Kumari Rajna Swaminathan - Mrudangam Artiste in Maryland, US

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lswaminathan
Posts: 33
Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14

Post by lswaminathan »

Please visit my daughter Rajna's website:


www.rajnaswaminathan.com



She is an upcoming young artiste on Mrudangam - disciple of Sri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

Welcome to the forum Sir.

Many mem. here are aware of ur talented young daughter. We have indeed discussed abt her http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1001 and watched her videos clips.

We wish Kum. Rajna all the best :)

chalanata
Posts: 603
Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 15:55

Post by chalanata »

all the very best rajna!

srkris
Site Admin
Posts: 3497
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 03:34

Post by srkris »

Best wishes. The website needs to be improved and the images thumbnailed for better accessibility and readability.

lswaminathan
Posts: 33
Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14

Post by lswaminathan »

I have now posted Rajna's Dec 2006 schedule under
Kutcheri Reviews and Rrecordings / (sticky) December season - 2006/

meena
Posts: 3326
Joined: 21 May 2005, 13:57

Post by meena »

Charge of the young brigade:
DELETED
Last edited by meena on 06 May 2008, 10:09, edited 1 time in total.

lswaminathan
Posts: 33
Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14

Post by lswaminathan »

Two July 2007 concerts with Rajna on Mrudangam:

1. Music Education Trust Ph:26631580
Today Jul 6th - 6-15 pm at Gokhle In­stitute Hall, Karpagambal Nagar, Mylapore: Prof (Dr.) RADHA VENKATACHALAM with Dr. R. Hemalatha, Kum. Rajana Swaminathan (Washington, USA — Dis. of Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman) & H. Sivaramakrishnan. Rasikas Welcome


2. On Saturday, July 7th, Rajna is accompanying Bharath Kumar (son of Suguna Varadhachari and disciple of Sanjay Subramanian) at Naada Inbam.

lswaminathan
Posts: 33
Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14

Post by lswaminathan »

Rajna's Two Upcoming Bangalore concerts are here:

Sunday July 15th @ 10:30 am
Ananya Sabhangana
91/2 4th Main Road
Malleswaram, Bangalore 560003
9844005069

Vocal: S. Sankar
Violin: H. K. Narasimhamurthy
Mrudangam: Rajna Swaminathan
Kanjira: A. S. N. Swamy

Sunday July 15th at 5:30 pm
Shruthi Sagara 723 1st Main Road
7th block 2nd phase
Banashankari 3rd stage
Bangalore 560085

Vocal: Rudrapatnam Brothers
Violin: H. K. Narasimhamurthy
Mrudangam: Rajna Swaminathan
Ghatam: Giridhar Udappa

drshrikaanth
Posts: 4066
Joined: 26 Mar 2005, 17:01

Post by drshrikaanth »

A profile of the artiste
Star of Mysore wrote:Rajna Swaminathan: A profile

Rajna Swaminathan, disciple of mridangam maestro Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, is an upcoming young artiste in the field of Karnatak percussion. She started learning mridangam from her father Dr. P.K. Swaminathan at the age of 5 and came under the direct tutelage of Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman at the age of 8. She is being intensively groomed by the Maestro as his protege. She is 16 years old, studying in the 10th grade at Burtons Ville Maryland, USA.

Rajna has accompanied several prominent musicians, from South India, including karnatak brothers, Dr. N. Ramani, Flute Shashank, Papanasam Ashok Ramani, Master Balamuralikrishna, Jayalakshmi Santhanam, Sikkil Gurucharan, and won their praise.

During Fall 2004, Rajna toured USA along with her illustrious Guru and performed for one piece on mridangam with Sivaraman playing on Kanjira to encourage her. Sivaraman presented her to the Maryland audience for a full two hour concert debut in October 2004.

Rajna has been regularly performing at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival. Rajna debuted in Chennai, India during Summer 2005 and performed in several concerts, where she received great approbation from dignitaries and musicians. She has been regularly visiting India for performances, specifically during the Chennai December Music Season.

Rajna is the youngest and one of only a handful of female mridangam/percussion artistes in the world. Rajna also plays the piano and has learnt Bharathanatyam for some years.

In addition to playing for traditional South Indian Music and Dance, Rajna is interested in collaborating with Western artistes and popularising this ancient instrument globally.

— K.R. Mohan
http://starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=s ... &item=2570

lswaminathan
Posts: 33
Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14

Post by lswaminathan »

Hindu's Review of Rajna's concert with Radha Venkatachalam


Date:20/07/2007
URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/200 ... 590400.htm
Friday Review


Kalyani finds uncommon touches

LALITHAA KRISHNAN

The exposition brimmed with pivotal prayogas and freewheeling loops.

Photo: V. Ganesan.

True to tradition: Radha Venkatachalam.

In her vocal recital under the auspices of the Music Education Trust, Radha Venkatachalam presented music true to tradition and tempered by vision. The Pantuvarali alapana encapsulated essence through economical phrasing while dipping jarus served up scoops of bhava.

The GNB composition ‘Sivananda Kamavardhini’ invited kalpanaswaras, set off by clever little poruttams, with janta patterns and jarus lending interest to the concluding cycle. The vocalist presented a Devagandhari of substance inlaid with firm pidis that carried the stamp of unmistakable identity. The artiste pressed home her advantage with sancharas that made the most of her easy reach in the mandra sthayi. Muthuswami Dikshitar’s ‘Sri Meenambikayah’ illustrated glowing facets of the raga.

After Tyagaraja’s ‘Balakanakamaya’ (Atana) that served as a robust filler bolstered by compelling percussive patterns and firmly structured swaraprasthara, the RTP in Kalyani found instant favour. The exposition brimmed with pivotal prayogas and freewheeling loops. The excursions at the nishadha, and the shadja and panchama-varja phrasing lent uncommon touches.
Elaborate tanam

The aural experience was heightened by an elaborate tanam in which the artiste followed a highly disciplined progression that animated the theoretical ideal with creative thrust. The pallavi ‘Isanai Jagadisanai Kanakasabesanai Kanamum Anudinamum Maravadiru’ (Khanda triputa tala) ran the gamut of permutations from anuloma and pratiloma to viloma - a challenge that Radha met with aplomb aided by the able cooperation of her accompanists. The violinist, R. Hemalatha, lent consistent support. Unexpected touches surfaced in Pantuvarali and her Kalyani raga was a relaxed finely crafted narrative.

Young Ranjana Swaminathan, a disciple of Umayalpuram Sivaraman, did ample justice to her guru’s style on the mridangam. From complementing vilamba kala kritis with sensitive strokes to drumming up an exciting crescendo in the absorbing tani with H. Sivaramakrishnan (ghatam), she was a picture of concentration and an example of diligent sadhana.

Anusha
Posts: 124
Joined: 19 May 2006, 13:50

Post by Anusha »

I had the privilege of attending Vid. Shankar's concert at Ananya last Sunday. It was a very good concert, of 2 hr. duration, all artistes played in unison. It was particularly very enjoyable and inspiring to watch and hear Rajna play the mrudangam. She played with the same grace and confidence, characteristic of her guru. I sincerely wish her all the best for success in all her endeavours.

GautamTejasGaneshan
Posts: 82
Joined: 27 Jan 2016, 23:04

Re: Kumari Rajna Swaminathan - Mrudangam Artiste in Maryland, US

Post by GautamTejasGaneshan »

I'll just leave this here:

https://vimeo.com/99302517

Image

Live @ ODC Theater [6.8.14] - San Francisco, CA

Gautam Tejas Ganeshan - song
Lavanya Kothandaraman - violin
Rajna Swaminathan - mridangam
Christina Boyd - tambura


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