Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Carnatic Musicians
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thenpaanan
Posts: 635
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 19:45

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by thenpaanan »

rajeshnat wrote:What a lovely photograph- any photograph with chembai has so much positivity. I always think the "golden era for microphones" is this one , two kondai mikes one for vocalist with atleast 1 to 1 1/2 feet seperation , the mike has to be at that distance so that mrudangam sound is also picked up, that distance also ensures that the vocalist has to really sing not murmur. The violin has a mike at a distance . Mrudangam has no mikes ,nowadays with an extra mike even for left it just creates too much of imbalance . These kondai mikes have an arc of receptivitiy.

Instead of one sound engineer having 100 knobs and musicians making all kinds of cacophonical adjustment like reduce sharpness - increase bass etc- all of that is taken care with this simple setup of just only two kondai mikes. We only need commonsense with minimalism of two mikes and no sophistication with extra miks

There are photos of MMI-LGJ with a nearly similiar setup which is permenantly etched in my memory- now with Chembai-MSG the mike is nearly the same distance- it is just WOW . Hope some forward looking sabhas who read this forum like mudhra, nadasurabhi and few others take a cue from this and arrange this ideal "2 kondai golden era mike concerts" again.
Interesting thought. I always wondered if it would be possible to have just one mic hung up in the air somewhere in front of the stage to capture the ambient sound. Having individual mics robs the audience of the true sound of the artists. I would love to hear a mic-less concert by accomplished artists just to feel that natural sound. Sanjay S gave such a concert I believe.

Rajeshnat, Do you know if the choice in that era of two mics rather than three was dictated by some technical constraints or was an actual design choice? I have been in a situation (in the days when mics were a precious item) where we could not spare an extra mic or needed the third mic for some other purpose (e.g. it was needed for the tambura as the main artist could not hear it) but the mridangist refused to without a mic! He felt that we did not respect the mridangam enough.

-Thenpaanan

bombal
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Joined: 21 Sep 2014, 22:54

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by bombal »

One who by comparison to his own self, looks at happiness and distress everywhere in the same manner, is a parama yogi. .. (side notes Mahavidwan Chembai bhagavathar was a very great example as mentioned by Mahavidwan Sri Palghat Mani Iyer)

"athmoupamyena sarvathra samam pashyathi yo (a)rjuna sukam vaa yadhi va dhukkam sa yogi paramo mathah."

Bible also propagates "do unto others as thou wilt be done" - we should do to others the way we want them to do to us..

..kanchi maha periyavaa.

:namaste:

satyabalu
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Joined: 28 Mar 2010, 11:07

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by satyabalu »

Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music
Articles on Chennai, its heritage, history and culture

Chembai and the Music Academy

When Chembai got the Kalanidhi
In a few days from now, T.V. Gopalakrishnan will be formally elected as the Music Academy’s Sangita Kalanidhi designate for the year 2014, in a quaint ritual that requires a Sangita Kalanidhi awardee to propose his name and another to second it, on the day of the inauguration. It is a throwback to the early days when the president of the Conference was elected from the floor of the house.

The general consensus is that at 82, TVG has had to wait for sometime to receive the highest accolade in Carnatic music. If TVG’s guru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar had been around, he would have agreed. In his time, Chembai too had to wait for the award to come his way.

Chembai, born in 1895, was probably younger only to Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar when it came to the leading performers of his generation. In terms of seniority on the concert platform, he was probably ‘older,’ for his career had begun in 1904 when he was nine while Ramanuja Iyengar’s debut was only in 1913 at 23. In fact, Chembai would often jocularly remind Ariyakkudi that while he was still providing vocal support to his guru Ramanathapuram Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar, he, Chembai, had already given vocal concerts and had then taken to the violin in order to tide over the adolescent period when the voice breaks.

By the early 1920s, Ariyakkudi was the acknowledged monarch of Carnatic music and remained so for years to come. So, when in 1938 he was invited to preside over the Academy’s annual conference (at that time the Sangita Kalanidhi title had not been established), everyone including Chembai applauded the decision.

Chembai, perhaps, expected that the honour would be his next, for after all he was the senior-most in age after Ramanuja Iyengar. He was, therefore, upset, when in the following year Musiri Subramania Iyer was invited to preside over the Conference. Chembai held his peace for his disciple Princess Manku Thampuran was singing at the inaugural concert. But when he was asked to felicitate Musiri on his elevation, he could not control himself. Striding to the microphone, he wished the latter well and complimented the Academy on its choice. He then said that he hoped that the Academy would invite Musiri to preside the following year too and every year thereafter! He then broke off all connections with the Academy for five years, during which time the honour went to others.

He made his peace with the Academy in 1945 and returned to perform, but the honour of presiding over the Conference, which had become synonymous with the Sangita Kalanidhi from January 1, 1943, was not to be his till 1951. During the intervening years, it went to juniors such as Semmangudi and Kumbakonam Rajamanikkam Pillai. That it rankled became evident when at a concert of his, Musiri Subramania Iyer and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer both got up in the middle and left, covering their faces with shawls. Having spotted them, he bellowed into the mike that the two Sangita Kalanidhis need not hide their faces and were free to come and go as they pleased. Nevertheless, when the title was conferred on him, he accepted it with good grace. But he would always question the remuneration the Academy gave the artists.

During the 1950s and ’60s, when the Academy struggled financially, because it was building an auditorium, Chembai willingly sang for low fees. By then he had begun diverting all his concert earnings to the Guruvayurappan Temple. He demanded and got high remuneration for all his performances, every paisa of which went to the temple.

By 1962 the Academy’s auditorium was completed and by 1969, thanks to the efforts of industrialists and well wishers, its loans were also almost repaid. On realising this, Chembai insisted on a hike in his fee. He felt that he and fellow artists had sacrificed enough over the years for the Academy. In his case, it was Guruvayurappan who was to be the beneficiary.

But the Academy would not give in. Its committee felt that it still had several commitments to fulfil. Chembai’s response was that he would wait till it had become fully solvent and be able to pay his market rates. Till then, he said, he was better off not singing for it. His last performance at the Academy was in 1970, after which he did not sing there. But that he harboured no ill will towards the institution was clear in the way he readily consented to preside over the Sadas on January 1, 1973 and confer the Sangita Kalanidhi on Prof P. Sambamoorthy."This is a forward from a post .

shankarank
Posts: 4042
Joined: 15 Jun 2009, 07:16

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by shankarank »

Just happened to stumble on this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-8eA7Fl4q4

Aditto
Posts: 323
Joined: 20 May 2008, 20:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Aditto »

Can some one post any song of Chembai in Reetigowla & Hindolam, preferably an elaborate one :) I have Chembai's varnam in Reetigowla.

sivachinta1965
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Joined: 13 Dec 2007, 11:32

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by sivachinta1965 »

Image

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar
Poomully Navarathri Kacheri 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5-0i7xIyck&t=0s

advaitin
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Joined: 07 Dec 2010, 18:05

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by advaitin »

Saw this rare black and white recording - one of the disciples of Chembai and a member of the Poomully mana. (7th thampuran - Raman )
Take a look from the 3rd minute - someone has done a home recording of him singing "kailasapathe paripalayam" , beautiful singing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC3TPqKmoYA

Aditto
Posts: 323
Joined: 20 May 2008, 20:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Aditto »

Indeed yes :)

Have found the below list.

http://chembai.com/chembairecordings.html

Wish someone has these songs

Dwaitamu Sukhama - Reetigowla (4 times)
Brochevarevare - Sriranjani
Naradaguruswami - Darbar
Ninnu cheppaka - Mandari
Namoralanu - Arabhi
Ninnuvinaa - Navarasakannada
Sriramam - Narayanagowla
Enduku Peddala - Sankarabharanam
Kanakasabhai - Surati
Intaparaka - Nadanamakriya
Evarimaata - Khamboji

CRama
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Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by CRama »

I have got many of these songs. You end me a mail through the forum. Then we will see how I can share with you. Are you in Chennai.

Aditto
Posts: 323
Joined: 20 May 2008, 20:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Aditto »

CRama wrote: 24 Nov 2017, 16:09 I have got many of these songs. You end me a mail through the forum. Then we will see how I can share with you. Are you in Chennai.
Have dropped a mail sir.


Vayoo Flute
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Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Vayoo Flute »


kvchellappa
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by kvchellappa »

A special issue on Chembai Bhagavathar:

http://www.srlkmandira.org/newsletters/ ... arch18.pdf

sankark
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Joined: 16 Dec 2008, 09:10

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by sankark »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pmJceIokaw bhairavi & chEtulAra music of a bygone era.

karthik3
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Joined: 31 Dec 2018, 12:25

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by karthik3 »

Maybe the greatest picture I have ever seen : so much greatness in this one picture, and in the way these men carried themselves.

Image

meerag56
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Joined: 10 Oct 2017, 20:25

Re:

Post by meerag56 »

srkris wrote: 10 Aug 2009, 13:59 sIrkAzhi gOvindarAjan at Guruvayur Ekadasi Annual (Chembai memorial) Music Festival rendering a couple of tribute songs sometime in the late 1970s or early 80s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlwXVA3mhk0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=codpRFe17cs

The mridangam accompaniment by Mavelikkara Krishnankutty Nair is more than good.
Can someone please give the lyrics on the song on Chembai?

karthik3
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by karthik3 »

The documentary on Chembai from a couple years back, titled "Chembai : My Discovery of a Legend," which received some press and acclaim is now posted on youtube.

This is a must-watch for any fans of this great master.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9AELxSvfI

karthik3
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Joined: 31 Dec 2018, 12:25

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by karthik3 »

Image

Here is another favorite picture of mine. My family is from Umayalpuram Village. My grandmother Ananthalakshmi used to take care of Sivaraman thatha when he was a baby. His dad was a doctor in the village and was very strict. He would tell the girls who used to come to him with fake illnesses to begone. I wish there were more people like that in today's society.

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by rajeshnat »

@karthik3
This is extrordinary photo . Wow wOw woW. Where was the photo taken
Violin - Lalgudi and TNK
Mrudangam - UKS and VR

By any chance is the ghatam artist EM Subramaniam(or is that Vikku himself). See the microphone placement it is a safe distance one in front of Chembai , second in front of vaidyanatha and third slightly bit far way from bhagavathar.

@srkris would only know the accompanying vocalists. Do share the names please.

karthik3
Posts: 4
Joined: 31 Dec 2018, 12:25

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by karthik3 »

Well there are also Jaya-Vijaya twins for sure.

And of course Chembai could have given this concert without any microphones. Even if it lasted 10 hours he would have sang it perfectly. I hope you all know that by now.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

Seems to be the only song rendered by Chembai Vaidyanatha Bagavathar in Kannada film 'vaaNi', produced by Chowdiah.
https://youtu.be/406AhRjS0pE

RSR
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

https://youtu.be/MoYCuRjBjg0
NaaraayaNeeyam
100-1
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bagavathar-
Agrepashyami-
Kapi
---------------------------------
Shankar Rajasekharan-upload

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

A moving narrative on Chembai Swami - his last day
http://chembai.com/chembailastday.html

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

Sangeetha Jnanamu - Dhanyasi - Thyagaraja - Chembai
https://youtu.be/Hg8OE-4J0YI

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar - Vocal
Sangeetha Kalanidhi Tirumakudalu Chowdiah - Violin
Sangeetha Kalanidhi Palghat Mani Iyer - Mrdangam

MaheshS
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by MaheshS »

Chembai interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmx8FUIw6fQ

I am mind blown! Never have come across this before.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

Muthukurussi
CHEMBAI VAIDYANATHA BHAGAVATAR - AT SHANMUKHANANDA FINE ARTS SOCIETY, BOMBAY ON 11.09.1966
VIOLIN: M.S.ANANTHARAMAN
MRUDANGAM: PALGHAT RAGHU
------------------------

https://youtu.be/r6Xk34WNpmc

------------------------

01. SARASIJANABHA (VARNAM) - KAMBODHI - ATA - SWATHI THIRUNAL (Manorama says this is copyrighted by them. I do not know how! Muted this song. Sorry for that)
02. SRI RAGHUKULA - HAMSADWANI - ADI - THYAGARAJA
03. O JAGADAMBA - ANANDABHAIRAVI - ADI 2 KALAI - SYAMA SASTRI
04. RAGHUVARA NANNU - PANTUVARALI - ADI - THYAGARAJA
05. NINNU SEVINCHA - YADUKULAKAMBOJI - TRIPUTA - SYAMA SASTRI
06. CHETULARA - BHAIRAVI - ADI - THYAGARAJA
07. GIRIPAI - SAHANA - ADI - THYAGARAJA
08. DURMARGACHARA - RANJANI - RUPAKAM - THYAGARAJA
09. NEE VADANE GANA - SARANGA - CHAPU - THYAGARAJA
10. MOKSHAMU GALADA - SARAMATHI - ADI - THYAGARAJA
11. MARIVERE DIKKEVARAIYARAMA - SHANMUKHAPRIYA - PATNAM SUBRAMANIA IYER
12. THAYE YESHODA - THODI - ADI - OOTHUKADU VENKATASUBBIER
13. ENTHANINNE VARNINTHU - MUKHARI - RUPAKAM - THYAGARAJA
14. ENTHARA NEEDANA - HARIKAMBHOJI - ADI - THYAGARAJA
15. RAMABHAKTHI - SUDHABANGALA - ADI - THYAGARAJA
16. RTP - SANKARABHARANAM, PALLAVI "THIRUPATHI VENKATA RAMANA"
17. KRISHNA NEE BEGANE - YAMUNAKALYANI - CHAPU - KANAKADASAR
18. DEVAKI NANDA MUKUNDA - KAPI
19. THILLANA - SENCHURUTI - ADI - VEENA SESHANNA
20. NARAYANEEYAM SLOKAM - RAGAMALIKA
21. MANGALAM

Lakshman
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Lakshman »

# 18 is by Purandaradasa.

shankarank
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by shankarank »

Here is one uploaded by Sri K.S Kalidas is his channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTh6K0lk998

Listen to endaro and the accompaniment. Chembai breaks into laughter in one of the passages.

Summa pazhani tyAgam paNNiTTAru tyAgam paNNiTTArunnu speechulellAm ( Sanjay kalanidhi speech) apDi ippiDinnu pesuvadu. ingA paNNina mAdiri teriyaleye.

And Raguvara nannu is another vigorous exposition. Abhishekkum, KBMKyum oru (Thiruvarur festival) thaDavai pAdiya podu ennavellam sonniRgal - all in posts in this forum!

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by RSR »

p-527
ji,
Is not #17, a composition by VyaasaRaya? ( and not by Kanakadasa) . Kindly correct me if I am wrong
@Lakshman

Manian
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Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Manian »

A friend of ours Dr. SV Rangaswamy, (retired) at Bangalore narrated an instant to illustrate how great and humble was Chembai as a Musician. It was 1968, Chembai was felicitated on his 80th birth day by one Kalada Sadan Music academy at Sion, Bombay. Sri. Chembai was accompanied by TVG. When Chembai was sitting on a chair, Dr. Ramasubramanian of TIFR along with Dr. SV Rangaswamy (who were music student at Kala Sadan were standing behind his chair. Dr. Ram was fanning the saint. Dr. SVR asked Dr NR to request Chembai to sing his famous Bala kanakamaya in Atana. Then DR. NR requested to Sri CVB, “pervasive Balakakanakamaya Paadanum”. Sri CVB told him, I came here to listen and not to sing. Immediately, without thinking, DR NR had told him, “ I did not come here to fan you, but am I not fanning you sir”. So, CVB turned around and told TVG, Gopala let us sing and he sang the Kriti. Sri TVG for a few second was distracted, did not accompany him but Dr. NR took up that part “aha aha ahahaa..”

Then, after wards CVB asked Dr. NR, come here and do me a namaskaram and blessed him. He then told him, tomorrow,Yesudas has his Arenketramis at Shanmugnanda Hall , come there. When DR NR told him that he had no ticket, CVB told TVG, bring these two there. TVG took them and told them, I need to finish my Nandi Puja before the concert, so you two come through the side door and wait for me. Then he took them and both DR NR and DR SVR were seated at the front row. (There was no space, as the hall was full). Sri Yesudas started with Abhogi Varnam Evary Bodhana and when chittai swaram came he switched two notes, but the concert was like being in heaven.

When the concert was over, Sri CVB asked Dr NR, enna parthe (What did you see)?. So, DRNR had replied, Aboghi slightly shrugged!. Then CVB told Sri. Yesudas
“ Pattayaada, avan Kandu putuchitaan (Look he found) “. Then, CVB said to DR NR, tomorrow there is a Mridangam Arengetram, I am going to sing, come over there. Unfortunately DR NR could not go there. The story illustrates that how humble and obliging was Sri CVB, like a GOD obliging his devotee. He blessed all who wanted his grace.

Lakshman
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Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar

Post by Lakshman »

RSR; # 17 is by Vyasaraya.

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