 time in total.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Thanks, Kulkarni Sir! Your words of wisdom are always on the mark!

Here is a link to a brief remembrance that was broadcast on Bangalore's classical music FM radio station Amruta varshini (FM 100.1) on March 26th, 2009.

It's in kannaDa. It's a brief remembrance of Veena Raja Rao on his 100th birthday.

I understand that on this radio station, a five minute reading of selected chapters from Sangeeta Shastra Chandrike, a text authored by my Father is being broadcast.

As a part of this program on March 26th, a brief remembrance was included.

http://www.archive.org/details/VeenaRaj ... ch26th2009

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Please visit Music and Festivals section for information on Veena Raja Rao birth centenary celebrations in Bangalore on July 5th, 2009.

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by Sreeni Rajarao on 28 Jun 2009, 11:38, edited 1 time in total.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

http://www.archive.org/details/VeenaRaj ... dioProgram

Link to an interview based remembrance broadcast on Bangalore Akashavani's Amrutavarshini channel.

Interview conducted by Bangalore based veena vidushi Geeta Ramanand, broadcast on July 4th, 2009 on the eve of Veena Raja Rao birth centenary celebrations.

It's in kannaDa language, 30 minutes duration.

Yes, you get to hear me speak!

Sreeni Rajarao

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Links to two other threads related to Veena Raja Rao:


1: Veena Raja Rao birth centenary year celebrations (under Music and Festivals section)
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... h2009.html

2: Veena Raja Rao, the vAggEyakAra (under Vaggeyakara section)
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... akara.html

girish_a
Posts: 427
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 13:33

Post by girish_a »

---deleted---
Last edited by girish_a on 17 Jul 2009, 15:53, edited 1 time in total.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Girish,
I request you to please remove your post from this thread and perhaps, initiate a new thread under General Discussions with your question.

The topic you have raised is irrelevant to the Veena Raja Rao thread, and I am afraid it will spin off into a long chain.

Thanks!

Sreeni

coolkarni
Posts: 1729
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

..
Last edited by coolkarni on 27 Aug 2009, 07:15, edited 1 time in total.

girish_a
Posts: 427
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 13:33

Post by girish_a »

Oh well, I asked because I saw his comments on this thread and I thought someone would know...Anyway I have deleted the post.

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Girish,
Thanks!

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

I would like to provide the following two links related Veena Raja Rao:

Link to info. on the reprint of Bharateeya Sangeeta VaadyagaLu, an illustrated book on musical instruments of India :

http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... a-rao.html

Link to info. on two albums released with Veena Raja Rao compositions:

http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... a-rao.html

Post Reply