Sikkil Gurucharan@Austin, TX - 9th October, 2011

[hamsadhwani]

Sikkil Gurucharan accompanied by Sri. H.K.Venkataram (violin) and Thiruvaroor Sri. Bhaktavatsalam (Mridangam)


1) endharo mahanabhavulu - Sri - Adi - Tyagaraja
2) vallabha nayakasya - Begada - Rupakam - Deekshitar (R,S)
3) paraloka bhaya - Mandari - Adi - Tyagaraja (R,N)
4) kana vendamo - Sriranjani - Rupakam - Papanasam Sivan
5) kana kan kodi vendum - Kambhoji - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (R,N,S)
6) kalyana rama - Hamsanadham - Adi - Oothukadu Venkatakavi - Adi
7) RTP - Kalyana Vasantam - Khanda Triputa
vElavanE, kOlAhalanE, unadhu pAdam tuNayE
orAru muganE, ArumuganE
(Ragamalika in Vasantha, Kalyani and ???)
8 ) vaa vaa jagadamba - Mohanam - Adi - Kalyani Krishnaswami
9) venkatachala nilayam - Sindhbhairavi - Adi - Purandara Dasar
10) niraimadhi mugamenum (tiruppugazh) - Hamsanandi - Arunagirinathar
11) Pavamana

I will leave reviewing to more knowledgeable listeners. Except for one little mistake (cannot really be called a mistake) in the first kriti where he ended up singing the 6th charanam (hoyalu meera nadalu) twice, personally, I thought the kritis Gurucharan chose were very nice and overall, I felt it was a very classy concert, neatly presented without any gimmicks in the swarams, alapanais etc. Also, it was one of very few concerts in Austin that I have attended that a lot of people did not get up and leave during the thani. I was very happy that he accommodated a beautiful RTP even after the very detailed Kambhoji, when I thought he would just skip to go straight to tukkadas. Hope he comes back to Austin next year!

[idno9999]

Excellent concert. He sang for 3 hours and 45 minutes. No intermissions. Big contrast to the previous week's BMK's listless Jugalbandhi :-<

[arasi]

A four-hour concert fan's dream!
Rajesh, are you there?
The RTP was sung at length, I imagine. A solid, traditional concert, it would have been.

idno 9999,
A jugalbandhi is a jugalbandhi is a jugal bandhi. I don't go to one with expectations, if I do feel like going to one.
In spite of his enthusiasm and vim, BMK is past eighty to sing a lengthy concert (or not?).

[hamsadhwani]

Arasi

The RTP actually wasn't as lengthy as we would have liked! Mandari was detailed and Kambhoji, even more so (I am not complaining) that I was almost sure he would skip RTP. It was short, but impactful nevertheless. The thani also lasted a good amount of time (again, not complaining). It did not seem like ~4hrs. I am sure the audience would have gladly sat for another hour

[arasi]

Thanks, Hamsadhwani.
You are right. Any concert which makes you forget the time, and makes you wish it would go on, is testimony enough for the quality of the concert.
Had he taken up khAmbOji for RTP, it would have been longer. kalyANa vasantham can't compete with khAmbOji!

[drohit]

Great concert by Sikkil Gurucharan.

His Mandari alapana was very nice.
I wish the mridangam player did not bang the mridangam that much during the singing of kana venda mo (sriranjani krithi). I don't understand Tamil but I felt the piece had certain pathos/peace in-built. The banging totally took that effect out.

[rshankar]

I don't understand Tamil but I felt the piece had certain pathos/peace in-built.

Yes, it absolutely does. If you are interested, here is the link to a discussion we had on this composition.