Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area Mar23

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mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area Mar23

Post by mahavishnu »

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan
Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi - violin duet
Trichy Sankaran - mridangam
Tiruppunithura Radhakrishnan - ghatam

TRIBUTE to Lalgudi concert (2 hrs 45 mins approx).

1. Kalyani Varnam - Adi - LGJ
2. brOva samayamidE - Gowrimanohari - Adi - garbhapurivAsar (S)
3. nAdupai balikEru - madhyamAvati -khanda chApu - T (R, neraval@AjAnubhAyua shrI jAnakIpati)
4. kuvalaya daLa nayana brOvavE - nATakurinji - T (R,S)
5. arunAchala nAtham - sArangA - Rupakam- MD
6. bhajarE bhaja mAnasa - kannaDA - misra chApu - T (S)
7. nIkEla nAyada - dEvamanOhari - Adi - Poochi
8. gati nIvani - tODi - lAlgudi pancaratnam - T (R, S, T)
9. tillAna - kApi - LGJ

This is the first full fledged concert I am listening to after the December season and it was a very special occasion for me, given that I am a huge admirer of the Lalgudi school. And of course, it is always a delight to hear Sri Trichy Sankaran perform.

It was a remarkable concert; characteristic of the professionalism, intellectual depth and precision seen in the Lalgudi school.

It was the first time I am listening to LGJ's varnam in Kalyani. I would love to hear the lyrics someday.

After a crisp gowrimanohari and a round of swarams, they launched into a superb rendition of nAdupai balikEru. The siblings do madhyamavati so well. The neraval on AjAnu was superb. One could literally hear the sAhityam as the violins sang this line. It is not very often that one hear's the siblings do an extensive neraval (although they are superb at it), so it was big bonus for neraval lovers like me.

Viji gave a delightful sketch of nattaikurinji followed by kuvalaya dala nayana. I haven't heard this piece in a long time. Again, the rendition of the kriti was superb followed by a fantastic rounds of swarams.

However, the piece that stole the show for me was bhajarE bhaja mAnasa in kannaDa ragam. The Lalgudi school brings out the best in this ragam, whether it is Sri Mathrubootham, ide bhagyamu or saketa niketana. And they do it with such style.

From the symmetry in the kalpanaswarams, the perfect geometric reduction of the koraippus, the exactness in timing of the eduppu, the appropriateness of the porutham and the way all of it comes together in this musical gestalt as they land on the sAhityam's swarasthanam at s s g..... today's kannada had it all. Sankaran-sir played a superb tirmanam as a perfect coda for this delightful piece.

GJR announced that it was the same koraippu performed by LGJ and Srimati in their historic 1965 academy concert. For those of you that haven't heard this concert, it is quite a collector's item (with double mridangam by PMI and Rajamani).

GJR played a detailed tOdi alapana, followed by gati neevani. Again the kalpanaswarams were superb, right from the tiny half avartana swarams to the grand complex kOrvai followed by a superb tani by Sri Sankaran and Sri Radhakrishnan. Sri Radhakrishnan was a tad subdued due to the poor amplification on his ghatam that plagued him through pretty much the entire concert.

At this point, as the concert was building momentum and heading towards the pallavi, the organizers handed the artistes a yellow note of death informing them that they had to end the concert right then and there, since the hall was booked for a different show at 6:30pm! The performers though deeply disappointed remained professional and finished off with a quick tillana of LGJ in kApi and then rapidly concluded the concert.

Sankaran sir's accompaniment was superb, as always. Such sweet anticipation even when he had not heard a chittaswaram before. You could sense how much he had picked up about the general metric structure of the chittaswaram in one hearing. The second time they played it, he was on top of every swaram like a hawk. His kozhaivu and use of thoppi to enhance the nattaikurinji and sArangA complemented the crispness with which he accompanied the faster paced pieces, esp devamanohari. On top of all that, he brings a deep knowledge of the Lalgudi tradition, that makes him the perfect accompanist for any exponent of this school. His playing was a lesson in how to play for a vAdhyam, especially the gAyaki style of the Lalgudis.

------------------------------------------------
However, this great concert experience was to a large extent marred by extremely suboptimal organization on the part of SIFA (the host organization/bay area sabha).

Nothing personal, but these organizers really need to get their act together. I have praised their alacrity and spirit of organization in the past, so today's general chaos was hard to fathom. Couldn't they have informed the artistes that there was a hard non-negotiable end time well before the concert? Knowing the Lalgudi duo, they would have presented a very differently populated but equally wonderful set list for such a show. Telling artistes who expect to go on for another hour, that they have to end the concert "right now" is extremely unprofessional. The artistes and the audience were equally disappointed when this happened.

And that's not all. The concert was held in a Jain temple that had booked another show right after this one. There was general entropy everywhere. No well-defined lines, poor handling of the queueing system at the ticket sales counter and lack of general decorum across the board.

And the sound system was a work of art </sarcasm>! There was feedback from the monitor and consequently a steady hum that occasionally turned into a screech. This plagued the artistes (and the audience) for the first two songs. At which time, the artistes decided to do away with the monitor entirely and this was suboptimal, because they had to hear themselves through the PA and the uncertainty that comes with the hall and its acoustic caprices.

I am disappointed that a premier music organization in the US has to resort to amateur sound technicians and acoustic quacks. I can't understand why they couldn't hire a more professional venue with a professional sound person in all of the bay area, technology capital of the world! :-\ :-Q :-B

I can only imagine how much better this amazing concert would have been if not for these preventable fiascoes.

Purist
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Joined: 13 May 2008, 16:55

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by Purist »

I thought poor acoustic sense, poor handling of queue system, lack of general decorum etc etc were all typical to our place.
Bit surprised it happens in US too. Is it a case of ' where ever you go/are our network follows' ;)

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by rajeshnat »

Mahavishnu
YOu have indicated the concert happened for 2 hours and 45 minutes, i am assuming that was the planning part . When kapi was served and got over , for how long the concert was?. Unfortunately kApi was not a filler before pallavi it was a desert .

On a side note in US/Canada do you also usually know the start and end time of all concerts , i wish that becomes a norm here too in chennai. I generally adore LGJ school for many ragas like charukesi, mohanam ,bilahari, shanmughapriya, bindumalini and in this list the nattaikurinji is very special . I have not paid that much attention to LGJ school in kannada - i will pay more attention for that raga when Lalgudi sibling play next time. Tx for the review

gardabha_gana
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Joined: 24 Dec 2006, 07:44

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by gardabha_gana »

Is this the jain temple in Milpitas? Strange.... audio problems and SIFA went hand in hand through the 90s until CET in San Jose became the regular venue - where Acoustics are very good. Wonder why they couldn't find an alternate venue. I used to wonder that the audience I am sure were filled with technical geeks - working on latest greatest technology but could never get the audio right :(

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by Rsachi »

Mahavishnu,
A strangely sudden curtain on a great concert. Thanks for your classy report as usual.

A little story Image:
In 1975-76, I had begun my career in Delhi. The famous Subbudu's son worked in my organisation and introduced me as a CM rasika to his father. Sri Subbudu talked at length to me, showed me a lot of his writings, and and eventually developed an affection for me. He even wanted to groom me as a music critic. So he wanted me to join him in concerts.

There was an LGJ concert in Sardar Patel school auditorium. When I went there, Sri Subbudu as was his wont was sitting with a circle of cronies outside the hall holding court.

The Madhyamavati song was Nadupai. When the song was in its peak creative phase, Subbudu was in the middle of some engrossing narrative. But the moment this exact point Ajanubahu came, with pin precision swaras, Subbudu exclaimed 'Ahha!' and made us realise that all along, his keen ear had been focussed on the maestro's music. I remember to this day the beautiful music and swaras.

semmu86
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Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by semmu86 »

Thanks Ramesh. Wonderful review.

arasi
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by arasi »

Ramesh,
Was waiting for a review from you!

Your words of praise match the excellence of the concert in every way.

Another KannaDa rAgA fan you are!

As mature and measured your words are about the performance, so is your reaction to the shabby and shoddy arrangements. You weigh your words before you launch on legitimate criticism. In the tech capitol as it were, this was a poor show, indeed. We have discussed the insensitivity of some Sabha folks during the season. That it can exist even in a place like the bay area (with all amenities for good organization of an event) is saddening.

As opposed to our 'ancient days' of treasuring our artistes' US visits by trying to make everything perfect in the then imperfect nature of sound system and other practical problems, are organizers taking this for granted here? VKV is ample example for the glory of the good old days. Humble, but heartfelt care towards
guest artistes. The Lalgudi siblings themselves would have heard from their father about the good old days in North America.

I'm glad you are now in that part of our climes where CM concerts happen regularly. Hope the organizers take note that things get better.
Last edited by arasi on 24 Mar 2014, 19:01, edited 1 time in total.

gardabha_gana
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Joined: 24 Dec 2006, 07:44

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by gardabha_gana »

Ramesh - thanks for the wonderful review.... I saw few postings on FB about the fabulous concert. When it comes to Madhyamavati, Charukesi, Kalyanavasantam etc Lalgudi School is peerless. The lalgudi pancharatnams are gems indeed. I believe he played DevaSri just a few months back in the bay area with Srikanth Chary. Bay area and music systems the jinx continues :( You should ask them to go back to CET in San Jose. Nice auditorium, parking and sound systems.

rshankar
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by rshankar »

Ramesh - nice review in your inimitable style!
Now all of us are riled up about the sound system!! Hope SIFA pays attention to the feedback (pun intended)!

mahavishnu
Posts: 3341
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by mahavishnu »

Thanks all.

Purist: There is a lot of truth is what you say.

Rajesh: The concert went on for 2:45 mins including announcements. The plan was for a 4 hour concert and all the "visthAram" that is entails. Typically, when concerts begin in the late afternoon (around 3:30-4) and when there isn't a concert afterwards, the assumption is that the artistes can go on for as long as they like. In most N.A locations 4 hour concerts (especially for senior seasoned artistes) are quite common and in fact the default in most cases.

For a great Lalgudi treatment of Kannada I would refer you to this commercial release here (LGJ/Srimathi with PMI): https://myspace.com/lalgudigjayaramanof ... 3-49784850

The kalpanaswarams flow like a river (from about 8:11 onwards). Vintage Lalgudi stuff!

G_G: Yes, it was at the Jain temple in Milpitas. I spoke to some of the organizers afterwards and I think the plan was to return to the CET in San Jose in the near future.

Arasi: I'm sure the organizers mean well. It was just the general bumbling on so many fronts that got to me :)

Sachi: Yes, nAdupai is such a beautiful composition and the Lalgudi school brings out some of the best elements of Madhyamavati. It is a pity that some folks just give it a quick pre-mangalam treatment. It has ample scope for manodharma (Of course MDR, MLV have also performed this quite elaborately).

Ravi: I hope SIFA pays attention too.

Semmu: Thanks, I think you would have especially liked this concert!

Lakshman
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Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by Lakshman »

mahavishnu: A superb review from you once again. Here are the lyrics of the kalyANi varNa.

unnaiyanri vErAr (tv). rAgA: kalyANi. Adi tALA. Lalgudi Jayaraman.

P: unnaiyanri vErAr ulaginil uvandemaik-kAppAr umai gauri
A: tannigharillAda tava maNIyE dayai ceidiDa innum tAmadamA
(ciTTasvara)
ga rI ni dhA ga* rI* ni dha pa ma ga mA pa dha ni dhA , ni sa* ri* sa* ri* ga* rI* ;
da ni ri* ga* ma* pa* gA* , ri* sa* ni dha ga* rI* ni dha ri* nI dha ga ni dhA ga dha pa ma ga ri
C: ninnai sharaN aDaindEn nityakalyANi

hari2810
Posts: 23
Joined: 30 Dec 2007, 01:03

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by hari2810 »

Concur with what Ramesh has said about concert and the suboptimal organization. Typically SIFA organizes really well and hence this stood out.
Most of the Indian places I have seen here are MPHs (multi purpose halls) with not so great sound system. Jain temple hall sound system is known to be bad. Every event I have attended there is organized with the organizers arranging their own system. Ghatam was almost not audible for the whole concert, except for a round of (a really nice) korvai during thani.
CET was being remodeled last couple of years. I think it reopened for business recently.

However, all said and done, it was a fantastic concert. I had to leave before 7 anyway and so in a way I am not complaining that they had to abruptly stop the concert :)

arasi
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by arasi »

Thirupunithura Radhakrishnan is an asset to any concert. Not to have had the proper amplification for his playing indeed was a pity.

It's not as if I'm finding fault with the organizers on every count. If they couldn't get a better hall, I don't blame them. However, they had to pay double the attention to make it a good concert if the place wasn't ideal.

Hope they can get the newly refurbished CET hall (I've been in it too, on a couple of my visits to the area) and all will be well.

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by rajeshnat »

mahavishnu wrote: Rajesh: The concert went on for 2:45 mins including announcements. The plan was for a 4 hour concert and all the "visthAram" that is entails. Typically, when concerts begin in the late afternoon (around 3:30-4) and when there isn't a concert afterwards, the assumption is that the artistes can go on for as long as they like. In most N.A locations 4 hour concerts (especially for senior seasoned artistes) are quite common and in fact the default in most cases.
Mahavishnu
Donot reduce your appetite for music from 4 to 2:45 mins. For sure the 4 hour concerts is usually a norm in Toronto. In the last few years I see in NY/NJ and CA having many combo front to back concerts slowly turning up just like MA front to back. Let the NA network not follow chennai way.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Mahavishnu: Excellent review of the concert and a well-deserved criticism about the acoustics. I am surprised too that SIFA concert arrangements can be so sloppy.

The Lalgudi repertoire --painstakingly gathered over time(or as LGJ himself would say Sotthu Sekkara Madiri)--like gathering wealth bit-by-bit!!) and flawlessly rendered is always a delight to hear!!

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by mahavishnu »

Lakshman wrote:mahavishnu: A superb review from you once again. Here are the lyrics of the kalyANi varNa.

unnaiyanri vErAr (tv). rAgA: kalyANi. Adi tALA. Lalgudi Jayaraman.

P: unnaiyanri vErAr ulaginil uvandemaik-kAppAr umai gauri
A: tannigharillAda tava maNIyE dayai ceidiDa innum tAmadamA
(ciTTasvara)
ga rI ni dhA ga* rI* ni dha pa ma ga mA pa dha ni dhA , ni sa* ri* sa* ri* ga* rI* ;
da ni ri* ga* ma* pa* gA* , ri* sa* ni dha ga* rI* ni dha ri* nI dha ga ni dhA ga dha pa ma ga ri
C: ninnai sharaN aDaindEn nityakalyANi

Lji: Thanks for the lyrics to this varNam. You are such a treasure trove!

venkatrangan59
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Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by venkatrangan59 »

Dear Rasikas,

Thanks for your feedback. We at SIFA take the comments about the organization very seriously and are addressing to rectify all issues mentioned. We are a sponsor supported organization run by volunteers and are dedicated to improving the overall concert experience for the artists and the rasikas. We plan not to use the aforementioned hall in the future for our events.

SIFA committee

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by mahavishnu »

Dear Sri Venkatrangan

First of all, welcome to our forum. I would like to thank you for taking the time to read the feedback and take it in the most constructive spirit. Now, if only everyone in the world dealt with these situations so gracefully...

Look forward to all the future SIFA events!

best wishes,

Ramesh Balasubramaniam
Livermore, CA.
http://www.rameshlab.com

arasi
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Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by arasi »

Welcome to Rasikas.org, Venkatarangan!
Ah, if only folks take critical remarks the way you do, as constructive criticism, the world will certainly be a better place. So will the world of music. Thanks for your positive thoughts.

Good to hear that you will hold future concerts in a hall with a better sound system :)

SIFA vAzhga!

gardabha_gana
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Joined: 24 Dec 2006, 07:44

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by gardabha_gana »

Probably I was too hard on SIFA. Indeed it is run by volunteers who spend a lot of their personal time - and they have given excellent programs over the years. SIFA25 was one such example. Of course, when they were in Cubberley, they used to have problems with the sound systems (don't know if the actual reason was the acoustics) - but they had a nice run in CET where everything came together well. Looking forward to many many years of service to the bay area. Kudos to the organization!
(SIFA sponsor 1993-2007)

mahavishnu
Posts: 3341
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by mahavishnu »

g_g: I don't think you were at all.
I think this was an important wake-up call for SIFA and they seem to have risen to the occasion (to pile one cliche on top of another :)) :ymparty:

arasi
Posts: 16873
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Lalgudi GJR Krishnan/Viji, Trichy Sankaran SF Bay Area M

Post by arasi »

One more for the cliche pile: and smell the coffee, they did!

Mahavishnu,
At least, they all go together--apples and oranges they are not, and the bottom line is...
:-! Stop me!

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