Priya sisters-SCSES-18th Feb,11-Hyderabad

[revanthv552]

On the third day of their Annual festival, Sri Chandrasekharendra Educational Society had the concert of Priya sisters. They were accompanied by Sri M.A. Krishnaswamy on the violin, Sri Phalgun on Mridangam and Sri B.S.Purushothaman on Kanjira.
The song list was as follows

1.Vanajaksha-Behag Varnam-T.R.Subramanium.
2.Gajavadhana-Sriranjani-Papanasam Sivan[S]
3.Janaki Ramana-Sudhdha Seemanthini-Thyagaraja
4.O Jagadamba-Anandabhairavi-Syama Sastri[R,S]
5.Vanchathonuna-Karnaranjani-Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar
6.Gananaya desika-Rishabhapriya-Koteeswarayyar[R,S]
7.Kanjadalayathakshi-Kamalamanohari-Dikshitar
8.O Ranga sayee-Khamboji-Thyagaraja[R,N,S,T]
9.Vemana Sathakam poems
Athma sudhdhi leni-Bhagesri
Inumu Virigeneni-Hamsanandhi
Thappulennu varu-Bowli followed by
Ekkadi manusha janmam-Bowli-Annamacharya
10.Karpagavalli nin-Ragamalika-yazhpAnam veeramani Iyer
11.Emi Sethura Linga-thatvam
12.Sai eeswara nee-Hamsdwani-[??]

This duo is always Hyderabad's favorite. So the hall was jam packed even before the concert commenced and people were struggling to find seats. The sisters sat on the stage around 6.45pm. They commenced with Behag Varnam of their guru which was rendered only in one speed. The next piece was Gajavadhana in Sriranjani. The sisters really lacked coordination while singing this song. One sang one line while the other did another. That disappointed me. Duet concerts require good amount of planning and practice and that was clearly absent when I saw them sing this song. The kalpana swarams were just alright. Every performer has a good day and a bad one, the flow of the concert seemed like this was a day were the sisters were not really in a great form. The third piece also was in a similar manner. Sudhdha Seemanthini was just okay again. The next piece was Anandabhairavi Alapana by Haripriya. This was when I felt the concert was getting on to the better side unlike what I felt in the beginning. Haripriya was not comfortable singing the higher octaves. "O Jagadamba" was sung and there was a decent swarakalpana at the pallavi.

The next piece was Vanchathonu, which was sung pretty well. The chittaswarams were rendered well and everyone in the audience clapped when they finished the chittaswarams. The next piece was "Rishabhapriya" alapana by Shanmukhapriya. This was when I really felt the concert was getting better than what I expected. The alapana was perfect, Shanmukhapriya did a great job. Haripriya took over next and sang well. The alapana on violin by Krishnaswamy was something I loved the most. The song of Koteeswarayar was taken. I was really happy as I once again got to listen to a rare raga. The swarakalpana was done at the line "Sadja Rishabhapriya". As the swarakalpana progressed, they put phrases once at "Sadja", once at "Rishabhapriya" once at "Gandhara" and went on singing phrases till they reached the word "Nishadha" This piece was interesting and the swarakalpana was brilliant. This was the best part of the concert.

The filler in Kamalamanohari was rendered well. The main piece was Khamboji. I enjoyed the alapana. Haripriya was now totally in a different form when compared to the way she sang in the beginning. The beauty of the raga was very well exposed. The alapana went on for very long. It was really pleasing. The magnum opus, "O Rangasayee" was rendered. There was a detail neraval at the line "bhooloka vaikuntam" and there was a splendid swarakalpana. They rendered the main piece very well. Thaniavarthanam followed.

The post main part was also good. They chose songs which were popular. The tatvam "Emi Sethu rA" was rendered very well. I personally liked it. The mridangam was not played for this piece. They sang it just with the accompaniment of violin. The choice of singing padhyams from Vemana Sethakam was also very well received as almost every andhrite is aware of Vemana Sathakam.

Now, few things I did not like about the concert were, there was lack of proper coordination between both of them. This effected the flow of concert. One sang one line while the other did another. Another thing was they sat discussing on the stage and kept flipping pages of their book as of which song to sing. This could have been avoided by planning the concert before. (My personal opinions! thats all! I dont mean anything else).

Few things I loved about the concert were the choice of composers. They covered almost every famous composer. There was not much repetition when it comes to the composers. The choice of ragas was good. The handling of raga Rishabhapriya was decent and the swarakalpana for the song was amazing. The sisters shared good rapport and they kept appreciating one another with smiles especially when the Rishabhapriya was on. The Khamboji was well handled. And the of course the choice of the post main items. Everyone enjoyed those compositions.

I can simply say that the concert's start was not so good, but as it progressed, it took a good form. Finally left people satisfied!

[rajeshnat]

10.Karpagavalli nin-Ragamalika-Desika Vinayagam Pillai

Karpagavalli ninn -rAgamAliga in anandabhairavi,bhageshri,ranjani is by yazhpAnam veeramani Iyer.

[revanthv552]

thanks for the correction rajeshnat. I will edit the post

[vasudevand]

but there is also kalyani raga in that.

[HarishankarK]

Wow! You have enriched this post with this information after 6 years. Amazing!!