Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Carnatic Musicians
Post Reply
Purist
Posts: 430
Joined: 13 May 2008, 16:55

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Purist »

vk- out of curiosity I listened to 'jesi' portion you are debating upon, a couple of times. To me it sounded more
Bhairavi and could not trace a Kharaharapriya there. (nearest comparble to the phrase/sangatis of "Koluvai" pallavi line towards its end).
Quite intriguing, is it like the story of the blinds holding parts of the elephant...? ;) :?

SrinathK
Posts: 2477
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by SrinathK »

Jesi is sung as : M,PM-M, G, R,GR-R, S - RSN .... --- this can be done in both ragas. But that M,PM-M, G, R,GR-R, phrase is such a key phrase in Kharaharapriya that it could give you that impression since there isn't enough of Natabhairavi out there.

Now that I've listened to it fully, unless it comes from an era when D2 didn't exist in Bhairavi, SSI's version is Natabhairavi through and through. There isn't a D2 or a S G2 R2 G2 phrase anywhere in the rendition. But there is a G2 M1 P with that wide kampita that is characteristic of Bhairavi in it, and that phrase from S N2 D1 P at some places that is sung almost exactly like Bhairavi. That's about it.

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

Thanks Srinath. That initial KHP phrase and the S N2 D1 P are what I was referring to that was throwing me off.

Interesting how NB has this delicate existence. I don't know the raga lakshana other than some vague recollections of vaLLi deva senA pati . I will listen to it again to see how much Bhairavi I sense there. My sense now is VaLLi deva senApati 's aesthetic is more aggressive and bold along the lines of its cousins like Shanmukhapriya on the other side of the madhyam divide, compared to Bhairavi's pliant and more nuanced demeanor. But I will listen to some more NB to refresh myself

I posted the link to the Ramani version. His jEsi does not sound that much KHP to me.( but then his version may be the fully morphed one in Bhairavi )

SrinathK
Posts: 2477
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by SrinathK »

In fact @vk, it sounds overall like what would happen if you took the Kharaharapriya version and replaced every D2 with D1 -- I dare say that if you tried this inf reverse, you could get away singing the whole thing in Kharaharapriya. In fact quite a few more phrases in SSI's version would be perfectly ok in Kharaharapriya too.

vasanthakokilam
Posts: 10956
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vasanthakokilam »

Got it, Srinath.

I would expect that layering gamakas and characteristic phrases on top of the swaras would eliminate such big ambiguities and crossovers.

I listened to Bombay Jayasree rendition of vaLLi deva sEnA patE https://youtu.be/Si4k_zwqY1g

There is no KHP or Bhairavi overlap or ambiguity here. In fact, as I remembered about this song, this has a lot of aesthetic similarity to Shanmukhapriya

bhakthim dehi
Posts: 539
Joined: 24 Feb 2014, 21:28

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bhakthim dehi »

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.
Are you sure those were the translation of manuscripts preserved at Madurai sabha? I know there was some tie-up between GOML-Madras and the Madurai sabha way back in late 1950 s and they too did some transcription. This is a news to me. Now, you cannot find any more manuscripts like this in the Academy library.
I raised this doubt as sattaleni dinamu is mentioned as Naganandhini in the book by Sri. Chinnasamy Mudaliyar. Secondly, in a book by Sri SA Ramasvamy Iyr, the raga for sattaleni is mentioned as Nagananhini an chetulra as Karaharapriya. He was a disciple of both Valajapet Krishnasvamy Bhagavathar and Umayapluram Krishna an Sundara Bhagavathar.

RaviSri
Posts: 512
Joined: 10 Apr 2011, 11:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RaviSri »

Are you sure those were the translation of manuscripts preserved at Madurai sabha?
Yes I am sure about this.Because I asked SRJ about this sometime after I saw the MS in the library and he assured me that it was indeed the Walajapet list from the Madurai Saurashtra Sabha.

One thing we will have to remember is that Thyagaraja did not name his ragas. This was done much later by probably several people including the direct disciples. The confusion arises perhaps from this.

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rshankar »

RaviSri wrote:One thing we will have to remember is that Thyagaraja did not name his ragas.
WOW! That is something I did not know. A major difference between him and say, Sri Muttusvami Dikshitar, right?

kvchellappa
Posts: 3596
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kvchellappa »

Does it mean that he did not give a raga mudra in the songs or that he sang regardless of what raga it might be? The comments I hear about how he has started thodi krithis in different swaras etc. seem to rule out the latter possibility. Who named the ragas he introduced?

bhakthim dehi
Posts: 539
Joined: 24 Feb 2014, 21:28

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by bhakthim dehi »

It is sad that we have lost those translations.
Yes,he didn't reveal the name of apoorva ragas. It doesn't mean he is unaware of the ragas or not interested in adhering to the lakshana of any particular raga. Later disciples named those songs by referring to lexicons that they had.
I too agree that there might have been a confusion in naming the ragas.
This problem can be solved either by referring to the notations of the direct disciples or by referring to the book in which these disciples were involved by a third party.
In the examples I cited, one was written by the direct disciple (SA Ramasvamy Iyer) and the one by a third party involving the direct disciple (AM Chinasvamy Mudaliyar). There is no discrepancy in both the versions.
Also in the transcripts of Valapet manuscripts, I remember seeing as Naganandhini and Shadvidamargini.

raghusrinivas
Posts: 5
Joined: 19 May 2010, 05:09

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by raghusrinivas »

Hi ,
Is there a recording of semmangudi signing viriboni ?

Thanks
Raghu

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

I wish I had listened to him atleast once , only heard him speak. Lovely tribute by VVS on the doyen semmangudi
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 911456.ece

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pasupathy »

Notations for two songs ( given in the 40-s) by Semmangudi ( in Tamil)
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2016/07/80.html

kvchellappa
Posts: 3596
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kvchellappa »

A brief biograpahy of SSI in Tamih by V Sriram (from twitter):

http://ippodhu.com/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E ... %E0%AF%8D/

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer singing simmhendramadhyamam (natajana by KV Srinivasa Iyengar). SSI singing simmhendra madhyamam is a rare rendition and I assume since it had to be recorded in a 78 rpm in circa 1930's, semmangudi raced more than his usual electric speed. :) :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPG8Ym5K1tw

kraghu
Posts: 1
Joined: 02 Apr 2016, 02:38

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by kraghu »

I would like to know who the accompanying musicians are in this concert:
https://www.sangeethamshare.org/muralid ... Concert-2/

I found the same Anandabhairavi song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pkuSGJeo1g

Thanks.

MaheshS
Posts: 1186
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by MaheshS »

kraghu wrote: 01 Aug 2017, 06:46 I would like to know who the accompanying musicians are in this concert:
https://www.sangeethamshare.org/muralid ... Concert-2/
The violinist is T N Krishnan, not sure about the mridangam.

MaheshS
Posts: 1186
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by MaheshS »

MaheshS wrote: 01 Aug 2017, 19:13
kraghu wrote: 01 Aug 2017, 06:46 I would like to know who the accompanying musicians are in this concert:
https://www.sangeethamshare.org/muralid ... Concert-2/
The violinist is T N Krishnan, not sure about the mridangam.
OK, I am going to put my head out and say Trichy Sankaran. Can anyone confirm one way or the other please?

semmu86
Posts: 960
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 09:39

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by semmu86 »

Definitely not Shri. Trichy Sankaran. Shri UKS it is.

Pasupathy
Posts: 7868
Joined: 26 Jan 2013, 19:01

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pasupathy »

Notations by Semmangudi ( in Tamil )

http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.com/2017/07/783-128.html

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

Found an inspiring rendition by disciples :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wcU40xEDuo - cEtah SrI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd7LwfWLPhI - YK svarajati
and that should float up other such videos.

CRama
Posts: 2939
Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by CRama »

Thanks for pointers to the excellent renditions by the disciples of SSI. There are the three swarajatis and Chetasree. I could spot PSN,VS, Palai Ramachandran, P.R.Kumarakerala Varma, Sitha Rajan, Kalyani Sharma (my guess). Any body to identify the artistes. One person sitting in the balcony very much looked like SSI. Is he his son.

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

The video mentions - this is by his daughters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjiDwpIh61E


Jigyaasa
Posts: 587
Joined: 16 May 2006, 14:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Jigyaasa »

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: 05 Sep 2010, 19:51 TKI was born in Marathurai near Pandanallur.TKI had his early training in music under his father and later with Kothavasal Venkatrama Iyer a renowned composer of Tana Varnams( Jalajakshi in Hamasadhwani,Sarasuda in Saveri,Era Na Pai--I always thought this was Patnam Subramania Iyer's-forumites need help in clarifying this--, and some lesser known varnams like Swami Ninne Nata and Ninne Kori in Gowla--have any of the forumites heard the last 2 varnams and if so who has sung them?).
@Ramasubramanian M.K , hearing this varNam for the first time! Here: https://youtu.be/pq_0fqDuVHs?t=46

vijay.siddharth
Posts: 358
Joined: 14 May 2017, 13:08

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by vijay.siddharth »

@Jigyaasa - This varnam is not by Kothavasal Venkatrama Iyer OR Patnam Subhramanya Iyer. This is by TK Govinda Rao. Kothavasal has composed a varnam with the same starting words, but it starts as R-G-M-RS and is dedicated to Venkatesa, not Parthasarathy.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

A month back or so I just heard thru grapevine or thru Lalitharam(now not recollecting the source ) that Semmangudi in 2001 performed in a concert in indira nagar , madras . I am not sure if he sang or just spoke etc. I was told the musical supernova semmangudi did the honours in indiranagar to mark the occassion of 80th birth day celebrations of the famous patron Ananda Lodge Kittappa from Tanjore . By any chance since the year was just 2001, did any of the forumites attend this , by any chance do you vaguely recollect what he sang and all his accompanists . I am also assuming the indiranagar could have been hamsadhwani sabha .Semmangudi was 93 years in 2001 and he moved on in 2003. Even small nuggets of first hand experience of that semmangudi day in 2001 would be great.

Ravisri,
Making a small hunch that you may know some thing about 2001. Any one else other than ravisri can also add

Pratyaksham Bala,
Any detective work on semmangudi 2001 - indira nagar will help.

Pratyaksham Bala
Posts: 4164
Joined: 21 May 2010, 16:57

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

rajeshnat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 12:06 Pratyaksham Bala,
Any work on semmangudi 2001 - indira nagar will help.
For detailed info on this concert, please check from Post #18 to #24 at –
viewtopic.php?t=23280

As indicated in Post #24, our fellow member Shri M.R.Nathan may be able to help upload the concert.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

PB,
Thanks that was semmangudi-vvs-rajamani@Ananda Lodge kittappa 80 (Indira Nagar, Chennai)on year 2001.

M r nathan ,
If u are in the forum seen this post do post the song list and also recording . If u have difficulty to convert and upload
please send me a private mail. Please post reply to my query

Pratyaksham Bala
Posts: 4164
Joined: 21 May 2010, 16:57

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

rajeshnat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 14:17M r nathan ,
If u are in the forum seen this post do post the song list and also recording . If u have difficulty to convert and upload please send me a private mail. Please post reply to my query.
I note that Shri M.R.Nathan had participated with just 7 posts - all in one thread on Tajore Ananda Lodge G. Kittappa. Shri Nathan's last visit to rasikas.org was on 08 Apr 2014. I wonder whether your request would catch his attention. The best option would be to try contacting him through email via rasikas.org.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

Pratyaksham Bala wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 14:38
rajeshnat wrote: 05 Jun 2018, 14:17M r nathan ,
If u are in the forum seen this post do post the song list and also recording . If u have difficulty to convert and upload please send me a private mail. Please post reply to my query.
I note that Shri M.R.Nathan had participated with just 7 posts - all in one thread on Tajore Ananda Lodge G. Kittappa. Shri Nathan's last visit to rasikas.org was on 08 Apr 2014. I wonder whether your request would catch his attention. The best option would be to try contacting him through email via rasikas.org.
PB
I sent an email to M r Nathan , no clue if he will also read the private email.

Others
Any inputs on Semmangudi last concert at age 93 for Ananda lodge kittappa that was held@Indiranagar, chennai on year 2001 would be appreciated

kcn
Posts: 6
Joined: 22 Apr 2015, 00:00

Airport concert by semmangudi

Post by kcn »

The user who had it on youtube has removed it :shock: . I want to listen to it a million times and more. Where can I find another version?

Purist
Posts: 430
Joined: 13 May 2008, 16:55

Re: Airport concert by semmangudi

Post by Purist »

Here is the link. Though wrongly listed as Bangalore concert 1971, this one is popularly known to be Airport concert held some where near Tambaram,
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/sreeniva ... lore_1971/

Purist
Posts: 430
Joined: 13 May 2008, 16:55

Re: Airport concert by semmangudi

Post by Purist »

A write up on this concert can be seen here:
https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/KA9lWU ... drone.html

FiddleJagan
Posts: 3
Joined: 23 Nov 2016, 01:37

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by FiddleJagan »

RaviSri wrote: 30 Apr 2016, 17:58 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.
If I remember accurately, there was also a gentleman named RAGHAVA PILLAI who used to be either the 1st THAVIL player along side MeenaakshiSundaram Pillai or vice versa. He was a legendary player too! I REMEMBER my father telling us about all these maestros and not to forget he used to often say "Nobody could play a better TODI than T. N. Rajaratthinam Pillai on Nadaswaram".

FiddleJagan
Posts: 3
Joined: 23 Nov 2016, 01:37

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by FiddleJagan »

vasanthakokilam wrote: 24 Apr 2016, 23:37 A different question on the SSI rendition of Chetulara. I assume the youtube title is wrong, it is not karaharapriya but bhairavi right?

Chetulaara is definitely Bhairavi Ragam.

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.

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RSR »

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer-Nathajana-
78 rpm-Pts 1 & 2
upload by Sri. APKoil N Sapthagireesan
https://youtu.be/Xe4PJt-qFDE
Simmendramadhyamam Ragam
-----------------------------------------------------------
Nathajana Paripaalaya ( mis-attributed to ThyagarajaSwami?)
composed by Sri.K.V.Srinivasa Iengar
( brother of 'Tiger' Varadhachariar?
-------------------------------
see @ 490 also.
Raju Asokan upload
---------------------------------
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Nice upload by veteran Sri.APKoil N Sapthagireesan
https://youtu.be/OFu7xRUxxes
78 RPM record
Ragam-Simmendramadhyamam
'iha param' by Papanasam Sivan
sung by Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

Semmangudi Mama on Sabha Secretaries - he had been one too!

https://youtu.be/CH1--syZfK0?t=291

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Lakshman »

Has anyone come across Semmangudi singing the Anandabhairavi varNa sAmi nIpai by Vinai Kuppier?

shanks
Posts: 118
Joined: 25 May 2006, 22:03

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shanks »

Lakshman wrote: 11 Apr 2021, 17:45 Has anyone come across Semmangudi singing the Anandabhairavi varNa sAmi nIpai by Vinai Kuppier?
Yes, in one of his concerts at the Music Academy.
You can listen here https://shankarkrish.blog/carnatic-voca ... vasa-iyer/
It is the sixth concert with Lalgudi Jayaraman and T K Murthy; an excellent concert.

Lakshman
Posts: 14019
Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by Lakshman »

Thanks so much.

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

https://youtu.be/-pkvQegWjW4 - what a concert! The kiravANI rAgam in RTP beginning is grand with all the jArus. I kept walking with it and could not stop - had a longer walk!

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

shankarank wrote: 14 Jul 2021, 06:58 https://youtu.be/-pkvQegWjW4 - what a concert! The kiravANI rAgam in RTP beginning is grand with all the jArus. I kept walking with it and could not stop - had a longer walk!
Keeravani taanam is not just for humans , it is for even God. Semmangudi has a tone bit recalcitrant , not a voice that is melodious , but no loss of shruthi to me. Such voice throw and felicity , jaarus , sudden flash of brigas - he only wants to get the raaga devata all the time .

If some one wants to hear the pinnacle of the best of best of carnatic music it is to listen semmangudi singing taanam with mrudangam. I may have heard atleast 50 times , that too when i usually like Keeravani which is simply superb for RTP. Semmangudi mostly sings only single raga RTP and he thinks that day it is either me or rather that raga chosen no distraction with ragamaliga -asura saadhakam. The melakartha 21 devathai falls at the :arrow: feet of electric cheenu :mrgreen:, especially when he sings the pallavi brahmai .... sathguru. Some times i feel why SSI is not singing that long swaras in RTP just like my another favorite who edges bit SSI , but in the whole context of the concert he keeps you engaged. Also SSI in his pallavi does not believe tri kaalam mathematics that is also bit adds to his super sharp raaga bhavam

Needless to say this 1964 concert is atleast 3 hours . Why the hell academy has reduced nowadays in the last 35 years to 2 hours and 30 mins , with that we lose musicians idea and mostly raaga bhaava of RTP is censored.

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

In SrI Semmangudi I find the level of flair and singing with abandon that I see typically with Hindustani Alap or more closer to home with nAdasvara vidvans. Voice timbre issues are effectively surmounted. No 21 certainly at his feet. No 22 is a different play thing for him - but No 21 is a rAgA that exudes bhavam for me. The latter operates under the zone of how Bhairavi goes - not that they are any similar - but approach to jArus in the GAndharam have a grandeur of the same level!

Another point in that concert , his short and crisp , but a serine rItigAuLa - full of kArvais and makes the tambura pleasant to hear, fills the air with sound. Gets a reluctant applause from the audience. He makes a funny chirp of a laughter and hums with violin as though he should have sung more - some unfinished work in his mind.

Little would he know that the audience is basking and soaking in that serene treatment - poor Cheenu always looking to ensure his audience are visibly happy!

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RSR »

ref:,p-517,p-518,p-519
-------------------
Nādabhṛṅga is pleased to bring to you a wonderful concert by Vidwan Sriman Semmangudi R Srinivasa Iyer at the Music Academy, Madras, on the evening of the 31st of December, 1964. The programme details are:

Semmangudi R Srinivasa Iyer
P S Narayanaswamy - Vocal Support
T N Krishnan - Violin
Umayalpuram K Sivaraman - Mridangam
T H Vinayakaram - Ghatam

1. Mahāgaṇapatim Manasā Smarāmi - Nāṭṭa - Ādi - Muddusvāmi Dīkṣita [00:00]
(7 mins)
2.Pālayāśumām - Gauḷa - Ādi - Muddusvāmi Dīkṣita [07:20]
(8 mins)
3. Narasiṃha Māmava Bhagavan - Ārabhi - Khaṇḍa Cāpu - Mahārāja Svāti Tiruṇāḷ [15:20]
(8 mins)
4. Māmava Mīnākṣī - Varāḷi - Miśra Cāpu - Muddusvāmi Dīkṣita [25:44]
(22 min)
5. Nāma Kusumamulacē Pūjiñcē - Śrīrāga - Ādi - Tyāgarāja [47:24]
(19 mins)
------------------
-------------------
6. Vinarādā Nā Manavi - Dēvagāndhārī - Ādi - Tyāgarāja [01:06:13]
( six minutes)
7. Janani Ninnuvinā - Rītigauḷa - Miśra Cāpu - Subbarāya Śāstri [01:12:16]
(21 mins)
8. Kṣīṇamai Tirugā Janmiñcē - Mukhāri - Ādi - Tyāgarāja [01:33:55]
( six mins)
9. Muttukumaraiyyanē Bhaktarkkaruḷ - Śaṅkarābharaṇa - Tiśra Ēka (4 kaḷai) - Rāmasvāmi Śivan [01:39:35]
( 7 mins)

======================
10. Rāgam-Tānam-Pallavi (Brahmaivāhaṃ Kila Sadguru Kṛpayā) - Kīravāṇi - Tiśra Tripuṭa (2 kaḷai) [01:46:24]

(32 mins)
11. Tani Āvartana [02:18:41]
(12 mins)
------
12. Parulannamāṭa (Jāvaḷi) - Kāpi - Rūpakam - Dharmapūrī Subbarāya [2:30:12]
(4 mins)
13. Appan Avadaritta - Kharaharapriyā - Ādi - Pāpanāśam Śivan [02:34:29]
(4 mins)
14. Maulau Gaṅgā Śaṣāṅkau (Śloka) - Rāgamālikā - Appaiyya Dīkṣita [02:38:11]
(11 mins)
15. Jagadīśa - Nādanāmakriyā - Ādi - Mahārāja Svāti Tiruṇāḷ [02:49:09]
( three mins)
16. Tillānā - Jheñjuṭṭi - Ādi - Vīṇā Śēṣaṇṇā [02:52:34]
(4 mins)
17. Enna Colli Aḻaittāl Varuvāyō - Kānaḍā - Ādi - Ambujam Kṛṣṇa [02:56:23]
(3 mins)
18. Nī Nāma Rūpamulaku (Maṅgalam) - Saurāṣṭra - Ādi - Tyāgarāja [02:59:5
(very short)
19. Maṅgalam Kosalendrāya (Śloka) - Madhyamāvatī - Vālmīki [03:00:17]
-------------------------------------------------------
As pointed out by a comment in youtube, the first five are in the ragams of pancharathna kruthis.
-----------
Most songs are of about 7 mins duration ( two sides of 78 rpm record)
-----------
He was only about 55 years young in this concert.
and the reviewers must have been toddlers then!
Goes to show that it is possible and even desirable to appreciate concert songs without being physically present there.
Without the RTP and 'Tani' , the duration would have been just 2 hours.,30 mins
Ideal
The SriRagam , Mukhari, Ritigowlai, NaadhaNaamakriya kruthis are nice compositions.
Can we now expect such reviews of the past concerts before 1968?
Nadabrunga is uploading many such

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

One of the reviewer wasn't born yet and wouldn't get to appreciate via recordings Semmangudi Mama until about 2002. :D I heard him in a doordarshan telecast once in 1990s, a speech in 1997 in a Dr. BMK concert. Also saw him helped out of an award ceremony in Chettinad Vidyashram - Jaya TV Margazhi utsavam ~ 2002. I was going to hear a Mridangam fusion by SrI Karaikudi Mani - an odd place to encounter Mama. But I did not see lot of people flocking around him - found it strange for a legendary musician. His disciple SrI TMT was walking alone out!

But I tell you, I heard enough of traditional musicians live before I could appreciate SrI Semmangudi's music. And that is important. Many of them were bridges.
Last edited by shankarank on 18 Jul 2021, 21:41, edited 2 times in total.

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RSR »

p-519
No 21 certainly at his feet. No 22 is a different play thing for him - but No 21 is a rAgA that exudes bhavam for me
Puzzled. The song list under reference has only 19.
A typo?

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

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by shankarank »

@Rajeshnat is referring to the mELam number!

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by RSR »


rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Post by rajeshnat »

I heard once the great semmangudi speaking in Krishna gana sabha in 1990s. That is all i could manage. He was witty cannot recollect any thing now. No luck ever to hear my top #3 carnatic vocal trinities -what can I say i dont qualify as i was not born to ever hear MMI and GNB, and even SSI was missed .

In early days of Sangeetham.com we all could have been intimated by some one . i came to know few years back for one patron by name Tanjore Lodge Kittappa , famous for being a maha paithiyam of GNB and many many musicians where SSI sang just after 2000 may be 2001 or 2002 . The occassion is for Tanjore Kittappa - 80th birthday concert , Hamsadhwani arranged it , i am guessing it should have been their indiranagar chennai venue.

I missed hearing SSI for ever. I could have bragged for rest of my life to future generations , hey you have never heard live Semmangudi but that chance I missed for ever. I think the last of best recordings available of SSI is nanganallur where the age of 88,he is singing for atleast one hour plus(I think the year is `1992- SSI was born in 1908) . That nanganallur concert SSI is taking up Sri DakshinamoorthE in shankarabharanam as main- what a phenom he was. He never compromised the depth of CM which is the key learning for future generations!!

Post Reply