Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Review the latest concerts you have listened to.
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hnbhagavan
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Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 22:06

Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by hnbhagavan »

SRLK Concert at BGS on Feb 10,2017.

I was expecting and still expect Sri RSachi to post the details of the concert.I personally liked the Sowkyam element in the concert.The tempo of the concert was leisurely and the lyrics were expressed clearly.Starting with PAGAVARI varnam in Hamsadwani followed by KANGALIDYATAKO RANGA of PD,
Pankajalochana,TALA BEKU TAKKA BEKU of PD tuned by Sri TRS followed by MBK composition on Muthuswamy Dikshitar in raga Suchartra,CHINTAYAMI SANTHATAM,SEETAMMA MAYAMMA followed by RTP in MOHANA perhaps specially composed on Sri Rama lalitha Kala Mandira.
RADHA SAMETHA KRISHNA and a Bhajan.

Sri L Ramakrishnan violin playing was soothing as also Arjun Ganesh on Mridangam and bhagyalakshmi on Morsing.

Surely reviews will be posted by RSACHI and KSSR.

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

Image

Dear HNB,
I add my request to yours to KSSR to post his full-scale review. He is a remarkable rasika for a big organiser. He sat through the full concert with total focus.

For me, listening to a Carnatic musician, male or female, who is unalloyed by the riches received through awards (Ragalaya Pratibha-SRLKM, Outstanding Senior Vocalist-MA, etc.), who can be described with these words: the voice in fine fettle, the mind focussed on the music rather than the applause, the jollity of camaraderie on the stage, the respect commanded by the great composers, an open channel of communication to the audience (easily done when great musicians, your own parent, teacher, and knowledgeable organisers are seated up front :) ), and to top it all, a can-do attitude, .... for me listening to such an artiste is a true blessing, well-earned through my many years of listening to music.

Amrutha hit the perfect notes in Hamsadhwani. Like a Federer serve.
She played the classic game of serve, volley, and powerful ground strokes, in terms of choice of ragas, compositions, and their treatment.

She raised the bar when it came to Todi,Kalyani, Sriranjani, and of course the pièce de résistance, Mohana, with its splendour which can be compared to the fragrance of Kashmiri saffron.

Amrutha has a full armamentarium.

If you think, Mahavishnu has Shankha (=voice), Chakra (improvisation), Gada (modulation), and Padma (=melody). He is my chosen deity.

I liked the Hamsanandi tillana. Later found out it was composed by Muthiah Bhagavatar, as a tribute to the Travancore king. I loved her Radha Sametha Krishna. It had many delightful moments.

It was a sedate, satisfying, sweet, solid, concert. The new PhBB and Mac allows me to say it with emoticons: 👏🏻🙏🏻🌹

hnbhagavan
Posts: 1655
Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 22:06

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by hnbhagavan »

Dear Rsachi,

She has remarkable stage mannerisms very dignified.I felt she has adopted certain good aspects from the current musicians.Apart from her training under Prince Rama Varma,she attends sanjay's concert regularly in Bangalore..I find some aspects of alapana rendering is from sanjay's method.I do not whether you concur with me on this.
I hope more recognition will come not by awards but more Rasikas attending such a fine concert.
I also request KSSR an organiser of extraordinary merit to write his review.

Sachi_R
Posts: 2174
Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

Yes.
As I have written before, she has some wonderful attributes of a great musician.
God Bless.

arasi
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by arasi »

Sachi,
May I borrow your emoticons?
And offer them to you as well ? :)

Bhagwan,
Thanks to you for asking him for a review.

kssr
Posts: 1596
Joined: 30 Nov 2009, 15:28

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by kssr »

Thanks for the nice listing and valuable comments, Sri.HNBhagavan and Sri.Sachi.

1. I would say that this is probably the BEST concert of Amrutha that I have heard.
2. I try never to miss Amrutha's concerts. As mentioned repeatedly in these columns the Soukyam effect is definitely one of the key factors. I personally is fascinated by the perfection of the placement of the swarams, from a layman's point of view. From my experience, very few can be put in that bracket. TMK for one- but now lost to other areas of music; Bombay Jayashree for another - which is too dear and too crowded for peaceful listening. MMI, TVS in earlier generations- but their style is totally different- perfection of notes being the common thread.
3. Thodi was well done. Choice of kannada song was a pleasant surprise. Nothing to match the rich bhava of these lyrics (even with impaired understanding like mine)
4. In this concert, the best I liked was the Kalyani neraval. The string chosen was a beauty- Vrindavananda Krita Vivida Sudha (or sukha) vihara. Neraval was done on each syllable of each word. Its myriad colours and contours brought out. Neravals are specialised matter. Differentiates a specialist from other run-of-the mill-vidushis. An MS- a TNS can do it. Listening to these, fills us with supreme happiness.
5. Normally, artists giving speeches in the concert is not something I greatly love. But the explanation given on the features of Dr.BMK's composition on MD enhanced our enjoyment of the song. Features mentioned were- inclusion of raga name , madhyama kaala sahitya , phrases of increasing length just like MD's compositions (there is a special name for it- the reverse, ie from longer to shorter phrases is called cow's tail. Can we call it cow's tail power minus1 :roll: ). Incidentally, I had a feeling that after the ragam Sucharitha was sung, the one played by the violinist sounded something completely different. Technically, I am sure it must have been correct. But that was the immediate feeling I got.
6. Amrutha managed her time beautifully. Swaram for kalyani, Vasantha - no alapana. Alapana for Sriranjani, sucharitha- no swaram. I always like that format. A full fledged Everything song invariably cuts the number of songs that can be sung.
7. Very pleased to listen to the RTP which was given the prominence and time that it deserves. First of all - choice of ragam. Mohanam is a lovely one if can be handled well. Now it is common to see even among leading artists, RTPs in some kutti ragams for 20 minutes. Audience do not understand it. It probably gives satisfaction to the artist that he has sung an RTP too. எங்க ஆத்துக்காரரும் கச்சேரிக்கு போனார்- kind of satisfaction.
8. We should thank Smt.Neela (sister of Krishna Prasad) for requesting the MD number in Mangala Kaishiki. Very melodious.
9. I was surprised to see the earlier review mentioning that the thillana was by Muthiah bhagavathar. I was quite convinced that it was by her guru Sri.Rama Varma. Usage of Padmanabha dasan and Rama Varma in the saahithyam - still someone else??
10. Arjun Ganesh gave good understanding support. Bhagyalakshmi is my all time favourite. The range of sounds she is capable of producing from morsing, all pleasant ones, is simply amazing. Some of these are at times surprising, amusing and shocking ones too. Great artist. Sri.Bhimachar tradition . Hats off to the family.
11. This was the first time, I attended a concert in the revamped Gayana samaja hall. Very nice. Changed seats, screen and importantly sound system. Retained many good things, esp bonda and bajji which I managed to grab in a hurry.
12. salutations one more time to the great music service done by Sri.KrishnaPrasad and Smt. Neela of SRLKM over the last 60 years. Yes. You read correctly. 60 years. Our prayers for a long and healthy life for both of them .

rshankar
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by rshankar »

🙏🏽 for all the reviews/views/comments...
KSSR: SrOtavAha yati is probably what you're looking for - starting small and making it bigger with each succeeding round, opposite of gOpuccha yati.

You forgot Smt MSS and Sri KVN when you enumerated people who had perfectly Sruti-aligned voices!

What was the sAhityam of the pallavi?

kssr
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Joined: 30 Nov 2009, 15:28

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by kssr »

rshankar wrote: 11 Feb 2017, 19:54 🙏🏽 for all the reviews/views/comments...
KSSR: SrOtavAha yati is probably what you're looking for - starting small and making it bigger with each succeeding round, opposite of gOpuccha yati.

You forgot Smt MSS and Sri KVN when you enumerated people who had perfectly Sruti-aligned voices!

Of course- Many stalwarts-Sri. Santhanam again. I just mentioned what came to mind.

What was the sAhityam of the pallavi?

"Sri Rama Lalitha kalaa daamaa- Seetha manohara" (embeds name of organiser, but pallavi can be used elsewhere,too).
Ragamalika swaram in anandabhairavi and something that sounds like subha pantuvarali with no panchamam but having both madhyamams. Just a crude guess. Specialists can explain.

See above in Bold.

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

KSSR,
Thank you.

The tillana has the following charana sahitya:
padmanAbha dAsa vanci bhUpAla bAla rAma varma bhAgya nrpAla
nitya citrOdaya nirmala rUpa nija sangIta kalAnukUla

You can see that it is a praise addressed to a Travancore King (=Padmanabhadasa Bhupala) called Bala Rama Varma, who is a patron of the arts (=nija sangita kalanukula).

So when I heard the words, I differed from fellow listeners who thought it is a composition of the Prince.

Later I found out the exact same tillana has been discussed in this forum!

The thillana sung by Priya Sisters

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

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by rshankar »

KSSR, thank you!

Sachi: So the phrase padmanAbha dAsa refers to bAla rAma varma and is not an aMkita then, right?
But I'm intrigued if Sri HKMB composed anything without the harikESa mudra. I'm sure Lakshmanji will know.

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

Song order:
1. Pagavari - Hamsadhwani varna
2. Kangalidyatako - Todi
3. Pankajalochana-Kalyani
4. Tala beku-Sriranjani
5.Sitamma Mayamma - Vasantha
6. Chintayami Santhatam Muthuswami Dikshitam - Sucharitra-BMK
7. RTP - Mohana ( raga changes included Hindustani Lalit)
8. Sri Bhargavi bhadram me dishatu - Mangalakaishiki-MD
9. Radha Sametha Krishna
10. Hamsanandi Tillana
11. Mangalam

Have I mixed it up or missed something? I am doing it from memory...

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

Rshankar,
Wikipedia:
Sree Padmanbhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma GCSI GCIE (7 November 1912 – 20 July 1991), popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely State of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991.[1] Sree Chithira Thirunal was the eldest son of Junior Maharani of Travancore, H.H. Sree Padmanabhasevini Vanchipala Dyumani Rajarajeshwari Maharani Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi, and Sri Pooram Nal Ravi Varma Koyi Thampuran of the Royal House of Kilimanoor. He was privately educated, and became the Maharajah of Travancore, at the age of 12, upon the death of his maternal great uncle, the then Maharajah of Travancore Sree Moolam Thirunal, on August 7, 1924. He reigned under the regency of his maternal aunt, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1924–31), until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on November 6, 1931.
Padmanabha Dasa, Vanci Bala Rama Varma, Nitya Chitra... The dates during which time HMB was in Travancore...Too many data points to ignore.
Why no mudra? Don't know :D

kssr
Posts: 1596
Joined: 30 Nov 2009, 15:28

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by kssr »

Sachi_R wrote: 11 Feb 2017, 21:30 Song order:
1. Pagavari - Hamsadhwani varna
2. Kangalidyatako - Todi
3. Pankajalochana-Kalyani
4. Tala beku-Sriranjani
5.Sitamma Mayamma - Vasantha
6. Chintayami Santhatam Muthuswami Dikshitam - Sucharitra-BMK
7. RTP - Mohana ( raga changes included Hindustani Lalit)
8. Sri Bhargavi bhadram me dishatu - Mangalakaishiki-MD
9. Radha Sametha Krishna
10. Hamsanandi Tillana
11. Mangalam

Have I mixed it up or missed something? I am doing it from memory...
1. Sucharita came before Vasantha
2. There was a jaavaLi by Pattabhiramiah in Kapi - Ra Ra nammi ... after Radha Sametha Krishna

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Amrita Venkatesh L Ramakrishnan Arjun ganesh Bhagyalakshmi

Post by Sachi_R »

Yes! thank you.

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