Mridangam Arangetram (Debut Concert) of Chi Shanker Ram - July 27th 2019
Student of Laya Kala Ratna Vidwan Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts Center, San Jose accompanying Vidushi Smt. Geetha Ravi vocal, Vidwan Sri Vittal Ramamurthy on Violin, and Vidwan Sri. S.V.Ramani on Ghatam.
Date: Saturday, 27th July 2019
Venue: Lakireddy Auditorium in Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Livermore, CA
Chief Guest:
- Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. Sri. M, Chandrasekaran
The event started off with a small pooja and a Prayer song (by Shanker's sister Priya) followed by chanting of 1st Anuvakam of Rudram by Shanker Ram. The soulful and well-rendered prayer set the tone for rest of the evening. The concert started off with a Varnam in Yadukula Kamboji in Ata talam. The first half was sung in the first speed, tisram and 2nd speed. The charanam was sung in Khanda Jathi Eka talam in Pancha Nadais. It was followed by a very short alapana of Bahudari ragam and the composition Bhaja Manasa with a few brisk swarams. A laya based composition of Mazhavai Chidambara Bharathi, Ma Mayura Meethil in Bilahari popularized by Shri DK Jayaraman was taken up next. A beautiful krithi of Mysore Vasudevachar in Sunadavinodini was sung after that.
The sub main for the concert was Varali. Varali Alapana was followed by the Papanasam Sivan's composition, Kaa Va Va. Few Kalpana Swarams were sung in 'Pazhani Malai' in different nadais(Chatusram, Tisram, Khandam) for which Shanker responded quickly. The fast piece Vidajalathura a Thyagaraja krithi in Janaranjani was sung before the main song of the day was presented. Thodi was taken as the main ragam for the day with the song Ninne Nammi in Misra Chappu. An elaborate Thodi alapana followed by the krithi was presented next. Niraval was sung in Kamakshi Kanchadalayathakshi followed by swarams.
Shanker’s taniavartanam was the next segment. He presented a slide show on his tani which explained the main concepts which helped audience have a better understanding of some parts of the tani. He did Konnakol for trikalam korvai. After that was the Dwinadai Pallavi in Tisra Jampa thalam; first half in Misra nadai and second half in Khanda nadai. Very short sketches of Keeravani Ragam and Tanam was sung. The Pallavi, "Karunakara Krupakara Sankara Chandrasekhara Saranam” followed which was in the name of MahaPeriyava. Ragamalika swarams were sung in these ragams: Keeravani, Begada, Vaasanti, Revati. Shanker did the Konnakol for Pallavi in Trikalam and Chatusratisram; followed by a Mohra and Korvai.
After the main piece was a Swati Tirunal Padam in the Ragam Ahiri, Pani Mathi Mukhi Bale. Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai, fast Bharatiyar song in tisra nadai Adi Thalam was sung after this. Lalgudi Shri Jayaraman’s Maandu Thillana in Adi talam was chosen. Harivarasanam is a Malayalam Hindu devotional song (Madhyamavathi) composed in the ashtakam metre, recited at Sabarimala (the principal Ayyappan pilgrimage site), before closing the temple door every night was sung, followed by Mangalam.