Guru Seetha Rajan was asked to give a distinct emphasis of Trinity on Carnatic concert pattern. She started out saying that the Trinity did not give concerts, but poured their heart out to God.
Sitting on stage, the motherly figure commanded so much respect by her mere presence on stage. A true disciple of Semmangudi mama, her expertise poured as she spoke each word. Sitting behind her, her 3 disciples were either constantly looking at her from back or closing their eyes giving so much respect and following her.
Percussionist Mannargudi Eashwaran was equally enjoying her presence and music. Inbetween songs like Entha Ninne, he stopped her and asked her to break the words in the charanam to explain the depth of the meaning in this song.
Overall, it was an honor for Chicagoeans to see a lady with so much knowledge speak and experience the beauty in the lyrics composed by the trinity. The audience were thirsty for more, but, due to lack of time, she asked them to choose what they prefered and obliged to a piece or two. It was a bhakti laden lecture demo with such unique pieces as Dikshitar's Jambhupathe in Yamun Kalyani.
Nadatanumanisham - chittaranjani
Merusamana - Niravel, swaram - Mayamalavagowla
Entha Ninne - Mukhari - alapana, niravel and swaram
Paluku Kanda che (please fill in ragam)
Rama Rama Nivarama Rama Rama Prema Rada (please fill in ragam) - Song sung to demonstrate how St Thyagaraja's compositions were both simple and complicated, thereby making it accessible to even a common man in the form of a divya rama sankeerthanam.
then she moved on to dikshitar and said that he is her favorite of the trinity
Yamuna Kalyani - dhrpad style - Jambhupathe
Kannakambari Karunya - Kannakanji
Upon request from audience - Dakshinamurthe - Sankarabharanam
Shyama Sastri
She said that unlike the other two composers, he confined himself to Devi and lived with Devi in his heart all 24 hours. She said that he was from a well to do family and no one depended on him for bread and butter.
Saveri - Sankari Samkuru - Small alapana, Niravel
Ninnuvina - Purvi Kalyani - Misra Chapu (mentioned that it is a reverse form of misra chapu) - alapana, niravel, swaram
Overall, I feel people like Seetha Rajan are a blessing to music students. Her voice is also good and age has not affected it. We should try to get more and more of these types of lec-dems and benefit from such vidwat.
Seetha Rajan - Mannargudi Eashwaran - Lecture Demo - Chicago
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srinivasrgvn
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deepab
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- Joined: 14 Apr 2009, 22:12
I agree with Suma. It was a moving presentation. Her entha ninne and the explanation of Shabari story along with her niraval is still ringing in my ears. Jambupathe was also fabulous.
The amalgam of vidwat and passion brought out memorable music. Only wish it could have lasted longer.
However, she is performing again apparently on Thurs and Fri in the Lemont temple.
The amalgam of vidwat and passion brought out memorable music. Only wish it could have lasted longer.
However, she is performing again apparently on Thurs and Fri in the Lemont temple.