Margazhi Musings 2017

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Dec 2017, 12:12

The concert that followed looked terrific on paper. VVS and VVS.Murari on violin & Jayathi Kumaresh on Veena and Srimushanam on mrdangam.

Unfortunately it could not live up to the expectations. Murari was playing a viola (probably to distinguish it from the violin) and it did not go well. Jayanthi excels in those riveting swara prastharas but was not afforded the opportunity. Srimushanam did his best in accompaniment but the energy level on stage was not enough to inspire him. Overall the kichdi was not cooked well, and became less than each of the individual parts (not even the sum).

Started with Mahaganapathim in nattai followed Sujana jeevana in kamas.

Hemavathi was main with Sree kanthimathim.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Dec 2017, 18:56

RaGa Sisters @ MFA with Charumathy Raghuraman, KVP & KVG

2. Ekadantam bhajeham in bilahari
3. Kantamani alap in progress by Ranjani

Did a wonderful Manoranjani alap at BVB couple weeks ago. Keeping the streak alive.

Palintuvo Palimpavo of T
minor hiccup with the lyrics in the anupallavi
swaras @ pallavi

Nice return from CR. Both percussions accompanying.
mrdangam on the loud side & too sharp.

4. Sankari Neeve, begada, Subbaraya sastry as
slow filler. Mrdangam much more tolerable here

5. Todi alap by Gayathri
Sruti bedham to mohanam after dramatic water sip

Sachi_R · Post by **Sachi_R** » 16 Dec 2017, 19:22

Suresh,Yes. Not the first time that a star male vocalist haa ended the concert without the lighter items.

In fact this format has come about because of some organisers arranging 2 big names back to back, asking them to do just one RTP, etc.
I would prefer at least 2 lighter items with some variety and then a Mangalam.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Dec 2017, 19:45

Concert has to have a warm up & a warm down. Otherwise it feels like a "mottai" - or a TMK concert.

Back to this concert:

Gati neeye of Ambujam Krishna on her centenary year.

Neraval @ karuna sagaran nee anro

Ranjani taking over the final fast round of neraval & concludes with applause

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Dec 2017, 20:22

Thani sounding a lot softer, KVG especially. Ranjani holding a clinic on how to keep time.

Krupajuchutaku in Chaya Tarangini

RTP in abheri in several phases with applause after each one for all 3 artistes

Vellai thamarai poovil iruppal
Veenai seyyum oliyil iruppal

Adi talam. Dvi nadai. Chatusram & Tisram

Ragamalika swaras in Saraswathi, Revathi & neelamani thru grahabedham

s r m -> p d s

Do the math

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 16 Dec 2017, 21:17

Viruttam - En thaayum enakkarul thandaiyum - Poorvikalyani, chindikkalen ninru sevikkilen thandai sitradiyai vandikkilen in desh, Gayathri scores assist with words, shanmugapriya,

Saravanabhava enum tirumandiram

Move over abhang. Gowlan is here. Sant Eknath piece tuned by them in brindavana saranga.

Harimau must have left!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 Dec 2017, 21:28

nidhi nIyenRu unai aDaindEn, sItA ramaNa has a few intricate sangatis, as I remember it. Tuned by SSI or Kedaranathan? No ready reference here for me, I'm afraid.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 16 Dec 2017, 21:41

Sounds like a high-energy concert!

Gadolinium · Post by **Gadolinium** » 17 Dec 2017, 00:19

Attended two back-to-back concerts at Nada Inbam

Sunil Gargeyan, K.J.Dileep, N.C.Bharadwaj, S.Sunilkumar

...
rArA mAyiNTi dAka, asAvEri, T
rAjagOpAlam bhajEham, mOhanam, AS, MD
deivIGa sthalam, pUrvikalyANi, ?
kaddanuvAriki, tOdi, ANST, T
muruganin marupeyar, behAg

Beautiful, open throated singing. Especially enjoyed alapanas of mOhanam and tOdi. Look forward to hearing more of him in the future. Impressive playing by NCB.

Sumithra , Padma Shankar, B.Ganapathiraman, Harihara Sharma

sami Ninne, kharaharaprIya?, mudikondan venkatarama iyer
shlokam (shrI, varAli, Arabhi, gOwlai, nAttai) followed by mArgazhi thingal, nAttai, Andal
paritAna mIcitE, bilahari, T
kShira sAgara, pUrvikalyANi, ?
srI kamalAmba jayati, ahiri, MD
dhEvaadhi dhEva, sindhurAmakriya, T

...

Wow! Pristine concert, every syllable was oozing with bhava. ahiri was "oho"ri. Arresting shlokam preceding mArgazhi thingal. Very sensitive accompanying by BG. Unfortunately had to leave.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 17 Dec 2017, 00:27

Sumithra = Sumitra Nitin?

Gadolinium · Post by **Gadolinium** » 17 Dec 2017, 00:32

Oops didn’t know there were multiple Sumithra’s. This was Sumithra Vasudev.

Always learn something new here, thanks rshankar. Will keep on the lookout for her.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 17 Dec 2017, 06:51

sureshvv wrote: ↑16 Dec 2017, 21:17
Move over abhang. Gowlan is here. Sant Eknath piece tuned by them in brindavana saranga.

Harimau must have left!

The key to any activity is prior preparation, even if it is only listening to concerts.

Having crossed international borders in the days when vaccination/inoculation certificates were a necessity, Harimau always takes the appropriate prophylactic measures.

In addition, his amazing prescience helps him in these matters.

For the last four weeks, Harimau has been listening to a Marathi Gavlan:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2SdDjik3v6E

Thus Harimau was ready for anything the Duelling Abhangists throw at the audience. He serenely watched the gavlan unfold from his usual 7th row seat. Fortunately, it was not in Bhatiyar, Mamiyar or any such raga but in Brindavana Saranga.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2017, 07:02

He serenely watched the gavlan unfold from his usual 7th row seat. Fortunately, it was not in Bhatiyar, Mamiyar if any such raga but in Brindavana Saranga.

Aah.. the old sociological study continues! Happy to see that all the multivarious harimau personalities have fused and require just 1 seat now

And, I can vouchsafe for Bhatiyar. Nothing to fear. It is just our Poorvikanlyani sporting a Salwar kameez! They must have seen your grimace and hence announced the raga as "Brindavana Saranga" rather than brindavani.

For the uninitiated, "Gavlan" is the milkmaid's song, as she goes about her daily chores with Hari in her mind.

Sachi_R · Post by **Sachi_R** » 17 Dec 2017, 08:00

Or Harimau on her mind.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2017, 09:28

Got a chance to watch Alex in Wonderland yesterday.

http://www.alexinwonderland.in

Very funny and thought provoking at the same time. Was turned on to him after watching a routine with some carnatic music comedy bit forwarded on WhatsApp. This particular routine did not have much on Carnatic Music but still worth a watch.

Check him out if he visits your area!

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 17 Dec 2017, 09:58

Gadolinium wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 00:19
Sumithra , Padma Shankar, B.Ganapathiraman, Harihara Sharma

shlokam (shrI, varAli, Arabhi, gOwlai, nAttai) followed by mArgazhi thingal, nAttai, Andal

Wow! Pristine concert, every syllable was oozing with bhava. ahiri was "oho"ri. Arresting shlokam preceding mArgazhi thingal. Very sensitive accompanying by BG. Unfortunately had to leave.

This viruththam (not shlOkam) on AndAL is worth its weight in gold. What smooth transitions from rAgam to rAgam. And appropriately she took a thaniyan on AndAL on the mArgAzhi 1st day seguing well into the first thiruppAvai. The stress she is placing on iLam of the iLamchingam is also diff/unique as if she wants to stress the iLam part more than iLamchingam.

So thanks to parivadini, SAFE & the team, I could get PV @ MA & this both. Be greedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ekVxZZkXM

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 17 Dec 2017, 12:03

kEdaragowLai by Sumitra too with saraguNa pAlimpa. A tad slower tempo than usual, n@varaguNa sEshAdri.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2017, 12:11

Vasudha Ravi, Sudha R.S.Iyer, Kiran Pai @ MA

1. vandisuvudayadalli gananathana, nattai, s @ p
2. pantuvarali, sambo mahadeva, s @ p
3. Marachevadana rama ninu, kedaram
4. Madhyamavathi, Saravanabvhava guhaney
5. viruttam - simhendram, khamas,
6. theruvadheppo nenje

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 17 Dec 2017, 12:32

SV wrapping up with a pAsuram on thiruvEngadam and final madyamAvathi leads to adaikkalam adaikkalam. That pallavi line will be a good pallavi for RTP in madyamAvathi.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 17 Dec 2017, 14:00

Adithya Madhavan @ Vani mahal

With Haritha Narayanan & Hari Iyer

Walked in during main bhairavi. Nice strong voice.

Notable thani. Nice nadham.

Kaana vendum laksham kangal

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Dec 2017, 14:29

sankark,
aDaikkalam aDaikkalam, aDiyEn enRumun aDaikkalam aDaikkalamE, en arasE (aDaikkalam).
Yes, good for a pallavi line.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Dec 2017, 14:42

Gadolinium,
Sumitra Nitin sings on the 20th at NGS Mini Hall and on the 21st at P. S.High School for TAG.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Dec 2017, 14:57

Gadolinium wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 00:19 Attended two back-to-back concerts at Nada Inbam

Sunil Gargeyan, K.J.Dileep, N.C.Bharadwaj, S.Sunilkumar
... ... ...
Sumithra , Padma Shankar, B.Ganapathiraman, Harihara Sharma
... ... ...
Very sensitive accompanying by BG. Unfortunately had to leave.

Must have seen the name Sunil Gargeyan quite a few times, but never saw the face. Catching just the last two or three minutes of this concert persuaded me that it is a face I should see more of.

Sumithra (there just might be only one with an "aich"?) was her usual wonderful. There was a great chemistry between all the artists, and it was one of those concerts where all the artists seemed to bring out the best in each other.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Dec 2017, 15:30

Margazhi Moan

Sabhas, will you please cease this increasing use of colour in The Hindu advertisements. No, black or red type on a strong yellow background is not as legible as black on white, and no, the existence of "WYSISYG" word processors has not made you better at design than the ages-old wisdom of real typography, about which The Hindu sales people almost certainly know nothing either.

I'm, ahem, a mere 65 years old. I now need to keep a magnifying glass to augment my reading glasses to decipher your awful advertisements. Goodness knows how much money you are wasting: I'm aware that just a simple, short text ad in those columns costs Rs.1,000.

Use display, with centring and spacing; use colour if you must; but please, first ask someone who knows what they are doing. No: being able to use Word for Windows does not mean that you know. As is painfully obvious.

--- a music lover with less than perfect eyesight, and,
in a past lifetime (about 30 years ago) a typesetter.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 17 Dec 2017, 22:44

sureshvv wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 07:02
He serenely watched the gavlan unfold from his usual 7th row seat. Fortunately, it was not in Bhatiyar, Mamiyar if any such raga but in Brindavana Saranga.
Aah.. the old sociological study continues! Happy to see that all the multivarious harimau personalities have fused and require just 1 seat now

Sociological studies will continue indefinitely.

Multiple persons, not just personalities. This morning, one of the trio was at the Academy while another was at TAG center, listening to padams and javalis of the devadasi tradition. The two met at Narada Gana Sabha for lunch and then attended the 12:45 pm concert together.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 18 Dec 2017, 01:57

I heard recently that a visitor called Raintree Hotel to book a table for herself for dinner. The do not make bookings for one.

No problem for Harimau.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 18 Dec 2017, 08:51

Nick H wrote: ↑17 Dec 2017, 15:30 Sabhas, will you please cease this increasing use of colour in The Hindu advertisements.

Some of these color combinations are atrocious and totally obscure the text. I know they have proof readers but they need some color decoders!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 18 Dec 2017, 10:25

So I walk into the Gnanambika canteen (Vani Mahal) at 2pm and ask for a cup of coffee, only to be told that Coffee timings start at 3.30pm.

What kind of hopeless canteen cannot serve coffee any time they are open?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2017, 13:43

Sangeetha Swaminathan @ MA

Violinist looks uncannily like Kanyakumari!

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2017, 16:29

K.Gayathri @ MFAC

Vocal volume at Srimushanam levels in spite of request to turn it down. Rest of the ensemble at perfect level.

HarishankarK · Post by **HarishankarK** » 19 Dec 2017, 16:32

sureshvv wrote: ↑19 Dec 2017, 16:29 K.Gayathri @ MFAC

Vocal volume at Srimushanam levels in spite of request to turn it down. Rest of the ensemble at perfect level.

She tends to shout out too

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Dec 2017, 16:44

One mami's phone ringing from inside her purse & the mami next to her attempting to answer her phone with the ring still going loudly

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 13:25

So I go into the NGS canteen for a quick coffee so I don'r fall asleep during the morning's concert & who do i meet there? Our own CRama who then tells me he read my reviews & has come out to check for himself!

No pressure

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 13:30

So while checking rasikas, I come to know that vk is possibly attending the concert. Have never met him before. So come out & hang around for a while, evaluating potential likely candidates. Give up and head downstairs & someone whirs past me & I blurt out, "vasanthakokilam"?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 13:32

HarishankarK wrote: ↑19 Dec 2017, 16:32 She tends to shout out too

The correct term, Ahem, I believe is "open throated singing".

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 17:11

Sitting with vasanthakokilam & enjoying Maayanai mannu vadamadurai maindhanai from Sandeep Narayan @ SPSS.

Poor vk getting a carnatic primer from a long time septagenarian rasika from the other side.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 17:40

vk & I enjoying Sankarabharanam tanam with pori urundai together. This may be the start of something beautiful. Until he reads this

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 20 Dec 2017, 18:54

The wall paper on the phone of the gentleman next to me is a portrait of the RaGa sisters!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 20 Dec 2017, 19:15

veRum vAyai mella avaluNDu, pori uruNDaiyumA?
They say: flaked rice while shooting the breeze--puffed rice balls too? KArthikai left overs? Are they Nick's favorite munchies too?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Dec 2017, 23:45

And this year's announcement is:

There is no need to turn off your phones.

Please feel free to make and receive phone calls whenever you wish,
Whether you are old enough to know better or too young to care,
Just do it.

But please, don't do that silly thing of putting your head down, like a
mouse with its head in a hole. We can still see you, we can still see you.

You are just as much of a nuisance as you would be sitting proud and upright.

Remember: the music is loud, so you may have to talk a little louder than
you would at home. Don't worry about it. Just go ahead.

Thank you for your cooperation.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 23 Dec 2017, 17:35

Sriranjani Santhanagopalan @ Vani Mahal

RTP

Rasike kala rasike navarasa kala rasike
Nalinaknthi ragapriya

in misra jhampa 2 kalai

Ragamalika swaras in Hemavathi & amirthavarshini

Abhirami Andadhi + Bharathiyar again. Same chandiran oliyil.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 24 Dec 2017, 13:33

Fantastic neraval @ "kannai thirandhaal un rupam, kadhai thirandhal un gaanam" by Anahita & Apoorva.

Bhairavi OVK kriti for main!

Song continues with something like "vinnai nokkinaal un vannam, vin mathyai nokkinaal un kannam". Am sure we will hear this more

Thought violinist was Akkarai. Looks a lot like her. It is Apoorva Krishna.

Ravikiran tillana in Shudh Saarang? in sankeerna chapu

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 24 Dec 2017, 14:28

Thoomani maadathu already! December slipping thru our fingers.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 24 Dec 2017, 14:49

Nice to hear Va Muruga Va in Begada making the rounds this year as submain/main. Used to be hardly heard.

Sachi_R · Post by **Sachi_R** » 24 Dec 2017, 21:32

sureshvv wrote: ↑24 Dec 2017, 14:49 Nice to hear Va Muruga Va in Begada making the rounds this year as submain/main. Used to be hardly heard.

One of my favourites!

sridhar_ranga · Post by **sridhar_ranga** » 26 Dec 2017, 10:15

One ceiling fan, just this one out of 40 odd hanging over MA’s balcony, keeps rotating at very slow speed all the time. Seems to happen regardless of if it’s a morning, afternoon or late evening concert. Wonder if it has an ear for good music, the real “CM fan” if there ever was one?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 30 Dec 2017, 19:43

Vani Mahal - Metallic casing of speakers vibrating & distorting the sound terribly. All it needs is a dampener but no one seems to bother.

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 31 Dec 2017, 05:15

An ethnic yet very attractive stage backdrop is at the Big Brother's.
The Music Academy.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 31 Dec 2017, 11:40

Yes! To both--may be?

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 31 Dec 2017, 11:48

Bye bye MA , with lots of sad tears ,