Lalgudi Jayaraman 80th Birthday Celebrations, 18-19 Sep 2010

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 03 Sep 2010, 11:03

Dear Artists and Rasikas,

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I have just been informed that admission to the event at MA will be only for Pass holders. Information on how to obtain the pass will be communicated later.

80th Birthday Celebrations of Lalgudi G. Jayaraman will be held at the Music Academy in Chennai on the evening of 18th September and all day on 19th September 2010.

Timings - Approx and Subject to Change
Saturday - 18th Sep - 6:00 pm IST onways, all evening
Sunday - 19th Sep - 8:15 am IST onwards, all day

Facebook users: Please RSVP via the Facebook event page at http://bit.ly/Lal80e We would like to request your help in spreading more widely the information about Lalgudi 80 by inviting your friends and family via that FB event page. We would like to get your RSVP also ASAP for planning purposes. Once you RSVP your own decision, you will be able to invite others as well as post comments on the event page.

Some serious consideration is being given to possibly webcasting at least part of the proceedings of Lalgudi 80. To make an informed decision, it would be highly helpful if potential viewers of the webcasts would express their interest in a live webcast via comments, preferably, on the Facebook event page. We would like to know your location and what your time difference is with respect to India (2.5 hours ahead of India, 12.5 hours behind India, etc.).

See also http://bit.ly/lalgudis for more information on what is expected to be a very memorable event.

C. Mohan

smala · Post by **smala** » 03 Sep 2010, 11:12

My prayers for the maestro for many many more beautiful years filled with music. Wish the celebrations a grand success.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 03 Sep 2010, 18:07

Please RSVP via the Facebook event page at http://bit.ly/Lal80e

Please do not assume that everyone uses facebook. We don't.

Looking forward to further information about this event!

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 03 Sep 2010, 21:00

Nick H wrote:Please RSVP via the Facebook event page at http://bit.ly/Lal80e

Please do not assume that everyone uses facebook. We don't.

Looking forward to further information about this event!

Nick, I do realize that not everybody is on Facebook

I normally add a conditional phrase before asking people to do something on Facebook. In this case I forgot to do that. I will edit and update my post.

I have already updated the post to say that people need to get a pass to be admitted to the event at the Music Academy. Details on it to be communicated later.

Mohan

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 05 Sep 2010, 09:01

Looking forward keenly to the function and even more keenly to the speeches of Sri.M.S.Anantharaman and Sri.MSG, who i heard are going to talk about lalgudi sir on the 19th.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 06 Sep 2010, 11:25

Wishing the celebrations all the very best. An article on Lalgudi Sir
"A Voyage of discovery" Publ by Hindu, Folio in Dec 96 is U/L in the following link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?l5r04xopfczdhgc

I am sure rasikas will enjoy this article.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 06 Sep 2010, 15:22

Thank you for that link

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 07 Sep 2010, 02:09

Nick H wrote:Thank you for that link

Nick H, i am happy that u enjoyed the article. I am surprised by the poor response by rasikas to this excellent article on LGJ.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 07 Sep 2010, 10:09

Relax VSM .
We are all a shy group .Thank You !!!!! :$

BTW I spent a lovely afternoon with the maestro , in the company of semmu. We listened to some 78 rpm tracks of Chittoor Subramanya Pillay and SV Subbiah Bhagavthar, an elaborate Kalyani of GNB - Nee Mahima with LLG-Pazhani and a soothing Ramnad Krishnan Bhairavi . It was a magical experience.To listen in rapt silence.Watching him keep the beats .

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 07 Sep 2010, 14:39

mankuthimma wrote: BTW I spent a lovely afternoon with the maestro , in the company of semmu. We listened to some 78 rpm tracks of Chittoor Subramanya Pillay and SV Subbiah Bhagavthar, an elaborate Kalyani of GNB - Nee Mahima with LLG-Pazhani and a soothing Ramnad Krishnan Bhairavi . It was a magical experience.To listen in rapt silence.Watching him keep the beats .

Thanks for sharing this lovely experience.
I really envy you. Seriously thinking to shift to Chennai, that too in your neighbourhood !!!

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 07 Sep 2010, 14:41

Absolutely magical. I still cant believe that i sat at the feet of the master and listened to great stuff, interacted with him for almost an hour..

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 07 Sep 2010, 17:16

Mankuthiamma,et al: Nice article--I can personally vouchsafe that everything the master says in the article about preserving tradition and protecting the lineage is TRUE. Myself and my wife -- over the last thirty years have enjoyed the Great master' personal company and friendship. An anecdote(discretion is requested in NOT unduly publicing it--"then WHY write in this forum,you may ask"--true,but still humor an Old Man!!!).

In the Early-eighties--when GJR was in his early ttwenties)-- on one of his US tours with his son GJR, we hosted him for the concerts in and around NY(Phil/NJ/Wesleyan ,Poughkeepsie etc)-- throughout these trips by car the discussion was only about Music and the Masters ,how his family has been fortunate to carry on the tradition etc etc). Perhaps VKV alone could narrate hundreds of stories/anecdotes as he holds the record of 'chaperoning" Lalgudi and Co in the early seventies and in subsequent years as well!!!

During one of these trips. we were returning from Wesleyan in Connecticut(where T Viswa had arranged the Violin Duo,late in the night. A serious discussion was started by Lalgudi Sir about GJR's future plans--at that time there was a craze for US. MBA education and GJR being a brilliant Cost Accountancy credentials was wondering whether he should seriously pursue a full-time career outside of the Music field(as Lalgudi--- as gentle a person as he is----was ambivalent about the music profession --not because of any doubts about GJR's talent or professionalism but because of the the state of the institutions ,the glamour and allure of the Fusion Music etc and lesser respect for traditionalists. GJR was----as was his custom--listened to the whole discussions like Abhimanyu in Mahabharatha--not interjecting at all-Finally when Lalgudi Sir asked whether the traditions that he had inherited from his ancestors dating back to the Saint would go waste if GJR chooses a Business career. GJR himself without any hesitation finished off the debate saying carrying on such a glorious tradition is more important than merely following a mundane business career!!
Coolji--you have mentioned about listening with Lalgudi Sir to an old concert. I have had several occasions in his house to listen to some of his vintage accompaniment concerts and each time he would point out to GJR--not the portions that he excelled himself--but HOW he failed to "pick" up a nice cue that PMI or PSP offered --during one of the swaraprastharas-and how inattentive(this too from a man renowned for his focus and concentration,mind you!!!!) he was to that cue.
Once he played for myself and my wife a KGS Violin Duo concert with his sister Sreemathi--I think it was in the early Sixties.PMI was the accompanist. After a nice Keeravani raga Alapana and the krithi Kaligiyunde came the swara prastharas- the trio--Lalgudi-Sreemathi and PMI excelled each other in weaving several intricate patterns--PMI was so enthused that he started to lead -- thro his playing-- and gave a cue as to what would be the next ideal phrase in the sequence--Lalgudi Sir preoccupied with his own inspired sequence failed to pick up the cue(according to him)--Neither myself nor my wife could detect the cue or the alternate!!! ) and exclaims to GJR Aha Aha--what anticipation of what would be appropriate NEXT and HOW I missed that--- and went on to narrate several instances of how PMI would "bale" out several vocalists in elaborate swara Korvais and getting "lost" in the process(like an Abhimanyu in the Chakra Viyuham!!) and how deftly he would steer the vocalist towards the "Eduppu" unobtrusively and save the vocalist embarrassment--the beauty of it as Lalgudi Sir used to say--after the concert when the younger vocalist or violinist would come to PMI-- with a sheepish grin apologising for his mental miscalculation in that Korvai-- PMI would not "lecture" the vocalist or violinist about the need to be more careful etc etc but instead he would say " Medayile Visha Parikshai Pannakkudadu Adhu
Janangalai Emathara Madiri Irukkum"-- PMI was sure MOST of the audience would not have noticed the infraction but all the same it would have been a disrespect to the audience--Both Lalgudi Sir and PMI were unanimous in their respect for the audience.
I cannot but regret the fact that some of the visiting artistes "laugh" it off(whenever there is an infraction on their part) and try to make it look with the active collusion of the accompanists,as if they have demonstrated a very complex korvai--when they may have done a cut-and-paste job to come to the Eduppu!!!!!

After the Semmangudi Saga I want to write about the Great Maestro-subject to his permission and approval!!
Myself and my family have tremendous respect for Lalgudi Sir and his family.
I still cherish one of his letters to me where he says about my not pursuing serious music as a career:

"NEE MATTUM " PATTUKKU" VARAMAL UN "PATTUKKU" POI VITTAYE" (Note: Translation does not do justice to the Sleydai!!--Instead of coming to Music you have gone your own way!!)

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 07 Sep 2010, 17:26

mankuthimma wrote:Relax VSM .
We are all a shy group .Thank You !!!!! :$

BTW I spent a lovely afternoon with the maestro , in the company of semmu. We listened to some 78 rpm tracks of Chittoor Subramanya Pillay and SV Subbiah Bhagavthar, an elaborate Kalyani of GNB - Nee Mahima with LLG-Pazhani and a soothing Ramnad Krishnan Bhairavi . It was a magical experience.To listen in rapt silence.Watching him keep the beats .

When was that

, we had been talking for months and you said "we will go together". You went without calling me.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 07 Sep 2010, 18:57

MKR
May you live to be a Hundred Years and more , to regale us with all these stories.
In one of the long tracks , he listened to Mayuram Govindaraja Pillay's violin with rapt attention. Even at this age he likes to listen through a track completely .
Chittoors music brought chuckles of appreciation ( what voice power !! ) SV Subbiah Bhagavathar's music brought in a lot of queries ( who is this , who is this ? ) Ramnad Krishnan's music brought forth ..... Tchu Tchu Ayyo...
Rajesh .
It was a quick call . Some vintage recordings were needed for a documentary and I had a small window in GJR's schedule- He played a duet that day at KGS. Sorry about that .
VSM
We can go again . I have the OK for a group visit too . I don't push myself too often because each visit of ours can be exhausting for the maestro.But since the coming months will be crowded , I will make it a point to declare the visit to a larger group , if needed.

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 07 Sep 2010, 20:48

semmu86 wrote:Absolutely magical. I still cant believe that i sat at the feet of the master and listened to great stuff, interacted with him for almost an hour..

I'm sure that this would have been one of your life-time experience. BTW you didn't inform me about this... if I would have known, I would have tried to reach Chennai somehow :^)

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 07 Sep 2010, 20:53

It is heartening to note that LGJ sir's 80th B'day is going to be celeberated in a grand style.

"Great men stand like solitary towers in the city of God." - H.W. Longfellow.

This should sum up my thoughts...

Thanks

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 08 Sep 2010, 10:09

I have just come to know about the news item in The Hindu (http://bit.ly/L80MAp) which gives some info about the Lalgudi 80 program content as well as info about where to get passes which are required (unless you have a formal invitation) for attending the program in person. The detailed program is posted at http://bit.ly/lalgudis - on that web page, after clicking on [Enter Site], click on the Lalgudi-80 tab, and then on Event Calender.

I still don't have details of the webcast.

C. Mohan
http://bit.ly/6kVNwW

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 08 Sep 2010, 10:53

Thanks very much Mohan for the details.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 08 Sep 2010, 11:19

seemohan- Thanks for this info.

yogambala · Post by **yogambala** » 08 Sep 2010, 12:14

Thanks very much for the all the details.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 09 Sep 2010, 03:44

Coolji- Can u pl U/L "Naa JeevaDhAra(Bilahari)" ;"Anuragamule(Saraswath)" & "Naada loludai(Kalyanavasantha)" rendered by LGJ from your archive ? Many thanks in advance.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 09 Sep 2010, 03:52

info about where to get passes which are required

When will those passes be available?

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 09 Sep 2010, 06:37

I hope Sri.Gopalakrishna Gandhi speaks a few words. For those of you who had attended Lalgudi sir's felicitation programme at the Music Academy couple of years ago, when they felicitated him for the "Lifetime achievement award", shall never forget the scintillating speech of his. One of the best speeches, probably THE BEST in Chennai's music circa.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 09 Sep 2010, 13:12

vs_manjunath wrote:Coolji- Can u pl U/L "Naa JeevaDhAra(Bilahari)" ;"Anuragamule(Saraswath)" & "Naada loludai(Kalyanavasantha)" rendered by LGJ from your archive ? Many thanks in advance.

http://www.mediafire.com/?26745olvf5vdf

VSM
Will get back with Saraswathi, if I find it.

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 10 Sep 2010, 00:06

Nick H wrote:When will those passes be available?

Nick, I have asked Viji to provide that info. On Thursday, my father-in-law had gone to Landmark to get the passes but they weren't available. The store guys had no idea as to when they would be available. I have also asked Viji for the location info for the Landmark and Odyssey stores where the passes are supposed to be available according to The Hindu article at http://bit.ly/L80Hin. My FIL thought he had seen some news report which said that the passes would be available from the 11th!! I will wait to see what Viji says.

Meanwhile, latest update from Viji Lalgudi: Link (http://bit.ly/L80Pro) to an easy-to-navigate-to page with the final program for Lalgudi 80 in Chennai during 18-19 September 2010 - the down arrow on the right side of this page (just above the elephant) lets you scroll down to see the whole program. See also summary of program in The Hindu article at http://bit.ly/L80Hin

Those people who are on Facebook could help themselves by RSVPing at http://bit.ly/Lal80e. The reason is that once I get important pieces of info like when the passes would be available or the info on the webcasts I could immediately message all the people who have RSVPed instead of them having to poll constantly this forum on Rasikas.Org to see if anything new has appeared relating to such things.

C. Mohan

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 11 Sep 2010, 20:12

I am told by close associates that I should not miss day 1 at any cost.
There is a huge surprise presentation !!!! |(

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 11 Sep 2010, 20:30

Passes are available for the Lalgudi 80 celebrations from today (11th Sept. 2010) at all outlets of Landmark and Odyssey in Chennai and at The Music Academy.

Those people who are on Facebook could help themselves by RSVPing at http://bit.ly/Lal80e. The reason is that once I get important pieces of info (e.g., on the webcast timings and URLs for Lalgudi80) I could immediately message all the people who have RSVPed instead of them having to poll constantly this forum on Rasikas.Org to see if anything new has appeared relating to such things.

C. Mohan

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 13 Sep 2010, 11:55

Dear Rasikas and Artists,

Anuradha Sridhar, disciple/daughter of Srimathi Brahmanandam (and hence niece of Lalgudi Jayaraman), and her Trinity School for Music (including her brother mridangist Shriram Brahmanandam) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Trinity school on 11 September 2010 in Palo Alto, California. The fantastic program "Salutations to the Guru" was the end result. See http://bit.ly/Tr20IC http://bit.ly/RasT20 http://bit.ly/T20WNI and http://bit.ly/T20FBe for some relevant info on the program and samples of past performances of the students.

Good news, especially for those of you who missed the live webcast of "Salutations to the Guru": Recorded version of that event is available at http://bit.ly/T20rec In addition to 2 hours of musical performances by Anu, Shriram, their students and 2 guest artists, you will also see excerpts of congratulatory video messages from Lalgudi Jayaraman, Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Viji, and many other musicians (e.g., Flute Ramani) and organizers (e.g., Cleveland V.V. Sundaram)

Don't miss watching it! Please forward the link to your friends and relatives.

Thanks!
C. Mohan

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 14 Sep 2010, 16:21

Dear Forumites,
There were a number of photographs of MSG-TNK-LGJ and i viewed thro a link in this forum.I request Sri C MOhan or one of the members to kindly provide link to photographs of the event held on Aug 28 at YACM.
HNBhagavan

sreecons · Post by **sreecons** » 15 Sep 2010, 09:42

seemohan wrote:Passes are available for the Lalgudi 80 celebrations from today (11th Sept. 2010) at all outlets of Landmark and Odyssey in Chennai and at The Music Academy.

I tried Odyssey (on the same day) near to my place and was told one gentleman arrived earlier and collected ALL of the 50 passes!!! Very enthusiastic fan - but a tad unfair to the rest of us (!)

Also, could not get any at the Landmark in Skywalk . . . any suggestions please?

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 15 Sep 2010, 10:09

Try it at the Music Academy's office if its near to your place. Its availale there.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 15 Sep 2010, 10:39

I will have two to spare on sunday .
for Saturday , Sreecons . If you fail to get your ticket , mail me on that morning . Will take you in with my family pass |(

sreecons · Post by **sreecons** » 15 Sep 2010, 11:17

mankuthimma wrote:I will have two to spare on sunday .
for Saturday , Sreecons . If you fail to get your ticket , mail me on that morning . Will take you in with my family pass |(

Sweet! Very generous of you to take me in with your family. . . I will however try Music Academy and one other contact. . . . if all fails I am content to attend part of sunday. Thanks heaps.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 15 Sep 2010, 11:42

3 days before I tried at Landmark - Nungambakkam , could not get 18th ,only 19th was available.
May I know from the organizers if the 18th is going to be recorded and shown to those who could not make it (either free or a paid recording )

sreecons · Post by **sreecons** » 17 Sep 2010, 08:33

Live Webcast from 6 pm tomorrow - for watching from home:

http://www.lalgudis.com/event.html

Nominal charges is what am told.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 17 Sep 2010, 10:38

Namskarams to the great legend Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman on his 80th birthday!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 17 Sep 2010, 13:23

Lovely writeup of Shri LGJ, on his 80th birthday.
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/17/stor ... 090200.htm

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 17 Sep 2010, 13:51

Nice interview of LGJ in bangalore hindu edition
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/09/17/stor ... 040300.htm

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 18 Sep 2010, 12:12

Lalgudi 80 Webcast details

Go to http://bit.ly/lalgudis and after entering site, Sign up by clicking button on top. After signing in with your newly created account, then click on Lalgudi-80 tab, and Live Webcast. Now you will have to make a contribution of at least US$5 or Rs. 250, using a PayPal account or a credit card. It seems like the whole program will be webcast (Event schedule is at http://bit.ly/L80Pro) Enjoy!

C. Mohan

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 18 Sep 2010, 14:51

Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch the webcast, but I would appreciate reports from people attending. And yes, a very happy birthday to Sri LGJ!

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 18 Sep 2010, 15:51

Hello Sri Mohan,
I am HNBhagavan from Bangalore.I registered for Lalgudi Webcast and tried to make payment using SBI credit card (A valid visa card),But I could not succeed and it went on rejecting my card.
I tried two debit cards and my debit card does not have an expiry date.Again It was rejected.
HNBhagavan

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 18 Sep 2010, 19:37

Now you will have to make a contribution of at least US$5 or Rs. 250

My regard for the maestro is so high that I won't make a comment on this!

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 19 Sep 2010, 01:21

I thoroughly enjoyed the 1st day of Lalgudi80 celebrations (schedule at http://bit.ly/L80Pro) at Chennai's Music Academy! My photos from Day 1 are at http://bit.ly/L80P18 - more photos will be posted later! This URL could be used to view the photos by non-Facebook people also. Please forward the link to other interested people and if you are on Facebook tag people you recognize in the photos whether or not they are your Facebook friends. Thanks!

C. Mohan

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 19 Sep 2010, 05:21

seemohan-Thanks for the photos.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 19 Sep 2010, 09:50

http://www.mediafire.com/?igi5w2k4thauz

I had the pleasure of putting together a sound collage of lalgudis accompaniment and making a present.
The track labelled lalgudi rainbow colors traces magical moments with SSI-GNB-Somu-BMK-Voleti-TNS-TKR in what was a hastily prepared track .
This track last about an hour and a half and I could prepare a couple more to cover all the other artists , which is a wide galaxy in itself.From Ariyakudi to Vairamangalam.
The individual components pick up the concert a few minutes before those magical moments start.
Headphones will help appreciate the minute tonal wizardry , better.
Parts of it " may " appear in the Shravanam session .
This track is offered here as a rasika tribute .
The folder also contains some vintage tracks which , the Maestro acknowledges as , are some of his earliest tracks.

krvramani · Post by **krvramani** » 19 Sep 2010, 20:14

Dear Friends!
The folder for "Lalgudi Jayaraman" has suddenly disappeared from the main Directory "Vidwans & Vidhushis" under Bord Index>Carnatic Music? Pl. hep me to regain the same. KRVRamani

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 20 Sep 2010, 08:50

Coolji- Thanks for all ur uploads. Have downloaded them. Will be enjoying them one by one.
RAINBOW- is an excellent idea!!!

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 20 Sep 2010, 08:53

thanks vsm
five of the embedded tracks in the rainbow made it to the live presentation . wow !!!!!

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 20 Sep 2010, 10:48

The Hindu of date carries a report on the celebrations.

A video mix by me at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyO_lEFZUsY 'E'-SWARA-002-Shri. Lalgudi Jayaraman-Rama rama rama rama rama enniro vasantha--purandaradasa
with my pranayams
Lyrics and detail are available in the video itself

venkatakailasam

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 20 Sep 2010, 13:32

mankuthimma wrote:thanks vsm
five of the embedded tracks in the rainbow made it to the live presentation . wow !!!!!

Coolji-Heartiest Congratulations!!!
Very Happy to know this.
Enjoyed 'Paramathmudu", heard so many new sangathis by LGJ.
I am finding etiquette in the forum changing.