Prasanna Venkatraman - YACM concert online

[tiruppugazh]

I had a chance to hear Prasanna Venkatraman online through YACM's streaming facility. Some observations.

YACM has done a great job with this. Congrats!

On the artiste

1. Prasanna is a talented youngster with a lot of promise.
2. He is firmly rooted in the conventional classical idiom.
3. He has a good repertoire.

On the concert

1. He seems to like Nedunuri too much for my comfort. The result is that he is not allowing his natural voice to take over. There is an unnecessary nasal squeak that interferes with his voice periodically.
2. He also as a method of pushing phrases through the use of spunds like "aha" and "ihi" This again is at the starting point of the phrase to give it momentum!
3. He simply lacks sruti sensitivity. Thoughout the Tod alapana he just could not get to align when standing on notes like madhyamam and shadjam. Unfortunately he did not even show the sensitivity to try and align. Musicians can have problems with sruti alignment but there should be a willingness to try and join with the sruti. I have seen in the concerts of TNS how the maestro would struggle but eventually come to terms during the course of the concert. That is sensitivity! Here Prasanna showed a complete lack of sthana suddham that is sad.
4. For a modern youngster, Prasanna's musical content is retro! He seems to overly concentrate on being 'classical' and shows total lack of adventure. Music is a creative art form and one expects something new or fresh. Unfortunately Prasanna is happy to sing what has been sung only.
5. Ganesh Prasad was a big disappointment. He was one of the most talented violinist in the early nineties. He had mastered the VVS technique and was playing effortlessly. Unfortunately today he is a pale shadow of what he was, playing just 20% of the sangatis he used to play with hardly the precision or clarity. The same happened to VV Ravi who was so good in the early eighties and subsequently deteriorated.
6. R Shankarnarayanan was impressive in patches. He has a wonderful hand and a good sense of the music. He really needs to curb his need to play exactly like his guru Raja Rao and instead concentrate on the music being performed.
7. KVG is a seasoned artiste and knows what an upa pakkavadyam needs to do on stage. He is a throwback to the earlier era of CK Shyamsundar, Mayavaram Somu, and the likes who waited and watched and contributed only when necessary.

[prashant]

4. For a modern youngster, Prasanna's musical content is retro! He seems to overly concentrate on being 'classical' and shows total lack of adventure. Music is a creative art form and one expects something new or fresh. Unfortunately Prasanna is happy to sing what has been sung only.

I could not listen to the concert, so I cannot comment on it's content [which, given my previous experiences with Prasanna's music, would no doubt have been to my liking].

The point you make it interesting. Is it wrong to concentrate on being classical and ground oneself in solid krithis of reputed composers? This is a youngster at the beginning of what is likely to be a long and successful career in music. He needs time to explore the building blocks and the core repertoire of Carnatic music. He needs time to explore different styles, listen and assimilate (a lot) and find krithis, ragas and niches which excite and motivate him. No doubt he is doing this already in the framework of his own musical creativity. If we rasikas attend his concerts with such expectations for something different every time, I really wonder if they are warranted, especially from young musicians.

I once attended a Sanjay concert where the main piece was a kalyANi RTP of massive musical scale. I could hear someone behind me after the RTP say, "What a pity, I was anticipating an RTP in a hindustani raga like he has sung recently in Chennai". The man gave his blood, sweat and tears on the stage, andit was reduced to this?

[shankarabharanam]

I agree with Prashant. I just think yesterday wasn't his day. His Suddha saveri had major slips. All said and done, I have listened his fabulous concert at the academy and in Mumbai. This lad is a rising star.

[Rasika911]

Havent heard a lot of him in the past unlike a few others that have posted but I liked his performance I had to return to other duties half way through his thodi alapana.

Particularly liked the opening Asaveri Varnam. Would appreciate if anyone has (legal) audio of this varnam by any artist.

[sureshvv]

Chennai has been subject to incessant rains the past few days and it seems to have had a deleterious effect on music scene.

Re. Ganesh Prasad. I haven't seen anyone follow the main artiste so closely. I am afraid that one of these days the vocalist may sneeze in the middle of his singing and Ganesh Prasad will faithfully mimic it on the violin

[sivapriya]

A few of the points as mentioned by tirupugazh, i too have felt. But I would go along Prashant's view that being young, one explores many different possibilities and as the artist matures he/she finds his /her own space.

Musical maurity is something that comes along and the "tipping point" as they say , when it is achieved does not even announce itself !

What we need to see is whether the artist on stage upholds certain core musical values like adherence to patanthara shuddam, classicism, swara and sruti gnaanam. Also we need to see if he/ she can deliver a concert that holds the audience and leaves them with some residual memory of the concert be it through a song, or an alapana or otherwise. Consistency and growth concert after concert is also a measure. All this can be achieved by self awareness and a good hand holding by a strong guru who is able to translate this to the student.

For Prasanna in particular, he has the basic ingredients right. Now it is upto him and his gurus to shape this well into a recipe that will be a timeless delicacy.

As I always keep saying , it is also the duty of the rasikas to grow along with an artist and give him space and watch the artist grow with a lot patience. After all the rasikas also make an artist !!!

[mankuthimma]

sivapriya
That is one most eloquent and sensible posts I have read here , in a long long time.
It sums up everything, beautifully.

[Rasika911]

A few of the points as mentioned by tirupugazh, i too have felt. But I would go along Prashant's view that being young, one explores many different possibilities and as the artist matures he/she finds his /her own space.

Musical maurity is something that comes along and the "tipping point" as they say , when it is achieved does not even announce itself !

What we need to see is whether the artist on stage upholds certain core musical values like adherence to patanthara shuddam, classicism, swara and sruti gnaanam. Also we need to see if he/ she can deliver a concert that holds the audience and leaves them with some residual memory of the concert be it through a song, or an alapana or otherwise. Consistency and growth concert after concert is also a measure. All this can be achieved by self awareness and a good hand holding by a strong guru who is able to translate this to the student.

For Prasanna in particular, he has the basic ingredients right. Now it is upto him and his gurus to shape this well into a recipe that will be a timeless delicacy.

As I always keep saying , it is also the duty of the rasikas to grow along with an artist and give him space and watch the artist grow with a lot patience. After all the rasikas also make an artist !!!

Sivapriya,

If you don't mind me asking...are you the peforming disciple of r.vedavalli?

[ragam-talam]

Particularly liked the opening Asaveri Varnam. Would appreciate if anyone has (legal) audio of this varnam by any artist.

This varnam was a favorite of DKP/DKJ.

You can find a few renderings here:
http://sangeethamshare.org/kasturi/025_ ... e_Concert/
http://sangeethamshare.org/manjunath/Ca ... York-1977/
http://sangeethamshare.org/sripathy/Aud ... c/Varnams/

[sivapriya]

yes dear Rasika911. I am the same Sivapriya !! -Sivapriya Krishnan

[ananthapuram]

I have listened to Prasanna a few times before. I am not sure I really know who his guru or gurus are. He seems like a confused kid and does not trust any guru totally. He wants to sing like Nedunuri but learn from Sanjay Subramaniam. He wants to be seen as Sanjay Subramaniam's student but does not want to sing his repertoire. He wants to sing like Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. His music I think reflects his confused state of mind. I did have high hopes for him. But I think his music is becoming too stale.

In general, I think younger musicians think that their music will improve or be judged based on which senior musicians they move with, not based on their abilities and hard work. I am not very optimistic about the current upcoming musicians in general.

[narayan]

I am not very optimistic about the current upcoming musicians in general.

I am as optimistic about current upcoming musicians as I am about current upcoming rasikas.

I'm not even sure Prasanna is a youngster any more (he's at least a post graduate from what I know). If a person like him will sing something with elements from Nedunuri's music, SSI's influence and training from Sanjay, I'm pretty impressed (and optimistic). One's own character will come through in the music with time.

[ananthapuram]

I like Nedunuri garu's music. I also like Sanjay Subramaniam's music. I am sorry I don't quite understand the combo. He has to decide whether he wants ti reside in the safety of Nedunuri garu's music style or choose the exploratory and innovative form of musical style ofSanjay which is greater risk with greater rewards. If he wants to break free from the large pack that is starting to challenge him, he has to make that choice very quickly.

[mankuthimma]

I have listened to Prasanna a few times before

From here , to

I am not sure I really know who his guru or gurus are. He seems like a confused kid and does not trust any guru totally. He wants to sing like Nedunuri but learn from Sanjay Subramaniam. He wants to be seen as Sanjay Subramaniam's student but does not want to sing his repertoire. He wants to sing like Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. His music I think reflects his confused state of mind. I did have high hopes for him. But I think his music is becoming too stale.

You really can make out so much in just a few concerts ? You are a genius rasika
I personally prefer Musicians with a confused state of mind . That is when they try to break out of shells and create a characteristic image for themselves. Very difficult in todays environment when there are so many cross winds blowing over what used to be our perception of a SCHOOL.

[Rasika911]

This varnam was a favorite of DKP/DKJ.

You can find a few renderings here:
http://sangeethamshare.org/kasturi/025_ ... e_Concert/
http://sangeethamshare.org/manjunath/Ca ... York-1977/
http://sangeethamshare.org/sripathy/Aud ... c/Varnams/

Thank you

[mahesh3]

Its amazing, how brutal, relentless and unfair the criticism is of up and coming youngsters. Meanwhile, the so called ""established" musicians are seriously disoriented, pass strange statements and sing what can only kindly be termed as "carnatic music" - these musicians have clearly decided that having their views printed or televised in the news is better than improving their capabilities, and the rasikas here continuously applaud their tripe. Prasanna has so far been noteworthy, for the fact that he has never been in the news proclaiming his views on whether carnatic music is like test cricket or 20-20. So, Ananthapouram, I can see why u might be confused.

Prasanna is awesome, and he is a cerebral, thinking and feeling musician...who will do very well in the decades to come.

[daasan]

I did listen to the concert thru net
I would like to definitely say that prasanna is an upcoming star
His voice was not at his best on that day

[ananthapuram]

Its amazing, how brutal, relentless and unfair the criticism is of up and coming youngsters. Meanwhile, the so called ""established" musicians are seriously disoriented, pass strange statements and sing what can only kindly be termed as "carnatic music" - these musicians have clearly decided that having their views printed or televised in the news is better than improving their capabilities, and the rasikas here continuously applaud their tripe. Prasanna has so far been noteworthy, for the fact that he has never been in the news proclaiming his views on whether carnatic music is like test cricket or 20-20. So, Ananthapouram, I can see why u might be confused.

Actually, you seem to be confused, very confused. I am not an established musicians but a very well established rasika. The fact that Prasanna has not been in the news comparing music to cricket or kabaddi or gilli danda is irrelevant to this discussion. He is a talented artist, no doubt but he is trying to combine several contrasting styles of music and it obviously is not working. Not too many call pull it off. If he does so and I, as an established rasika, am convinced, I will take back my words.

Prasanna is awesome, and he is a cerebral, thinking and feeling musician...who will do very well in the decades to come.

I am glad to hear that Prasannais cerebral, thinking and feeling confirming that he is a normal human being.

[mahesh3]

yet another disgusting and sickening instance of an individual who has joined this forum in an anonymous capacity with the singular intention to berate an up and coming artist....

[keerthanasundar]

Prasanna Venkaraman sang very well. I could hear just last pieces but that was just awesome.

[arasi]

I have heard Prasanna a few times and haven't been disappouinted.

Prashant, Thimma,
Remember that muripEmu he sang in MFA which some of us heard together a few years ago? I still recall it with relish.

[sureshvv]

I have heard Prasanna a few times and haven't been disappouinted.

Prashant, Thimma,
Remember that muripEmu he sang in MFA which some of us heard together a few years ago? I still recall it with relish.

Does a great job with Kedaragowlai, Mukhari, Harikambodhi, Ranjani... Very good and subtle vibrato when he is in form... Love his performances at smaller venues with good sound systems... Starts out as a shy and retiring singer and morphs into a magnetic exuberant fiend sometime during the 3rd song