MSG MEET ON JANUARY 19TH AT RAGASUDHA HALL MYLAPORE (BEHIND NAGESVAR RAO PARK)
Sancara trust(regd) 98400 77025
ON SATURDAY, JAN 19TH
Admirers and Contemporaries of the musical genius PARUR MSGopalakrishnan will share their remembrances AT 6PM RAGASUDHA HALL MYLAPORE (BEHIND NAGESVAR RAO PARK) Cleveland SRI VVSundaram presides,
Tributes to his legacy and memory will be paid by Sri N.Murali, President ,The Music Academy
SRI TNKRISHNAN
sri MSAnantaraman
SRI TVGOPALAKRISHNAN
SRI PSNARAYANASWAMY
SRI KSKALIDAS
CLEVELAND SRI VVSUNDARAM .
It was the day when shri MSG was scheduled to give a recital at Bhairavi pondicherry with thinniyam Y. Krishnan on the mridangam and KM Vaidyanathan on the ghatam.At 4 pm as usual I was busy in the school hall spreading the jamakkalams( we had no chairs then!) An inspector of police came and summoned me. I was surprised . He asked me whether this is the place where there is going to be a violin programme by shriM.S .Gopalakrishnan . When I confirmed he looked a little surprised as there was no banner,no decoration , no focus light and there was no one there except me and the school watchman.Nervously I sought to be excused and I told him that we have not taken police permission as it is just a get together among friends inside the premises. Then he informed me that the Lt governor will be attending the program and asked me for the time of commencement and left. I was wondering how he came to know about it , since there was no banner, no publicity no insertion in any paper.and felt guilty whether he would blame me for not inviting him for the function. Actually we never had any chief guest and somehow he has come to know about the Maestro’s program. He was a true rasika and ants know where the sugar pot is.!
Overcoming my surprise ,all I could do was to take the school headmaster’s chair and get a readymade rose garland .
At the stage M.S.G merely smiled when I told him that the state Lt Governor will be attending the program.The concert started and soon the Lt governor arrived . When I showed him the chair,he dismissed it without the least hesitation “how can I sit at a higher level than that musical genius” and sat on the Jamakkalam . When I Offered him the garland he took it from me and adorned the maestro. And told him that he has once heard him in Hyderabad. When I requested him to speak at the end he said what is there to speak and that, he considered it was his good luck that he had this opportunity to listen to him today unexpectedly.
The Lt Governor was Kona Prabhakara Rao and the date was 24-01-1984.
That was the first time he came to bhairavi and second time was inFeb 1993.
Shri M.S.Gopalakrishnan took the entire event with astounding simplicity unassuming countenance and his characteristic half smile a simplicity which was matched by a rasika Lt gov to skip the protocol and inviting himself for the performance of the maestro.
Rajagopalan
Founder secretary Bhairavi sabha Pondicherry.
If I ever get to meet Mr Kona Prabhakar rao, I would love to shake him heartily by the hand. As Nick H says, I wish more VIPs (standard expansion) were like this!
To make up for my (I should say "our" - as many more were involved) inability to attend tomorrow's MSG meet in Chennai, we paid homage to him today in our own small way. In Muscat where I live, we have a monthly classical music mehfil. About 30 odd people gather, and a few hours of singing goes on. We started today's programme with a few pieces of Shri MSG's greatest. This included the nattakurinji RTP with GNB, Garudadhwani piece with TK Rangachri, manavyalakim, and portions of the shanmugapriya RTP with S Kalyanaraman and the brindavana saranga RTP with TV Sankaranarayanan. For those who may not have heard this last, it was at Rani Seethai Hall on 31/12/1995. The ragamalika after the pallavi ("sriranga, hariranga panduranga, brindavana saranga") in Dwijavanti and Sindhubhairavi are stellar pieces, with some inspired singing by TVS, a masterclass to outdo all masterclasses by MSG, with some scintillating mridangam by T Bhaktavatsalam.
KMH
That is very nice to hear . I have not had a chance to hear TVS -MSG - brind saranga pallavi, if you could upload that would be wonderful . Or esle it would be better if all that u played is zipped and uploaded that would be wonderful . Yesterday late night I had lot of work it was so soothing to hear MSG with Madurai Somu, that combo is beyond words.MSG has so much melody touch.
Are we talking about the same TVS-MSG concert? The one in Rani Seethai Hall on 31 Dec 1995? I am almost sure it was T Bhaktavatsalam on the mridangam.
rajeshnat, I would be happy to upload the whole concert - it was pure honey all the way through - but I am unsure of the commercial side of the concert. If the concert was relayed by AIR, it should be OK to upload it, right? can you or anyone else clarify this? The other items mentioned have all been recently uploaded by others - please see posts in "Shri MSG passes away"
I have attended the condolence meeting of Sri MSG today and the Audio is recorded by me.
I was late by 30 minutes due to traffic jam. However not much of the recording is lost.
Today morning, I spoke to Sri Cleveland VV Sundaram and mentioned about three topics on Sri MSG in the “General Discussions” in our website.
Rasikas world over have mentioned about the unique “Parur Bani” spread by Sri MSG for the past 7 decades and won the hearts of all the Rasikas.
Sri Sundaram read all the opinions of the Rasikas in all the three topics.
I have also told Sri Sundaram that the Rasikas of our website were eager to know the proceedings of the condolence meeting
and our Rasikas would be happy if the proceedings of the meeting were webcast or the Video recording is shared with our Rasikas.
Sri Sundaram promised to webcast of the program in a few days.
He wanted to know the time for the webcast convenient to the Rasikas world over.
Rasikas may indicate the convenient time for the webcasting.
The Audio recording done by me will be uploaded in a few days after due processing of the Audio recording.
Thank you, Sri Nageswaran. Eagerly waiting to hear the proceedings. Did you get to say a few words? It would be good to know the webcast timings well in advance, since widely differing time zones would not permit a particular time convenient to all.
http://www.mediafire.com/?tdw4dchn3x3vjb0
something to hear until the search is fruitful .
TVS-MSG-KM used to be such a huge hit at Rani Seethai Hall on new years eve .
Such uncomplicated music . The music of TVS
Sri N Murali - spoke of the long and close association MSG had with the Academy. Mentioned the well-known specialities of Parur bani like the bowing and practice of playing even entire compositions on one string
Sri TN Krishnan - he mentioned, as a violinist himself, that sometimes the techniques MSG used are not known to MSG himself, and cannot be transmitted even in a one-to-one lesson done in person, let alone from recordings or lecdems. He narrated about the first time he saw MSG -- he was a himself a small boy of 7 and MSG a smaller boy of 5. He and his father had gone to see Sundaram Iyer. He said he was astonished to see the younger boy perform a shrutibhEdam in hamsanaadam, and asked everyone to ponder about the kind of training Sri Sundaram Iyer must have given his children.
A message from Sri AM Sharma was then read out by Narmada-ji, which spoke sadly of how little video archiving of Sri MSG's violin playing has been done, and how beneficial it would have been to students of Carnatic violin. It also fondly recollected an incident where MSG had accepted to share the stage with Sri Mallikarjuna Sharma, where he was able to demonstrate what he had understood of MSG's technique.
Sri MS Anantharaman then mentioned several concerts he, MSG, and his father have played. His memory was so amazing that it was atually terrifying, but at the same time demonstrated how memorable MSG's music is.
A message from Dr N Ramani (who was out of station) was then read out by Sri Sundaram.
Sri PSN humbly began saying "MSG sangItatta patti sollarathukku enakku yOgyata kiDaiyAdu", and instead mentioned incidents where his guru, Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer himself was amazed by Sri MSG's karnATaka shuddham, in his handling of shankarAbharaNam and varALi. He also elaborated on a point MSA himself had said, of how MSG was totally not given to unwanted talk and gossip. He arrestingly narrated a conversation he had when they were journeying together for a concert in Mumbai. He also made a mention of how MSG handled rare rAgams like kadanakutuhalam so deftly too.
Sri Kalidas recollected another rare rAgam, sunAdavinOdini, which he had heard in a BMK-MSG concert (he'd forgotten who played mridangam in it). He pointed out the kAlapramANa shuddham in MSG's music, and mentioned that Sri Thanjavur Kalyanaraman, MSG & TVGSri Karaikudi Mani would often practise together the same rAgam and the same krti (in various kAlapramANams) for around 5 hours in a sitting! He also said MSG practised varNams in three caturashra and 2 trishra speeds. He also said that every generation produces just a handful of absolutely great musicians, and that perhaps there can be only one MSG in a whole generation, if at all.
Sri TVG then mentioned the power of shuddha swarams and how it attracts rasikas to MSG's and TNK's music, and also helped MSG be so competent in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. TVG, unlike PSN and Sri Kalidas, said there is only one MSG, and that that itself is enough. He said MSG may have physically departed, but will always be spiritually present whenever great music is made. He also said that MSG and MSA made him see the pleasure in hard work.
Sri Sundaram finally spoke of the amazing heights people like MSG, MSA, TNK and TVG attained even when very young, and wondered if the few years of practice alone could explain it all (even if it ran into all their waking life). At the same time, he also said that such vidwans have taken whatever they have received from the greater powers to much greater heights through hard work. He said that MSG spoke of how much more "uzhaippu" he had to do, even when Sri Sundaram saw him just a few months before he passed away. He also mentioned, as an organizer, that MSG was a thorough professional, who always came in time for his performances, and concluded them at the stipulated time.
Last edited by srikant1987 on 21 Jan 2013, 06:18, edited 1 time in total.
Srikant1987 Avl,
Excellent coverage. Many thanx. Really feel sorry for not attending due to ill health. ThanQ You once again.
with wishes,
Thanjavooran 20 01 2013
I am delighted to be able to upload the brindavan saranaga RTP that I heard on 31 Dec 1995 at Rani Seethai Hall. The one posted by you, varsha (thanks for the treat) has the same pallavi as well, but the one I am sharing here is a more elaborate one. And the DwijAvanti and Sindhubhairavi RM is beyond compare. This is my first attempt at uploading on mediafire, so I hope all goes well - this RTP simply has to be heard by every MSG fan! http://www.mediafire.com/?qxx9l6czosb4lb1
Oh, I forgot to add: in the second file, at about 24m26s, MSG starts a phrase in sindhubhairavi - and then fresh inspiration hits him and what follows is ... is his eternal gift to posterity. And TVS acknowledges that spontaneously.
Please do let me know if the upload works - I can't wait to upload the viruttam in bAgeswari and hamsavinOdini that follows the RTP. And the rest of the concert, of course!
Just one correction - Sri. Kalidas said it was Skr - Msg and Karaikudi Mani team that practised together and BMK - Msg - tvg team was a huge hit those days..
Some additions,
The kadanakudoohalam episode was with TK Rangachari.
In the end, MSA's son added that bade ghulam used to entertain when MSG was a kid, while travelling in train, by singing the scale of a raga for each post the train passes..
MSA - ''At 11 years, Msg accompanied GNB, where the Legend Sang Malavi and thoroughly enjoyed the reply and blessed him..''
PSN said, MSG replied to him that he prefers accompaniment over solo, when questioned abt his preference, coz solo was 'His Choice' and accompaniment was more challenging.
Could you also give a brief summary of Dr Ramani's message? Somehow I'd been left in deep thought from the previous talks and lost attention for a while ... It would have been another matter if it was delivered by Dr Ramani himself!
I am delighted to be able to upload the brindavan saranaga RTP
Brilliant and Thank You !!! Brought back great memories .
If only Icould be young again . If only for a day.
The 80s were brilliant indeed .
Thank you again .
varsha wrote:
Brilliant and Thank You !!! Brought back great memories .
If only Icould be young again . If only for a day.
The 80s were brilliant indeed .
Thank you again .
KMH,
+1 , lovely , especially MSG return of dwijAvanti and sindhubhairavi is so clean,melodious.TVS and MSG , i have heard once in late 80's or 1990, great for you to bring back the memories .
I am happy to add the links to the other golden pieces from the said TVS-MSG concert. Here they are. In each of them, Shri MSG's violin sounds as if it were made of velvet, with strings borrowed from Goddess Saraswathi herself.
I really felt like writing this note on this JANUARY 19TH, condolence meet.
Dr.M.Narmadha compered the meet excellently,she mentioned that "This meeting would not have been possible without the Advice, Efforts, Guidance, and Help of Sri. Cleveland V.V.Sundaram and Dr. V.K.Viswanathan (of Los Alamos, USA)."
She said that "Sri.M.S.G. was not only a great Violinist and Musician he was a great teacher & father. He taught EVERYTHING I know. I feel the least I can do repay this debt & kindness is to keep the memory of his genius by propagating the Parur Tradition founded by my Grandfather & MSG’S Guru Parur Sundaram Iyer . I hope to do this by following in his footsteps with my own contributions to Violin Solo & Accompaniment playing. I intend using the Sancara Foundation also to further enhance & explain his contributions. For starters I will soon resume part2 of the series on Parur Tradition started in the presence& blessings of M.S.G. "
She also read out Dr.V.K.Viswanathan's message: "Sri.M.S.G. was a shining Beacon in the art of Violin playing uniquely mastering BOTH the North & South Indian styles as a Soloist as well as an accompanist. I have listened to his Artistry as a Virtuoso Maestro Perfectionist since 1952 at Thiruvaiyaru where I befriended him using the pretext of photographing him! His Superb accompanying skills enhanced ALL the GREATS of later twentieth century Indian Music. In the company of the other two Geniuses of the Voilin Triumvirate who revolutionized & transformed Violin playing – T.N.K. & L.G.J.- in the latter half of Twentieth Century M.S.G’S Contributions will loom large with passage of time.
Words are inadequate to describe his Genius. Fortunately he has trained Dr.M.Narmadha as his successor . May his soul rest in Peace."
She concluded by saying "I wish to conclude by thanking all the GREATS ON THE STAGE as well as EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCEfor taking time out to honor my father and his memory."
I remember each and every word which was spoken on that day,I can never forget whatever was spoken in that event and this meet would always stay near to my heart.
I had recorded bits and pieces of this event in my mp3 player.I will always remember this meet forever.
Dr.Narmada was kind enough to send me a CD containing the speeches of many VIPS about
the greatest Violinist Sri MSG on the occasion of the condolence meeting held on 19.01.2013
at Ragasuda hall.
I will upload the speech in a day or two in our website [Internet problem].
I just heard the concert uploaded by you at sangeethapriya - thanks a pile. While the RTP is in brindavana saranaga, I could make out variations between this one and the one I uploaded in sangeethamshare - besides, the RM is in hamsadhwani and saama in yours, and dwijavanti and sindhubhairavi in mine. Hope you got to listen to the one I uploaded in these columns. It is truly priceless. (And the accompanists were Bhaktavatsalam on the mridangam and Nagarajan on the kanjira).
Sri MSG and his family have a soft corner towards me.
I had requested Dr.Narmada to give me the Audio copy of the condolence meeting speeches by the various VIPS during the meet.
I have informed Dr.Narmada that there are a large number of members in our website who are the fans of Sri MSG and the rasikas will be happy to know the details about the meet.
Dr.Narmada was kind enough to give me the copy of the speeches made by the VIPS.
The download links of the speeches of the VIPS available in my drop box is given below.
"