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

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 20 Sep 2010, 13:36

vsm
Lalgudi Jayaraman himself put a time line for those recordings as being at least Five decades old. So you are on the spot there.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 20 Sep 2010, 13:43

The video link at 49 above was withdrawn as it contained two images which were not considered appropriate for the occasion.As this was deleted from You Tube , same was withdrawn here also.

The link for the revised one is given below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8I8VuIXH1Q 'E'-SWARA-003-Raghu nayaka ni padhayuga-hamsadhwani-dheshadhi-thyagaraja.flv

venkatakailasam

sivapriya · Post by **sivapriya** » 20 Sep 2010, 18:46

Soaked in the "KEERTHANA SHRAVANAM" of Lalgudi's genius. My mind rolled back to the several musical interactions I have had with him.

Shravanam took the cake. GNB's Kalyani vs BMK's Kalyani, Somu's Durga, SSI's Varali, Alathur's Shanmukhapriya , MMI's Kamboji, TNS's Latangi , Lalgudi's Subhapantuvarali with sruti bhedam !

In each one of these , the brilliant vocal presentations, the challenges presented thereof and the unison of the violin with the main musician and the trapeze phrases in the solo concert were truly a listener's delight.

Felt so happy with the discipline of the disciples and the concerted manner in which they presented their Guru's teachings. The " medley of varnams" , with 7 snippets from the Lalgudi treasure cove of varnams, was truly a novel idea, presented with aesthetic perfection.

What better way to repay the maestro who is the epitome of "aesthetic perfection" !

Thanks THIMMA. Got to read from this thread that the you were the master technologist behind the 'shravanam'!

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 20 Sep 2010, 19:17

Thanks THIMMA. Got to read from this thread that the you were the master technologist behind the 'shravanam'!

No nothing of that sort !!! I just had the privilege of participating in that section as a librarian

The great master's ( Lalgudi and all the other greats ) odyssey will continue , here in rasikas.

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 20 Sep 2010, 20:53

Even though the tracks in the "shravanam" session was interrupted for want of time, it was all brilliant. Especially the GNB-kalyANi track which i along with

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 20 Sep 2010, 20:59

Even though the tracks in the "shravanam" session was interrupted for want of time, it was all brilliant. Especially the GNB-kalyANi track which i along with

ji listened to it in full at the legend's house in his company shall remain etched in my mind for ever. And also the crowning jewel was the "sankeerna nadai pallavi " for Alathoor bros.. UNPARALLELED GENIUS.. Listening to such complicated stuff just once and reproducing it again (Just in case if everyone is not aware, that this pallavi was thoroughly rehearsed by the bros along with PMI, but chose not to tell Lalgudi sir about it. Not in the intention of testing him, but because of their supreme confidence ), and that too keeping in mind, that a live AIR relay was going on and that the hall was full of vidhwAns..

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 21 Sep 2010, 10:06

Coolji-Neelambari snippet by TKR (?) was very enjoyable.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 21 Sep 2010, 10:33

Wonderful Genius , TKR . The Musician I admire the most , simply for his attitude .
Each word that he speaks drips with Love for this art .

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 21 Sep 2010, 11:06

mankuthimma wrote:Wonderful Genius , TKR . The Musician I admire the most , simply for his attitude .
Each word that he speaks drips with Love for this art .

TKR has just poured out his heart in Neelabari expalanation. Automatically, all of us who listen to this explanation gets moved too.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 21 Sep 2010, 11:15

Many years ago we ran a thread titled : When Musicians speak
Wonder if we have to revisit those tracks again- Glorious moments when singers speak
I wish I had stored all those links in a folder . Never even guessed that One day I would grow older and lethargic

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 21 Sep 2010, 11:38

mankuthimma wrote:Wonderful Genius , TKR . The Musician I admire the most , simply for his attitude .
Each word that he speaks drips with Love for this art .

TKR has just poured out his heart in Neelabari expalanation. Automatically, all of us who listen to this explanation gets moved too.[/quote]

The speech shows the respect for his Guru, his humour, his request to the listeners to listen to lesser known ragas with a bait (A Grand Thodi) at the end. I have listened to this neelambari so many times and it is still fresh.

But the violinist is TR, isnt it?

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 21 Sep 2010, 13:03

Violinist is(must be) LGJ.....this topic is in LGJ thread.
Coolji- Am i making a mistake ??

fduddy · Post by **fduddy** » 21 Sep 2010, 13:15

vs_manjunath wrote:Violinist is(must be) LGJ.....this topic is in LGJ thread.
Coolji- Am i making a mistake ??

Does not matter. She also belongs to the Lalgudi School, isnt it

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 21 Sep 2010, 14:37

fduddy wrote:
Does not matter. She also belongs to the Lalgudi School, isnt it

Very Much True.

Babu · Post by **Babu** » 21 Sep 2010, 20:35

Here is a slide show of pictures taken by Sri.S.Vasu on the great occasion. Thanks Sri.Vasu for excellent coverage via pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?u ... feat=email

Regards

Babu

seemohan · Post by **seemohan** » 21 Sep 2010, 20:46

Don't miss my photos of Lalgudi80 which have been received extremely well. They are in the albums http://bit.ly/L80P18 and http://bit.ly/L80P19 Even though these are Facebook (FB) albums, they could be viewed by non-FB people also. More to come

If you are in the photos and would like to get tagged either tag yourself or send me a Facebook friend request (go to http://bit.ly/CMFace). Feel free to forward the links to others who might be interested in seeing the photos. If you are on Facebook, you can comment on the photos or on my wall even if you aren't my friend.

C. Mohan, http://bit.ly/CMbioS

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Sep 2010, 21:41

nice pics... but please do edit. Cut out the near duplicates and the misses, and what is left will have much more impact!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 21 Sep 2010, 21:47

Very nice pictures! Gives us an idea about the celebration. To see all those jAmbavAns of the violin, together with their offsprings too, is something!
And Thimma, you look cool

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 21 Sep 2010, 21:51

hey !!
I am nowhere there !!!!!!!
that is kamal hasan

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 22 Sep 2010, 07:08

kyA kamAl hai!

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 23 Sep 2010, 10:34

http://www.mediafire.com/?i2sbhsrvp2jfxq5

LLG in amazing form - AIR programs- Sizzling bilahari

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 23 Sep 2010, 20:13

Bilahari & Naa JeevadhAra is one of LGJ's jewels ! GNB has also sung 'paridhAna' of Patnam in an AIR program. But, the Kaala Pramanam of this song sung by GNB is pretty fast. Comparingly, the vilamba song by LGJ is more leisurely.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 24 Sep 2010, 00:38

Yes-Lalgudi's Na Jeevadhara is non-pareil!! Semmangudi Mama used to joke that the myth/legend behind this kriti --is that the saint is supposed to have revived the life of an young boy by singing this song--Mama says: Adilurkkira Sangathigalai Padinal Irukkira Usirum Poyudum("If you sing all the sangathis in that song, what little life is left in a person would perish too!!).
Now I believe that Lalgudi's playing this song would have revived the dead person.

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 24 Sep 2010, 03:17

Semmangudi Mama and his sense of humour.

I loved the way Semmangudi Mama used to push LGJ, "ummmmm vasiyEn yA...." in some of his concerts. Made for each other. IMHO, SSI-LGJ-PMI was a superb combo, second to none.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 24 Sep 2010, 04:59

MKS-it's so nice that you are bringing those memories alive by narrating them excellently. If Mama himself has said

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: Semmangudi Mama: Adilurkkira Sangathigalai Padinal Irukkira Usirum Poyudum("If you sing all the sangathis in that song, what little life is left in a person would perish too!!).
Now I believe that Lalgudi's playing this song would have revived the dead person.

it shows the complexity of the song. The chitta swaram for this song is also very enjoyable. Sri Chamundeswari in bilahari by MV is also a nice song with a nice chitta swaram. For completeness of Naa JivAdhAra i am reproducing the meaning of this song as given in Spiritual Heritage of Thyagaraja. " oh, the prop of my life, the fruit of my penance, the brillaince of my eyes, the fragrance of my nose, the embodiment of the letters of the name that I chant, You are the flower of my worship."

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 24 Sep 2010, 04:59

MKS-it's so nice that you are bringing those memories alive by narrating them excellently. If Mama himself has said

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: Semmangudi Mama: Adilurkkira Sangathigalai Padinal Irukkira Usirum Poyudum("If you sing all the sangathis in that song, what little life is left in a person would perish too!!).
Now I believe that Lalgudi's playing this song would have revived the dead person.

it shows the complexity of the song. The chitta swaram for this song is also very enjoyable. Sri Chamundeswari in bilahari by MV is also a nice song with a nice chitta swaram. For completeness of Naa JivAdhAra i am reproducing the meaning of this song as given in Spiritual Heritage of Thyagaraja. " oh, the prop of my life, the fruit of my penance, the brilliance of my eyes, the fragrance of my nose, the embodiment of the letters of the name that I chant, You are the flower of my worship."

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 24 Sep 2010, 08:04

http://www.mediafire.com/?8oc6895ntwgv5nx

A brilliant phase in a Santhanam Concert with Lalgudi - Cant put a name to the Mridangam artist - the brilliant thani notwithstanding .
Features a rare and very elaborate Nasamani . Vintage Santhanam

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 24 Sep 2010, 09:03

Cooji- pl u/l GNB's 'paridhAna micchithe' from u'r archive. Chowdiah must be on the violin for this song sung by GNB.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 24 Sep 2010, 09:33

mankuthimma wrote:Cant put a name to the Mridangam artist

Shri TVG I believe ?

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 24 Sep 2010, 14:31

ksrimech wrote:IMHO, SSI-LGJ-PMI was a superb combo, second to none.

My vote along with Uday's will be for SSI-LGJ-Trichy Sankaran.. Apart from the airport concert, one R.R.Sabha concert in 1969 and an Academy 1967 concert!! OMG- enough to cherish for a lifetime.

semmu86 · Post by **semmu86** » 24 Sep 2010, 14:33

mankuthimma wrote:Cant put a name to the Mridangam artist - the brilliant thani notwithstanding .

If its Santhanam along with LGJ, strong possibility that it could be Vellore Ramabhadran(This guess is without listening to the track). Anyways shall listen to it tonite and try to figure it out.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 24 Sep 2010, 14:54

Just listened to the Santhanam clip. Agree, it's a classic - thank you MT.
(btw, I notice you refer to Lalgudi as LLG - I am more used to LGJ)

The mridangam does sound like Vellore Ramabhadran.

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 24 Sep 2010, 16:14

semmu86 wrote: Apart from the airport concert, one R.R.Sabha concert in 1969 and an Academy 1967 concert!! OMG- enough to cherish for a lifetime.

Very Much True. U feel keep on listening to these SSI Concerts, everytime something new we will find and cherish. Just this morning I was listening to Janani Ninuvina in Reethi Gowlai.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 24 Sep 2010, 18:22

Sorry Uday . Just checked the notes . It says Yella Venkateswara Rao

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 24 Sep 2010, 19:07

Why sorry

? Now that you point out, that makes total sense. I've heard YVR.

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 06 Oct 2010, 20:26

Lalgudi in amazing form , in this concert with Somu .
http://www.mediafire.com/?qc204yukktt1klk

A very interesting track. For many reasons.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 07 Oct 2010, 05:43

Thimma, by any chance, would you happen to have a recording of LGJ playing kEdAragowLa in a solo?

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 07 Oct 2010, 10:49

Strange . very Strange . I did not find any track except a short Venugana Lola .I have not checked a lot of unindexed concerts , though.So will keep a watch.

Thanks for pointing this oddity , out to me
Will put up this track tomorrow.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 07 Oct 2010, 22:20

bilahari wrote:Thimma, by any chance, would you happen to have a recording of LGJ playing kEdAragowLa in a solo?

Bilahari,
I do have a KD solo in my collection -it was an elaborate one. But I have to search and it was most likely from MK. I'll post as soon as I find it- I also did not label those tracks. (This will require me listening to all the tracks labeled Lalgudi

)

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 08 Oct 2010, 05:21

Thimma and Suji, no need to press for the recording. If you do come across it while browsing, please post it! It's just that I was listening to SSI's RTP in this raga and was admiring some phrases LGJ played, that led me to wonder what a solo would be like. Thanks. Thimma, I like vEnugAna lOluni and would appreciate it if you could upload that!

vs_manjunath · Post by **vs_manjunath** » 08 Oct 2010, 05:56

bilahari wrote: It's just that I was listening to SSI's RTP in this raga and was admiring some phrases LGJ played.........

Pl provide the link for this RTP. Bilahari-Many thanks in advance

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 08 Oct 2010, 07:21

http://www.mediafire.com/?1odkiui2zdj129d

Lalgudi Rocks here...
VSM That track may be commercial . So I am not putting it up.

girish_a · Post by **girish_a** » 10 Oct 2010, 09:51

Sublime and humble: Article on LGJ in the Deccan Herald. His encounter with Yehudi Menuhin is particularly fascinating.

Another interesting bit from the article:
Soon, Lalgudi was playing for the stalwarts of the day. After one of his first concerts, one such stalwart, Madurai Mani Iyer, remarked with wonder, â€œHow can you play exactly like I sing!â€

Read on for more: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/103 ... umble.html

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 10 Oct 2010, 12:21

Lalgudi , recently , mentioned one occasion in New Delhi when he sang at the AIR studios in the afternoon for GNB , with MM Iyer listening outside .And later in the evening for GNB at a concert with MM Iyer in the audience.
In between they had only an hour and so GNb had got some idlis packed for Lalgudi , which he devoured , sitting on the steps of AIR.
And then Lalgudi tells me excitedly ;
Do you know ? Both of them could not believe that I could make the adjustments ( to the vocalist ) so quickly . How could it be possible ?
I came out with an answer : " Maybe it was something in the Idlis ? "
And he had a hearty laugh. And that was when I was trying to explain him why I get fascinated by his accompaniment more than his solos - Without disrespect to the Solo Part

I explained that playing solo was like cooking a quick meal in your own kitchen. Accompanying was like cooking in someone Else's kitchen. And he remembered the Idlis .

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 10 Oct 2010, 13:35

mankuthimma wrote:And that was when I was trying to explain him why I get fascinated by his accompaniment more than his solos - Without disrespect to the Solo Part
I explained that playing solo was like cooking a quick meal in your own kitchen. Accompanying was like cooking in someone Else's kitchen. And he remembered the Idlis .

Thats a nicely made point, Cool ji..precisely something that I have felt on many occasions as well - the solo vs accompaniment one..

Sathej

musicfan_4201 · Post by **musicfan_4201** » 10 Oct 2010, 13:38

To me Lalgudi is a great motivator. He could bring out the best of the main artist which is an inate ability.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 10 Oct 2010, 19:22

Post#235--Deccan Herald article-- An anecdote on Lalgudi Sir's Edinburgh trip with PMI:

Forumites may be aware that PMI was not not too keen on taking the Edinurgh trip and laid out all sorts of conditions--that his Mridangam repairman should be given a ticket etc etc. Deep down he had expressed several times that he would any day prefer that a few genuine music lovers in Kalpathi or Tanjore appreciate him and compliment him rather than the formal awards/encomiums that such International festivals generate. At Edinbrgh,as Lalgudi Sir has said in that article,Yehudi Menuhin invited him and PMI to his house.

As told to me by Lalgudi Sir himself--a brief paraphrase of the conversation between PMI and Lalgudi Sir debating whether to go or not(!!!).

PMI: I do not like this "fussing" over Menuhin's invitation--
Lalgudi: WHY?
PMI: What is the use of his saying our music is great etc --sounds condescending--I would anyday play joyfully before our CM audience in Kalpathi or Chennai because they would be able to appreciate the nuances. I do not get thrilled by formal apprecIations done for civility sake. Our music is great with/without Menuhin's approval/appreciation.

Lalgudi: This is courtesy--just as we cannot appreciate the subtleties of Western Music, it is OK if Menuhin is not able to appreciate the finer points of our music.

PMI was not convinced and immediately came out with a "challenging" statement--Avarukku Ungalai Madiri Simhanandana Pallavi Vasikka Theriyuma"

Prompt retort from Lalgudi Sir: SIMHANANDANA PALLAVI VASIKKANUM ENRU AVARUKKU ENNA THALAI EZHUTHA!!!!

mankuthimma · Post by **mankuthimma** » 12 Oct 2010, 19:41

musicfan_4201 wrote:To me Lalgudi is a great motivator. He could bring out the best of the main artist which is an inate ability.

Absolutely right .