T.M.Krishna concert at VDS Academy at MOP Vaishnav college.

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 22 Dec 2008, 08:19

I attended that concert He sang in the company of Amritha Murali V.V.Ramanamurthy and K.V.Gopalakrishnan. The concert was good. but I thought the soulful mood in which TMK appeared, he could have given a brilliant performance.Probably a thin audience did not enthuse him He started off with Janakiramana in Sudha Seminthini with a very soft and silken rendition and followed it up with an adequate alapana of Janaranjani and the krithi Smarane Sukhamu. Both these krithis had the usual round of krithis. The next item was Marivere in Ananda Bhairavi It was rendered in an unhurried manner and a very short soft and sweet round of swaras was soothing.This was followed by a jarring high decibel and hurried Kripajuchutaku In Chaaya Tarangini The main item was in Thodi with and elaborate ordinary alapana and this was followed by a classic rendition of Karthikeya.... and had a roud of robust swaras. The concert concluded with Saramaina in Behag and Thillana in Kanada. The violin accompaniment of Amritha Muarli deserves special mention.She was brilliant and very measured in her retorts to Krishnas robust singing. The concert on the whole was good but it did not have a lingering effect on the listener.His voice was in fine fettle and he has an amazing voice throw and that makes the rasika to expect a lot. But this concert did not disappoint me as I came to the venue without any expectation and hence left satisfied and not elated. Probaly the thin audience did nit inspire him to give his best. Bye ragjay

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 09:38

sri t.m. krishna of late i have noticed is becoming slightly contrarian, which in my opinion (the important part) is somewhat egotistical and ultimately futile. though, i will give him credit for trying to be innovative and perhaps he will come around to finding himself in his music in due time. janaki ramana is a song which is usually sung in a brisk manner and to sing it in a silken soft manner makes me think, why? and then to have him dwell in janaranjani was nice. however, smarane sukhamu is not a song which required this sort of raga alapana. the idea of singing a raga should be complementary with the song presented after it, or this is what i expect usually, and find in recordings of the so called canonized "old masters". the current generation's mentality is, "im singing a raga, let me dispose of all the combinations of sangatis possible, no one has sung x raga for y mins, let me be the first"; all this is fine, however, it is more suitable for the record books rather than concert format.
i'm a fan of sri krishna (not sweets) but of late find him singing in a perverse manner. not to mention, does anyone else thinks that the vocal volume at his concerts are over amplified, he has a powerful voice to begin with. if you go inform the sound engineer that opens up a whole other can of worms.
most importantly, i went to the academy two days ago and perused through the catalogue of song lists published in their souvenier. i noticed that sri krishna is singing bhairavi ata talam varnam as the main piece in music academy. is this necessary? are there not a multitude of master pieces in bhairavi? again, i ask, why?

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Dec 2008, 09:45

IMHO, the bhairavi varnam is one of THE master pieces in the ragam.

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 22 Dec 2008, 10:33

It's probably the krithi I've heard the most number of times and also the most by various artists. I can't even count the number of times I've heard MDR sing it. There's a beautiful recording with TNK and VR where he sings it for 20 minutes.

Falafel, I know that some songs are considered less weighty than others but it's possible that Smarane sukhamu has been treated as a filler and TMK is making an attempt to give it more weight. If he fails, he'll be the first person to realize that. I'd never heard an elaborate Vidajalathura till S.Balachander's 30-minute rendition. The alapana and the krithi didn't feel out of place even bit.

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 10:55

words are incontextual. perhaps you misunderstand my usage of masterpiece. i dont question the validity of Pachimiriyam Adiyappaya's composition and agreed many people have sung it (as shripathi_g says) with a variety of intrepretations...

so is mangalam in sowrashtram by saint thyagaraja. no one sings all the charanams and if someone does, i am sure it will also be a fantastic master piece in and of itself within a concert. sadly, it has been demoted to a concluding number of a concert. maybe someone can elaborate mangalam as the main piece.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Dec 2008, 11:35

Falafel, I'm afraid I still don't get your point. What exactly is your objection to viribhOni being sung as a main piece?

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Dec 2008, 11:53

i noticed that sri krishna is singing bhairavi ata talam varnam as the main piece in music academy.

That is for sure going to be interesting how he treats it, what line he picks for neraval etc. And even more so for kalpanaswarams. Has anyone else done this before? It requires some courage and enormous self-confidence to attempt to do full justice as a main piece with the usual manodharma segements when it pretty much encodes anything and everything that is bhairavi.

Let us see how it turns out.

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:03

bilahari: my sentiments have been indirectly echoed in vasanthakokilam's post. "has anyone else done this before?" this is the contrarianism virus which has seized sri krishna. i refer to it earlier; its masturbatory. which is why i also openly pose the suggestion, someone should sing mangalam as main. that also requires "enormous self- confidence."

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:09

falafel: Though I may have echoed your sentiments, I do not have any problems with TMK's attempts. You can call him self-indulgent but hey, atleast he is trying something. No risk, no reward. We can not second guess his internal psychological motivations for what he does in terms of concert planning.

Singing varnam in the middle of the concert is something TMK has done before. I am not sure if the varnam was the main item then. Think about it, varnams are great compositions and they get the short end of the stick for having been conventionlized as a warm up piece in carnatic concerts. (Of course, in bharatha natyam, they treat varnam as the main piece.)

BTW, MDR had sung all the charanams of mangalam ( not as main ). It is as good a composition as any, because someone adopted it as an indication of the end of the concert, people do not sing it as a full song. I am very much interested in hearing someone sing it with neraval and kalpanaswarams.

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:22

restaurants should serve desserts first. the world of aesthetics exists for a reason. to question it is allowed and valid. to try to restructure it is valiant; to disregard is just retarded. i'm being sarcastic by saying someone should sing mangalam.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:30

falafel, these rules are not given to us by God. These are made up in the past century or so. Yes, these are conventions and conventions are good upto a point. But let us not treat them as he is breaking some commandments. ( BTW, there are restraunts that give you a cup of pAyasam at the beginning

).

Let us judge his attempt by how it was on that day, aesthetics and musical experience being the main things.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:41

vasanthakokilam wrote: Let us judge his attempt by how it was on that day, aesthetics and musical experience being the main things.

Amen!!!!

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:43

haha, payasam in the begining. clever of you. however, it's not treated as the focus, just a spoonful or slightly more. i agree that judging on the day is most important. i just feel concerned perhaps that maybe sri krishna is desperate to do something new, hence my call to his contrarian attitude.

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 22 Dec 2008, 14:12

falafel, can you name one great master who didn't try something different? Maybe, they did not do it consciously but subconsciously they did strive to develop their own unique style and I feel that the meaning of style changes over time. At least for me, I want present day musicians to explore the realms of music as much as possible without sacrificing classicism. With the technology available today, musicians cannot afford to sing the same thing again and again. When they repeat the same set of krithis in more than two or three concerts, they are accused of being stale though it's probably unwarranted in a few cases. I myself have been guilty of that on a few occasions but it's probably due to the expectations the Sanjays and TMKs have themselves created. In that regard, I welcome TMK's attempt in trying something different. I've in fact threatened my brother with dire consequences if he doesn't attend TMK's MA concert.

VK, I'm curious too to see how it'll turn out. Your comment made me think about Semmangudi's comment when asked why he sang swaras for the Bhairavi swarajathi. His paraphrased comment goes along the lines of "Adhula neraya Bhairavi kedaikardhu, adhan paadren".

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 22 Dec 2008, 14:30

shripathi - SSI's "I get a lot bhairavi in that, that is why I sing swarams for that" is a great answer. Outdoing the un-outdoable is not the goal, getting inspired and being carried away to greater heights by such master pieces is something one can wish and hope for.

sakthi.balan · Post by **sakthi.balan** » 22 Dec 2008, 15:07

TMK's MA concert main piece as Bhairavi varnam will be really interesting iam looking forward to it!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Dec 2008, 16:34

It would be disappointing after this hooplah if TMK does not sing viribhOni as main! Totally agree that (1) we should judge the performance itself rather than the choice of items and certainly not before the performance, and (2) the artiste is free to choose any composition that inspires him and can take his music to new heights, and also (3) varnams getting the short end of the stick. I have been very impressed by TMK's presentation of sumasAyaka, the kApi varna, with raga elaboration, and also remember from reviews here that TMK has sung intha chalamu with raga, neraval (at charanam), and swaras to good effect. So obviously the expansion of varnas has been a developing theme in his music and there is nothing untoward or shocking about his decision to elaborate the bhairavi varnam.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Dec 2008, 16:42

Here's the recording of the MDR rendition of the bhairavi varna that shripathi was referring to (courtesy of shripathi as well) : http://sangeethamshare.org/sripathy/Aud ... airavi.mp3

balsree · Post by **balsree** » 22 Dec 2008, 17:18

Just listened to an old lec dem by vedavalli on varnams. Varnam has been structured in lines of tanam singing. It captures the essence of raga. It can be the basis of other manodharma items.

So why a Varnam piece cannot be main ? What is that one feels missing in varnam that is captured only in krithis? I would like to understand.

Thanks

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 22 Dec 2008, 19:32

Hi I read with interest all the posts.One should attend his concerts without any expectations and then one would not be in for a disappointment It is a pity that an artist with such a fine voice and throw does not give his best as per the audience expectation .The problem lies in his not planning his concert in advance and a lot of time is spent on the state after each item thinking what to sing. Spontaneous singing is good only in a measured manner. I hope he realizes this and does something. Otherwise I only hope that he does not churn out run of the mill stuff , when he is capable of providing a brilliant exposition . This is where people like Ariakudi Semmangudi and KVN to name a few were successful to sustain their performances till the end........Bye Ragjay

venkatakrishnan · Post by **venkatakrishnan** » 22 Dec 2008, 20:48

about the vds concert....
my feeling was that krishna was not at his usual best and was a little patchy.
i have no objections against his singing janaranjani ragam and all, but at vds, janaranjani saw slips.many noticeable ones.he was even in his kalpanaswaras ,throughout the concert ,in my opinion, trying to be different avoiding the usual jantai and acsending and desending pattern but somehow it seemed unnatural and like he was trying desperately.neraval in my opinion must bring the lyrical and the ragas beauty. but a neraval in the charanam of smarane sukha was uncalled for. there were difficulties in maintaining ragaswaroopa and avoiding slips into its allies.neraval in higher kalaprammaanam was like a taanam with lyrics absolutely gone in the noise.it was a taanam in between the song.thodi was good.overall a not up to the mark performance.the accompanists were very good.not every day turns out good and stars are no exceptions.a sincere request to krishna would be to reduce his decibel levels a bit for that soothing feeling with such a brilliant voice.waiting eagerly to read the viriboni reviews!!!!!!

shashi · Post by **shashi** » 22 Dec 2008, 20:49

I get falafel's point. Krishna appears to go out of his way to be in the news for some reason or the other. Rasikas are also to blame for satiating his hunger for publicity. There is nothing new about singing a Varnam somewhere in the middle of the concert. Pada Varnams like Sumasayaka (Kapi) and Danisamajendra (Todi) have been sung by great masters time and again. But today's rasikas keep talking about the 'innovation' that TMK is doing in this regard. As for Viriboni, R Vedavalli has literally talked and sang herself hoarse with the full version of this Varnam for many decades now. Just shows how much value hype has over real merit!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 22 Dec 2008, 21:59

WE just have to be little careful here,TMK is planning to sing viribOni in the middle (he sings varnam in the middle). He is also singing RTP in bhairavi (This is what I heard from one rasikA in academy). So he is not singing viribOni as a main which could be a misunderstanding.

falafel · Post by **falafel** » 22 Dec 2008, 22:54

there are a few things to bring to attention here (in my opinion):
a varnam is not the same as a pada varnam. just because pada varnam is sung in the middle of concert does not make it ok for someone to sing a varnam. that argument makes no sense. pada varnams are quite different.

there is a desperation in choosing to sing bhairavi ata talam varnam in the middle of a concert. I dont wish sri krishna to be labelled as such, but this is what it seems like. "i must do something different every season"... no need. he is a good singer, let him continue to sing to his strengths. good song selection used to be his forte like his so called "mentor" sri semmangudi srinivasa iyer. now, sri krishna seems distracted or i dont know what is bugging him; things are different. i heard him in brahma gana sabha like a week ago. he sang saveri, then durusuga, a beautiful composition. the song sadly was destroyed for the sake of singing swarams for an eduppu before samam. if one intently observed the temperament of that composition and the level of "ragalai" he made with the swarams to show off the edupu, (which first of all wasn't so complicated, it was 4 aksharas before samam) it was like chalk and cheese, oil and water...what have you.

i just hope he is not going through an opinion which runs somewhat like, " i have a following now, a movie out, i'm the new upstart male vocalist, i can do anything i want and people will still deal with it because, i am an artist and im innovating." he is too good to be at the mercy of his ego > music. let's hope. i am excited to listen to him this season. let's wish him the best.

rajeshnat- i saw the list and it said viribhoni. i also noticed there was a rtp listed. i assumed viriboni is the main. this is my fault. however, it still shocks me just as much that he is singing it smack in the middle of the concert- weird.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Dec 2008, 23:47

Got you, falafel! And I agree, no point in being different for the sake of being different. But now I'm really disappointed that Viribhoni won't be the main. I was looking forward to the outpouring on this forum after his concert a la post- Mari Mari last year!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 23 Dec 2008, 01:15

I think you might just be lucky, Bilahari - the songlist mentions Viribhoni as the 4th item. Even if they've got the order wrong, I can't think of any other candidate for the main piece. Karuna Elakante (Varali) is possibly one but is more likely to get sub-main billing...

And I agree with everyone else that Viribhoni is perfectly suitable for rendering as a main piece....and I don't remember TMk advertising it as "adventurous". How much publicity can anyone hope to get from an item in the songlist, for heaven's sake....

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 23 Dec 2008, 04:33

We all got excited by falafel's statement that viriboni is the main. Now that Rajesh says it is not, there is no news here. He has sung varnams in the middle before. If it happens to be the main, let us pick it back up then.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 23 Dec 2008, 12:19

As I pointed above VK, in all probability, Viribhoni will be the main

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 23 Dec 2008, 16:43

We shall wait and hope.

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 24 Dec 2008, 08:54

Hi I started this thread as a review for the VDS academy concert .I guess that the original topic has got derailed. I am hoping that in this season he takes up a thillana as a main item and sings the same for one hour......Thats innovation. Merry Christmas...probably Jingle Bells could also be thought of as a main concert item....Bye Ragjay

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 24 Dec 2008, 09:08

Hi there was a remark why the Bhairavi varnam should not be sung as a main item. The varnam by nature is a warm up piece and what is the musician trying to convey by singing it in the middle?.That he was fooling around till he sings the warm up piece in the middle? This debate is not necessary and there are great pieces in Bhairavi which offer ample fodder for the artist to fire his imagination for development of the raga and rendition.Bye Ragjay

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 24 Dec 2008, 09:52

The varnam by nature is a warm up piece

It may be used by musicians that way and by concert format convention but there is nothing in varnam by nature that makes it only a warm up piece. ( http://www.sangeethapriya.org/Downloads ... arnams.mp3 )

balsree · Post by **balsree** » 24 Dec 2008, 10:36

Here is the hyperlink for Smt Vedavalli' lecdem on varnams.

http://www.sangeethapriya.org/Downloads ... arnams.mp3

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 24 Dec 2008, 12:13

Thanks balsree. I fixed the link in my post as well.

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 24 Dec 2008, 12:15

The file doesn't exist in the location. I guess after sangeethapriya's site was restored from backup not all files were restored.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 24 Dec 2008, 12:18

It was there a couple of days back. It is probably a temporary issue.

balsree · Post by **balsree** » 24 Dec 2008, 12:30

I am having that lec dem available on my disk. If anyone wishes, i can email.(12 MB in size)

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 24 Dec 2008, 23:54

In fact Srimushanm specifically mentioned that Varnams are not to be considered as warm up pieces