T.N. Seshagopalan at PS High School, Chennai - 6 APR 11

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CRama
Posts: 2939
Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

T.N. Seshagopalan at PS High School, Chennai - 6 APR 11

Post by CRama »

The concert of TNSeshagopalan accompanied by SD Sridhar on the violin, Mannargudi Easwaran on the Mridangam and Guruprasad on the Ghatam was arranged by Nadopasana Trust. The following is the list of songs.
1. Sarasijaksha- Varnam in Nayaki.
2. Daasasreshta dayaanidhim vandeham sadaa – Malahari ragam, composition of Mysore Vasudevachar
3. Kadaikkann vaithennai aalamma- Begada, composition of Ramaswamy Sivan
4. Kodandaramam- Kokilapriya, composition of Dikshithar
5. Govardhanagireesam- Hindolam, composition of Dikshithar
6. Raagasudhaarasa-Aandolika, composition of Thyagaraja
7. Marubaari- Javali in Khamas
8. Virutham-Kondal vannanai kovalanai vennai unda vaayan in ragams Saveri, Poorvikalyani, Reethigowla, Maruabehag, Ahiri. I left after that.

The concert had a nice start with the rarely heard varnam in one of his favourite ragams, Nayaki. He presented some enthralling swarams in two kaalams at the Charanam line Marubaari. The song in Malahari was a new pick for me. It was on Purandaradasa. Malahari ragam was presented very elaborately for about 10 minutes. The raga alapana was nothing short of excellent and he covered all possible prayogams in that ragam. The charanam was in madhyamakalam and he rendered kalpana swarams at the line Raagaraajageethamoolam. The swaras contained most attractive patterns and many prayogams from the geethams were skillfully employed. The Begada alapana was for 10 minutes containing most authentic sancharas of the ragam each phrase dipped in ragabhava. His voice was in its best throughout the concert. The song was rendered very pleasingly and neraval at charanam line Santhatham pugazhnthu guhadaasan manathanpu followed by detailed swaras in two kalams with excellent poruthams. At the end he rendered the pallavi in three kalams which was a good substitute for a pallavi.

Kodandaramam and Govardhanagireesam were chosen for quick fillers nevertheless they were rendered giving due weight to the raga bhavam and sahithyam. Then came the pleasant surprise for the rasikas. Andolika- which I was hearing from the Maestro for the first time. Thyagaraja’s unparalleled jewel in the ragam Ragasudharasa which another king of brighas GNB made it his own through his immaculate rendition. The alapana was spectacular for about 15 minutes and the song was rendered in an appropriate kalapramanam skillfully utilizing his voice to give long karvais and brighas. Neraval was done at Yaagayogathyaagabhogabhalamosage and swaras rendered in his usual style employing lot of kanakku, thisram, khandam etc which was a great feast in itself. After the thani, Marubaari was rendered in a very aesthetic manner and the virutham was also rendered in his usual style. Actually I departed after Marubari but his saveri, one of my favourite ragams and the succeeding Poorvikalyani forced me inside into the hall. While rendering the virutham he intelligently employed the kondukootti paadummurai- kanda kannkal, amudinaikanda kannkal, Arangathamudinaikanda kannkal, Andarkon Arangathamudinaikanda kannkal. I left after the virutham. Saveri was simply out of the world. Some rasikas may wonder at my usage of too much superlatives but honestly the concert deserved nothing short. This concert also confirms that you can always expect something special in all his concerts. :lol:

The accompanists jelled well with TNS. SD Sridhar gave very good support in the violin. His alapanas were brief but had catchy phrases and his violin returns were most appropriate. Regarding Easwaran Mama, I need not tell anything special. It was sowkhyam personified and I felt as if the Mridangam sang along with TNS. The thani which lasted for 10 minutes contained attractive strokes and Guruprasad also complemented well. The artists on the stage very much enjoyed each other as was evident from their faces. An excellent concert.

Sathej
Posts: 586
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:23

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by Sathej »

CRama wrote: 2. Daasasreshta dayaanidhim vandeham sadaa – Malahari ragam, composition of Mysore Vasudevachar
This is a composition of TNS himself, if I remember right..heard it a year or so back at Sastri Hall..

Sathej

squims
Posts: 447
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 22:10

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by squims »

This was at B'lore by any chance?

sivapriyak
Posts: 2
Joined: 08 Apr 2011, 12:31

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by sivapriyak »

Andolika alapana - a treat for the ears and the brain ! No raga can be small or not worth expounding in his musical lexicon. The neraval at 'yaga yoga.." was yet another brilliant expression of very subtle nuances.

Also the gentle flow of varied laya patterns in kadai kaN and the way he sang the first line joint with the word "viri kadai kaN" was lyrical expression at its best.

Mannargudi Easwaran and Guruprasad brilliantly assisted ,anticipated and embellished the concert making it so much more joyful an experience!

p.s : Malahari composition Dasa Sreshta is a composition by himself.

CRama
Posts: 2939
Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 16:58

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by CRama »

Thanks Sathej and Sivapriyak for the information that the song in Malahari was a composition of TNS. There was the word vasudeva in the pallavi of the song. Hence I thought it is a composition of Vasudevachar.
squims- It was held in Chennai.

(Moderator note: The title has been updated to include Chennai )

srikant1987
Posts: 2246
Joined: 10 Jun 2007, 12:23

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by srikant1987 »

This was at B'lore by any chance?

It was held in Chennai.
Yeah, I got to enjoy quite a few concerts of Nadopasana's at Chennai ... They usually hold them in PS High School, but some times also at Raga Sudha hall and other places in Mylapore. PS High School's hall looks modest, but I find the accoustics pleasing, and we can also derive a somewhat intimate listening experience, despite the hall's somewhat large size. Part of it could be because all doors (and windows?) are thrown wide open to let all echos out and an occassional breeze in. This also gives a very welcoming feeling. :D

Tharangam
Posts: 32
Joined: 12 May 2010, 11:06

Re: TNSESHAGOPALAN AT PS HIGH SCHOOL- 6 APR 11

Post by Tharangam »

It is a composition of Sri TNS composed for his Purandaradasa harikatha which was rendered at Bangalore a few years back. The maestro's genius as a composer coming to forefront from now on!!! :)

The Nadopasana concert, no words to explain. Breezy, fresh. A new facet of Andholika presented in true TNS style!

Sivaramakrishnan
Posts: 1582
Joined: 02 Jan 2010, 08:29

Re: T.N. Seshagopalan at PS High School, Chennai - 6 APR 11

Post by Sivaramakrishnan »

CRama, difficult to believe TNS has not handled Aandolika in such detail!
And the speciality of Niraval and swaram @ Yaaga yoga!

And a Marubaari to top it all!

Thanks for the review.

sivapriyak
Posts: 2
Joined: 08 Apr 2011, 12:31

Re: T.N. Seshagopalan at PS High School, Chennai - 6 APR 11

Post by sivapriyak »

To : Sivaramakrishnan

" CRama, difficult to believe TNS has not handled Aandolika in such detail!
And the speciality of Niraval and swaram @ Yaaga yoga! "


To Quote CRAMA:

Then came the pleasant surprise for the rasikas. Andolika- which I was hearing from the Maestro for the first time.neraval was done at Yaagayogathyaagabhogabhalamosage and swaras rendered in his usual style employing lot of kanakku, thisram, khandam etc which was a great feast in itself.

He has clearly said that " he is hearing the raga in elaboration for the first time ! and that the neraval had the usual great stamp".:):)

Tharangam
Posts: 32
Joined: 12 May 2010, 11:06

Re: T.N. Seshagopalan at PS High School, Chennai - 6 APR 11

Post by Tharangam »

I have heard TNS sing Andolika two times before this concert. Both at Kerala. A recent one near Kottayam which was more elaborate than the Nadopasana Concert.

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