Top Five All-time greatest kutcheris

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 19 Mar 2009, 03:20

We have had various lists of late...favourite ragas, least favorite ones, gana raga favorites etc

Occasionally, an artiste comes into his/her elements and gives an absolutely brilliant kutcheri. These get enshrined in our hall of fame.

Do we have our own favorite, all-time greatest kutcheris?
Please post your favorites, and do try to follow the guidelines below:
1) five different artistes please!
2) provide as much information about the concert (e.g. date, location, accompanists, kritis sung)
3) a brief note on what is special about your choice
4) a link to a location where this concert is available (if in public domain)

Let me begin with my list:

1) Ramnad Krishnan - 1968 Academy concert - MSG/Trichy Sankaran
Makelara - Elalo pranatarthi - Sahana - Akshayo linga vibho - Bhairavi RTP...
-- Starting with Makelara, RNK is in excellent form. His Sankarabharanam and Bhairavi are a treat.

2) TK Rangachari - MSG - Raghu(?) - year/venue unknown
Kambodhi varnam - Vadera daivamu - Paramathmudu (Vagadheeswari) - Tatva meruga (garudadhwani) - Todi RTP
-- TKR is at his best! the Vagadheeswari is a classic
http://sangeethamshare.org/hariharan/TK ... ATHA-IYER/

3) MLV concert at Singapore (year/accompanists unknown)
Era na pai (Todi) - Nagumomu - main piece in Todi
I used to own this recording, but it got lost when I moved. MLV is in top form, her Todi is out of this world

4) S Kalyanaraman - Jamshedpur concert - accompanists unknown, possibly MSG+
Abhogi varnam - Sukunamule - Chakkani raja - a great Todi
Overall a great concert, SKR at his best
http://sangeethamshare.org/ramach/Vocal ... dpur_1972/

5) Semmangudi - Academy concert - year unknown
-- SSI sings an absolutely riveting Shanmukhapriya
Again, I seem to have lost this recording, but the concert stays in my mind...
If someone can provide me a link to this concert in public domain, it would be much appreciated.

appu · Post by **appu** » 19 Mar 2009, 07:44

KV Narayanaswami, TN Krishnan, Palghat Raghu 1979 Shanmukhananda Sabha, Bombay

RTP in Shankarabharanam, Todi Kalyani, Durbar. Main: Keeravani, Out of this world Tani Avartanam by Raghu
Sub Main: Mohanam, Evarura Ninnuvina.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Mar 2009, 07:58

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 19 Mar 2009, 09:57

SSI - Airport
GNB - incomplete RTP Natakurinji
KVN - 1982 Karunagapally - tiruvaDi sharaNam / 4 raga RTP
Nedunuri - 1982 LGJ / UKS - muripemu / RTP kAmbhOji
TKR - above mentioned concert

Hon. mentions:

TVS - MSG / KRM - abhOgi / kiravANi / RTP nATakurinji
DKP - jaganmOhini RTP concert with PMI [mAmava paTTAbhirAmA / raksha bettArE]

tribute · Post by **tribute** » 19 Mar 2009, 10:59

Am I allowed to tell my favorite kutcheris of present artistes? Looks like this discussion is somewhere in the late 1900's!! =)

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 19 Mar 2009, 11:46

Certainly not! Most of mine are from the present for the simple reason that my non-live listening experience is usually in the form of individual items (typically randomized) rather than as an entire kutcheri. Also a live experience always stays in the mind more than a recorded one. Narrowing to 5 is a difficult task but let me try - except for 1-2, most of them are live. Can't remember all the pieces, sorry folks!

1) Sanjay - Music Academy, 2002 - Mindblowing SAnkarabharanam (Endukku Peddala), Sriranjani RTP. Trichy Sankaran on Mrudangam, not sure of others
2) TNS - Mylapore Fine Arts, 2002 - The RTP in Shubha Pantuvarali will remain one of my most treasured memories. I am not evevn sure of what else was sung - I think VV Ravi was on Violin and Ramabhadran on mrudangam. I am also hard pressed to select the 1982 KGS concert featuring Shankarabharanam, another 1982 concert with MSG with Tanayuni Brova as main and Carnatica's concert recording of Kalyani with CSM but since I will vote for the live concert.
3) Vijay Siva - Krishna Gana Sabha, 2005 - A Deekshitar special that was really very special. Sri Subrahmanyaya (Kambhoji) and Meenakshi (Purvikalyani) were the mains. RK Shriramkumar on violin and Srimushnam at his very best on the Mrudangam
4) MLV - Sony Nad recording. Not sure of date/accompanists etc. Stupendous Thodi for Emi Jeshithememi. Another favourite is a concert featuring Chetulara Sringaramu in BHairavi and Kamalambam in Kalyani
5) Alathoor Brothers - Also Sony Nad concert featuring DAsukovalena (Thodi), Mari mari ninne (Kambhoji) and Saveri RTP. CM at its weightiest.

I will put in some honourable mentions too!

1) GNB - Music Today release. A superhuman kambhoji RTP and a cracking concert with the mastro at his best. Not a great fan of Chowdiah's seven-stringed violin though

2) Neyveli Santhanagopalan's Music Academy 2005 concert. Ramanatham Bhajeham and Endukku Peddala. Opened my eyes to this maestro's music
3) Nedunuri Krishnamurthy Academy 2007 concert - what a Mohanam!

SAdly many of my favourite veterans feature because I can't think of their pieces as "entire concerts" in most cases. Therefore many of my favourites like Voleti, Ramnad Krishnan, KVN, Rajarathnam etc. have been left out.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 19 Mar 2009, 11:48

Look forward to listening to some of the classics mentioned here!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 19 Mar 2009, 12:14

Concerts I actually attended:

KVN / VVS / PR - BRRS 1987 - shri subrahmaNyAya / RTP sAvEri
Smt. R. Vedavalli / RKSK / KAP - Naada Inbam 2007 - inkevarunnAru [the greatest sahAnA I have ever heard live] / sadAshiva bhajanamE - tODi
Smt. R. Vedavalli / Chandramouli / Easwaran - FAS 2002 - RTP kIravANi [sankIrNa tripuTa - tisra gati]
Vijay Siva / RKSK / Sankaran / Suresh - Kalarasana 2006 - kAshi vishvEshvara / RTP kAnaDA
Nedunuri / Nagai / KVP / TVV - Academy 2006 - CEsinadella [the tODi of a lifetime]

Honorable mention:

DKJ / LGJ / KRM / GH - 1983 FAS - kathayya kathayya [even though I was too young to remember, my Grandmother assures me I was very much present at this concert - knowing what my concert attendance pattern was like as a child, I must have blissfully slept through the nAyaki, kalyANi, harikAmbhOji and the tani that captivate me regularly thanks to the recording]

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 19 Mar 2009, 12:40

Unnikrishnan at Narada gana sabha some time in 2002.

Charukesi sub main
Bhairavi Balagopala main

Phenomenal. Reminded of every all time great artiste through the course of the concert.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 19 Mar 2009, 13:18

TNS-LGJ-UKS KGS 1979

Awesome Todi alapana - Awesome kriti (dachukovulena) rendition - mind-boggling neraval (soumitri tyagaraja) - superb swaraprasthara - superb tani. Canatic music couldn't have gotten any better than that.

coolkapali · Post by **coolkapali** » 19 Mar 2009, 13:47

I will mention individual pieces, the first five that come to my mind......not sure about the accompaniment details.

1. Thodi -Dasharathe- Seshu-available in Sangeethapriya
2. Kedaragoula RTP- Semmangudi
3. Dwijavanthi RTP - Seshu available in Sangeethapriya
4. Shri Chandrasekhara Yateendram: Shankarabharanam, neraval in Advaita...., Semmangudi
5. Ninne Nammithi: KVN

Now for live ones:
1. Sanjay: RTP in Jonpuri
2. Bhairavi, Sindhu Bhairavi Pallavi: Seshu
3. Neyveli: Brovabharama, Bahudhari

Actually i am awakened to the fact that much of the present day concerts have not raised upto the levels set by the past masters.

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 19 Mar 2009, 14:24

Uday_Shankar wrote:TNS-LGJ-UKS KGS 1979

Awesome Todi alapana - Awesome kriti (dachukovulena) rendition - mind-boggling neraval (soumitri tyagaraja) - superb swaraprasthara - superb tani. Canatic music couldn't have gotten any better than that.

Any download link available for this concer uday ji?? Thanks..

Arvind

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 19 Mar 2009, 16:50

Arvind, if we cannot find it online at sangeethamshare or elsewhere I will upload it somewhere. I don't know if there's a copyright issue.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 19 Mar 2009, 17:03

coolkarni wrote:Actually i am awakened to the fact that much of the present day concerts have not raised upto the levels set by the past masters.

Maybe because they're not given the time to rise to those levels?

Shivadasan · Post by **Shivadasan** » 19 Mar 2009, 18:51

Many of Madurai Mani Iyer's concert were in this category where TNK or LGJ played violin. Unfortunately I do not have any record and rely only on memory. 1964-65 (I think,) Music Academy concert of T.N.Krishnan's duet with his sister N.Rajam, both playing Carnatic Music should come in this category. Dwaram's Music academy concert would come in this category, particularly his Ranjani. Some of the earlier concerts of MDR also were unforgtetable. One concert I heard of Musiri Subramania Iyer singing Sree Subrahmanyaya Namesthe was also breathtaking.

appu · Post by **appu** » 19 Mar 2009, 20:07

I have heard the above muic academy TNK/Rajam concert. Bhairavi Ata talam varnam in a mel kalam that is just mind blowing. When you least expect TNK will surprise you.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 19 Mar 2009, 20:17

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 19 Mar 2009, 20:43

1. Ramnad Krishnan - TSV - Sankaran Music Academy 1965 - the Paalinchu Kamakshi is absolutely amazing, even though the swaraprasthara and the niraval are very short and crisp. Once you have heard them, you'll never be able to forget it. Also Sankaran sir is in top form in the concert, being only 22 or 23 years old at the time!

2. KVN - VVS - UKS Music Academy 1975 - this was the year of Muthuswami Dikshitar's bicentennial, so mostly all Dikshitar pieces. The niraval for Angarakam is just fantastic (at Dheenarakshakam...), especially the thalam control when KVN does ethir nadai patterns. UKS sir is also great - the nadam of his mrudangam is great, especially the thoppi. If you haven't heard UKS sir play kappi mrudangam before, listen to this concert!

3. LGJ - KRM - CKS Calcutta 1973 - this is commercially available from Charsur. Everyone should listen to this concert - for a recording from 1973, the recording quality is absolutely fantastic, much better than what you get with all the fancy setups nowadays, considering that this concert was probably recorded using a single unidirectional mike. Mani sir's nadam is out of the world - at times I seriously keep thinking the mrudangist is Palghat Mani Iyer. Main piece is Balagopala, LGJ plays ragam for around 22-23 minutes, absolutely riveting. The kannaku patterns in Misra Chapu LGJ plays are also very interesting (for Maati Maatiki).

4. SKR - MSG - KRM SKGS 1970 - all artists in top form, and Kalyanaraman's voice is like honey throughout the concert. This is the famous concert with the ranjani ragamalika RTP. But special mention must go to the mention of Hariguna gaavata naachungi at the end - the ragam it is rendered in (announced by SKR as Deepali) combined with his voice make for a unusually haunting, unforgettable rendition. MSG and SKR have a great time with the taans - they were the masters of that. After listening to this concert, I always wondered what kind of punyam the people in the audience must have done to be fortunate to hear such music live.

5. Voleti - LGJ - Sankaran Academy 1978. One of the few concerts available of the great master Voleti Shri Venkateswarulu... his voice is amazing - just so resonant and bright in this concert. LGJ himself says "sabaash" or "bale" not once, but several times throughout the concert - need I say more? Each piece in this concert is a gem - but special mention must go to the Kalyani RTP. In that, he sings certain parts of the swaram with a Hindustani touch, bringing out a Yaman feel - but then when he jumps back to the carnatic mode with the sampurna scale, the effect is riveting... thus LGJ says sabaash twice at that moment.

Also, honorable mention: Vedavalli mami's 2006 Music academy concert - I attended this concert, and I will never, never be able to forget it. The thani by my guru was also spellbinding, esp. the tisram, reminiscent of Upendransir at his peak.

2 and 4 should be available on Sangeethapriya, I am not sure about the others.

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 20 Mar 2009, 00:11

I must have listened to the following recordings at least 20 times and I never feel tired when I listen.

1. Ariyakudi - TNK - PMI

Vanajakshi - Kalyani, Endaro - Sree, Raghuvara - Pantuvarali, Koluvai - Bhairavi, Dasarathi - Thodi, Bakthi Biksha - Sankarabaranam, Parama Pavana - Poorvikalyani, ...

2. Ramnad Krishnan - Govindaraja Pillai - CS Murugaboopathy - Music Academy 1960s

End-to-end superb concert with no let down. Paralokha - Mandari, Enduku Nradhaya - Harikamboji, Mukhari - Karubaru Varali - MaragathaMani, Nadupai - Madhyamavathi Abhimana - Begada

Masterly performance

3. Any concert of GNB is always fascinating.

Here is one that I like a lot - GNB - Lalgudi - Palani - Shanmugananda Hall - 1959

Badaliga - Reetigowla Aragimpave - Thodi, Etavuna - Yadhukulakamboji, Sarasasamadana - Kapinarayani, RTP - Kalyani

4. I love many of MMI concerts. But here is one of the rare ones, I like a lot - his imagination and tempo

Madurai Mani Iyer - Rajamanicakam Pillai and CS Murugabhoopathy

Vatapi, Diwakara Tanujam, Kamalambikaya - Bhairavi, Sarasamukhi - Gowdamalhar, Venkatachalapathe - Karnataka Kafi, Suki Evaro - Kanada

5. Alathur Brothers - Lalgudi - Palghat Mani Iyer - Music Academy 1965

Amba Paradevathe - Rudrapriya, Enduku Dayaradhura - Thodi, Santhamule - Saama, Endundi - Durbar (what a rendition), RTP - Shanmugapriya, Mukthi alikkum - Navroj, Thirupugaz - Surati

6. T. Brinda & T . Muktha -

Morabedithe - Thodi, Kanthimathim - Kalyani, Padams - Adiyoga - Kamboji, Ossosi - Mukhari, Ninnujooda - Punnagavarali

MD Ramanathan - Lalgudi - Palghat Mani Iyer

Viriboni - Bhairavi, Vatapi - Hamsadhwani, Ninnuvina - Poorvikalyani, Bhajana - Kedaram (MDR is the master of Kedaram), Endaro - Sree, RTP - Sankarabaranam

Some of the live concerts I have heard live and I remember

1. Semmangudi @ Music Circle - 1970s

Marubalga (sreeranjani), Ksheenamai (Mukhari)

2. MD Ramanathan @ Music Academy - 1970s

MayaAtheetha (Mayamalavagowla), Kamalambam Bhajare (kalyani)

DKJ @ Music Academy - 1980s

3. Sree Valli - Natabhairavi , Hiramayeem - Lalitha

4. KS Gopalakrishnan @ NJ - 1996

Balagopala - Bhairavi - one of the best Bhairavi I have heard ever. KSG told me that he learnt that krithi from GNB.

5. Sanjay Subramanyan @ NJ - 2002

Kanthimathim - Kalyani, Koluvarmaragada - Thodi, RTP - Malayamarutham

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 20 Mar 2009, 22:06

Uday please do upload the TNS concert - it is not on Sangeethapriya as far as I can tell and I do a fair bit of trawling for TNS cutcheries out there! If possible at least upload the main piece...or even the alaapana....It is not a commercial release either...

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Mar 2009, 00:28

Interesting thread, ragam-talam! It's nice especially too see concerts available in the public domain listed so I can use these as recommendations while wading through the Sangeethapriya ocean...

i. Favourite Recordings [in no order]
1. MDR TNK VR
Used to be on Sangeethapriya but seems to have disappeared now. A brilliant concert featuring an elaborate vAthApi, one of the best renditions of the bhairavi swarajathi ever, excellent toli janma and tuLasi bilva. Bhairavi, bilahari, kEdAragowLa- what better combination can I ask for?
2. TNK MC UKS
This has got to be one of the most magical concerts I've ever listened to. The bilahari, Ananda bhairavi, and kAmbOji are all magnificent. Was listening to this concert in the hospital after my tonsillectomy and I NEARLY forgot my pain (and that the nurses had once again forgotten to give me my painkillers)... No longer on Sangeethapriya (people who'd like these concerts can approach me privately; they are not commercial)
3. SSI LGJ TS
Concert featuring a great rendition of the bhairavi swarajathi, akhilANdEshwari, and the crowning jewel- RTP in shaNmugapriya with ghana panchaka thAnam. LGJ and TS are brilliant in this concert as well. http://sangeethamshare.org/ksj/Semmangu ... --LGJ-TS-/
4. KVN Kovai Bala GD
Sowkhyam through and through with an exceptional kAmbOji and kApi and lovely ahiri and dwijAvanthi. Kalyani is wonderful as well. I can listen to this concert countless times.
http://sangeethapriya.org/Downloads/kvn/ramandiram/
5. MMI TNK
A rare opportunity to hear srIranjani from MMI, and this along with the kAnada, kAmbOji, and RTP in shaNmugapriya make this concert extraordinary.
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/ksj/Madu ... /MMI--018/

ii. Favourite Live Concerts [no order]
1. TMK RKSK SRR Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha 2007
A mAnji to die for. Lovely neraval and swaras in the kalyANi as well. RTP in harikAmboji was excellent. Imaginative rIthigowLa alapanai. RKSK was extraordinary that evening. I still remember the whole concert vividly.
2. Sanjay Mysore Nagaraj GD TVV Vani Mahal 2008
Written plenty about this concert already.
My thoughts are here: http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... -2008.html
3. TNK Sriram Krishnan TS San Diego 2005
My first CM concert in more than a decade and the one that really got me hooked to CM, so I can really say it was life-altering!
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/murthy/0 ... San-Diego/
The mandra sthayi phrasings in Ananda bhairavi and the kEdAragowLa alapanai still give me goosebumps.
4. TNK Viji GD Kalakshetra 2007
The thAye yeshoda was spellbinding. Elaborate nIlAmbari and sindhu bhairavi alapanais at the end of the concert. Don't even remember the other items but it was such an extraordinary experience (brilliant thani and accompaniment by GD as well). The longest standing ovation at the end of the concert that I've ever seen.
5. TMK RKSK Poongulam Singapore 2008
Extraordinary karNAtaka kApi and kIravANi. ThOdi thanam was out of this world. Add to that the venue, Esplanade, and it was just a perfect concert experience.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Mar 2009, 00:37

BTW, is the TNK-Rajam CM concert available in the public domain?

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 22 Mar 2009, 06:22

Bilahari, one of my intentions in starting this thread was also to find out about good kutcheris from others and to locate recordings of these to add to our collections.

There's too much out there, so it's always useful to get some recommendations from knowledgeable rasikas on this forum.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Mar 2009, 06:28

Ragam-talam, is the SSI Shanmugapriya I linked the one you were referring to as well?

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 22 Mar 2009, 09:42

BTW ragam-talam, the mrudangist in the TKR concert you mentioned is Thanjavur Upendran sir, it is a music academy concert from the 60's

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 22 Mar 2009, 12:35

ragam-talam wrote:We have had various lists of late...favourite ragas, least favorite ones, gana raga favorites etc

2) TK Rangachari - MSG - Raghu(?) - year/venue unknown
Kambodhi varnam - Vadera daivamu - Paramathmudu (Vagadheeswari) - Tatva meruga (garudadhwani) - Todi RTP
-- TKR is at his best! the Vagadheeswari is a classic
http://sangeethamshare.org/hariharan/TK ... ATHA-IYER/

The album information says that it is a Music Academy concert. The identity of the raga is estabslished only just into the 5th minute (about 4.04) as was pointe out in the forum sometime back...I can just picture the scene!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 22 Mar 2009, 15:31

bilahari wrote:Ragam-talam, is the SSI Shanmugapriya I linked the one you were referring to as well?

Yes, thank you for providing that pointer!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 22 Mar 2009, 15:32

sankirnam wrote:BTW ragam-talam, the mrudangist in the TKR concert you mentioned is Thanjavur Upendran sir, it is a music academy concert from the 60's

Thanks for the clarification. And do you know who the violinist is? My doco says MSG.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 22 Mar 2009, 15:35

bilahari wrote:2. TNK MC UKS
This has got to be one of the most magical concerts I've ever listened to. The bilahari, Ananda bhairavi, and kAmbOji are all magnificent. Was listening to this concert in the hospital after my tonsillectomy and I NEARLY forgot my pain (and that the nurses had once again forgotten to give me my painkillers)... No longer on Sangeethapriya (people who'd like these concerts can approach me privately; they are not commercial)

TNK and MC?? You mean TN Krishnan and M Chandrasekharan playing violin?
That must be a unique concert indeed!
I would be very interested in this one for sure.

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 22 Mar 2009, 16:14

TNK and MC have played quite a few violin duet concerts together.

Sathej

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 22 Mar 2009, 16:18

@ Everyone

If you search for "TNK-MC" on sangeethamshare.org, you find some of their violin duet recordings.

sankirnam · Post by **sankirnam** » 22 Mar 2009, 21:33

The TNK-MC concert that bilahari mentioned is unique not only for being a violin duet with MC and UKS, but it is also a double mrudangam concert with UKS sir and Upendran sir.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Mar 2009, 21:42

Wow, totally missed the double mrudangam on that one! Unfortunately the thani is not recorded in the concert (though the percussion accompaniment for the entire concert is just sublime).

Srikant, the concert has disappeared from Sangeethapriya.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 22 Mar 2009, 22:22

Just today I searched for it: on sangeethamSHARE.org

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 22 Mar 2009, 22:58

Ah, I haven't checked for it recently. It was gone a few months ago when the webmaster said the uploader had decided to withdraw all his uploads. That folder also has the famous SSI-MSS-KSN private concert. Anyway, the link for those interested: http://sangeethamshare.org/asokan/CARNA ... UKS-TU-26/

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 23 Mar 2009, 02:38

Thanks for the link.
Sangeethamshare seems to be verrry slow... it takes forever to download.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 23 Mar 2009, 02:44

sankirnam wrote:5. Voleti - LGJ - Sankaran Academy 1978. One of the few concerts available of the great master Voleti Shri Venkateswarulu... his voice is amazing - just so resonant and bright in this concert. LGJ himself says "sabaash" or "bale" not once, but several times throughout the concert - need I say more? Each piece in this concert is a gem - but special mention must go to the Kalyani RTP. In that, he sings certain parts of the swaram with a Hindustani touch, bringing out a Yaman feel - but then when he jumps back to the carnatic mode with the sampurna scale, the effect is riveting... thus LGJ says sabaash twice at that moment.

Wow, sounds very interesting.
Wonder if this is available in the public domain or with a forum member that they would be willing to share...

SangithaRasika · Post by **SangithaRasika** » 23 Mar 2009, 06:23

coolkarni wrote: Concert Duration : 2h 53mThanjavur S Kalyanaraman-Lalgudi G Jayaraman-Umayalpuram K Sivaraman
If not I can upload links later.

Coolji, I could not get this on Sangeethapriya ... Can you please upload this concert sometime ?

Thanks,
~SR

arvindt · Post by **arvindt** » 30 May 2009, 21:13

Not sure if these were mentioned earlier...

Ariyakudi 1964 marriage concert with Dinamani Vamsha, Saraguna Palimpa, and other favourites...

SSI@Perambur Sangeeta Sabha, '66 (mindblowing Hariharaputram followed immediately by Rtp Kedaragoula)

SSI concert with a stunning Paramathmudu in Vagadeeshwari, don't know the year
(this also has a brilliant Sarasiruhasana in Nattai and a rare Vamsavati)

Brindamma's "Live in Concert" CD released by Carnatica, with a mindblowing Kanada (Sukhi Evvaro)
and Purvi Kalyani.

GNB Kalldialurichi concert with Balagopala, Kalayami, Atana, Rtp Shanmukhapriya: cracker of a concert.

More recent/live concerts:

An unforgettable 5 hour concert by TNS at MITHAS in Boston, with Rtp Hameer Kalyani.

TMK's concert at MITHAS in 2005 (which I missed but bought the CD recording of, later) with a brilliant
Brovavamma in Manji, Suryamurthe opener, and Gajavadana in Thodi.

A mind blowing live concert by Shri RK Srikantan at the Chinmaya mission in Andover, MA with a
SSI-ish Marubalka, Kaddanuvariki, Lambodaram Avalambe and a lovely Sahana.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 30 May 2009, 21:28

arvindt wrote:Not sure if these were mentioned earlier...

Ariyakudi 1964 marriage concert with Dinamani Vamsha, Saraguna Palimpa, and other favourites...

This concert was recently uploaded in Sangeethapriya! =)

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 01 Jun 2009, 17:44

MMI-Lalgudi- Palani - Starts with Mohanam varnam, Thaya Yashoda with outstandign neraval with Lalgudi is inspired form, RTP Kambodhi - Parimala rangapathe. Palani is awesome form.

GNB-Chowdiah-Palani - AIR broadcast. Brocheva in Khamas, I've never heard a better rendition if this song. Again Palani plays as only he can.

SSI-TNK-Mani Iyer - My recording starts with Amba Kamakshi and thani by PMI. Fantastic RTP in Shanmugapriya.

Emani Shankara Shatri-MSG-? - Jamshedpur. The Karakarapriya and Mohanam [Rama Ninnu Nammina]. Amazing.

KSG-MC-Dorai[?] - Mohana Kalyani RTP

Heard Live

1. NSG-VVS-UKS - Mudra one raga one krithi - Akshayalingavibho - Shankarabaranam
2. MSS - Swaralaya Puraskaram award concert

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 03 Jun 2009, 03:23

MaheshS wrote:KSG-MC-Dorai[?] - Mohana Kalyani RTP

Mahesh, do you have more details of this concert?

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 03 Jun 2009, 14:33

All my list says is Seshadripuram, Bangalore. Balagopala Bhairavi and RTP in Mohana Kalyani. That's it.

I just guessed the accompaniments, could be wrong.

VISHNURAMPRASAD · Post by **VISHNURAMPRASAD** » 03 Jun 2009, 17:35

Let me share some of the best recordings of the past masters that I have heard and enjoyed numerous times! In my opinion the concerts of those masters were always great and each one of them had its own legend.

1. The GNB/MSG/CSM/MNP 1958 concert with

Ramakatha Sudha with Thani Avarthanam by CSM and Natesa Pillai (naadha mayam!!), Sudhamayi, Sri Rama Ramani Manohara (Mohanam), Nannubrova ra (bhairavam), RTP Nattakurinji (with 4 rounds of alapana by GNB before getting into thanam and what a reply from MSG!.....) - Koniyada tharama in thisragathi as Pallavi, Himagiri thanaye, Sloka - Kalaambodhara in Hamsanandhi, the hindustani raga founded by Late BGA khan for GNB (I forgot the raga name), Ahiri and Durga, Dharmasravana and Mangalam... I must have heard this concert atleast a dozen times but never felt like giving it up.

2. Alathur Brothers, Lalgudi, Mani Iyer

Nattaikurinji Varnam, Endhuku nirdaya (Great alapana by Shri Subbu! In my opinion Shri DKJ and Alathur Subbu were outstanding in Harikambhoji renditions) with nereval in Dharalo....., Sama (by Shri Srinivasa Iyer, a bhava laden exposition of this raga) followed by Shanthamulekha with Thani Avarthanam by the immortal Mani Iyer, RTP in Shanmukhapriya, paniyinvinruli, mukthi alithithidum moolasthaanarai kandu... (one of the best renditions i have ever heard), Chandrasekhara, Hindolam Thillana, Thiruppugazh in Surutti (Thiruverakam - swami malai padhigam).

3. MMI / MSG / Palghat Mani Iyer, 1965, Shanmukhananda sabha, concert no.2

Vallabha, Angarakam (with swaras in Surutti), Palukavemina (poornachandrika), Inthaparaamugam edhu (poorvi kalyani with alapana, neraval and swaras), Manavyala (Excellent alapana and swaras!), Koluvaiyunnade, thani avarthanam by Mani Iyer, Shri kamalambam (with alapana in sahana), Aandavane unai nambinen (with alapana and swaras), Sukhi Evaro (with alapana and swaras), Vinanaasakoniyunnaanuraa (prathapavarali), RTP Kalyani (Kaanakkidaikkumo Sabesan Darisanam, raga malika in kedaragaula... and this recording gets cut abruptly after this!!..) one of the best concerts and this apparently is the second day concert of the famous THODI RTP (Geeta cassettes) concert which was on the previous day at the same venue.

4. A Vibrant Semmangudi Concert, TNK, Mani Iyer (must be late 50s or early 60s)

Vathapi, Thyagarajayoga vaibhavam, shri kaanthani, chakkaniraja (what a karaharapriya!), janani ninnuvina.. (with swaras), saaketha nikethana (he renders this krithi's pallavi and asks for mani iyer to give "arudhi", for which mani iyer starts a "pharan" which he concludes at the end of anupallavi as if to satisfy's semmangudi's arudhi request... with a thunderous sabhaaash! from semmangudi, he goes on singing swaras for this kannada krithi with ease), shri subramanyaya namasthe kambhoji and thukkadas. one of the best recordings that i have heard of vintage semmangudi.

5. Ramanathapuram Krishnan, M.Chandrasekharan, Umayalpuram Sivaraman and Guru Shri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer
Palukavemina, paralokha bhaya, bhuvindasudane, sivasivayena, sanatana, akshayalinga vibho, kanugonu sowkyamu, naamakusumamula with an excellent thani by UKS and veteran shri Rajappa iyer, ninnadanela, RTP Bhairavi (dharavidhalita kuvalayaladhala neela), Slokam - raakachandra samaanakanthi vadanaam, govardhana giridhari, parulannamaata, mangalam. One of the best recordings and a memorable concert!

The Live ones!

Shri TVS in 1982 at West Mambalam Srinivasa mandiram, Ramanavami with Nagai Murali and Bhakta... I still remember that Charukesi he rendered with a great nereval in Chaduvulanni followed by swaras with (ga ma gaa gaaa... ga ma paaa ma gaaa ri ga saa ri gaaa!). I could listen to old Mamis and Mamas suddenly getting into nostalgia about his guru Madurai Mani Iyer. They said it is Mani IYer's marumaan who is singing and the concert went on till 11 in the night!

Shri DKJ's concert in 1991 at Music Academy, where I could sit behind the stage in the dias along with many of his disciples. What a lovely concert it was!. Begada (Nive raa kuladhanamu), Renukaadevi samrakshithoham (kannada bangala), kambhoji (Shri Raghuvara Aprameya), Kamakshi (Saveri), with Tani avartanam by TKM and Harisankar. after the concert Shri DKJ asked if shri Harishankar has a hand made of rubber and patted him for such a great thani. He also went on to say that Harisankar was a student of Murugaboopathi . Veteran TKM was full of energy while playing for Maamayura meedileri vaa. The concert concluded unusually (at Music Academy) late as there were many requests from rasikas like mahadeva siva sambho etc. No body could think that DKJ would be no more the very next month after the concert. Incidentally it was his Sangeetha Kalanidhi Concert! I remember that concert was video graphed and relayed in DD also. My father, who was a close friend of DKJ during his last years, used to say that he could find DKJ merging with the Sahithya of Mahadeva Shiva Sambho and Renukaa Devi Samrakshithoham while rendering them, no wonder the almighty took him soon into His foray!

I remember one concert at Krishnagana Sabha (in early 80s) of Shri TVS with Trichy Sankaran where he sang an alapana of Hamsanadham followed by Mantra balam which still linger in my ears, particularly the naadham of Shri Trichy Shankaran to whom i became a die hard fan and attended the 25th December Mylapore fine arts concert of U Shrinivas just to hear his Thani Avarthanam, almost every year for 10 years!

All Nedanuri's Academy concerts since 1991. One of his Bhairavi alapana is standing out in my memory, that he rendered at Mylapore Fine Arts in early 1990s.

Only upon hearing these maestros I understood how many concerts I would have missed in 1980s and 1990s particularly that of Nedunuri, KVN, DKJ, Maharajapuram, MLV, TSK, TMT, Semmangudi, MS and DKP who were still giving lots of concerts.

I could just vaguely remember attending an MLV concert at the Academy where the power went off for sometime, while she continued singing without Mike. Also that of Madurai Somu with Madras A.Kannan's accompaniment at they Ayodhya mantapam where i could not gain an entry into the main pandal due to heavy rush. I distinctly remember a concert of Flute Mali at the Krishna Gana Sabha where he came much earlier than scheduled time and spent sometime with the secretaries and also had a conversation with my guru Shri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer. We as the students of KGS were allowed to listen to that concert. I do not remember the songs as I had no interest in Flute concerts at that age of 7 or 8.

I remember a concert where my first mridangam guru Shri Palghat Kunjumani accompanied Smt. DKP at a temple (which i remember as Siva Vishnu Temple, T Nagar), I was 5 or 6 years then doing my 1st standard Schooling.

Since my grandpa was a great music lover and a musician himself (though he did not perform after 1960), we had a great ambience at home. I remember many radio concerts of Shri MMI in particular where my grandpa use to listen and weep remembering his good old friendship days with the maestro. He used narrate of lots of incidents about those great period (1930s & 1940s).

Let me end my memoirs here

.

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 03 Jun 2009, 23:23

VISHNURAMPRASAD wrote:
3. MMI / MSG / Palghat Mani Iyer, 1965, Shanmukhananda sabha, concert no.2
.

I do have a decent collection of MMI concerts. But, I have not heard this one. Is it on the web ?

Several MMI concerts are top and it is difficult to pick the best - His Sangeetha Kalanidhi 1959 concert, MMI / Rajamanickam Pillai/ Murugabhoopathi - Suki Evaro and Nangavarmm concert -MMI/TSI/PSP - swaras for Niinnvina (Navarasakannada) is mind blowing.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 03 Jun 2009, 23:37

VISHNURAMPRASAD wrote:...
Let me end my memoirs here .

Great post. I have saved in my favorites folder.
Please share more of your memoirs; they are wonderful.
Thank you.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Jun 2009, 09:22

VRP,
Great Post , you have taken your time and recollected post . Just curious is your top 5 of the legends ranked 1 to 5 , or is it unranked top 5 .

VISHNURAMPRASAD · Post by **VISHNURAMPRASAD** » 05 Jun 2009, 15:28

Sir, Of course it is not ranked

It was MMI who made me a rasika of Sangeetham and only through his music and his life, I was able to enjoy the other stalwarts and could understand their greatness. For 60 days when I was spending my holidays at Madurai (1985) at my Aunt's place, I heard only one recording of MMI repeatedly! The one released by AVM with Sadhaananda Thandavam and RTP Kalyani (what an extempore rendition with panchama, shadja varjya prayogams yet the flavour of Kalyani did not change an iota!).

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 07 Jun 2009, 16:27

So many concerts mentioned and none of MDR? And I thought this was a music forum.. tsk.. makes me question if any of you know good music when you hear it! (just kidding folks)

1> MDR/LGJ/VR
Main items were Bilahari (Paridana Michithe), Keeravani (Kaligiyunte gada with neraval in Iru Padamula Bhaktijesina Rithi Thyagarajuni Ippudu) and a spectacular Begada RTP.

2> MDR/Chalakudi/Neyveli Narayanan
Main items: Kedaram (Ananda Natana Prakasam with neraval in Sangitha Vadya Vinoda taandava jaata..) and an elaborate RTP in Sankarabharanam. However, the highlight of the concert was a spellbinding viruttam (Sugriva mitram paramam pavithram) in Saveri, Naatakuranji and Purvikalyani followed by the best rendition of Satre Vilagi irum Pillaai I have ever heard (without exception).

3> SSI/MSG/VR
Main items: Panthuvarali (Sarasaksha Paripalaya of the Maharaja, with neraval at Bhaamini samudaya shaya mohana Padmanabha Kamalaadhara Nivara). This rendition of Panthuvarali, including the neraval was so great that it even eclipsed the mighty Sankarabharanam (Endukku Pettala) that was to follow. RTP in Keeravani was in Misra Triputa (Anandapurnabhogam Sivogam Sacchidananda..) The viruttams were spectacular as usual.

4> Madurai Somu/MC/CSM I think
Main Item: Koluvamaragatha - Thodi (this was well past the 2 1/2 -3 hour mark and MC was late for his train, but he stayed and played, delivering a picture perfect thodi in response to Somu's grand effort)

5> Semmangudi/TNK/unknown
Main Item: Manava Janma - Purvi Kalyani
Ragam Thanam Pallavi - Sankarabharanam - Adi (2 cycles)

Svaapana · Post by **Svaapana** » 07 Jun 2009, 19:59

I heard a recording of TNS (may be floating around somewhere!). He starts with karaharapriya alapana for a full 57 minutes followed by Chakkaniraja and this piece alone goes on for 2 hrs and 53 minutes. TNS then talkes about the kutchery format before the trinity. Needless to say that the Karaharapriya is simply mind-boggling.
However, the best concert I ever heard was by Karukurichi Arunachalam in the Tamil isai sangam. The concert was fully relayed by AIR Madras from 9.30 pm to 2.40am. Thodi RTP for over 2 hours was breathtaking.