Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Borders'

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KVasundhara
Posts: 54
Joined: 24 Sep 2008, 09:34

Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Borders'

Post by KVasundhara »

A special concert of “Breathless Slides” by Maestro Chitravina N Ravikiran, hailed as 'The Mozart of Indian Music' was held in Dallas on 8 November 2014 as a fundraiser for ‘Doctors Without Borders’.

The event was jointly staged by the Indian Cultural Heritage Foundation and North Texas Veena Institute at the Allen Public Library Auditorium. It was aimed to show American and Indian Communities’ appreciation and support for the brave men and women who are risking their lives to save others in countries critically affected by the deadly Ebola virus. The concert was also a tribute to a distinguished member of the medical community, Dr Kalpana Rao, a much-acclaimed neurologist in the Dallas area.

Sri Ravikiran was accompanied on the violin by Sri H V Srivatsan and on the Mrdangam by Sri Poovalur Sriji.

The highlight of the evening was Sri Ravikiran sir composing a krti on Wellness dedicated to Lord Anjaneya. The lyrics of the Krti was projected on to the screen so the audience could read the lyrics. All the proceeds from the concert benefitted 'Doctors without Borders'. We are glad that we could raise over $3500.

Also, please read the concert review by dallasrasika.

Chitravina maestro Ravikiran, along with Hemmige Srivatsan on the violin and Poovalur Sriji on the mridangam, gave a superb concert today at the Allen Library Auditorium. The concert was in memory of the late Dr Kalpana Rao and to support Doctors without Borders (MSF). Concert was free of charge to the public, but patrons were encouraged to donate to MSF.
The concert got off to a dynamic start with Purandaradasa's "Sharanu Siddhi Vinayaka" in Saurashtram. Quite a few kalpanaswaras were played in varied sarvalagu and mathematical patterns. Next, he surprised me by playing Oothukkadu Venkatakavi's "Natavaratharuni" in Kannada gowla. This song has varying tisram and chatusram patterns. His interpretation was marvelous.
Next he took up Varali. Words escape me to describe how beautifully constructed the alapana was. The interpretation featured an extensive "breathless sequence", where he plucked the string once and then used the slide in the left hand to sustain the notes. Hemmige Srivatsan gave a fitting and chaste reply in his interpretation. Kriti presented was Mudduswami Dikshitar's "Seshachalanayakam" There was extensive improvisation by way of neraval and kalapanaswaras . Both Ravikiran and Srivatsan did an excellent job.
As this concert was dedicated to MSF, Ravikiran composed a song especially for this occasion, on Anjaneya, (who is propitiated for health, well being, success in tasks) in Sahana ragam and adi talam. The whole auditorium was transported to another realm by the Sahana raga delineation by Ravikiran. His playing in the lower register was especially appealing. Srivatsan kept up the high standards in his interpretation. The composition has 3 charanas. They also played extensive kalpanaswaras, mostly in sarvalagu pattern except for the last one, in keeping with the prayer intent of the song and the mood of the raga. A crisp and well executed tani by Poovalur followed.
Next he took up Sindubhairavi and again mesmerized the audience with his raga interpretation. Some phrases in the initial phases reminded me of "Visvesvara darsan karo" and I was wondering if he would play that, but he did not. What was interesting was the sawal jawab in the alapana between Ravikiran and the violinist who faithfully reproduced all the phrases, including those where the 3 main strings were struck simultaneously on the chitravina. Kriti played was "Venkatachalanilayam" of Purandaradas. He concluded the concert with a Tirupugazh in Hamasanandi
It was announced the $2000 was raised for MSF, to which Ravikiran added another $1000. The propitiation of Anjaneya, who is often called Karya Siddhi Hanuman, seems to have paid dividends. Having heard a great deal about Hemmige Srivatsan, I was delighted to have a chance to listen to him live today. He truly has imbibed the key tenets that were the hallmark of his vocal guru Sri K.V. Narayanaswami's style, namely classical purity and creating a sense of sowkhyam with his playing. Many of us wished the concert could have been a little longer, considering that Ravikiran and his co-artistes had set such a great serene and meditative mood. However, the hall was booked for another concert immediately following, so it had to stop a little past the two hour mark. One could say that is the mark of a successful concert, when the rasikas leave wishing the artiste could have played some more.

arasi
Posts: 16774
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by arasi »

KVasundhara,
So good to hear about this.

The music, cause and all.
I do not know whether Srivatsan has played the violin for Ravikiran before, but as you say, the classicism of KVN which Srivatsan has imbibed makes him a fitting accompanist for the master of 'classicism and creativity combined'.

Another thing to note is Ravikiran's involvement with causes. Just recently, he helped Rasikas.org members' idea about giving cash awards to tambura artistes--not only with his guidance but by connecting us with Shashikiran's organizing skills--and also by donating generously to the cause monetarily. He does the same here too, in dollars. His commitment and carrying them through, and helping others in doing the same is to be appreciated...

With the tambura artiste's fund, We cannot but forget another artiste who not only sang that evening, but decided to contribute the gate collection to the cause--Aruna Sairam!

Back to the Texas concert, an indian star musician's contribution to an international cause is well appreciated...

Sreeni Rajarao
Posts: 1283
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 08:19

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Uploading Two Pictures from the event (per Vasundhara's request)

Image

Image

Rsachi
Posts: 5039
Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by Rsachi »

Remarkable musician, seems to have been a wonderful concert for a deserving cause.
I wish we could get a vocal version of his composition on Anjaneya!!

munirao2001
Posts: 1334
Joined: 28 Feb 2009, 11:35

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by munirao2001 »

In the history of Carnatic Music, very few Great Maestros and Maestros achieve excellence as an artist and also a human being, GM Chitraveena Ravikiran, is one such along with MSSAmma and Sangita Kalanidhi Sudha Raghunathan. When Maestros Vairamangalam Lakshminarayanan and Tanjavur Shankar Iyyer were in bad health and financial conditions, through Muscians Benefit Fund, NGO, CR raised funds and honored both the maestros with financial awards.
CR's life is inspiring and hopefully many maestros would like to emulate him. Rasikas also should be inspired by his example and join the cause, whenever they are taken up. Such acts will only be the true appreciation of CR!

munirao2001

gardabha_gana
Posts: 1033
Joined: 24 Dec 2006, 07:44

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by gardabha_gana »

Arasi m'am have heard ravikiran and srivatsan play together a few times in the Bay Area

arasi
Posts: 16774
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by arasi »

Ah, so?
When Srivatsan was a kid growing up in NY state, we marveled at his talent in playing the violin. How much he has grown as an artiste and a teacher! A violinist/vocalist :)

I will find you for sure in Bengaluru, at least in the place where music is heard with wafts of the aroma of bajjis frying!

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

Re: Ravikiran fundraiser concert for 'Doctors Without Border

Post by Jigyaasa »

Rsachi wrote: 22 Nov 2014, 11:49 I wish we could get a vocal version of his composition on Anjaneya!!
Just ran into this: https://youtu.be/zaxIZOJQdT8?t=92

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