Gayatri Venkataraghavan @ Music Academy, 17/12

[sankark]

BU Ganeshprasad - Violin
B Ganapathiraman - Mridangam
V Selvaganesh - Ghatam

Ranjani - Varnam - Adi - GNB
Kamas - Seethapathe - Adi - T (brief sketch, ns@premajuchi)
Brindavana Saranga - Rangapura Vihara - Rupakam - MD (R)
Senjukambodhi - Vararagalaya - Adi - T
Thodi - Ninne Nammi Nanu - M Chapu - SS (RNS@kamakshi kanjadalayatakshi T)
Arabhi - RTP (kadirvadivelavane unadhu padam thunaiya oraru mugane devadhi devane) - K Triputa
swaras in Malayamarutam, ?, Hamsanandi
Kapi? - Nachat Nachat - Adi - ?

A concert that stood for its superb Brindavana Saranga & Thodi. IMO, planning wasn't good as the Arabhi RTP ran till the last minute and then she had to borrow extra 3 minutes to sing Nachat Nachat.

She mentioned that the Pallavi was in Kanda Triputa (9 aksharas). But my finger count came to 11 aksharas. So any other rasikas that understood the intricacies can set me right.

[ganeshkant]

The RTP was in kandajathi triputa thAlam and in kanda nadai.U have to put the thAlam as thaka thakita i.e the kanda nadai and that 9 times.Hope I have explained correctly.

In the ragamalika it was Valaji not MalayamArutham.

The Bhajan that was sung last was in Yaman.

To me neither the main in Todi nor the Arabhi RTP was impressive.

GV is capable of singing better.Better luck next time.

[sankark]

ganesh - pardon my ignorance, not sure why would nadai have an effect on the number of aksharas - could you explain or point to any nice explanation already available?

I liked the thodi very much but arabhi was just so-so.

One thing I don't understand is why RTP is getting the short end. She could have sung Thodi for 45 mins and the RTP for an hour. Balamuralikrishna in the next slot did the same again. Took Surati for RTP but when about only half an our was left and had a elaborate Mohanam before.

[ganeshkant]

Sankark,

I am also a laymen.I just explained in the way I have understood.May be U might have counted an extra dhrutham.We have laya professionals in our forum and they may explain better.

Yes.U r right.They take up RTP only when 20-30 mins.of time is left and they are warranted to put all the ingredients in a capsule.That is why we have exclusive RTP concerts occasionally.

[sureshvv]

Found the thodi somewhat cumbersome and belabored in contrast to the freely flowing Mohanam from the day before. Suspect that the Academy with the strict RTP format makes concert planning quite a bit challenging for the artiste.

@sankark: But how did you count 11? Looks like you are the one with some 'splaining to do

The kriya is tap, count 4, tap-wave, tap-wave = 9

[sankark]

suresh - my counting was from kadir (from samam) to kadir (didn't land on samam but on the modhira viral). and how many ever times I counted, it always came to 5 (laghu) + 2 (drutam) + 2 (drutam) + 2 (?). If I am in the wrong, would like to know what exactly did I miss.

[sureshvv]

suresh - my counting was from kadir (from samam) to kadir (didn't land on samam but on the modhira viral). and how many ever times I counted, it always came to 5 (laghu) + 2 (drutam) + 2 (drutam) + 2 (?). If I am in the wrong, would like to know what exactly did I miss.

Since the experts have not jumped in yet, you'll have to make do with me!

As I remember, the pallavi (kadhir) started at modhira viral. It is an origin/phase shift. You cannot have the pallavi leaking into the next avarthanam. Unless you play the mrudangam

The second raga in the ragamalika was saraswathi, I think.

[ganeshkant]

Yes vvSuresh,it was Saraswathi.

[kadambam]

BU Ganeshprasad - Violin
B Ganapathiraman - Mridangam
V Selvaganesh - Ghatam


Interesting!!! Gayatri was surrounded by different forms of Ganeshas on the stage & looks like she didn't sing 1 Ganapathy kriti!!!

[sureshvv]

She could do with some improvement in pronunciation. Specifically she seems to be unaware of the third S'a between Sa and Sha. "S'ukha pAni" tripped her up a couple of times. Thankfully it was not part of the neraval line. May be the rasikas (iTrans) scheme can be helpful.

[srikant1987]

Specifically she seems to be unaware of the third S'a between Sa and Sha. "S'ukha pAni" tripped her up a couple of times.

Well, very few people differentiate between the "third" and "second" "sha"s. Most people pronounce both things in a way which resembles the "second" sha, and some use the third sha all the time.

[sureshvv]

Am sure you don't mean that as an excuse. For artistes striving to improve themselves, this is definitely an area to focus on. Feel that becoming comfortable with the devanagri script (or iTrans) and using it to fine tune pronunciation is a worthwhile exercise.

[Pratyaksham Bala]

Am sure you don't mean that as an excuse. For artistes striving to improve themselves, this is definitely an area to focus on. Feel that becoming comfortable with the devanagri script (or iTrans) and using it to fine tune pronunciation is a worthwhile exercise.

A very useful and practical suggestion. Hope the 'deserving' artists read this post.