Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Carnatic Musicians
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venkatakailasam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

Semmangudi's thoughts: Music then and now ...

Read at...

http://www.carnatica.net/ramanathan/semm1.html

and also...Semmangudi’s music allows you to transcend’

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/27/stories ... 841000.htm

venkatakailasam
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Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

SSI-Saapasyat Kausalyaa...( SP Archives)

SSI-Saapasyat Kausalyaa.mp3 - 1.3 Mb

for lyrics and meaning....http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... salya.html

venkatakailasam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

some guidelines were issued by Admin in post 385 of

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... &start=375

I am sure that we not deviating from the guidelines....

venkatakailasam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

# 412

This interview was by Chitraveena RaviKiran...

bilahari
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bilahari »

Some kind soul has uploaded the 1988 MA concert of SSI-TNK-TS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jp_xmm-JyQ

thanjavooran
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by thanjavooran »

bilahari Avl,
Many thanx to You and also to the kind and good soul for the link. Besides SSI lot of other clippings too.
Thanjavooran,
19 12 2012

mahavishnu
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by mahavishnu »

fantastic. thanks, Bilahari.
i have seen bits and pieces of this concert, but a 2 hour clip is a holiday bonus.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Bilahari et al: I think this is the concert(cosponsored by CMANA of NY/NJ to honor Semmangudi held @ NGS.If I am not mistaken in this concert SSI has sung Nenarunchinanu(malavi) and if you listen closely you would find that SSI started off at a much brisker kalam than he had intended compounded by excellent and exuberant display by Trichy Sankaran--especially in the Anupallavi with the myriad sangathis--so much so at one point,you can faintly hear SSI saying to his sishyas "IRUD,IRUDA" trying to slow the tempo!!
I stand corrected if I am wrong!!

bala94ms
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bala94ms »

Namaskarams Sir,
It is very much true..In the Chittaiswaram portion of the Krithi Semmangudi Thatha turns towards Sri Palai Ramachandran and says "Iruda Iruda" (at about 57:22). Unfortunately the video is truncated at this point and hence the video of the beautiful Neelambari Krithi "Amba Neelayadakshi" is missing.. The Video resumes with the Bhairavi RTP. However this concert is definitely the Music Academy concert of Semmangudi in the year 1988, the year the Academy turned 60 and Thatha turned 80.

The Concert MKR sir is referring to, is shared on youtube in this link which according to the post was held in 1994,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KScDc5nnjFA
The Main Piece is the majestic "O ranga Sayee", To the best of my knowledge, he has not rendered Nenarunchinanu in the 1994 concert.

Regards
J Bala Girish

bala94ms
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bala94ms »

A beautiful Shloka in Yamuna Kalyani :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChyJZsUCTR0

srkris
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by srkris »

Image

thanjavooran
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by thanjavooran »

I remember once shri M K mentioned in a meeting that shri SSI can become Chief Minister whereas he can not become a musician.
Thanjavooran
02 07 2013

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

It was at the 80th birthday celebrations of SSI at the Music Academy in 1988. Then CM Karunanidhi was the chief guest. SSI in his speech said that had Karunanidhi turned his mind towards music, he would have given him (SSI) and other vidvans a run for their money. In his speech Karunanidhi returned the complment though left handed. "If Semmangudi had come into politics he would have been very successful and would have made politicians like him (Karunanidhi) irrelevant."

Aditto
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Aditto »

Is there any available recording of SSI singing Palinchu Kamakshi. I searached in Sangeetapriya and did not find it.

Can someone share the recording if possible.

Regards,
Aditya.

rajeshnat
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

Yesterday around 9pm or so in DD-Podigai , there was an interview of UKS with UM Kannan. WHen i tuned it was initially SSI singing in red shawl with UKS and TNK then UKS spoke about how SSI is a personality of his own , how he encouraged youngsters like UKS and used to give them the status (anthastu), then I heard 1996 recording of UKS- VVS-Mannargudi Easwaran- Harishankar where the doyen was singing a ragam,taaanam and dakshinamoorthE in sbharanam.

What verve, if some one uploads some thing in youtube please put the link here. If any one had seen the complete program please put the proceedings here. Semmangudi mama was 88 and he takes Raagam,Taanam and DakshinamoorthE- what can one say even 22 is not doing it nowadays - i can just count few in that callibre now. I am assuming it was a special program for SSI.

Aditto
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Aditto »

The entire concert can be watched here.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDBEAB0D82F2347B5

Regards,
Aditya.

Gadolinium
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Gadolinium »

rajeshnat wrote:Semmangudi mama was 88 and he takes Raagam,Taanam and DakshinamoorthE- what can one say even 22 is not doing it nowadays - i can just count few in that callibre now. I am assuming it was a special program for SSI.
How true, Rajeshnat. DakshinamoorthE is a very challenging (and absolutely beautiful) kriti, and so inspiring to see Semmangudi sing it at this age. Of course, he owns shankarabharanam as evidenced in the academy RTP (1958).

I can understand many youngsters not taking this kriti up. It takes a deep understanding of shankarabharanam combined with asura sadhakam.

rajeshnat
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

Aditto
Thanks for the link.

All,
Did any one see the program where UKS spoke about semmangudi along with SSI snippets in the podhigai . Few months back i hear one where TVG spoke about his guru chembai. All nice interviewed by UM kannan. Any uploads into you tube is appreciated if link is provided .

kvchellappa
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kvchellappa »

It is being uploaded by Sri T V Gopalakrishnan in sangeethatpriya.org usually.

kvchellappa
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kvchellappa »

I got this in one yahoogroup postings:

ANECDOTES ABOUT MUSICIANS


Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer


Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer’s Guru Maharajapuram Visvanatha Iyer was very strict. Read what Semmangudi wrote of a train journey with the Guru—“Picture me on a train with a tambura on my lap, my guru’s steel trunk, silver betel-leaf box and water-jug roped together and fastened to my waist. I couldn’t sleep when he was asleep and he wouldn’t let me sleep when he was awake”.


Semmangudu’s maiden appearance was in 1926. Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer had given a performance at the Nageswara Swami temple at Kumbakonam. The accompanying mridangam vidwan Azhagunambi Pillai requested that Srinivasa Iyer should be given a chance to sing solo. Maharajapuram readily acceded and Semmangudi sang during the late night puja. Azhagunambi Pillai played the mridangam. Undoubtedly it was an impressive debut. According to Srinivasa Iyer no sooner he started than the heavens opened up and torrential rain blessed him with a captive audience. Semmangudi stated that he could not hear his own voice!.


Semmangudi underwent two operations, one to remove a block in the nose and the other to remove the tonsils. The result was a wayward voice. One casualty was his pronunciation, inviting the comment of the most carping, acerbic critic of the 1940s, “Karnatakam”, the pseudonym of Kalki Krishnamurti that he pronounced “Siva Siva enarada ” as “ Jiva Jiva enarada".


While arranging marriages it is customary for the bride-to-be to display her musical skills before the boy’s family. After Semmangudi rendered Chakkaniraja in Kharaharapriya for the first time, it became the song that was to clinch marriage deals. The charanam starts with the words “ Kantiki Sundara “ describing Rama’s beauty. If the girl repeated that line three times, it was taken as consent !.


Despite being a junior, Semmangudi affected the manners of senior vidwans emulating them in matters of dress, sporting the tuft, liberally smearing his forehead with the sacred ash and tying his dhothi in the traditional panchakaccam style. This created an impression of his being elder compared to his real age.


He was noted for his great sense of humour. A few days before he died, he told a friend, “Actually, the God of Death did come calling for me last week. But with the muddle of old houses given new numbers on the street, he made off with a neighbor ”. One more anecdote. The location is the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai, overflowing as they celebrated the centenary of Kalki. Among the speakers was Semmangudi. Even as his turn came and he stood before the mike for two minutes someone sent a chit. He read it and asked the audience, “Do you know what this is ?. I am advised to restrict myself to three minutes.” He exploded with feigned anger and said, “ I have come all the way from Chennai to speak about my good friend Kalki and no one is going to short-circuit me !.”. He spoke for full ten minutes crackling with wit and humour. “ Kalki taught me History of the Kingdoms of South India but I taught him and Sadasivam how to platy Rummy !.”


His last bow was to donate his eyes to the Eye Bank of Shankar Nethralaya, Chennai.


It was a serendipitous coincidence that on the morning of Semmangudi’s passing away, Chennai Doordarshan broadcast a seven-year old hour long concert by him, ending with the incomparable rendering of the Shankaranharanam masterpiece of Dikshitar, addressed to Sri Dakshina Murthi.


I conclude with an anecdote with a personal bearing. It was February 16, 1999. Semmangudi, who had turned 90 was being felicitated in the prestigious Y.B.Chavan Auditorium in South Bombay. Kishori Amonkar was there to adorn him with a Gold Bracelet—a Veera Sringala. The Hall was jampacked. After the bracelet was presented to him Semmangudi was requested to sing one or two songs by the artist of the evening Sanjay Subramaniam. He did and the audience was spellbound. After this he was lead to a seat in the first row. During a short interval I dived to the first row and prostrated and told him, “Sir, I am one of your million unknown admirers and have heard you for over five decades. I want your autograph.”. He said “O.K. What is your name and where should I autograph?”. I pulled out a copy of “Frontline” issue dated November 6, 1998. This carried a wonderful analysis of “Semmangudi looks back—at 90” and had several valuable photographs, including two in gorgeous colour. He saw the entire article and pictures and commented that I have brought a very good foto and signed on the colour picture. I thanked him. Then he gave a toothless smile and said, “ Ramachandran, there is a charge for the autograph. Rupees Fifty”. I pulled out a crisp new Rs Fifty note and gave it to him. “Don’t think this goes to Semmangudi. I collect for an orphanage in Thanjavur”. I said, “I shall not demand to know where the amount goes. I am supremely content that I could have your blessings and autograph. I shall cherish both as long as I live.


P.P.Ramachandran.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Nice anecdotes!! A personal anecdote(I may have mentioned in my earlier write-up on SSI Mama).
In the early 2000's(he died in 2003),I had retired and made frequent trips to Chennai and my father and myself used to spend long hours with Mama(this was the time when he was absolutely free and lamenting that no one --including TMK-- is finding the time to learn from him when he was "itching" to teach!1 Once a visitor had come--an old village friend--Mama introduces me to him as saying(this is so-and-so" the son of so-and-so) and adds,"this "boy" used to identify ragas in a flash when he was "young("5 years old--nowadays 3 year old kids give full concerts!!!) . After the gentleman left,I pleaded to Mama not to repeat the story in future--He asked me WHY--I was only paying you a compliment-- to which I said I Understand Mama but I am now in my sixties and if you keep narrating my exploits when I was 5 year old people might conclude I have not made any progress since then
(which might be true but you know truth hurts badly!!!)--he laughed and said you have a point!! Another thing he used to call me when I was young--when my voice was hoarse and raspy most of the times--he used to call me Ramanayya Chetty(a Jalatarangam Vidwan in the 1920's) because of the likeness to his voice--I interpret this to mean how ancient and obsolete I have become--if I have to be compared to an instrument and a Vidwan not much in vogue these days!!!

Oh!! Sufferance is the badge of my tribe!!!

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

MKR, Ramanayya Chetty was a jalatarangam vidvan, yes; it is also true he had a raspy voice, but it was from him that Naina Pillai learnt a lot of Thyagaraja songs. Jalatarangam was a disciple of Walajapet Krishnaswami Bhagavatar, son of Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavatar. He was very close to Naina Pillai as well as to Veena Dhanammal who twice or so stayed in his house in George Town when she was in dire straits. Chetty was an expert in ragas and usually his was the final decision in matters of raga lakshana, along with Tiger, at the Music academy sessions.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Ravi Sri I am sorry if my post seemed uncomplimentary to a Great Artiste like Ramanayya Chetty!!-SSI himself has told me many stories of how Ramanayya Chetty commanded respect from the Dhanammal family.
I should have simply said that my similarity ends with the voice aspect alone not with the Vidwath!!!

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Annamalai/Rasikas: Apologies for the "temporary digital hiatus"--yes the fear of the thread getting to drift is real!!Was preoccupied with some domestic chores!!

Continuing the thread,I was elaborating on TKI--Mama's uncle.WHAT I WANT TO LEAD UPTO WAS HOW TKI AND SAKHA RAMA RAO SHAPED AND INFLUENCED MAMA'S VIEW OF LAYAM IN GENERAL AND ESPECIALLY IN RTP'S . Before going into this I want to illustrate what were TKI's views on Layam.
An anecdote about TKI (narrated to me by one of my grand-uncles--a great unobtrusive musicologist who was a fascinating raconteur about the period--1910 thro 1930).

When Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer(KVI) burst on the scene he was noted for his Layam prowess and indulged in it to the extreme(partly due to sheer youthful exuberance and partly egged on by the supporters of Malaikottai Govindaswamy Pillai((MGP- Violinist who was equally matched in his Laya prowess and who were trying to draw a sharp contrast from TKI's style). Once there was a concert with KVI and TKI(much older to KVI) where the organisers had silently "egged" KVI to do an elaborate RTP overloaded with Layam just to test TKI. Midway thro the Pallavi(which was more like a Simhanandana Tala) , TKI I believe put his "bow" down and said loudly enough for the audience to hear--"ENDA VAITHI, NEE MUNNAMELLAM FURLONGUKKU FURLONGUKKU KAL NATTINDU IRUNDE, IPPO MILEKKU MILE KAL NATTARAI, INGIRUKKARA RASIKARGALUKKULLE ETHANAI PERUKKU PURIYAPORADU,SANGEETHATHILE SUKHAM VENDAMA"(YOU USED TO PLANT STONES BETWEEN FURLONGS AND NOW YOU ARE PLANTING STONES BETWEEN MILES,HOW MANY AMONGST THE AUDIENCE DO YOU THINK CAN FOLLOW THIS LET ALONE APPRECIATE IT! THERE HAS TO BE SUKHAM IN SANGEETHAM.
from this episode about TKI and the earlier Sakharama Rao episode in one of my earlier posts(narrated about his aversion to excessive layam and personal gripe against young KVI for his excessive emphasis on layam) I think Mama was heavily influenced and I feel these my have been the reason for the simple Pallavis that Mama used to sing. I personally think it was not because he was diffident about his layam prowess but due to his own conviction corraborated by his mentors' views/advice. Mama's career throughout epitomised the saying "Obstacles existed only to be surmounted and ignored").

In one of my posts on the MSS/TS Saga thread I had mentioned a great memorable personal experience as to how Mama channelised his passion for music-(24 by 7). Forumites who recall that anecdote--I will not bore you again with the anecdote--those of you who cannot find the anecdote(the anecdote happened to me @ the Kalki gardens when I was a student in Presidency College and was the "errand boy" for Mama!!) I will condense it and present it if desired!!! To some who read the anecdote it may seem like "Chest-thumping" by Mama--a sort of ego trip--far from the truth. Mama was also realistic and not pretentious or claimed any divine inspiration to his music(although he was very devoted and pious). An anecdote involving him and Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar(HMB) in the early 40's when HMB enlisted him to succeed him at the Tiruvananthapuram Swati Thirunal Academy. HMB arranged the FIRST concert of Mama's before the Maharani(HMB's BOSS in the Swathi Compositions Research endeavour). Mama sang the Pancharathna kriti(Gowla--Duduku Kala). It seems HMB was sobbing uncontrollably at the end of the song. After the concert was over Mama approached HMB and asked him what made HMB cry saying he(mama) knew it was certainly not his singing(talk of being cold and realistic!!!). To this HMB is reported to have said, " In the krithi the Saint has attributed to himself all the bad qualities and craving Rama's indulgence--I know the Saint is totally innocent of those alleged sins whereas I am guilty of all the sins he has mentioned--I am the one who should cry and lament and not the saint!!".

This will lead us into the 40's --the Tiruvananthapuram days(need help from several forumites--especially CM lover and others who were in TVM in those days and have great insights into that phase of Mama's career--feel free to pitch in and carry the narrative--

To be continued---

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Folks: This (post#449) was one of the posts I had "saved"(without my knowledge!!!) in 2010 which I have now retrieved thanks to srikris's benevolence!! So if you see a disconnect in the flow of the story it is because of this "time warp"!!!

venkatakailasam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

Image

Concert 242-Theme Concet-Swathi Thirunal Compositions- SSI-TNK-UKS
Semmangudi- Birth day to day 25-07-2014
Listen at:
http://myblogkumara.blogspot.in/2014/07 ... rt-ix.html

Audio courtesy: Shri KL Karthik…
Concert details:
1977
1 - Deva Deva Kalayaami - Mayamalavagaula - Rupaka - Svati Tirunal

2 - Narasimha Maamava - Arabhi - Khanda Chapu - Svati Tirunal

3 - Paripaalaya Saraseeruha - Pantuvarali - Adi - Svati Tirunal

4 - Paahi Tarakshupuraalaya - Anandabhairavi - Adi - Svati Tirunal

5 - Pankajalochana - Kalyani - Misra Chapu - Svati Tirunal

6 - Paarvati Naayaka - Bauli - Adi - Svati Tirunal

7 - Bhavati Visvaaso - Mukhari - Misra Chapu - Svati Tirunal

8 - Aanjaneya Raghuraamadoota - Saveri - Adi - Svati Tirunal

9 - Jaya Jaya Padmanaabhaanujesa - Manirang - Adi - Svati Tirunal

10 - Paahi Janani - Nattakuranji - Misra Chapu - Svati Tirunal

11 - Kanakamaya - Huseni - Rupaka - Svati Tirunal

12 - Kaantanodu - Neelambari - Rupaka - Svati Tirunal

13 - Alarsaraparitaapam - Suratti - Misra Chapu - Svati Tirunal

14 - Bhogeendrasaayinam - Kuntalavarali - Khanda Chapu - Svati Tirunal

15 - Jaya Jagadeesa - Yamunakalyani - Adi - Svati Tirunal

16 - Mangalam - Madhyamavati

venkatakailasam
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Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by venkatakailasam »

Image

concert 282-Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
Remembrance day 31-10-2014..

Listen at:
http://myblogkumara.blogspot.in/2014/09 ... art-x.html

01-Vallabha begaDa with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram-Dikshitar
02-Srikanthanee bhAva priya with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram-Tyagaraja
03-Raamaneesama kharaharapriya with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram-Tyagaraja
04--RTP-yochana-jesi trilOchanuDa-Varali with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram
05-OmSaravana ShaNmukhapriya with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram
06-Kinthucheyvu kalyANi with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram
07-Entha vizhayya_Reethi Gowla
08-Inthaparaka-Mayamalavagowlai
09-With MSS-Dakshinamurthe_Shankarabharanam_MJhampa
10-Ananda_naTam_AduvAr-pUrvikalyANi with LGJ-TS
11-mayai ennum iravil
12-Slokam rAgamAlika-with LGJ-TS-Vinayagaram

S.NAGESWARAN
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SSI VIDEO

Post by S.NAGESWARAN »

Enjoy the Video of enthusiastic music from Sri SSI.
Important musicians and VIPS are listening to the music.
The drop box link is given below.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35498660/5SSI.DAT

S.NAGESWARAN.
30.11.2014.

venkatakailasam
Posts: 4170
Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 19:16

Re: SSI VIDEO

Post by venkatakailasam »

Watch it here:

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer-with VVS and UKS..

Image

Aditto
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Joined: 20 May 2008, 20:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Aditto »

Thanks for the wonderful upload :)

Can you please post the rest of the concert ! :)

Pasupathy
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pasupathy »

A Tamil article about Narayana Theerthar written by Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer in 1938.

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2013/01/9.html

Lakshman
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Lakshman »

Item #7 is enda vidattil yAn arindu in rItigauLa by Lingappa Naidu.

sankark
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by sankark »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLuQIAjWH74

So SSI is weaving his magic is given. But who are the violinist & mridangist? That elevates the overall effect to ethereal heights. And whenever SSI goes ..ttti or srngaaara the accents that mridangist bring out is a joy to behold errr.. what is the aural equivalent for behold?

shankarank
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

The nadai, sarva laghu gives away the Mridangist - that is Sri Vellore Ramabhadran. And it is also a kucchi Mridangam.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

A different question on the SSI rendition of Chetulara. I assume the youtube title is wrong, it is not karaharapriya but bhairavi right?

But the way SSI sings 'jēsi' of ''cētulāra śṛṅgāramu jēsi" sounds quite Karaharapriyaish to my ears. It is probably me, would not dare to question the doyen,

Checked the Ramani version here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6BABhzyquE and that phrase comes across more bhairavish.

SrinathK
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by SrinathK »

I thought SSI sang it in Natabhairavi.

kvchellappa
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kvchellappa »

I referred to someone who can identify the swaras. He says that second daivatham or higher is sung. Can it be natabhairavi?

Pasupathy
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Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pasupathy »

S Rajam always sang this in Natabhairavi; used to say that is how Papanasam Sivan .... a traditionalist ...taught him.

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

The problem with 'chEtulAra' is this: In the Walajapet list of about 800 songs which I have seen at the Music Academy library, 'chEtulAra' is listed as Nata Bhairavi. Thyagaraja must therefore have composed it in Nata Bhairavi. Nata Bhairavi probably morphed into Bhairavi in particular schools and into Karaharapriya in certain others. What Semmangudi does is to show a bit of Nata Bhairavi in the beginning and then he moves on to Bhairavi. Though the Walajapet list shows it as Nata Bhairavi, Brinda-Muktha sang and taught this song in Bhairavi only.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

OK, thanks all.

One question then. The way SSI sings 'jēsi' of ''cētulāra śṛṅgāramu jēsi" , is that more Karaharapriya or natabhairavi or it can fit either one equally well?

SrinathK
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by SrinathK »

@RaviSri, Coming from a parampara that is the closest thing we can get to a time machine, you all should share the versions of the compositions you know with the world. The things you speak of are probably not available in any recordings anywhere and in today's age, it is a real loss if history forgets them.

rshankar
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rshankar »

Exactly what I have asking both Sri Ravi and Sri MKR to do....
Even if they record their memoirs on a tape recorder, there will be people lining up to transcribe and edit them...
So, PLEASE.......

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

Of course I will. Always ready to share whatever I know. If anyone of you lives in South India, Tamilnadu in particular, you can meet me at my place with a recorder. You can mail me to know where I live. It is not far from Madras.
The way SSI sings 'jēsi' of ''cētulāra śṛṅgāramu jēsi" , is that more Karaharapriya or natabhairavi or it can fit either one equally well?
It does fit both as far as I can decipher.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

RaviSri, both from the swara perspective as well as gamaka and characteristic phrases?

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

Only swara perspective. I dont know where SSI picked up this song, not from Brindamma certainly, probably from the nAgaswara vidvAns.

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

The Tiruveezhimizhalai Bros, Subramanya Pillai and Natarajasundaram Pillai, nAgaswaram maestros were known for their exquisite rendering of Thyagaraja kritis with due importance to sahitya bhava. They got their collection of Thyagaraja kritis rather in a strange way. They sent their younger brother Kalyanasundaram Pillai to Kanchipuram to do gurukulavasam under Naina Pillai. Kalyanasundaram was a student of Naina Pillai along with Brinda-Muktha, Chittoor Subramanya Pillai and N.S.Krishnaswamy Iyengar. Kalyanasundaram, when he went on leave to his village, would sing the songs to his elder brothers and they learnt it from him. For a long time Naina Pillai was not aware of this arrangement until, once, he heard the Bros play Thyagaraja kritis at a marriage. He expressed surprise to the Bros that their version of the kritis corresponded with his, upon which the Bros had to let the cat out of the bag. Naina was amazed and exclaimed, "Oh, what a way to learn!" This is only a prelude to the next moving story.

Needamangalam Meenakshisundaram Pillai who was hailed as Abhinava Nandi was the stock tavil accompanist for the Tiruveezhimizhalai Bros. Their playing of 'chEtulAra' in the company of Needamangalam was exquisite and was looked forward to by rasikas and vidvans alike. When Needamangalam died in 1946, the Bros felt they were orphaned. They stopped playing 'chEtrulAra' in their programmes. When pressed they would say that Needamangalam had taken the song away with him and that without him, their playing of the song would just resemble a skeleton.

bhakthim dehi
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bhakthim dehi »

Ravisri, can you mention the book or manuscript which says chetulara must be sung in natabhairavi?
I am raising this question as Valajapet version was in karaharapriya. The magnum opus Oriental music in European notation by Sri Chinnasvami mudaliyar lists this kriti as karaharapriya. Also he has notated the same. We very well know the source for Mudaliyar is a Valajapet disciple. So it would be of great help if you can say the source of this information which you have given.

RaviSri
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

I think I have already mentioned that the Music Academy library has a list of Thyagaraja's compositions from the Walajapet manuscripts. I have seen it at the Academy library sometime in the 1980s. Therein chEtulAra is mentioned as being in naTa bhairavi. The list must originally have been in Telugu script but the Academy copied it from Saurashtra Sabha, Madurai and transcribed the list into English. The song 'sattalEni dinamunu' is mentioned as being in sAmantA and the song abimAnamu is mentioned as being in mAnji (This song is notated in AndhALi in the Thillaistanam book and Balamurali sings it in AndhALi). Of course sItamma mAtammA in lalitA, jnAnamosgarAdA in ShaDvidamArgiNi etc are some of the other songs mentioned. There are other such ragas, which I forget now. Those who have the time can visit the Academy library and take a look at the list.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

btw, I am quite confused as to what raga the SSI version of Chetulara is. I listened to it again today. Other than that 'jēsi' of cētulāra śṛṅgāramu jēsi' which sounds quite karaharapriya'ish, rest of it has a strong Bhairavi slant but not deeply so, which left some room for doubt in my mind. I do not know nata bhairavi much at all and so I thought may be it is NB. But that all evaporated when SSI sings 'jutti' of sura taru sumamula siga niṇḍa juṭṭi ( towards the end, around the 7:50 to 8:10 mark ) it sounds unmistakably Bhairavi to me. Do you all hear it that way too?

varsha
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Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by varsha »

I do not know nata bhairavi much at all and so I thought may be it is NB. But that all evaporated when SSI sings 'jutti' of sura taru sumamula siga niṇḍa juṭṭi ( towards the end, around the 7:50 to 8:10 mark ) it sounds unmistakably Bhairavi to me. Do you all hear it that way too?
A bit like Ogden Nash here , you are VK :D
A gourmet challenged me to eat
A tiny bit of rattlesnake meat, Remarking “Don’t look horror stricken.
You will find it tastes a lot like chicken”.
It did.
Now Chicken I cannot eat,

Because it tastes like Rattlesnake meat.

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