T.M. Krishna at Unnati, Bangalore on 16.08.2010

[squims]

Vocal: Sri TM Krishna
Violin: Sri RK Sriramkumar
Mridangam: Sri K Arun Prakash
Kanjari: Sri BS Purushotham

1. Naama kusumamulache [S] - Sree - Adi - Tyaagaraaja
2. Shankari neeve [R S] - Begada - Rupakam - Subbaraaya Shaastry
3. Sri Gurunaa paalitosmi [R N] - Paadi - Rupakam - Mutthuswamy Dikshitar
Neraval line: Sadaa Shivaavataarena saadhaakya kalaa karena
4. Nee Bhajanagaana rasikula - Naayaki - Adi - Tyaagaraaja
5. Thalli ninnu nera namminaanu [R N T]- Kalyaani - Mishra chaapu - Shyaama Shaastry
Neraval line: Kaamaari Raani Purani Paraashakti
6. RTP - Saalaga Bhairavi - Adi
Pallavi line: Chethashri Raamam chintaye, jeemukta shaamam
[Swara kalpana in Shankaraabharanam, Pantuvaraali, Behaag, Sindhu Bhairavi]
7. Maanasa Sancharare - Saama - Adi - Sadaashiva Brahmendrar
8. Krishna nee begane [short R] - Yamana Kalyani - Adi
9. Vande Maataram - Desh - Eka
10. Pavamaana(Mangalam) - Souraashtram - Adi

Krishna sir delivers as usual. Excellent concert. The audience was spellbound for 3 hours. My only gripe is that some pieces could have been a bit more detailed. Would have liked Swarams for the Kalyaani piece (it was the MAIN piece of the concert after all!).
A great start with the Shree raagam piece. A set of unhurried swarams accompanied it.
The Begada aalaapanai was good. Swarams were rendered in first speed only again.
The Paadi was the best thing about the concert. As a raagm that isn't heard frequently, it was a treat to listen to. The Neraval in it was beautiful. R K Sriramkumar gave wonderful support as always. The naayaki piece was brisk and clearly a filler.
I was actually disappointed that Kalyaani turned out to be the main piece. I was hoping for something more weighty. Nevertheless, the raagam was completely explored in the extensive aalaapanai. And as already mentioned, the lack of swarams was really surprising(not in a good way), but the neraval was beautiful. Thani was good. Tishram in the misra chaapu taalam was interesting.
This was followed by a very simple pallavi in Saalaga Bhairavi. After the aalaapanai, Krishna sir told Sriram sir 'Taanam neengale vaaseengo' and then joined in with it only in the uchcha sthaayi. The swara raagamaalika was a really nice touch. I might have missed one or two raagas in my list. They went by quite fast.
Manasa Sancharare, Krishna nee begane baaro and Vande Maataram(sung on request) were rendered at a slow pace and were oozing with bhaavam.
The audience was elevated to a state of total bliss.

[rshankar]

Squims - nice review! A question and a clarification - why do you feel that kalyANi is not a weighty rAga?

The pallavi should be - 'cEta SrI rAmam jImUta SyAmam'.

[sais72]

I heard Suruti in the swara kalpana ragamalika of the Salaaga Bhairavi pallavi as well.

[squims]

Ah, yes. Surutti was definitely there. And I seem to remember Brindaavan Saarang as well now.

Squims - nice review! A question and a clarification - why do you feel that kalyANi is not a weighty rAga?

It's just a personal gripe. Maybe I must not have said 'weighty'. It just isn't a raagam that fills me with bhaavam like say, Bhairavi, Varaali etc. That's what I meant.

[KSJaishankar]

Was it Brindavana Saranga? The raga between Surutti and Behag sounded more like Megh to me, though there was a clear gandharam in the avarohanam. Br. Sa. did cross my mind, but the treatment of the nishadam sounded very different from the usual Br. Sa.

As usual, a really great concert. All the pieces were good, but the highlight for me was the completely unhurried Nama Kusuma Mula. What a brilliant composition! Definitely needs more frequent airing in the concert circle. Have only heard one rendition each by SSI and MDR previously.

[mankuthimma]

It's just a personal gripe. Maybe I must not have said 'weighty'. It just isn't a raagam that fills me with bhaavam like say, Bhairavi, Varaali etc. That's what I meant.

Do you remember sitting by the side of one rbharath of IIT Chennai in any of the concerts in past three or four years ? I cannot see any other way you can fail to locate bhavam in Kalyani

[ragh_avan]

Was totally disappointed with the Kalyani piece. Absolutely no bhavam and slipped out of Shruthi in many places.

[semmu86]

Is there any database containing information about upcoming concerts at bangalore?

[cienu]

Jayan's blog is the ultimate directory for upcoming Carnatic Music concerts in Bangalore
http://kpjayan.wordpress.com/upcoming-c ... bangalore/

[S.Balaji]

Anyone recorded the concert ? Did he request formally not to record ?

[squims]

Do you remember sitting by the side of one rbharath of IIT Chennai in any of the concerts in past three or four years ? I cannot see any other way you can fail to locate bhavam in Kalyani.

I've never attended a concert at Chennai. So, that's a no!

Anyone recorded the concert ? Did he request formally not to record ?

No recording is allowed at these concerts usually. On Krishna's concert day, the organisers stressed on it even more than usual, even saying that 'If anyone is found to be recording the concert in any manner, the artist will stop performing'.


P.S. Did anyone attended the violin duet from the Mysore brothers today? I missed half of it. Listened from the main Bhairavi piece. A hauntingly beautiful Chaarukeshi followed. If anyone could write up a report on it, it would be great!

[mahakavi]

>>No recording is allowed at these concerts usually. On Krishna's concert day, the organisers stressed on it even more than usual, even saying that 'If anyone is found to be recording the concert in any manner, the artist will stop performing'.<<

To me this announcement lacks punch. They should have said "the person found to be recording will be escorted out immediately, with or without the refund of the admission price". If the artist will stop performing it is not just penalizing the recording person but the entire audience which is attending. The violator is free to ask for a refund and walk out on his own if he does not want to be subjected to the ignominy of being bounced out.

[ragam-talam]

It seems someone did record the concert: http://youtu.be/A9bJZuOsZ24

[Rasika911]

It seems someone did record the concert: http://youtu.be/A9bJZuOsZ24

What's this all about?

"something gets %$#&@@ up even more"

[Rasika911]

Did a bit more looking and found thiss as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afszRCg_Etg

seems to be a show that debates change in chennai?

[mahakavi]

I watched it and couldn't follow it after a couple of minutes. It became a shouting match. TMK was vociferous in expressing his disagreement with the so-called skype and internet teaching techniques, it appears. He loves technology and he hates technology. Reminds me of "he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me....". He may have his own logic on that.

[sureshvv]

I watched it and couldn't follow it after a couple of minutes. It became a shouting match. TMK was vociferous in expressing his disagreement with the so-called skype and internet teaching techniques, it appears. He loves technology and he hates technology. Reminds me of "he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me....". He may have his own logic on that.

He is saying technology has its place but cannot supplant face-to-face teaching. Makes a clear and convincing case.