T.N.Seshagopalan at Vani Mahal on 18 Feb

[CRama]

On the inaugural day of the Thyagaraja Festival, Sri. T.N.Seshagopalan gave an absorbing concert accompanied by Shri.M.Chandrasekaran on the Violin, Shri Thrissur Narendran on the Mridangam,and Adampakkam Sankar on the Ganjira. It was an all Thyagaraja Kriti concert most fitting for the occasion. The list of songs is given below.
1.Sree Ganapathinee- Sourashtram
2.E paniko janmaminchithine- Asaveri.
3.Dayajoochuta- Ganavaridhi
4.Bagayanayya-Chandrajothi
5.Samajavaragamana-Hindolam
6.Elavathara-Mukhari
7.Nepogadagunte-Varali
8.Naamoaralakimpa-Devagandhari
9.Emani matladithivo-Thodi
10.Melukovayya-Bhowli
11.Vadanadyuthi-Panthuvarali(Madhyamasruthi)
12. Mangalam
The concert started at 6.35 P.M with an alapana of ragam Sourashtram on a wide canvas. Alapana of this ragam is rather rare and here TNS showcased a complete picture of the raga for 7 minutes. Chandrasekaran gave a reply in about 3 minutes. Thyagaraja's prayer to Lord Ganesa and kalpana swaras in two kalams follwed. Next was alapana of ragam Asaveri – which is also not very common. A phrase oriented rakthi ragam, TNS gave all the characteristic sancharams of this ragam. The alapana lasted for 5 minutes and the kriti was a rare kriti- E paniko janmaminchithine. The violin alapana of this ragam also was very good. No swaras were sung for this song. Next was a brief alapana of ragam Ganavaridhi for about 3 minutes followed by the song. This was followed by Bagayanayya. Next the alapana of Hindolam started and the concert really took to a great leap from this point. The alapana was marvellous. It lasted for 7 minutes and the song was Samajavaragamana. Neraval was done in his inimitable style at Sama veda siro During swara prasthara, many swaraakshara prayogams were done and it ended with saamaa in three sthayis. Chandrasekharan's violin returns were equally enjoyable. Next Elavathara was rendered in a most serene manner. Nepokadagunte followed with neraval at Neerajanayana Sree Thyagaraja and swaras in second kalams were rendered here. Then came another rare rong- Naamoralakimpa. The main raga of the evening was the favourite of his fans- Thodi. He excels in Thodi at any time- and the alapana was for 15 minutes and it had a sruthi bhedam to Harikambodi and safely landed at Thodi. The song was Emani matladithivo –not usually heard in concerts. Neraval was “'Thyagaraja vinutha ghana naya mudduga Emani matladithivo'' Swaras were rendered with lot of kanakku and was most enjoyable. Thani lasted for 15 minutes. After Melukovayya, vadanadyuthi was rendered in Madhyamasruthi which gave a different colour to the song and was very pleasing. It ended with Pavamana.
TNS voice was in good form throughout the concert and it was a feast for the listeners. Even though I have heard hundreds of his concerts and have recording of another 200, E paniko janmaminchithine, Elavathara, Naamoaralakimpa and Emani matladithivo I was hearing from him for the first time. I was longing to hear Emani matladithivo since quite some years. The accompaniments were also very good. The playing of Thrissur Narendran and Adampakkam Sankar was very supportive throughout the concert and the thani was also enjoyable. Eventhough it was on a working day, there was good crowd. The concert ended at 9.30 P.M

[ganeshkant]

C.Rama,

A nice review of a concert of rarity and merit.I missed the Sowrashtram alapana.Sad though!
The svarams @ Pallavi was very nice.I entered the hall half way during this and could notice only kaisiki nishadham throughout.I have heard that this ragam employs Kakali nishadham also.Probably I would have missed it .

The Hindolam was outstanding .The ragam,niraval & svaram sung in 3 full octaves,reminded me of Dr.BMK's version.

The Todi would have been a poetry had he restrained himself from exploring the thara sthayi much.Here a bit of misses here and there and the sowkhyam was lost a bit.

Like you I also heard most of those kritis for the first time.

Adambakkam Sankar was on ghatam not kanjira.

MC played a great role as usual and after the concert I heard him congratulating TNS.
Narendran was sowkhyam personified;Sankar also played well.

An Outstanding concert.

[srikant1987]

The svarams @ Pallavi was very nice.I entered the hall half way during this and could notice only kaisiki nishadham throughout.I have heard that this ragam employs Kakali nishadham also.Probably I would have missed it .

Interesting. I think N3 is more predominant, and we can do away with the N2 using SDPM if we want (of course, it could still come as an anuswaram).

[CRama]

Thanks Ganeshkant for the correction regarding Adambakkam Sankar.

[Tharangam]

Good summary C. Rama. It was truly a class concert with so many ragas and krithis unheard of these days.
A few thoughts. Namoralakimpa is not a rare song. It had been rendered by many before. Now it is often unheard in concert circles, reason unknown!
As for Ganeshkant's comment about the Kakali nishada, TNS indeed employed quite a few phrases with it, with and without anuswaram.The pick of the concert for me was the sowrashtram , asaveri and ganavaridhi raga alapanas! Master indeed!