Veenavaadhini Thematic Chamber Concert

veenajj · Post by **veenajj** » 15 Dec 2009, 08:14

Dear Rasikas,

As part of our Veenavaadhini Chamber Concert series, on Saturday, January 02, 2010, we shall be presenting a thematic Veena Concert based on Muthuswamy Dikshitar's Bhoologa Panchalinga Kritis. Sri Trichur Narendran will accompanying us on the mridangam. Smt Rajani Arjun Shankar will provide a commentary on each of the kritis. The time is 4-6 pm.

All are welcome. Details of venue are as follows:

Apt #12, Shanti Enclave,
25/71 Venkatakrishna Road,
RA Puram
Chennai-600028

Regards,
Jeyaraaj and Jaysri

ganeshkant · Post by **ganeshkant** » 15 Dec 2009, 11:48

Only yesterday I was discussing this with my friend and we could not get the raga of Achalesvaraya.

Can someone help ?

A good theme.

Wish JJ a suceesful concert.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 15 Dec 2009, 20:29

J&J Best Wishes! Awesome idea.

Way to go Rajani!

veenajj · Post by **veenajj** » 31 Dec 2009, 18:40

Thank you ganeshkant and rshankar for your wishes. Just reviving this thread to send a gentle reminder here about the program. Hope the rasika.org community is well represented to encourage Rajani's debut!

We also take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy New Year, and best wishes for tomorrow's grand affair at Raga Sudha...would have surely been there but for a prior engagement.

Regards,
Jeyaraaj and Jaysri

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 03 Jan 2010, 13:24

I attended the chamber concert and it was really memorable. A dedicated presentation by the vainika-s.
Special mention must be made of Smt Rajani's commentary which gave lot of insight into the supreme compositions of Dikshitar. It was a n excellent idea to have veteran S Rajam's paintings (of Panchalinga) in the background.
The efforts put in by JJ to internalise the kritis and presenting them authentically in Veena, was quite evident in their rendering.
Trichur Narendran's Mridanga support was something special and enhanced the aesthetic appeal.

I rate this among the best thematic concerts of the season!
-Sivaramakrishnan 94444 54467

vainika · Post by **vainika** » 03 Jan 2010, 16:58

Agreed. The narration, AlApanA-s, tani, and, above all, kRti renditions that adhered to MD sampradAya, were all excellent. It was especially pleasing to listen to chintayamAkandamUlakandam in grand chowkam, with the first line ending on M rather than the usually-encountered version.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Jan 2010, 22:19

J and J, and Rajani - congratulations! Way to go!! Will you be uploading a recording of the entire event on your site?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 03 Jan 2010, 22:49

It was a very nice concert. In fact, with narration and posters about each piece, it was a whole project rather than just a concert. Everyone had put in a lot of work for the benefit of the listeners.

Each piece was in a slow speed, making a contemplative atmosphere for the entire performance. Trichur Narendran never made any effort to hurry things along, but contributed to the mood perfectly

The program was well attended, with the room being full, but not uncomfortably so; just right.

As a note of curiosity: not one song was in Adi Talam, which must be a very rare event. Misra, Khanda and Rupaka talams were represented.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 03 Jan 2010, 23:18

A wonderful evening wherein everything fell in place. Jaysri's Yaman Kalyani alapanai was superb and was within the framework of Jambupathe. Jeyaraj played a lovely Bhairavi preceding chintayamAkandamUlakandam and also a brief tanam. Smt Rajani Arjun Shankar's narratives were well researched and crisp. Trichur Narendren is a class apart. His accompaniment was apt for the occasion and considering the fact that all the kritis were slow paced, he controlled the pace admirably.

Great to see Nick and his wife, Ramki among many other guests. The atmosphere was homely and JJ's residence is a great setting for chamber concerts

Picture below has JJ and Trichur Narendren . Smt Rajani Arjun Shankar is at extreme right.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Jan 2010, 00:59

Cienu - THANK you so much!! Lovely picture.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 04 Jan 2010, 02:10

The woman whose head you can just see, next to the green-with-white-spots dupata, had a child in her lap who slept peacefully for the entire concert. Amazing!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 04 Jan 2010, 02:16

And very soon, the child will be humming in very slow tempo chintayamAkandamUlakandam and to top it, ending the line in 'Ma'

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 10 Jan 2010, 17:11

Vasanthakokilam,

Congrats for those wonderful remarks!

Pl carry on with such subtle observations.