Balaji Shankar
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I suspected it was our Balaji sir - good to see the two Balaji's in action!
I know he was in Polaris. One of my friends was working with him but has lost touch now. He said it was more to do with Disillusionment that losing voice/confidence etc. Wonder if he is still with that company...
Balaji's was one of my first (in fact my first) carnatic concert and deserves a fair bit of credit for winning me over to CM althogh I had already been hooked to a few records by then. This was at the Tamil Sangam in Delhi, summer 1998 - I had actually gone to attend Sudha's performance - Balaji's concert was more of a curtain raiser - but the fantastic Kambhoji (I was too much of a greenhorn to remember krithi - in fact in those days I used to get bored after the alaapana!), managed to eclipse Sudha that day.
Fast forward to Chennai '99 when I walked, wide-eyed, into the bustle of the Music Season...alas, while it was a very enjoyable first season, my idol, Balaji Shankar, was nowhere to be seen...I will have to live the Kambhoji main piece at Tamil Sangam as my only live experience of Balaji Shankar...but who knows...
I know he was in Polaris. One of my friends was working with him but has lost touch now. He said it was more to do with Disillusionment that losing voice/confidence etc. Wonder if he is still with that company...
Balaji's was one of my first (in fact my first) carnatic concert and deserves a fair bit of credit for winning me over to CM althogh I had already been hooked to a few records by then. This was at the Tamil Sangam in Delhi, summer 1998 - I had actually gone to attend Sudha's performance - Balaji's concert was more of a curtain raiser - but the fantastic Kambhoji (I was too much of a greenhorn to remember krithi - in fact in those days I used to get bored after the alaapana!), managed to eclipse Sudha that day.
Fast forward to Chennai '99 when I walked, wide-eyed, into the bustle of the Music Season...alas, while it was a very enjoyable first season, my idol, Balaji Shankar, was nowhere to be seen...I will have to live the Kambhoji main piece at Tamil Sangam as my only live experience of Balaji Shankar...but who knows...
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Let's list the albums Samanth mentions:
Double cassette album released by HMV from Season 98 featuring Kalyani and Kharaharapriya
Kalavardhini release (not sure of the songs now)
An album featuring Tholijanmamu in Bilahari and Seethamma Mayamma in Vasantha
There's probably one more that I have stacked away somewhere but I cannot recall which. So that leaves at least one more album that I am not aware of.
Anyway, I second Samanth's request...
Double cassette album released by HMV from Season 98 featuring Kalyani and Kharaharapriya
Kalavardhini release (not sure of the songs now)
An album featuring Tholijanmamu in Bilahari and Seethamma Mayamma in Vasantha
There's probably one more that I have stacked away somewhere but I cannot recall which. So that leaves at least one more album that I am not aware of.
Anyway, I second Samanth's request...
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Will check as soon as I get back to Mumbai in a couple of days.samanth wrote:Prashant: If you can really dig up some new recordings, I know that I for one would be indebted forever. The same five studio albums have been doing the rounds for some time now, and a few live recordings would be incredible.
List of recordings - there's also the AIR recording that's popular - daya jUDa / bhaktuni CAritramu / karuNAkaranE / talli ninnu nEra nammiti / Adena pADuvE
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Here's a nice kharaharapriyA AlApanA - https://download.yousendit.com/108120641D108B88
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SankarACAryam - https://download.yousendit.com/AC8C16780EC16FBA
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thanks a ton prashant.prashant wrote:SankarACAryam - https://download.yousendit.com/AC8C16780EC16FBA
does it also have a preceeding alapanai?
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tAnam in kharaharapriyA - http://www.sendspace.com/file/dopra5
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Cienu: it is Delhi Sri Sundararajan.
Here is the SankarAbharaNam AlApanA for bharath and all other Balaji Shankar fans: http://www.sendspace.com/file/splm9z
Pallavi coming up...
Here is the SankarAbharaNam AlApanA for bharath and all other Balaji Shankar fans: http://www.sendspace.com/file/splm9z
Pallavi coming up...
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... and here it is: http://www.sendspace.com/file/43ywpx
Such a beautifully sung pallavi - first popularized by Sri Balaji's great Guru Sangita Kalanidhi Sri DKJ.
Such a beautifully sung pallavi - first popularized by Sri Balaji's great Guru Sangita Kalanidhi Sri DKJ.
Last edited by prashant on 28 Jun 2008, 09:54, edited 1 time in total.
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tulasammA - dEvagAndhAri - http://www.sendspace.com/file/kbib4g
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parandhAmavati - http://www.sendspace.com/file/6aqblu
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mA ramaNan - http://www.sendspace.com/file/u0gasc
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A rollicking AbhOgi. shrI mahA gaNapatE - http://www.sendspace.com/file/0e5ufd
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ranjani AlApanA - http://www.sendspace.com/file/6qpjn8
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Wow, thanks for all the wonderful music uploads of Balaji, Prashant.
The Abhogi piece is especially delicious.
Here are a couple of video clips of DKJ where you can see a young Balaji Shankar providing vocal support for the maestro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Q9dqFSVyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtlPDY0Wouo
The Abhogi piece is especially delicious.
Here are a couple of video clips of DKJ where you can see a young Balaji Shankar providing vocal support for the maestro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Q9dqFSVyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtlPDY0Wouo
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Vijayvijay wrote:Balaji's was one of my first (in fact my first) carnatic concert and deserves a fair bit of credit for winning me over to CM althogh I had already been hooked to a few records by then. This was at the Tamil Sangam in Delhi, summer 1998 - I had actually gone to attend Sudha's performance - Balaji's concert was more of a curtain raiser - but the fantastic Kambhoji (I was too much of a greenhorn to remember krithi - in fact in those days I used to get bored after the alaapana!), managed to eclipse Sudha that day.
If you are referring to the concert held in Tamil Sangam on April 4 1998 the main was Sri Raghuvara Prameya in Kamboji. Just to jog your memory this particular concert started with Neelayadakshi in Parasu and he also sang Parandamavati (Dharmavati). Does that ring a bell? Are we talking about the same concert?
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Enjoy the tAnam - pallavi tomorrow - http://www.sendspace.com/file/5ifec3
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Kal kya hoga, kisko pata - abhi zindagi ka le lo mazaa. Ergo, here is the pallavi - good night all! Will be back tomorrow with a few more goodies. Sadly, will run out of stock very soon,
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4k6bkt
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4k6bkt
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Thanks Prashant. Great stuff. His voice especially on the Kharaharapriya pallavi is so smooth and effortless.
1) Is the thala of the Ranjani pallavi Misra Chapu?
2) In the Kharaharapriya pallavi, I counted 25 for one avarthana and I can fit that with Khanda Eka. I have not heard any pallavis in Khanda Eka before so I do not know what the convention for the Arudhi position etc. for that thala is so I am not sure. If I go with arudhi on the first beat of Khanda Eka the eduppu is on the third beat. Enough of my speculation, what is the thala for the Kharaharapriya pallavi?
Thanks.
1) Is the thala of the Ranjani pallavi Misra Chapu?
2) In the Kharaharapriya pallavi, I counted 25 for one avarthana and I can fit that with Khanda Eka. I have not heard any pallavis in Khanda Eka before so I do not know what the convention for the Arudhi position etc. for that thala is so I am not sure. If I go with arudhi on the first beat of Khanda Eka the eduppu is on the third beat. Enough of my speculation, what is the thala for the Kharaharapriya pallavi?
Thanks.
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Reminds me of a small part from one of those inspirational poems that are usual parts of the curriculum in schools:prashant wrote:Kal kya hoga, kisko pata - abhi zindagi ka le lo mazaa
kAl karE so Aj
Aj karE so ab
pal mein parlay hOyEgI
bahuri karOgE kab?
(Should there be (hOyEgI) a deluge (pralay/parlay) this very second (pal mein), when (kab) will you complete (bahuri karOgE) your tasks - So, please finish (karE) what is scheduled for tomorrow (kAl karE) today (Aj), and what is slotted for today (Aj karE), immediately (ab)!)
Should be the mantra for people like me who have advanced degrees in the science and art form of procrastination!
Prashant, thanks (anantakOTi thanks) - in the comments section of the ranjani pallavi track the tALa is mentioned as chaurAsra jhampa (khaNDa gati) - Please explain!
Ravi
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Thanks Ravi for mentioning about the comments section of the mp3. I did not notice it before.
I can see now count wise why both misra chapu (7) and chathusra jathi jampa (7), khanda gathi (5) = 35 fits. Prashant, now I am also curious why it is the latter and not the former. Thanks.
I latched on to misra chapu since it fit the count and also felt comfortable with the built-in layam matching with the misra-chapu stutter step pattern. But I felt that something is not right since it took 5 avarthanams of Misra chapu to complete the line which is unusual.
After I learnt about the khanda gathi, now I can comfortably keep the thalam in khanda chapu as well. There are enough stresses in the song to fit both khanda and misra chapu pattern and also work in the thala structure of chathusra jathi jampa, khanda gathi. Quite amazing. The number 35 provides a convenient way for all these three to meet in a natural way.
Now, while on the gathi bandwagon, I have to go back to the Kharaharapriya pallavi and put in the possibility of Misra Jathi Jampa, Khanda Gathi as a better fit. It fits nicely with the arudhi stress falling on the usual fulcrum point of the thala and also the built-in layam of the pallavi matches the thala structure.
I can see now count wise why both misra chapu (7) and chathusra jathi jampa (7), khanda gathi (5) = 35 fits. Prashant, now I am also curious why it is the latter and not the former. Thanks.
I latched on to misra chapu since it fit the count and also felt comfortable with the built-in layam matching with the misra-chapu stutter step pattern. But I felt that something is not right since it took 5 avarthanams of Misra chapu to complete the line which is unusual.
After I learnt about the khanda gathi, now I can comfortably keep the thalam in khanda chapu as well. There are enough stresses in the song to fit both khanda and misra chapu pattern and also work in the thala structure of chathusra jathi jampa, khanda gathi. Quite amazing. The number 35 provides a convenient way for all these three to meet in a natural way.
Now, while on the gathi bandwagon, I have to go back to the Kharaharapriya pallavi and put in the possibility of Misra Jathi Jampa, Khanda Gathi as a better fit. It fits nicely with the arudhi stress falling on the usual fulcrum point of the thala and also the built-in layam of the pallavi matches the thala structure.
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Let me try my hand at explaining and let's go with the ranjani pallavi first.
As per what I have learnt, pallavis should not be sung in misra CApu since there is no arudi to the tALam. Therefore, vasanthakokilam, what you mention here as misra CApu is actually tisra rUpaka [misra gati] here. Let me post the calculations of the pallavi:
'paramEshwari kripAkari shankari pAhi mAm, ranjani niranjani'
pa - 1 ra - 1 mE - 2 shwa - 1 ri - 2 [1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 7]
kri - 1 pA - 2 ka - 1 ri - 2 [1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6]
shan - 2 ka - 1 ri - 2 [2 + 1 + 2 = 5]
pA - 2 hi - 1 [2 + 1] = 3
mAm - 4 [arudi] = 4
ran - 2 ja - 1 ni - 2 [2 + 1 + 2 = 5]
ni - 1 ran - 2 ja - 1 ni - 1 [1 + 2 + 1 = 5]
Total aksharas = 7 + 6 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 35
Therefore, as correctly mentioned by vasanthakokilam, this can be sung in tisra rUpaka [misra gati] i.e. [3 + 2] x 7 = 35 or chaturAsra jhampa [khaNDa gati] i.e. [4 + 3] x 5 = 35
Why I feel this is in the latter tALa [apart from a few places where the beats fall exactly as per this ] is that the eDuppu comes 1 aksharam before samam in this structure [atIta eDuppu] which gives a nice feeling of 'tautness' in the pallavi structure. If you sing this pallavi in tisra rUpaka [misra gati] the eDuppu is at samam from the laghu and does not have the same 'taut' feel to it.
That's only my personal feeling however, and of course it is eminently possible to sing in this tALa!
Sorry for the overly long [and possibly redundant ] explanation!
As per what I have learnt, pallavis should not be sung in misra CApu since there is no arudi to the tALam. Therefore, vasanthakokilam, what you mention here as misra CApu is actually tisra rUpaka [misra gati] here. Let me post the calculations of the pallavi:
'paramEshwari kripAkari shankari pAhi mAm, ranjani niranjani'
pa - 1 ra - 1 mE - 2 shwa - 1 ri - 2 [1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 7]
kri - 1 pA - 2 ka - 1 ri - 2 [1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6]
shan - 2 ka - 1 ri - 2 [2 + 1 + 2 = 5]
pA - 2 hi - 1 [2 + 1] = 3
mAm - 4 [arudi] = 4
ran - 2 ja - 1 ni - 2 [2 + 1 + 2 = 5]
ni - 1 ran - 2 ja - 1 ni - 1 [1 + 2 + 1 = 5]
Total aksharas = 7 + 6 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 35
Therefore, as correctly mentioned by vasanthakokilam, this can be sung in tisra rUpaka [misra gati] i.e. [3 + 2] x 7 = 35 or chaturAsra jhampa [khaNDa gati] i.e. [4 + 3] x 5 = 35
Why I feel this is in the latter tALa [apart from a few places where the beats fall exactly as per this ] is that the eDuppu comes 1 aksharam before samam in this structure [atIta eDuppu] which gives a nice feeling of 'tautness' in the pallavi structure. If you sing this pallavi in tisra rUpaka [misra gati] the eDuppu is at samam from the laghu and does not have the same 'taut' feel to it.
That's only my personal feeling however, and of course it is eminently possible to sing in this tALa!
Sorry for the overly long [and possibly redundant ] explanation!
Last edited by prashant on 30 Jun 2008, 09:43, edited 1 time in total.
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kharaharapriyA:
vasanthakOkilam - you are spot-on! This pallavi is in tisra rUpaka [5 - kaLai] where the arudi falls on the first beat of the drutam. Let me post the calculations:
'mA pazhanimalai magapatiyE nI vA, vEl mayiluDanE'
mA - 2
pa - 1 zha -1 ni - 1 ma - 1 lai - 1
ma - 1 ga - 1 pa - 1 ti - 1 yE - 1
nI - 1
vA - 5 [arudi]
vEl - 2
ma - 1 yil - 1 u - 1 Da - 1 nE - 1
Total = 25 aksharas
Therefore the eDuppu will be on the 3rd akshara in the laghu [each beat = 5 aksharas] and arudi will therefore be at the first beat in the dhrutam.
As Sri Balaji Shankar sings, this can be reduced to tisra rUpaka [khaNDa gati] and further to tisra rUpaka [khanDa laghu - perhaps incorrect terminology - maybe Balaji Sir or sankIrNam can correct].
vasanthakOkilam - you are spot-on! This pallavi is in tisra rUpaka [5 - kaLai] where the arudi falls on the first beat of the drutam. Let me post the calculations:
'mA pazhanimalai magapatiyE nI vA, vEl mayiluDanE'
mA - 2
pa - 1 zha -1 ni - 1 ma - 1 lai - 1
ma - 1 ga - 1 pa - 1 ti - 1 yE - 1
nI - 1
vA - 5 [arudi]
vEl - 2
ma - 1 yil - 1 u - 1 Da - 1 nE - 1
Total = 25 aksharas
Therefore the eDuppu will be on the 3rd akshara in the laghu [each beat = 5 aksharas] and arudi will therefore be at the first beat in the dhrutam.
As Sri Balaji Shankar sings, this can be reduced to tisra rUpaka [khaNDa gati] and further to tisra rUpaka [khanDa laghu - perhaps incorrect terminology - maybe Balaji Sir or sankIrNam can correct].
Last edited by prashant on 30 Jun 2008, 09:44, edited 1 time in total.
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Prashant: Thanks very much. You are a great teacher. This is the kind of elaboration that is needed for interested rasikas like me.
This thisra rupaka with a non-chathusra gathi opens up a lot of possibilities. I am catching up.
A question. Arudhi stress normally falls on the anga somewhere near the mid point of the thala avarthana and not samam, right? ( that may be a wrong assumption ). If that is the case, the structure of the ranjani pallavi is 3+2 ( misra gathi ) rather than 2+3 (misra gathi ). Rupaka is traditionally drutham followed by laghu ( 2+ laghu count), being the only one to start with a drutham. That may be another reason to go to chathusra jampa, khanda gathi.
This thisra rupaka with a non-chathusra gathi opens up a lot of possibilities. I am catching up.
A question. Arudhi stress normally falls on the anga somewhere near the mid point of the thala avarthana and not samam, right? ( that may be a wrong assumption ). If that is the case, the structure of the ranjani pallavi is 3+2 ( misra gathi ) rather than 2+3 (misra gathi ). Rupaka is traditionally drutham followed by laghu ( 2+ laghu count), being the only one to start with a drutham. That may be another reason to go to chathusra jampa, khanda gathi.
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I agree on arudi as well as the 3 + 2 (misra gati) structure of ranjani pallavi.vasanthakokilam wrote:A question. Arudhi stress normally falls on the anga somewhere near the mid point of the thala avarthana and not samam, right? ( that may be a wrong assumption ). If that is the case, the structure of the ranjani pallavi is 3+2 ( misra gathi ) rather than 2+3 (misra gathi ). Rupaka is traditionally drutham followed by laghu ( 2+ laghu count), being the only one to start with a drutham. That may be another reason to go to chathusra jampa, khanda gathi.
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Hi Rasaali - thanks for jogging my memory...I arrived only when the kambhoji was being sung, maybe towards the end of the alaapana...it was definitely April 98...also it might have been Hyd Sisters after Balaji and not Sudha...
Really felt good to go back to that concert after all these years...many thanks!!
Really felt good to go back to that concert after all these years...many thanks!!
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Vijay,vijay wrote:Hi Rasaali - thanks for jogging my memory...I arrived only when the kambhoji was being sung, maybe towards the end of the alaapana...it was definitely April 98...also it might have been Hyd Sisters after Balaji and not Sudha...
Really felt good to go back to that concert after all these years...many thanks!!
You're welcome. It was indeed a good concert. Was a special one for me too.
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Prashant- Time to let the cat out of the bag, I suppose. You and I have met. And I am a regular chota-mota (pun intended) aadmi, an amateur violinist and fellow rasika. As for my "musical journey", it started in Delhi and continues (by God's grace) on the weekends in the US now.prashant wrote:Wow!!! It's a privilege to have you here, rasaali. That's incredible that you accompanied Sri Balaji. Would definitely like to know more about you and your musical journey if you do not mind posting here.
I learnt violin from Smt Vanaja Aravamuthan, Sri V. Janakiraman (guru of Delhi Sunderarajan) and continue to learn from my uncle Sri Kovai B. Dakshinamurthy of AIR Chennai.
The concert in question was organized by Music Education Trust's Delhi chapter and Vijay's repeated references to the same motivated me to provide more details as it was special for me to accompany an artiste of this calibre.
Fortunate as I was to hear the good Kamboji from close quarters, I guess I should also feel happy (lucky??) that I did not do sufficient damage on stage to put our friend Vijay off from CM for life.
Best,
KVS Vinay
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Rasaali,
I have heard Kovai Shri B.Dakshinamoorthy long back and also his sister Kovai B.Gnanambal(I hope I remebered the name right.) Of late I have not heard them;was wondering about it. I used to like thier music.
I have heard Kovai Shri B.Dakshinamoorthy long back and also his sister Kovai B.Gnanambal(I hope I remebered the name right.) Of late I have not heard them;was wondering about it. I used to like thier music.
Last edited by PUNARVASU on 01 Jul 2008, 04:05, edited 1 time in total.