Sowmya@Hickman Hall, Rutgers Univ, NJ, 2nd May '09, organize

madura1 · Post by **madura1** » 03 May 2009, 19:28

As we walk into the auditorum at 4.00 pm we find on the stage a concert is already happening . The audience and Sowmya, Sriramkumar and Neyveli were also forced to sit and watch the " concert'. A gentleman creeps on to the stage and blurts incoherently about the greatness of the young artists on the stage. After the enduring the torture the much awaited Sowmya concert begins.

The feedback speakers at regular intervals give out a high pitched scream. After successfully ripping out Sowmya's cochlea

the audio experts decide top remove the feedback speakers.

The concert cruises along wonderfully, then a lady - apparently an office bearer ( who looked as though she came straight from her bed) saunters on the stage and starts talking like a blithering idiot - the lady could not speak one sentence coherently. example - " Sowmya has a long way to go..." meant Sowmya has come a long way etc...she was a total wreck on the stage.

I had heard CMANA was a veteran organization in NA - but this was pathetic display...

Ramaprasad · Post by **Ramaprasad** » 03 May 2009, 20:46

Hello Madura1,

My pedestrian opinion, so far as this thread is concerned, is that it is better served by focussing on the concert, the kriti list and how the pieces were handled musically, and perhaphs the quality of the audio. The rest is perepheral and, in the larger context of our love for music, is trivial. With three veterans on stage yesterday, the music that you and I heard was of a quality that you would not ordinarily come across. I include in this the pieces chosen, the tradition that they emerged from and the scholarly and talented Sowmya, Shriram Kumar and Narayanan on stage. Let us savor the music for a few moments longer as the days pass. You will at least agree with me that we did not have to scramble for a seat. A great concert of this kind did not pack the large Hickmann Hall. Where are the rasikas?

Ramaprasad

newyorker · Post by **newyorker** » 03 May 2009, 21:14

Ooooh, fireworks to start this thread ... I will resist the temptation for a Jersey joke.

So, uh, how about a songlist?

Vocal: Sowmya
Violin: R.K. Sriramkumar
Mridangam: Neyveli Narayanan

Venue: Hickman Hall, Rutgers University: 5/2/09

1. Karunimpa (Varnam) - Sahana - Adi - Tiruvottiur Thyagyier (S)
2. Cinnanadene - Kalanidhi - Adi - Tyagaraja (S)
3. Vadera Deivamu - Pantuvarali - Rupakam - Tyagaraja (ANS)
Neraval @ " Dhatru vinutudaina ..."
4. Ma Ramanan - Hindolam - Rupakam 2 kalai - Sivan
5. Vazhi Maraikkude - Nattai Kurinji - Misra Chapu - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (A)
6. Sarasijanabha - Nagagandhari - Dikshithar - Rupakam
7. RTP - Thodi - "va guha muruga shanmugha, vinaiodi vadivela" - Adi 2 kalai, 1/2 eduppu

I left after this ... Elaborate thodi ... As in Queens the previous day, Sowmya passed up the usual 'heavy' main piece to sing an exhaustive RTP. Thanam was pretty special. However, the ragamalika swarams sounded as if Sowmya was experiencing a rare and temporary form of ADHD ... she changed ragams randomly and sometimes within the same avartanam, not even with some sort of kuraippu logic. Shanmughapriya, Mohanam, Hindolam, Suruti, Kedara gowla, Behag etc. were some of the transient glimpses.

But, wait ... I feel like I am distracting everyone from the topic of the thread

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 May 2009, 21:53

Thanks newyorker for the list..

madura1 - I have attended concerts at the Hickman Hall before, and have found the sound system and the CMANA recordings to be more than adequate - but then again, I may have particularly robust cells that line my cochleae. To be perfectly fair, I have not heard of such complaints from anyone else. Now, the issue with speeches - I do not know why there is this crazy need to speak in English - why not speak in a language you are comfortable in, and the artists understand? If it is not understood by some audience members, they should just count their lucky stars and take a bathroom break or something like that. I have yet to hear a speech that hasn't made me cringe at some point or another.

Ramaprasad, I was one of those who was planning to attend, but could not, because of being over committed!

CAN the topic be amended with the correct date - 2nd May?

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 03 May 2009, 22:27

I did not attend this concert. But, I have attended concerts at the venue with bad audio. IIRC, the audio engineer was also a pakkavadhyam thru' out the concert, constant adjusting thru the concert.

I thought NewYorker was complaining about speeches by artists, and not why can not rasikas complain about bad speeches by organizers. If that is fair, this is also fair.

What is the need for Introduction or Vote of Thanks ? These are mainly for the organizers to get on stage and flaunt their connections or musical knowledge " I have known the artist xyz since the age of 5 and he or she is my cousin's son " or "Thodi was like Rajaratnam" ...

Ramaprasad · Post by **Ramaprasad** » 04 May 2009, 00:38

I have no intention of kindling any firewaorks, Newyorker. First, let me try to complete the kriti list. After RTP,

-Vani Pondu Chalu - Kanada - Dharmapuri Subbarayar
-Alasara Parithapam - Surati - Swathi Thirunal
-Akilandeswari - Dwijavanthi - Dikshitar
-Innu Daya Barade - Kalyanavasantha - Purandara Dasa
-Villinai Ottha Puruvam - a Kavadi Chindu
-Thillana
-Mangalam

Hello Madura1:
There was no effort to "force" Sowmya and her team to listen to the concert that was going on. I can bear witness to the fact that a kriti or so before this concert was supposed to end, she walked into the auditorium from an adjoinging waiting room for the artists, on her own. Where is the effort to force here? It was clearly announced that there would be a concert of a local artist prior to the main event. So, you had the chance to choose the time when you wanted to be at the venue. The main event itself started slightly after 4:15 pm if I am right - not too bad for events of this kind.

Hello Newyorker:
The use of the phrase "temporary form of ADHD" is a bit strong and uncalled for, if you ask my musically illerate opinion. With due respect to you and your right to express your thoughts freely here, you have to agree there are bounds to the language and the "psychological" analysis we make here.
Changing ragams so fast may not be to your liking, which is acceptable. I myself stopped following the ragas (I am not very quick in this, I admit) and just lost myself in her music. It is a style of rendering that she might have felt like indulging in. Artists enjoy freedom to practice manodharma, just like you and I enjoy the right to critique the performance. Let me point out that this rapid change of ragas during the raga malika phase has been done before by other artists too, and is not considered an aberration.

Different tunes for different people.

Ramaprasad

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 04 May 2009, 13:21

I once attended her concert in Odukathur mutt. At the
start of the concert there were hardly any people. And then slowly people came in (unlike Sudha or
Nithyasree where you have to queue up 30 minutes before).
And she gave a great concert, never bothered about the missing numbers etc.

I am sure she is probably least bothered about what happens in speeches. Actually all these artist
are beyond these organisers speeches. The organiser donot make or break an artist of this level.
May be at an older age, an artist wants to listen to such praises in a crowded place more often. But
at -young and popular- artist, it is of least worry.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 04 May 2009, 18:42

rajaglan wrote:May be at an older age, an artist wants to listen to such praises in a crowded place more often. But
at -young and popular- artist, it is of least worry.

This is interesting observation - I like to hear from older age group.

jalajakshi · Post by **jalajakshi** » 05 May 2009, 18:59

As Sri Ramaprasad says, there was no effort to force the artists to come and listen to the junior concert. I can personally testify to this as a friend of the family of the junior artist. Smt. Sowmya and Sri. Sriramkumar have known this upcoming young artist for some time, and have spoken in a very encouraging way about her talent on several occasions. Besides, artists of thier caliber could have chosen not to come and listen to this junior artist in the few minutes they had before their concert. Instead, they chose to be gracious and did the right thing by encouraging the young artist by their presence during the last few minutes. It meant a lot to all the young artistes on stage and they were honored to receive their awards from Smt. Sowmya after the concert.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 May 2009, 20:36

It also shows that they are not obsessed with their own glory. niRai kuDam taLumbAdu. Another such vidvAn who does not think it below his stature to listen to lesser performers is our own vidyaarthi NSG.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 05 May 2009, 23:43

I never thought I would miss a Sowmya concert but somehow this year has been bad in terms of attending concerts. Sounds like a cool list. Hope a CD will be released.
Have heard the junior artiste before and I think she has amazing talent. Clear diction, great voice and so enthusiastic. Am not known to them!! The last time I heard her, felt like she will surely have a great future in music.
And she will be singing in our Aradhana next Sat. I look forward to her concert which will be so motivating for the kids in the area!

sridhar · Post by **sridhar** » 06 May 2009, 23:21

I can personally vouch for the great talent that the junior artist has. In fact I went one hour before Sowmya's concert to listen to the junior. I am positive she will turn out into a concert pro in the not too distant future.
fuddyduddy, can you specify the venue of the aradana where the junior artist will be singing this saturday?

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 07 May 2009, 00:24

The gentleman's incoherent speech abt the greatness of the junior artists...and the senior artists being forced to watch the speech, when the start time for the concert is already on....is Madura's peeve....rather than the opportunity given to the juinor artist itself.

As for CMANA, and their organizing capabilities, lets just not get into it on here.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 07 May 2009, 00:33

sridhar,

its :

Saturday, May 9, 2009
Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Location:
Grace Lutheran Church
3830 Gomer St
Yorktown Heights, NY

But the whole aradhana is from 10 - 7.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 07 May 2009, 07:27

It looks like we are making a big deal about a 15 minute delay. Hope Sowmya's music provided the necessary calmness for such agitated folks

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 07 May 2009, 08:58

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 07 May 2009, 11:52

True coolkarni ji,
Even Bombay Jayashree is not for the crowds.

balu · Post by **balu** » 07 May 2009, 12:23

But Bombay Jaisree is a huge crowd puller

Ramaprasad · Post by **Ramaprasad** » 07 May 2009, 17:54

Mr. Coolkarni,

You have reflected my own thoughts here, except you have articulated it better. Thanks on behalf of all of us who feel the same way. Pardon the cliche, Sowmya is a vidushi's vidushi.

Ramaprasad

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 08 May 2009, 15:55

VK RAMAN wrote:
rajaglan wrote:May be at an older age, an artist wants to listen to such praises in a crowded place more often. But
at -young and popular- artist, it is of least worry.
This is interesting observation - I like to hear from older age group.

Hi, Sorry to bring in politics. This exact same words are said by Cho about Karunanidhi (as a poet). That speech is being telecast so many times in Jaya TV that I couldnot avoid borrowing it. I guess it is a pure statistics about artist.