Charsur Paddhati M.S.Subbulakshmi Releases

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advaitam
Posts: 81
Joined: 24 Feb 2009, 12:20

Charsur Paddhati M.S.Subbulakshmi Releases

Post by advaitam »

It is really ironic to think that a musician par-excellence who has been celebrated and feted almost all over the world, about whom so much has been written that little is left to read or write, whose voice has become the very definition of South Indian Classical music the world over, has so few memorable live concerts released for public consumption. I am ofcourse talking about the only Bharat Ratna of the Carnatic music world, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Smt M.S.Subbulakshmi. A quick scan of most commercial releases of this great songstress reveal that a majority fall under the "Devotional" or "Semi-Classical" category, a reason why many young rasikas/musicians today shun her great music as "mere Bhakti singing", as one up-&-coming young musician once told me. It has thankfully fallen upon the M.S.S. family and Charsur to release these priceless live concert recordings of the doyenne, which for so long were in the private collections of the family and were not or could not be released for several reasons. As we all know we have been receiving some pretty shoddy stuff from HMV all these years in the name of "Live" collections of M.S., which were poorly digitised and shoddily packaged; often a medley from various live concerts, or if from one concert, with major songs edited out in order that the release "neatly" fit into 2 cds/cassettes. Charsur seems to have a refreshingly holistic approach in digitally remastering & packaging these old recordings, proof of which stands true in all their previous releases. Their Paddhati series aims at giving the rasika the entire concert experience, with no sections edited out. The Paddhati series at long last is proudly hosting M.S.S. concerts, shattering the long-standing monopoly of HMV over the Nightingale of India.

The first in this series was a concert performed by M.S. at Detroit during her 1977 coast-to-coast tour of the U.S.A. to raise funds for The Hindu Temple Association of North America (whose then president was the late Sri C.V.Narasimhan, Under Secretary Chef de Cabinet to the U.N. and a close family friend of the Sadasivams). The Accompanists featured in this album are daughter and constant vocal support, Smt Radha Viswanathan, Sri Kandadevi Azhagiriswami on the violin and Sri Guruvayur Dorai on the mridangam. The songs featured in the album are:

01. Om Namah Pranavaarthaaya (Dhyana Slokam) - Adi Shankaracharya
02. Kalai Nirai Ganapati - Hamsadhwani - Adi - Ramalinga Vallalar
03. Ninnuvina Naamadendu - Navarasa Kanada - Rupakam - Thyagaraja Swami
04. Sri Lakshmi Varaaham - Abhogi - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshitar
05. Sri Kaamakoti Peethasthite - Saveri - Adi - Mysore Sadashiva Rao
06. Prabhuji Tum Bin Kaun Sahaay (Bhajan) - Tilang - Surdas
07. Yamshaiva Samupaasate (this slokam is sung by Smt Radha most beautifully in solo) - Desh
08. Hari Main to Laakhaya (Bhajan) - Desh - Indira Devi (of Hare Krishna Mandir, Pune)
09. Needu Charana - Kalyani - Adi - Pallavi Gopala Iyer (This is the main piece of the concert, followed by a scintillating Thani)
10. Akhilandeshwari - Dwijavanti - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshitar
11. Vellai Thaamarai - Bhimplas - Adi - Subrahmanya Bharatiyaar
12. Hey Govinda Hey Gopal (Bhajan) - Jhenjhoti - Indira Devi
13. Rama Simara (Shabad) - Peelu - Guru Nanak
14. Kandu Kandan (from the "Jnaanapaana") - Ragamalika - Poonthaanam
15. Hari Tum Haro (Bhajan) - Darbaari Kanada - Meerabai
16. Kaatrinile Varum Geetam - Rathipathipriya - "Kalki" R.Krishnamurthy
17. Shiva Panchaakshara Stotram - Ragamalika - Adi Shankaracharya
18. Maitreem Bhajata - Mishra Yaman - H.H. Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal
19. Mangalam - Sourashtram - Thyagaraja Swami

Naturally, being performed before a mixed international-NRI audience, the concert list includes a lot of the M.S. favourite "tukkadas". A most soulful concert, it is a must buy for all avid aficionados of vintage M.S. fare. Special mention must be made of the slokam in Desh, rendered by Smt Radha. It is a brief, yet telling glimpse into her consummate artistry, so often sadly ignored. The concert can also be bought online or even downloaded for a nominal fee from the Charsur website. The link is: http://www.charsur.com/charsur-india/in ... ts_id=3496

The second M.S. concert to be released by Charsur would certainly satisfy core rasikas, who are looking for pure classical fare. This concert was performed at the Music Academy on 25th December, 1956. She was accompanied vocally by Smt Radha Viswanathan, on the violin by Sri R.K.Venkatarama Shastri, on the mridangam by Sri V.Nagarajan (a rare recording indeed, as Nagarajan is remembered today largely only as a kanjira Vidwan) and on the ghatam by Sri Umayalpuram Kodhandarama Iyer. The concert list is a bit untraditional!

01. Angaarakam - Surutti - Rupakam - Muthuswami Dikshitar
02. Rama Nannu Brovara - Harikambhoji - Rupakam - Thyagaraja Swami
03. Sarasaaksha - Pantuvarali - Adi - Swathi Thirunal
04. Sharanam Sharanam - Sourashtram - Mishra Chapu - Arunachala Kaviraayar
05. Ksheenamai Thiruga - Mukhari - Adi - Thyagaraja Swami
06. Gopanandana - Bhushavali - Adi - Swathi Thirunal
07. Raave Himagirikumari (Swarajati) - Thodi - Adi - Shyama Shastri
08. Gajavadana - Sriranjani - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (Quite a surprise!)
09. Sarojadalanetri Himagiriputri - Shankarabharanam - Adi - Shyama Shastri (As always this Shankarabharanam takes the slot of the main piece and is really the piece de resistance of this concert. Thani avarthanam commences after the swaras)
10. Hariharaputram - Vasanta - Khanda Ekam - Muthuswami Dikshitar
11. RTP (Amba Madhura Meenakshi Maam Paahi Devi) - Bhairavi - Tishra Triputa (4 kalai)
12. Kannanidam Edutthu Cholladi (Javali) - Ragamalika - Adi - Ambujam Krishna
13. Paiyyada (Padam) - Nadanamakriya - Tishra Triputa - Kshetragnar
14. Mudi Ondri (Pasuram) - Ragamalika - Periyaazhwar
15. Naada Bindu Kalaadi (Thiruppugazh) - Senchurutti - Adi - Arunagirinathar
16. Mangalam - Sourashtram - Thyagaraja Swami

This concert is a truly phenomenal one! M.S. soaring at her youthful peak as she weaves magic with every raga! Each phrase, whether in the raga alapana, neraval or kriti rendition, is like a finely polished gem! The neraval in Harikambhoji can only be described as superlative. Thodi is a rare treat indeed, with absolutely stunning neraval-swaras at "Shyamakrishna nutha vinu naa chinthalu". The mother-daughter duo's practice of singing in octaves creates a mesmerising effect as always in this song. The Bhairavi ragam and tanam are simply breath-taking showcasing a highly innovative and creative approach. Though this pallavi has been released by HMV in another concert, this is a much more youthful version, filled with verve and vitality! The swaras in Shankarabharanam are a rich tapestry of the raga bhava. Special mention must be made of the thani which is proof to the "saukhya bhavam" of V.Nagarajan's mastery of the mridangam. Bhushavali has a surprise set of kalpanaswaras, spontenously sung at the anupallavi line "Taapasageya keerte"! This is the kind of concert that one hopes Charsur will continue to release, in order that rasikas/musicians realise that M.S. was not just a "pretty face with a pretty voice" but was also capable of much intricate and cerebral music, without ever losing sight of the bhava and the bhakti intent of the music! One ofcourse does wonder when the all-too-famous concerts of M.S., wherein the living legend T.K.Murthy has accompanied her, will be released........This album I would recommend to all who are interested in serious Carnatic music. The album has not yet been updated on the website, but the cds are available in stores.

squims
Posts: 447
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 22:10

Re: Charsur Paddhati M.S.Subbulakshmi Releases

Post by squims »

I recently purchased the 1977 concert. It is sublime! Yes, it does have many tukkudas, but the bhaavam and expertise in her music is unparalled! It's sheer beauty!

advaitam
Posts: 81
Joined: 24 Feb 2009, 12:20

Re: Charsur Paddhati M.S.Subbulakshmi Releases

Post by advaitam »

The second album has also been updated on the site. It can be found at: http://www.charsur.com/charsur-india/in ... ts_id=3739

advaitam
Posts: 81
Joined: 24 Feb 2009, 12:20

Re: Charsur Paddhati M.S.Subbulakshmi Releases

Post by advaitam »

The third instalment in the Charsur MSS releases has come out. I apologise for the late post, was caught up in a lot of commitments. The third is from a live concert of purely Surdas bhajans performed at Calcutta for the 500th anniversary of the saint-bard. The sleeve notes are very beautifully written, with care and sensitivity. The cover colour and scheme is very aesthetic. In particular a rare song sung by the immortal duo in this concert is a dadra in raga Mishra Khamaj. The rendition is simply outstanding! Also to be mentioned is that the last bhajan has only MS singing while Radha performs abhinaya. This part has been very sensitively mentioned in the sleeve notes: "...the programme ends with Radha performing abhinayam for Surdas' bhajan in Jaunpuri, "Bujhat Shyam Kaun tu Gori". Radha practiced abhinayam for this particular bhajan under the masterly supervision of Smt T.Balasaraswati. Though one can only hear M.S. singing this piece, it is thrilling to imagine how beautifully Radha must have performed to this piece, which was her last public dance performance before illness arrested her life in 1982." To imagine that MS has sung so beautifully with a fever of 102 degrees! Throughout the concert, it is evident that Radha was such an integral support to MS. The details of the concert are as follows:

01. Pratibimba Tadividrishti (Doha) - Raags Yaman & Kaafi
02. Hey Govind Hey Gopal - Raag Kaafi
03. Murali Kunjani Kunjani Baajati - Raag Desh
04. Madhuban Tum Kyon Rehat Hare - Raag Madhuvanti
05. Deen Dayaal Gopal Hari - Raag Paraj
06. Maiyya Mori Main Nahi Maakhan Khaayo - Raag Bhimplasi
07. Nis Din Barsat Naina Hamaare - Raag Bageshri
08. Akhiyaan Hari Darsan ki Pyaasi - Raag Behag
09. Prabhuji Tum Bin Kaun Sahaai - Raag Tilak Kamod
10. Muraliya Ab Kaahe Gumaan Bhari - Mishra Khamaj
11. Suneri Maine Nirbal Ke Balram - Sindhubhairavi
12. Bujhat Shyam Kaun tu Gori - Jaunpuri

Since I know and enjoy Hindi, I greatly enjoyed the song renditions as well as the commentary in chaste old-time Hindi that precedes every song. I like the fact that Charsur is interspersing their MSS releases alternatively with serious vidwat-filled concerts and more lighter releases for lay listeners. Personally I can't wait for the next release.
The album can be bought/downloaded for a fee from this link: http://www.charsur.com/charsur-india/in ... 431d3713d4

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