Vasuda Keshav - Detroit Thyagaraja Aradhana Concert @ Flint

[nadhasudha]

Detroit Thyagaraja Aradhana @ Flint - Saturday, May 21,2011

Smt. Vasuda Keshav Vocal
Keerthana Sankar Violin
Rohan Krishnamurthy Mridangam

The song list
1. Valachi - Adi - Navaragamalika Varnam
2. Ardhanareeswaram - Kumudakriya - S @Aagamadi Sannutam
3. Ananda Natana Prakasam - Kedaram - Mishra Chapu
4. Shambo Mahadeva - Pantuvarali - Rupakam - N,S @Shambo Mahadeva
5. Eduta nilichithe - Shankarabharanam - Adi - R,N,S @ tarAna dorakani,T
6. Pallavi - Thyagaraja Swaminam Bhajeham anisham - Varamu - Chaturashra Jathi Jhampa Taalam Khanda Nadai
(Ragamalika Swarams in Varamu,Hindolam,Hamsanaadam,Valaji)
7. Bo Shambo - Revathi - Adi
8. Bhajare Hanumantham Manasa - Kapi
9. Bhaagyada Lakshmi Baaramma - Madhyamavathi


Detroit carnatic music rasikas were treated to a completely classical carnatic music concert. Not having heard Smt Vasuda's concert I was not sure what to expect. But I came away with complete satisfaction of having listened to a classy concert. Her voice bears a slight resemblance to Aruna Sairam's and has an unusual timbre to it which makes for very pleasant listening. The choice of songs was her way of paying obeisance to the reigning main deity at Flint (Paschima Kasi Vishwanathar). It appears to me that even the main krithi was chosen in raagam (Shankarabharanam) as a reminder of this theme. The Pallavi on Thyagaraja was apt for the occasion (the concert being a Thyagaraja Aradhana concert).

It was a very enjoyable concert for me. My personal favorites were the Shambo Mahadeva, Eduta Nilichithe and the Pallavi .

Keerthana's violin accompaniment was adequate. Rohan's playing was extraordinary and lifted the concert to a higher level.

Corrections and or additions welcome,

[mahavishnu]

Thank you, Nadhasudha.
Nice to see a good concert report of Vasudha Keshav. RTP in Varamu sounds excellent.

[nadhasudha]

Yes mahavishnu. The RTP in Varamu in a complex taalam was excellent! And to add Hindolam swarams immediately after Varamu was a nice touch to show how closely these 2 raagams are on the scale yet how different they sound.

[arasi]

Whose student is Vasudha Keshav?
Varamu sounded so good when I first heard it elaborated in an RTP.Ii would'nt have thought that the rAgam had such potential. A couple of years ago, Sanjay took it up for an RTP. The pallavi line was very pleasing too. kUvAi, kUvAi kuyilE--tiru vEnkaTa nAthan varak--kUvAi. Hope I got the words right.

[rajeshnat]

Whose student is Vasudha Keshav?

http://www.vasudakesav.com/musicallineage.html

[arasi]

Rajesh,
Thanks. I had not heard of her until now. What a musically rich family!
One other person I know from the Hemmige family is Srivatsan from California--a star violinist and vocalist in the US. KVN's student. I have heard him when he was a child and how he played! I hear that his little children are musically endowed too.
Looking forward to Vasudha's concert in the near future.

[vandemataram]

I fully agree with the review. Until and including the RTP the concert had a hypnotic effect. I did not go with much expectations either. The violinist, Keerthana, from Michigan showed promise and essentially needs more experience. Rohan Krishnamurthy's mridangam sounded much like a melodic instrument almost echoing the songs. The announcer said he is from Michigan too. I was surprised not to have seen him perform in Cleveland being a local product. May be the organizers can answer if he was not available or if he was ignored which will be a pity.
Thanks for identifying the RTP main raga. I was caught on the wrong foot.

[vasanthakokilam]

vandemataram, please do not bring in Cleveland related issues in this thread. Thanks.

[vandemataram]

vandemataram, please do not bring in Cleveland related issues in this thread. Thanks.

No offense is meant to Cleveland. It was just a curiousity as to why certain artists were being neglected. May be it had to do with the artists' own decision.