Dr.M.Narmadha

Carnatic Musicians
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cacm
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Joined: 08 Apr 2010, 00:07

Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by cacm »

This is an account of the recent USA TRIP of Dr.M.Narmadha to participate in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival in 2011 recently.
As accompanying artists are given scant coverage I wish to point out the VARIED activities she was involved in- close to a dozen concerts coast to coast- during less than a month.
It started with probably the HIGHLIGHT of the tour with a private audience & her tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar in San Diego on his ninetieth Birthday when she paid homage by playing Vathapi Ganapathim in person exclusively - Ravi Shankar was the first North Indian Musician to play it- & a Tarana in Sindhu Bhairavi which her grand father Parur Sundaram Iyer had introduced to the South.Actually Ravi Shankar had visited him in Chennai more than 40 years ago & played for him at his house. Panditji was very pleased to recall that visit& was happy to hear her & blessed her pointing out how responsive her fingers were to both North & South Indian Music.
In Cleveland in addition to the rendering of Pancharatnas by all the musicians she competently accompanied artists at various levels like Jayalakshmi Santhanam, Gayathri Venkataraghavan, Alamelu Mani, V.K.Manimaran, Pallavi contest winner Aishwarya.Her accompaniment to the Allied Ragas concert of Sowmya& other leading musicians warrants special praise. Also her accompaniment to J.Venkataraman- Pallavi Specialist-in his special Varnam& Alankaram concert was outstanding as it involved very complicated rythmic patterns.Her playing was close to perfect as her Sruti& Swarasthan Suddham were impeccable as well as the excellent support to the main artist in each case. The strength of her Thalasuddham also was also evident in the difficult Pallavi rendition of J.Venkataraman the acknowledged expert.
In addition in Maryland she gave a Lec-Dem on North& South Indian Music as well as a Solo Violin concert universally praised. She also performed in a Jugulbandhi style Piano( Rajni Swaminathan) & Violin Concert in free style which was well received.
I request any one who attended these concerts to comment on the performances I have mentioned with some comments on her contributions to making those concerts better......................................VKV

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by mahavishnu »

VKV sir, thank you for starting this topic. I had the pleasure of sitting next to you in Cleveland (on your birthday) to listen to the allied ragas concert of Sowmya & Party.

Dr. Narmadha's playing not only enhanced the concert, but it also took it to the next level. The swarams she played for Amritavahini (allied with Natabhairavi/Saramati/Margahindolam) and Dwijavanti (allied with sahana etc.) were top-notch and employed prayogams unexplored by four vocalists in sequence.

I did not have the opportunity to listen to her other performances in Cleveland or elsewhere in the states this year, which is my misfortune. I happened to be in the DC/Maryland area the wrong week and her performance in Toronto (with Shertalai Rangatha sarma) was cancelled due to inevitable reasons.

I did, however, get a chance to listen to the Sindhubhairavi tarana of Parur Sundaram Iyer at her BVB concert during the December season with Sri Trichur Narendran on the mridangam. Delightful melody with a special Parur bowing touch. And the manner is which she plays with a sense of effortless ease is worth special mention.

Dr. Narmadha is not just an excellent violin artiste, but a scholar of the highest order. And there are few that can play "vAtapi ganapatim" and "lAgi lagan" with equal panache as she does.

Ramasubramanian M.K
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Joined: 05 May 2009, 08:33

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by Ramasubramanian M.K »

Although I did not attend the Cleveland Aradhana I fully echo VKV and Mahavishnu's comments. In my opinion amongst the younger generation musicians--hers and the generations that follow her--she is the MOST RASIKA_SENSITIVE artiste I have encountered. Forumites might recall that in the Rasikas meet in 2010 at Sri. Nageswaran's residence,she attended the proceedings--no fuss or muss -- and stayed thro the entire proceedings(mind you this was in the thick of the December season in Chennai with her multifarious engagements.

Also I noticed how supportive and accommodative she was in helping fellow artistes in their AIR concerts. I attended a lalgudi-Srimathi-Anuradha Duo @ AIR in 2010 during the season and Narmada --being an AIR artiste took special pains to make sure the mike arrangements were to the artistes' satisfaction-- after several tests and trials prior to the concert. If you had not known her stature you would have assumed she was a regular AIR employee.!!!
As for her Vidwath in both systems of Carnatic Music I am not even remotely qualified to comment!!
Suffice it to say she is a COMPLEAT Artist!!!

ganeshkant
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Joined: 05 Feb 2010, 11:59

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by ganeshkant »

Well said M.K.R.

Once a friend of mine wanted me to a write an article on HM for an on line Tamil magazine.This was in 2004.

I got her no.and spoke to her over phone and briefly introduced myself and started asking my doubts.Without any hesitation she explained the genesis of HM for more than 20 minutes.I was feeling guilty because I could hear some one practicing AbhOgi varnam by her side,may be she was taking tuition.

I remember a concert where she accompanied Ms.Sriranjani Santhanagopalan.She didn't show herself at all rather let the youngster have all the time.You really have to be generous and broad minded to do such things.

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by Nick H »

After a lecdem on Hindustani/Carnatic music comparison, I mentioned one thing that I was disapointed she had not covered. Without hesitation, she said that if I came to her house she would cover the topic. I know that she was sincere, but I have not taken up the invitation yet.

pks
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Joined: 31 Jul 2010, 03:55

Re: Links to Jugalbandhi tracks with piano (Rajna)

Post by pks »

Here are youtube links to a couple of Dr. Narmadha's (violin+vocal) tracks from Jugalbandhi with piano (by Rajna Swaminathan, her first public piano performance) -

Freestyle in Hamsadwani:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SSrZw7PzMc

Improvisation in Kiravani
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KtFpZhGePk

cacm
Posts: 2212
Joined: 08 Apr 2010, 00:07

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by cacm »

Dear pks,
I was astounded to hear the DrNarmadha- Rajni duo utube selctions. To put it in truth it was PURE MUSIC AT ITS BEST.THANKS!
The Immortal Palghat Mani Iyer was kind enough to explain to me once that ALL music in its TECHNICAL aspects consisted of VIBRATIONS AT VARIOUS PROPER FREQUENCIES & RHYTHM (whether in raga alapana or compositions was no different). These two excerpts prove not only that profound observation but that PURE MUSIC is- independent of the system- Carnatic, Vocal or ryhtmn instrument involved. As long as the PURITY OF THE NOTES are produced rest is interpretation of other aspects like composition nuances etc dependent on the LEVEL of the listener. These two examples prove the point completely.
Narmadha's vocal& violin playing & Rajna's perfect Piano improvisations to me prove that systems of music, Fusion vs Confusion that exists in various attempts are not too relevent when the notes can be produced at this level of perfection.It is amazing to listen to these two pieces without being forced to reflect on other aspects of Physics, Philosophy etc.
As a Research Physicist for over 55 years ultimately The Theory of Everything is boiling down to vibrations of strings at various frequencies that can explain everything before& after the Big Bang. Philosophically concepts of Jeevathma& Paramathma again can be invoked like Jeevathmudu-Paramathmudu by the great composition of Thyagaraja- especially when musically expounded by the greats like Madurai Mani Iyer- & point to the FUNDAMENTAL NATURE& REALITY of things that we know of & can quantify using Language as a medium.
In short I congragulate BOTH ARTISTS for this ability to communicate things so FLUENTLY & PERFECTLY.
Narmadha's renderings were perfect. Rajni's playing equalled the best of the CADENZAS of Rubenstein & Horowitz. AMAZING PERFORMANCE......VKV
Last edited by cacm on 21 May 2011, 01:21, edited 4 times in total.

ganeshkant
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Joined: 05 Feb 2010, 11:59

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by ganeshkant »

PKS,

That was great !

I know of Rajna only as a good calibered mridangist.She has this dimension also ! or is there more ?

Dr.Narmada's rustic voice flows like water in a runnel.Her voice is capable of showing subtle emotions.

pks
Posts: 18
Joined: 31 Jul 2010, 03:55

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by pks »

@vkv

Thanks for your HIGHEST LEVEL listener insights and message of encouragement to the artists.
I will forward your message to Dr. Narmadha and Rajna.

I am personally glad to be able to resonate with you on the unified physics, Thyagaraja swami messages and the great PMI's comments at the same time.

I have noticed how graciously the versatile Dr. Narmadha works with youngsters and truly encourages them.
And thanks for suggesting that we host her during this trip in the first instance!

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by Nick H »

VKV, please tell me that God is a violinist. Carnatic, of course.

It would be no more surprising than what you told me about God on the last occasion that I met you :)

cacm
Posts: 2212
Joined: 08 Apr 2010, 00:07

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by cacm »

Dear Nick,
I was going to mention Heifitz& Stern but thought it might be laying it thick!.....Can you write what I said about God? As you know because of the Advanced stage of my Alzheimers I can hardly remember what I said & can hardly write one sentence at a time! Anyway my current thinking on anything-My theory of Anything not Theory of Everything- is if only I can understand vibrations esp. of Strings & Resonances better I might be tempted to unretire ( Sorry for American English!)......VKV

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by Nick H »

The conversation --- all too brief, as we were leaving in different directions --- concerned the proof of the existence of god, as seeing god could be reproduced in the laboratory. I paraphrase, of course, and probably inaccurately.

viswanathmysore
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Joined: 20 May 2011, 08:13

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by viswanathmysore »

I paraphrase, of course, and probably inaccurately.

And all too briefly , perhaps ? . Anyway a strange choice of a subject for a discussion in passing .Considering the subject of the proof - of God's existence- has tickled man's brain from as long as history has been recorded.

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by Nick H »

a strange choice of a subject for a discussion in passing
With VKV, anything is possible!

rajeshnat
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Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by rajeshnat »


bilahari
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Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by bilahari »

Video of Dr. Narmada playing giripai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCSXehic ... ults_video

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by rajeshnat »

Dr Narmadha's Trichy concert review . I wish they wrote more in particular about what she played.
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 096549.ece

msakella
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Joined: 30 Sep 2006, 21:16

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by msakella »

Yesterday (29-10-2014) in Nadaneerajanam of Tirupathi, Dr. Narmadha gave a Violin-solo concert. She played excellently and I enjoyed each and every bit of her Violin. The artists on Mridangam and Ghatam also accompnied very well. Very nice concert indeed. amsharma

hnbhagavan
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Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by hnbhagavan »

The Nada neeranjanam concert was really excellent and dr.Narmada reminded me of the legend MSG 's style of playing.

SrinathK
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Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by SrinathK »

An interesting interview coming up soon :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_qeINV ... e=youtu.be

kvchellappa
Posts: 3598
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Dr.M.Narmadha

Post by kvchellappa »

How long have we to wait?
It is like showing a dish to a hungry man, but not giving it!

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