K.V.Narayanaswamy

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 02 Feb 2011, 06:34

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote:Thanks G Mohan for the prompt response--I was looking in the wrong places(Sahitya request etc)--could not respond earlier!!
Although Ariyakudi and Musiri popularised this kriti it was KVN in my opinion who imbued it with true Bhavam and feeling.

Towards the last decade of his life,KVN forgot himself on the stage and truly did nadopasana

For striking a perfect concert balance KVN had few equals. Palghat mani Iyer who adored Ariyakudi and also mentored KVN( KVN and Palghat Mani Iyer were related thro the first wife of KVN who died prematurely) was to a large extent instrumental in preaching moderation and sense of proportion(Alapana-krithi-neraval Swaram) and KVN to his credit literally followed Mani Iyer's advice.

I just like to recall what VVS said at this year's MMI Remembrance Day Celebratations that KVN told him that MMI was his Manaseega Guru. I recall this because I feel that KVN had studied EVERY ONE of the Giants & took Amsams he thought were great & evolved is own UNIQUE style......Aleppy Venkatesan has expounded on this in his lectures on Layam at Saraswathi Vaggeyakara Trust......VKV

thenpaanan · Post by **thenpaanan** » 04 Feb 2011, 20:17

cacm wrote: I just like to recall what VVS said at this year's MMI Remembrance Day Celebratations that KVN told him that MMI was his Manaseega Guru. I recall this because I feel that KVN had studied EVERY ONE of the Giants & took Amsams he thought were great & evolved is own UNIQUE style......

Not to forget the influence of MDR on KVN as well. That bit about getting lost in his music is reminiscent of MDR. I have heard it said that it takes a lot of self-assurance to do that on stage and most vidwans get it late in their careers when they do not have much left to prove in terms of adulation or respect. The well-known ones are Madurai Somu and Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer (I am told) and undoubtedly countless many less-known vidwans who are equally deserving of our respect and affection. Among contemporary vidwans RKSrikantan seems to be like that. Of course this sort of thing is only visible to us in the audience for some vidwans, not all. But many vidwans (if not most) visibly prefer to watch the audience and gauge their reactions at all times.

-Then Paanan

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 05 Feb 2011, 01:21

But many vidwans (if not most) visibly prefer to watch the audience and gauge their reactions at all times.

That would indeed be bad. May be a spot check once in a while as part of the process but it should not be for the purposes of seeking approval from the audience on a continuous basis.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 08 Feb 2011, 13:33

Chadhur Raga RTP by Shri KV Narayanaswamy-a MIX

E'SWARA- 003-Shri. KV Narayana swamy-Chadhur Raga RTP-Mixing. ( 37.05 Mts. )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O__YomYMPmI

Earlier I have uploaded the same RTP by shri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar also.

venkatakailasam

gee · Post by **gee** » 27 Mar 2011, 12:41

Recently posted a thillana rendered by Sri KVN, among other videos (some by Sri Pattabhirama Pandit, who is coincidentally KVN's student). I hope you all find this video as enjoyable as I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHTrjdcLCr0

PS, I'm sorry for the slight differentiation b/w audio and video playback in this particular video. The original video that I have is perfectly fine...but the youtube version has been "tampered" with. If anyone has any suggestions as to how I can fix the lag, I would be very glad to take them. The original version that I have is in .mpg format.

Gamakam · Post by **Gamakam** » 02 Apr 2011, 01:44

A small tribute on his remembrance day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVhh45nGC0A

cpblog · Post by **cpblog** » 26 Jun 2011, 20:41

Respected Rasikas,

Inviting you to the concert performed by Vidwan K.V. Narayanaswamy on April 23, 1970 in "Parvathi", Mysore in the company of Vidwans
V.Sethuramiah ( Violin ), Trichy Shankaran ( Mridangam), K.S.Manjunath (Ghatam)and H.P.Ramachar (Khanjira)

Please welcome @ http://chowdaiahandparvati.blogspot.com/

Thanking you.

keerthi · Post by **keerthi** » 16 Jul 2011, 16:53

Was there a commercial release of the Utsava prabandham krti-s of swati tirunAl, sung by KVN?

I am grateful for any details.

thenpaanan · Post by **thenpaanan** » 30 Jul 2011, 02:24

We have all heard about KVN being the epitome of perfect tambura tuning. TViswa is supposed to have sent a person to KVN to learn tambura tuning.

But I have never seen any description of what exactly KVN was looking for or did with the tuning. Since we don't normally use electronic or other instruments to measure the accuracy of tuning, whether something as rich as a tambura sound is well-tuned can be a very subjective (so-called "pschoacoustic") phenomenon. Did KVN teach any students his magic? Did he have any special "tricks" to tune a tambura that people can relate here? Can anyone say what was different about the tambura shruti that he used (other than it was well-tuned) even if it is subjective? Did he prefer a soft sound or a hard percussive sound? Did he like to hear each string strummed separately or did he prefer the merged sound of all the strings? And so on. Just curious....

-Thenpaanan

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 30 Jul 2011, 07:32

thenpaanan wrote:We have all heard about KVN being the epitome of perfect tambura tuning. TViswa is supposed to have sent a person to KVN to learn tambura tuning.

But I have never seen any description of what exactly KVN was looking for or did with the tuning. Since we don't normally use electronic or other instruments to measure the accuracy of tuning, whether something as rich as a tambura sound is well-tuned can be a very subjective (so-called "pschoacoustic") phenomenon. Did KVN teach any students his magic? Did he have any special "tricks" to tune a tambura that people can relate here? Can anyone say what was different about the tambura shruti that he used (other than it was well-tuned) even if it is subjective? Did he prefer a soft sound or a hard percussive sound? Did he like to hear each string strummed separately or did he prefer the merged sound of all the strings? And so on. Just curious....

-Thenpaanan

I have been lucky to be present when he tuned the Thambura before concerts. He did tune each string separately and then tested all of them together. He would then use the small strings at the bottom-"Nool""- to adjust them to the optimum. More than that he would check & instruct the Thambura player tho keep the Thambura to be absolutely Vertical and also strum the different strings at a specific constant frequency while strumming. He was so sensitive he could detect any slight variations in this routine though the player was behind him!
I know because I was once forced not only to introduce him but accompany him on the Thambura at Syracuse University in the sixties. In my opinion apart from KVN, MMI & M.SS. are the only other ones I know who reached that PERFECTION LEVEL..................VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 30 Jul 2011, 07:32

thenpaanan wrote:We have all heard about KVN being the epitome of perfect tambura tuning. TViswa is supposed to have sent a person to KVN to learn tambura tuning.

But I have never seen any description of what exactly KVN was looking for or did with the tuning. Since we don't normally use electronic or other instruments to measure the accuracy of tuning, whether something as rich as a tambura sound is well-tuned can be a very subjective (so-called "pschoacoustic") phenomenon. Did KVN teach any students his magic? Did he have any special "tricks" to tune a tambura that people can relate here? Can anyone say what was different about the tambura shruti that he used (other than it was well-tuned) even if it is subjective? Did he prefer a soft sound or a hard percussive sound? Did he like to hear each string strummed separately or did he prefer the merged sound of all the strings? And so on. Just curious....

-Thenpaanan

I have been lucky to be present when he tuned the Thambura before concerts. He did tune each string separately and then tested all of them together. He would then use the small strings at the bottom-"Nool""- to adjust them to the optimum. More than that he would check & instruct the Thambura player tho keep the Thambura to be absolutely Vertical and also strum the different strings at a specific constant frequency while strumming. He was so sensitive he could detect any slight variations in this routine though the player was behind him!
I know because I was once forced not only to introduce him but accompany him on the Thambura at Syracuse University in the sixties. In my opinion apart from KVN, MMI & M.SS. are the only other ones I know who reached that PERFECTION LEVEL..................VKV

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 30 Jul 2011, 07:34

MODERATOR: PLEASE DELETE POST#186 AS IT IS A REPEAT OF #185. THANKS. VKV

thenpaanan · Post by **thenpaanan** » 31 Jul 2011, 22:25

cacm wrote:... [KVN] did tune each string separately and then tested all of them together. He would then use the small strings at the bottom-"Nool""- to adjust them to the optimum. More than that he would check & instruct the Thambura player tho keep the Thambura to be absolutely Vertical and also strum the different strings at a specific constant frequency while strumming. He was so sensitive he could detect any slight variations in this routine though the player was behind him!
... In my opinion apart from KVN, MMI & M.SS. are the only other ones I know who reached that PERFECTION LEVEL..................VKV

The tuning strings separately and testing them together and then adjusting the thread ('nUl" or "jawAri" in HindustAni terms) is the normal process of tuning that most people use. The requirement to hold the tambUra absolutely vertical is the normal prescription but hard to do over a period of 3+ hours. The reason is that the resonance of the tambUra is affected/muffled by whatever is in physical contact. The optimum position therefore is where the tambura has minimum contact with the strummer's body and the floor or anything else in the environment. The requirement that the pace of strumming be constant is also what is prescribed but hardly ever enforced. It is interesting that KVN was sensitive even to the variation to the pace of strumming. It reinforces our impression that he was hypersensitive to the sound -- perhaps that was all it was. His hypersensitivity was perhaps what drove him to such exactitude that others around him who could not tell the difference between an "ok" tuned tambUra and a really well-tuned tambUra found remarkable. But that does not tell us whether he used any tuning technique other than listening closely.

I have read that the Nobel Laureate C.V. Raman trained himself to be hypersensitive to harmonics when he was researching the special characteristics of Indian musical instruments. There was a story that he was once on a boat/ship and went missing. After a while he was found in the boiler room apparently in a trance. When the search party spoke to him, he was really cross. He said he was "trying to concentrate to hear the seventh harmonic of the sound of the engine" when they broke his reverie. Now, I don't know how accurate this story is but a normal person cannot hear more than three, at most four, harmonics. Perhaps the story-teller was exaggerating but it gives us an idea of what may be at work here.

Perhaps KVN could also hear many more harmonics than others -- as you tune a tambUra to micro-precision a hypersensitive person can hear beats in the harmonics and as you improve the tuning to progressively eliminate those beats you begin to hear them in higher and higher harmonics (it is theoretically impossible to eliminate beats altogether but there is a limit to human hearing).

I was hoping to learn that KVN had some magic trick that lesser mortals who have less than perfect ears could copy.

BTW, I presume what VKV meant by "only KVN/MMI/MSS achieved perfection" is perfection in aligning the voice to the sruti.

-Then Paanan

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 01 Aug 2011, 08:14

THE SUBJECT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN I WROTE......Actually the Plasiticity of the human brain, the servo system involved in correcting errors in real time on the part of the musician as well as his/her ability to produce the required sounds, the listener's ability to discriminate ALL are involved; I do not have the patience any more to expound on this. If we ever meet I will be happy to discuss the subject & the latest in physics as well as the biolgoy& other areas involved. VKV

gee · Post by **gee** » 26 Sep 2011, 14:16

I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I did...Sri KVN singing inta sowkya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d0rDKrxc4s

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 27 Sep 2011, 00:12

Gee: Thanks--the entire 35 odd minutes is pure Sowkhyam--Young Vidhyarthis --Male and Female Note the well-structured balanced rendering--the Neraval is a clinic on how Neraval is to be sung-- the spirit of Sowkhyam of the krithi is fully brought out-- the Kapi glides are rich in innovation(at times resembling S.G.Kittappa's Kodayile Virutham in some prayogams)--the neraval is gently woven into the Tala without having to hurry a phrase just to get to the "Edam" retaining throughout the spirit of the composer.

I am sure this is HOW the Saint envisaged how this Kriti should be sung!!!!

Once again Gee thanks for this "find". I thoroughly enjoyed it --no matter how many times I may have heard KVN sing this piece he brings a new nuance to it every time he sings--no wonder the audience broke into applause in between--faintly heard on the you tube!!!

gee · Post by **gee** » 27 Sep 2011, 02:46

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote:Gee: Thanks--the entire 35 odd minutes is pure Sowkhyam--Young Vidhyarthis --Male and Female Note the well-structured balanced rendering--the Neraval is a clinic on how Neraval is to be sung-- the spirit of Sowkhyam of the krithi is fully brought out-- the Kapi glides are rich in innovation(at times resembling S.G.Kittappa's Kodayile Virutham in some prayogams)--the neraval is gently woven into the Tala without having to hurry a phrase just to get to the "Edam" retaining throughout the spirit of the composer.

I am sure this is HOW the Saint envisaged how this Kriti should be sung!!!!

Once again Gee thanks for this "find". I thoroughly enjoyed it --no matter how many times I may have heard KVN sing this piece he brings a new nuance to it every time he sings--no wonder the audience broke into applause in between--faintly heard on the you tube!!!

I am glad that you enjoyed it

Keep a watch on my channel, I will be uploading other nice videos from time to time.

rsankar · Post by **rsankar** » 09 Dec 2011, 02:25

I want to bring to the attention of the rasikas here (or remind, as the case might be) the amazing RTP Kamboji (Jagadisha Parthasarathe Karuna Payonidhe) sung by KVN mama. This RTP is the epitome of both laya and sowkhyam. I personally feel this is what natural layam is, where the kanakku doesn't appear as a contrived effort or an overdo. Not to mention the amazing voice modulation to give amazing sowkhyam. The smooth transition between Kamboji-Varali-Athana-Behag(?)-Sindubhairavi is pure bliss.

Just wanted to share with someone the joy I have experienced, so decided to write here.

Here is the Sangeethapriya link:http://www.sangeethamshare.org/murthy/K ... onidhe.mp3

ranjanimalavi · Post by **ranjanimalavi** » 09 Dec 2011, 09:33

Is this the one where he tries go on a high note and will say 'mannikanum' and will try it again.
I always feel his guilt when listening to this piece (his humbleness too( and the next time it will come so effortlessly.

Raman

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 09 Dec 2011, 12:48

this is what natural layam is, where the kanakku doesn't appear as a contrived effort or an overdo. Not to mention the amazing voice modulation to give amazing sowkhyam. The smooth transition between Kamboji-Varali-Athana-Behag(?)-Sindubhairavi is pure bliss.

he used to instruct the students not to deliberately put the tala,but to sing with the correct kalapramana,so that tala will follow automatically.One should practice it from the fundamentals like alankara.
Yes,nobody to match his voice modulation and soukhyam
One has to listen to his chathur raga pallavi,amazing transition from sankarabharam to todi,then to kalyani…
Thank you for the post ,which reminds me the concerts in 80s,some of them in December season,very much fresh in memories…

rsankar · Post by **rsankar** » 09 Dec 2011, 14:58

@Raman: No, this is a different version. I believe I have heard the one you are mentioning. In that I was very amazed on his attempt the second time. Anyway, in this one (1980s) he is in full form. Some avartanams in Varali and Athana neraval, and some swarams in kambhoji are so sheer amazing that one is just filled with ecstasy. I was told this was a Parthasarathi kovil kutcheri.

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 22 Oct 2012, 21:59

Prof.V.V.Subramanyam (Va.Ve.Su)produced a programme for Doordarshan featuring all the nine Navarathri Krithis of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal some 25 years back. The songs with his commentary in Tamil are available in You Tube. The attached link is the 8th day Kriti in Natakurunji by KVN. This padantharam is different & is my favourite. Vidya Kalyanaraman is singing this padam tomorrow at Nada Inbam as main Kriti.

[url] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIUmv0w ... redirect=1

KNV

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 16 Nov 2012, 11:10

We do for get even our birth day....??

KVN's Birthday is 15-11-12.....

I have opened a separate group on him at Face book..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/386866851391230/

Three of the songs considered popular...rendered by Shri KVN....

KVN 065-Dattatreya_Trimurthy_rupa_Ranjini_Ganapathi_Sachidanantha_Swamy ..

KVN 065-Dattatreya_Trimurthy_rupa_Ranjini_Ganapathi_Sachidanantha_Swamy.mp3

KVN 066-KandavarkuKanavilum-Kuntalavarali-Aadi-SwarnaVenkateshaDikshitar

KVN 066-KandavarkuKanavilum-Kuntalavarali-Aadi-SwarnaVenkateshaDikshitar.mp3

KVN 067-varugalAmO_ayyA_mAnji_gOpalakrishna_bharati

KVN 067-varugalAmO_ayyA_mAnji_gOpalakrishna_bharati.mp3

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 16 Nov 2012, 11:48

Yes, sir.. A worthy thought indeed for a unique musician!
I will sign up for your group.
Meanwhile, kindly also archive these other songs if possible:
1. Thyagaraja - Ramaniyada - KHP
2. Thyagaraja Yogavaibhavam - Dikshitar
3. Any Shyaamashastri - Anandabhairavi...
4. Sumasayaka- Swati Tirunal
5. Sagara shayana - MDR
6. Purvi Tillana
These were his classics...a level untouched by anyone else.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 16 Nov 2012, 21:33

Here is Sahana...RTP....42.56mts..

KVN 068-sahana RTP.mp3

hari2810 · Post by **hari2810** » 17 Nov 2012, 03:48

Minor nitpick. KVN bday is: 15-11-23
Otherwise it will be centenary year this year

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 17 Nov 2012, 04:32

True...12 is the anniversary.....

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 17 Nov 2012, 20:48

mods..may like to move this thread....to..

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... &start=175

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 18 Nov 2012, 13:34

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 01 Jan 2013, 21:24

KVN-VS-Raghu-V Nagarajan
https://soundcloud.com/panchanathansure ... ya-namaste
KNV

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 01 Jan 2013, 22:04

Thx. Simply great
But how can I ever forget GNB...

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 01 Jan 2013, 22:13

I think this is 1967 Academy concert. Voice is so fluid & you will hear only Akara. Raghu's playing & Tani Avartanam is another highlight of this concert.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 01 Jan 2013, 22:20

Of course and the impeccable shruti alignment of KVN!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 01 Jan 2013, 22:21

One of the most majestic versions of shri subrahmaNyAya namastE from KVN is from a Bombay concert with VVS / Raghu in the mid-80s. Simply incredible stuff - I have 10-15 versions of this song by KVN and this is by far my favourite. It's available here: http://www.sangeethamshare.org/sridhara ... arch_1986/

The entire concert is just superb with VVS and Raghu the perfect foils for KVN who is in cruise control mode...

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 01 Jan 2013, 22:44

I have one Jamshedpur concert shri subrahmaNyAya namastE accompanied by TNK & Sivaraman. But it requires some editing.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 01 Jan 2013, 23:18

Here is the Jamshedpur version; 1974 I believe.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/cae1p2

arunsri · Post by **arunsri** » 02 Jan 2013, 00:05

This one is a 1969 Academy Concert with V. Sethuramaiah, Raghu and Nagarajan. Amongst other pieces, this concert has the sAvERi thiruppavai - undu madahaLitha, dEvi brOVa - chintAmaNi, ninnuvinA gA mari - pUrvikalyANi, pAhimAm brihannAyikE - husEni etc. The 1967 would have been a all Thyagaraja kriti concert - with MSG and co with kaligiyunTE as main.

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 02 Jan 2013, 21:24

mahavishnu the recording is bad. I have a better one but there is some background noise in my cassette. I have to digitise. Prashant I am unable to access any file in sangeethamshare.

kalyani_ragam · Post by **kalyani_ragam** » 03 Jan 2013, 07:12

KNV1955 wrote:mahavishnu the recording is bad. I have a better one but there is some background noise in my cassette. I have to digitise. Prashant I am unable to access any file in sangeethamshare.

Please check this now. The link works. Perhaps you would not have copied the full link as it spills into 2 lines.
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/sridhara ... arch_1986/

kalyani_ragam · Post by **kalyani_ragam** » 04 Jan 2013, 13:56

KNV1955 wrote:KVN-VS-Raghu-V Nagarajan
https://soundcloud.com/panchanathansure ... ya-namaste
KNV

Awesome rendition...

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 05 Jan 2013, 18:28

The discourse between Paramacharya & Ariyakudi On the Kriti Sri Subrahmanyaaya Namaste is well known. This has reappeared in The Hindu on 4th Jan 13. See the beautiful sketch of Paramacharya & Ariyakudi by Keshav.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... 269132.ece

dhanurasi · Post by **dhanurasi** » 05 Jan 2013, 23:23

See the beautiful sketch of Paramacharya & Ariyakudi by Keshav.

I was momentarily shocked to see a 'Vel' in Paramacharya's lap. Then, I realized that his Dhandam should have looked like a 'Vel' to Keshav as the subject matter is Subrahmanya, not very different from the suswaram we hear when our honourable artistes sing loads of apaswaram!

We know that a cartoonist of Keshav's stature would have done it by design, and Hindu editorial team has passed it by design. We should learn to see it right.

Sorry, I'll write about another "Subrahmanyaaya Namaste' version later.

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 06 Jan 2013, 13:05

The first LP record of KVN accompanied by TNK & Raghu. Hariharaputram -Vasantha-Dikshitar. Blemishless rendering. A melting Vasantha.
https://soundcloud.com/archive-of-india ... ayanaswamy

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 06 Jan 2013, 13:27

We can hear the sancAra nsrg (rss) a many times.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 06 Jan 2013, 14:14

Beautiful poruttam for the swaras - thanks a lot, KNV!

May I suggest you add all future KVN related music and discussion to his dedicated thread here: http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... ayanaswamy

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 06 Jan 2013, 14:26

Srikant, I can't hear this phrase anywhere in the recording. Pray tell, where in the song does your outstanding swara jnaanam show you such a phrase?

advaitam · Post by **advaitam** » 06 Jan 2013, 14:29

I can hear dnSGRSS and nSGRRSS but not nSRG, as you have alleged....

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Jan 2013, 15:16

What pleasure to hear this! His impeccable rendering is so evident here. Wish the svarAs had gone on. But the 'plate' is only so big!
Thanks!
Are you KVN's son, by any chance?

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 06 Jan 2013, 16:47

Yes Arasi mami. I have heard your compositions sung by Sumitra Nitin. I liked & particularly the Tamizh is easy on the tongue. Something like Vedanayakam Pillai Songs. Initially I thought it was compositions of her mother Mrs Sujata Vijayaraghvan. Later I was told it is yours.

KNV1955 · Post by **KNV1955** » 06 Jan 2013, 16:49

I am getting a feeling that Mridangam is TK Murthy from the teermanam played in the end. Any better guess.