Madurai TNS at Nungambakkam Cultural on 22nd

[anandasangeetham]

Madurai TNS performance at Nungambakkam Cultural Academy - Ramarao Kala Mantap - 7 pm

Madurai TNS - Vocal
TNS Krishna Vocal support
Delhi P Sunderrajan - Violin
Guruvayur Durai - Mridangam
Srirangam Kannan - Moharsing

The concert started at 7.15 The list of items as under

Sri raga Varnam - Sami Ninne
Siva Siva Ena Radha - Pantuvarali - Alapanai - Neraval at Agamula - Swaram
Sivanai NInaindu - Edhukula Kamboji
Kripanidhe Kripajalathe - Hamsanadham - Alapanai, swaram
Ananda Natana Prakasam - Kedaram - Alapanai, swaram
Thiallayil Ambalathanai - Suruti
Abhogi - RTP - Pallavi- oru tharam siva chidambaram enru - Thani
Virutham - Paal ninainthootum - Neelambari-Ahiri-Amrithavarshini-Darbari Kanada
Chandrachooda Sivasankara bala - Darbari Kanada
mangalam


Today being Thiruvadirai TNS chose to sing only songs on Lord Shiva.
Probably due to the very chill weather his voice played truant for most part of the concert. The upper octaves were very difficult for him and for me too(to listen)
On Hamsanadham he said that it was an earlier version of the raga and he said something about Neethimathi.
On Abhogi he traversed many unleaded path and because of his voice could not enjoy very much(it didnt seem like abhogi at all in many places)
His love for Kanakku was very much evident today - if not an exageration except mangalam he imparted Kananku in all the items he presented. At some point it became too monotonous.
Delhi P Sunderrajan has to do some thing very urgently. He is not earlier self (prior to his long hiatus).Either his bowing is not OK or his violin is very new..there were lots of shrieks and shrills...His reverts on Pantuvarali and Hamsanadham were OK but his Abhogi was good.
Guruvayur Durai played a decent role and his soft accompaniment was a real treat. The tani was very short due to paucity of time. In fact TNS even reduced the time for Tanam and swaram, After two three avartanas he started the kuraipu and even there it was only for one avarthana
Srirangam Kannan played at intervals.

To mike was pathetic and there was constant howling sounds, and at times it went off totally.

Overall not a very good concert for this rasika.

[ramalakshmi18]

Is this forum an anti Seshagopalan s music forum :^)
Opps! All his concerts are reviewed in a destructive way? So many reviews seem to be an intentional attempt to besmirch the senior artists name. This particular review may be the feeling of an individual rasika but apart from this, when the reviews of the vidwan are analysed for the past to four to five years, I wonder why there is negative criticism to a greater level and most of the members here show intense antagonism in their writings.
No other artist’s concerts other than TNS are criticized and condemned in a destructive way like this.

[anandasangeetham]

I dont intend to do any destructive reviewing. nevertheless i feel that any artists review should be based on the day of performance and not his highs and lows of his career....The main reason for this concert to go the way it did was the voice of TNS. And it is the responsibility of the artists to ensure that they are absolutely impeccable in their voice/instruments to perform.
When Tendulkar comes to bat you always expect a Ton from him and if he doesnt perform then you are sad and it could be due to many things, but if he brings a bat that is half broken then you have blame him fully.
Another aspect I find these days that the accompanists take too much time tuning the instrments and that too after ascending the stage. Dont they know the timing of the concert and the artist they are going to accompany. Why cant they tune it in advance. They can come half an hour earllier and then along with the main perforrmer tune their intruments so that the concert start on time. Midway tuning of the Mridangam (just before the main raga that involves a tani) could be OK.

[Tharangam]

Came in after the varnam. After the pantuvarali, I expected Sambho mahadeva:-( TNS sparked a surprise by Siva siva yenaradha. What a kalapramanam!! It set a perfect concert tempo.I could not resist to say that he reminded me of Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer. The neraval was exceptional. I am always left astounded at the way he sings neravals.

The raga Hamsanadham, the pracheena version was rendered with absolute ease. The voice was just gliding through the raga.It was a demonstration of how a raga should be sung for a particular krithi. TNS has been a master in this area.

Then came kedaram. My personal favourite of yesterday's concert. Wonder whether any other artist has sung a more detailed kedaram. It is really a wonder how TNS unfolds ragas that have a very limited scope into a magnificent one with his unbelievable manodharma.Just like one would sing a kalyani or kambhoji, he sings ragas like nayaki, ahiri, Manji, kedaram etc. I heard Sri Guruvoyur Dorai comment about the extraodinary kedharam. The krithi was rendered with utmost bhava with embellishments wherever needed to take the rasika to the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva himself. True Class!

Abhogi throwed mulitple facets of the beautiful raga. He weaved through the raga and I am sure, if he had the time, it would have gone on and on. The manodharama was limitless and in full flow.

Over all a super concert. This season has been like this throughout with the master in fine form, voice in a fine fettle.

Taste's differ, I agree. But how could one forget to notice great aspects of music? Ananda sangeetham nu perla ye iruppadhala sangeethathin aanandhathai avarukku rasika muidyalai polirukku:-(

[srikant1987]

when the reviews of the vidwan are analysed for the past to four to five years, I wonder why there is negative criticism to a greater level and most of the members here show intense antagonism in their writings.
No other artist’s concerts other than TNS are criticized and condemned in a destructive way like this.

1. You should consider the possibility that you're being ultra-sensitive to criticism of TNS vis-a-vis the criticism of other artists. Indeed, there are some artists my blood would boil at the criticism of, too!
2. If the truth be said, the whole forum seems to be attending the concert of only TNS amongst all senior artists in the world, so you should in fact be happy for TNS.
3. Criticism of relatively junior artists should be delicate and put encouragingly because there's still time for them to improve. +
4. Criticism of senior artists is actually relatively pointless. * Appreciation is good, though, especially for the less well-known senior artists, because there may be many rasikas who haven't heard them and get motivated to do that seeing an appreciative review.

+ There is always time to improve -- but over the years the "things to unlearn" list piles up! Besides, one may guess that the senior artists may not be as avidly following this forum, as much as their potential listeners.

* nyanasthan and I have already discussed some "points" in favour of this in the thread reviewing TNS's kucheri with ranganAyakam main and brindavana saranga / brindavani RTP.

[anandasangeetham]

Tastes differ. I too agree....Perukkum sangeethathai rasikirathukkum oru sambandhamum illai. Naan Gnana soonyama kooda irukalam..Ana Manasukku pidikalaina nalla sangeetham illa....Yaar padinalum sari.....
By the way I have nothing personal against any artist. My idols are MMI and MDR and both are in heaven performing for the Gods. I am no great fan of any of the contemporary artist and i just go to concerts as i love music and nothing more nothing less. This review is just outpour my feelings after listening to a concert and not to showcase my talent as a review writer(i am not qualified to write about the technicalities). If this creates a bad feeling among other members please ignore my writings....And I am not here to debate as I know nothing much to debate.

Again I agree tastes differ....

[Tharangam]

Tastes differ. I too agree....Perukkum sangeethathai rasikirathukkum oru sambandhamum illai. Naan Gnana soonyama kooda irukalam..Ana Manasukku pidikalaina nalla sangeetham illa....Yaar padinalum sari.....
By the way I have nothing personal against any artist. My idols are MMI and MDR and both are in heaven performing for the Gods. I am no great fan of any of the contemporary artist and i just go to concerts as i love music and nothing more nothing less. This review is just outpour my feelings after listening to a concert and not to showcase my talent as a review writer(i am not qualified to write about the technicalities). If this creates a bad feeling among other members please ignore my writings....And I am not here to debate as I know nothing much to debate.

Again I agree tastes differ....

Unga manasukku pidikkadha sangeethai review pannuvaanen? Ignore and get going with your idols.

[ganeshkant]

There is nothing wrong in telling that TNS's voice is not in form.In his MA concert many times only air came (remember the famous dialogue from Thevar Magan before the song
Inji iduppaLagi,"pAttu varalai,katthuthEn varudhu").This doesn't mean I have given up TNS.Rather when people started leaving one by one I sat till the end,in spite of mocking from my next seat gentleman who asked me "fullA irukkapporELA?".I said yes and stayed calm.Kis ko proove karna ha!

There is a lot of difference between being true and acting truthful.Hope dear forum member Ramalakshmi understands this.

[HarishankarK]

Is this forum an anti Seshagopalan s music forum :^)
Opps! All his concerts are reviewed in a destructive way? So many reviews seem to be an intentional attempt to besmirch the senior artists name. This particular review may be the feeling of an individual rasika but apart from this, when the reviews of the vidwan are analysed for the past to four to five years, I wonder why there is negative criticism to a greater level and most of the members here show intense antagonism in their writings.
No other artist’s concerts other than TNS are criticized and condemned in a destructive way like this.

I would add Aruna Sairam to the list. Most of the reviews i have read criticize her concerts too.

[ramalakshmi18]

ananandha sangeetham i dont mean your review at all, its your opinion,

But generally when i read the previous reviews of tns's vocal and veena concerts i feel that few forum members are purposely giving very bad reviews , I can quote many examples. The reviews of those members doesnt seem to highlight just the negative side alone, from their writings they want to prove how much knowledge they have in music. Whether it is a junior or senior artist the reviewers are entitled to give their opinion but sometimes they give instructions to the artists as to how the raga swara should have been rendered and also compare them with other musicians. Each Bani or school has its own charm and if one style excels in krithi rendition other bani might be exclusively grand in raga rendition and favoritism is openly seen in most of the reviews.


Ten days back I attended the concert of a senior musician (don’t want to mention the name) his throat was very bad and he struggled a lot to set his voice in each swarasthana and didnt develop any sanchara above tara shadja , he was completely out of sruti throughout the concert, but most of the reviewers here had reviewed the concert like, “inspite of bad voice and sruti problem the artist did wonderful presentation” why is this preferential treatment?

Most of the reviewers of TNS completely fail to point out the positive aspects of the concerts, the genuine good aspects of the concerts are overlooked deliberately in order to establish the point that the concert is not up to this mark, I am not a die hard fan of any musician, I happened to read the latest reviews of T. N.Seshagopalan these points came to mind that’s all.

[rajeshnat]

Ten days back I attended the concert of a senior musician (don’t want to mention the name) his throat was very bad and he struggled a lot to set his voice in each swarasthana and didnt develop any sanchara above tara shadja , he was completely out of sruti throughout the concert, but most of the reviewers here had reviewed the concert like, “inspite of bad voice and sruti problem the artist did wonderful presentation” why is this preferential treatment?

ramalakshmi18
Go please to that thread of that musician review and put these exact impressions . When you are convinced what is stopping you to put that?

[HarishankarK]

Reading Tharangam's review one would feel that anandasangeetham does not like TNS sir. But the fact that he went to attend TNS sir's concert contradicts that view.
I can only think of one thing - if there are 10 concerts going in the city and if we chose to attend one of them the main reason for that is our liking of and expectation from the artiste (there are people who travel very long distances even by bus etc to attend concerts of Sudha ji and Aruna ji etc). But if the artiste fails to deliver we feel disappointed and write the concert off. A honest review does not mean bearing a grudge against the artiste.

[ajsriram]

Another aspect I find these days that the accompanists take too much time tuning the instrments and that too after ascending the stage. Dont they know the timing of the concert and the artist they are going to accompany. Why cant they tune it in advance. They can come half an hour earllier and then along with the main perforrmer tune their intruments so that the concert start on time. Midway tuning of the Mridangam (just before the main raga that involves a tani) could be OK.

Dear Anand"Asangeetham",
From your comment i clearly understand that you dont know anything about instruments. A perfectionist will know how his instrument will change its colour in a Hall / Temple / Outdoor / Pandhal concerts. Only thing the musician can do is to keep adjusting it based on the behaviour of the instrument. Placing a mridangam in A/C or in front of the lights will shift the sruthi higher or lower (HIGHER or LOWER). The instrumentalist will know how it will react to such situations and keep "fine"tuning them.

A slight sruthi mis-alignment will be a problem for both the singer and to the rasikas.

To be precise, Its not tuning and its Fine-Tuning.

-
Carnatic Music Turns Me On

[sureshvv]

Looks like ramalakshmi prefers to review the reviewers.

[ramalakshmi18]

Looks like ramalakshmi prefers to review the reviewers.

why not vvsuresh ? since most of the reviewers here tries showcase their musical knowledge instead of reviewing the proper aspects of the concert, forum members like me are forced to review the reviews of the members.

[anandasangeetham]

Dear Sri Sriram,

I accept that i Know nothing about anything. But just a little bit of curiosity....I never said anything about fine tuning...But has that to done on stage even before the first item? All I am asking is that the musicians tune/fine tune their instruments AFTER entering the sabha AND BEFORE getting on dias. Am i wrong in expecting even that? Will the sruti change even between that lapse of time? Agree that the AC and harsh light will change the sruti. But will it be even after getting on stage.Dont they know about this at all? In that case the sruti will keep varying (harrsh lights,AC) from song to song. so after every song the instrument needs to fine tuned? I do not seem to witness this often. What I witness is the too long a time taken ffor Tuning (and i mean tuning here - as it takes too long a time).....Sruti alignment is of paramount importance and i have no right to question the fine tuning part. But as a rasika I want the concert to start on time. Is it too much to ask for? Then I am sorry.

[ajsriram]

Thanks for accepting. I stop commenting about "Before" / "After" / "Sruthi" / "Etc", as you said you dont know anything about that.

Regarding the timing, If a musician is not comfortable with the alignment or if he feels that it can be fine-tuned or TUNED better or best can be achieved only after TUNING, you need to wait patiently.

-
Carnatic Music Turns Me On

[uday_shankar]

All I am asking is that the musicians tune/fine tune their instruments AFTER entering the sabha AND BEFORE getting on dias.

"Tuning" is not a static thing. It's not some necessary "evil" that comes in the way of music making . It is part and parcel of the concert, and a very enjoyable one to many. I actually loved to see Raghu sir tune his instruments and always got the goosebumps when he ended his tuning with the characteristic "dhu-doom, dhu-doom, dhu-doom". Aah...

If you don't get the rationale and spirit behind why Indian classical musicians fuss about tuning, you must make an attempt to understand it. There is no "before" or "after" for tuning...!!! It is the very essence of classical music.

[sureshvv]

Looks like ramalakshmi prefers to review the reviewers.

why not vvsuresh ? since most of the reviewers here tries showcase their musical knowledge instead of reviewing the proper aspects of the concert, forum members like me are forced to review the reviews of the members.

Be my guest! But your post would be a lot more interesting to many if you tried to write about a concert you attended and tell us what you liked and where you think improvements could be made. Just for the record, I have no training in CM to speak of (which I think should be abundantly clear from my posts) and whatever little I know is only from listening to live concerts over the last few years. So there is nothing for me to showcase

[sramaswamy]

I don not think AnandaSangeetham is complaining about the 'tuning' per se. His point is that if the concert is supposed to start at 5 pm, tuning can be done before 5 pm say from 4:40 - 5 pm so that the concert can start at 5 pm.

[anandasangeetham]

Thank you Ramasami Sir ..atleast you got the point.

[ramalakshmi18]

vvsuresh i dont wish to disclose the artists name, as tharangam said "enaku manasuku pidikadha concert review pannuvanen"

That particular musician had some voice problem that day thats all, i dont want to defame any artists reputation and indulge in to unwanted arguements .

[sureshvv]

vvsuresh i dont wish to disclose the artists name, as tharangam said "enaku manasuku pidikadha concert review pannuvanen"

That particular musician had some voice problem that day thats all, i dont want to defame any artists reputation and indulge in to unwanted arguements .

I think voice problems are quite common, especially in this season. I am sure there are many things besides voice that can impress a listener. There are many performers who draw applause from large crowds even with a poor voice because they know how to work with it.

"manasukku pidikkalai" na, may be you can reflect on why and then try to verbalize it. It may need some pondering but as long as there is no personal animosity, it may make interesting reading for us. Believe it or not, we are all here just to enjoy each other's opinions, not to bash anybody or prop others up.