T N Krishnan & Viji Krishnan @ Ragasudha-24 July 2018

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer’s 110th Birth Anniversary week

T N Krishnan &
Viji Krishnan Natarajan - Violin
Bombay Balaji – Mridangam
Chandrasekhara Sarma- Ghatam

24.07.2018
6.15 – 8 pm.
E sruti- 4 kattai- (F)

It was most appropriate that Sri T N Krishnan, disciple of Semmangudi gave a musical tribute to mark the 110th birthday of the Sangita Pitamaha at a well-attended evening at Ragasudha Hall. Sri P S Narayanaswami -prime disciple of Semmangudi and Sri V Kamalakar Rao of the renowned Palghat Mani Iyer lineage were the special guests at the occasion. The audience also included Smt Leela Samson, several leading musicians, students and a dedicated band of rasikas.

The octogenarian Violin maestro began with a brief speech to remember his Guru Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and expressed his satisfaction of participating in the special event at Ragasudha- a venue which was special to him. He acknowledged the presence of eminent artists and greeted the accompanying artists. Bombay Balaji belongs to the Palghat Mani Iyer Parampara and Chandrasekhara sarma – a discple of T H VinayakaRam.

1 Hamsadhwani- Vathapi Ganapatim- Aadi- Dikshitar
2 Devamritavarshini-Evareni-aadi-Tyagaraja
3 Poorvikalyani-Gnanamosagarada-Rupaka-Tyagaraja
4 Reetigoula-Janani Ninuvina- Misra chapu- Subbaraya sastri
5 Sreeranjani-Maarubalga-Aadi-Tyagaraja
6 Mukhari-ksheenamai-Aadi-Tyagaraja followed by Tani
7 Behag- kandudhanyana-Rupaka-Purandaradasa
8 Suruti-Sreevenkatagireesam-Aadi-Dikshitar
9 Sindhubhaiaravi- Ramanaamapayasake (?) Purandaradasa
10 Madhayamavati outline followed by Mangalam (Nee nama roopa-Sourashtram)

When TNK ‘bowed’ the antaragandhara note to start, I sincerely expected it to be Mayamalavagoula for Deva deva kalayaami, Semmangudi’s favourite but it took a sharp turn to Hamsadhwani for Vathapi Ganapathim with sprightly kalpanaswaras in 2 speeds at the Pallavi. Bombay Balaji on Mridangam played in the typical Mani Iyer style where it won’t be a racy sarvalaghu but an amartthi vaasippu which will however have the tempo in tact. Bale Ji!

Evareni - bearing the indelible stamp of TNK -was the next item. A brief aalaapana of purvikalyani ably shared by daughter Viji led to Gnamosagaraada with a sober Neraval and swaraprastaara @ Paramaatmudu jeevaatmudu- bringing fond memories of Semmangudi.
A complete picture of Reetigoula was available in Janani Ninuvina with its imposing chittasawara in the anupallavi and the corresponding sahitya passage in the charana. Balaji and Sarma accompanied this uruppadi in Misra chapu tidily.

Sreeranjani just after Reetigoula? Yes. Maarubalga-the celebrated ‘Semmagudi song’ was brisk and safe in the hands of the veteran.

Mukhari was the ‘main’ of the concert with a succinct alapana for Ksheenamai. Neraval and swaraprastara was at ‘Émijesithe jagannathulu’ with all niceties. Balaji led a beautiful Tani ably supported by Sarma. The Mani Iyer approach was evident throughout and Balaji was in form. The culminating korvai with a poruttham to the ‘eduppu sahitya’ was attractive.

Behag, Suruiti, Sindhubhairavi –all the post tani kritis were quite enjoyable.

A noble musical tribute to remember Semmangudi on his Birth anniversary.

Video link to the concert is available in YouTube.

[bilahari]

Vintage music steeped in classicism. A fitting tribute to SSI. What an intense and fulfilling pUrvikalyANi, and a melting mukhAri. Much like his guru, TNK's genius lies in a supreme sense of aesthetics, as his art curated painstakingly over decades still shows. There is beauty even in his antara gandAram played pristinely in shruti.

[hnbhagavan]

A lovely concert. In spite of nearing 90 Years,TN Krishnan is able to play melodiously and all the Kritis ha the stamp of Authority.Good Violin support by Viji Krishnan as well as Percussion support of Bombay Balaji and Chandrasekhara Sharma.

[CRama]

Link for the above concert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W4IIriQf1s