TM Krishna at Chowdiah Hall, Bangalore, 10.01.12

[sais72]

Sangeetha Sambhrama's Annual National Dance and Music festival, Nirantharam, concluding concert at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on 10.01.12 by

Vocal: Vid. T. M. KRISHNA
Violin: Vid. H. K. Venkatram
Mridangam: Vid. Tumkur B. Ravishankar
Kanjira: Vid. C. P. Vyasa Vittala

Krithis list:
* Bhavanutha, mohanam, kalpana swaras
* Janaki pathe, kharaharapriya, short alapana, neraval at sakala mahitha, swara at pahi saketha
* Inthakante kavalena, kannada,
* Daachukovalena, todi, alapana, neraval at soumitri thyagaraju, swara, tani
* Madhava mamava, neelambari
* Sharade karunanidhe, hamir kalyani
* Sagara shayana vibho, bagesri (?)
* Krishnam kalaya sakhi, mukhari
* Pavamana mangalam followed by sloka sriya kanthaya

T. M. Krishna presented a neat classical concert at Chowdiah. His voice did not show any strains of the long season and easily traversed a wide range. The concert started at 7.40 pm after the award ceremony and TMK asked the compere to suspend the introduction as it was already late. He sang till about 9.40 pm (2hr concert).

He sang his typical long fast tempo swaras for the initial mohanam krithi. Janaki pathe was presented in a slow tempo with an elaborate neraval and was very nice to hear (hearing the kriti for the first time). Inthakante was a filler. He then presented a detailed very good alapana of Todi and the violin response was very appropriate. Daachukovalena was sung elaborately and was complemented well by a good neraval and kalpana swaras. Tumkur Ravi Shankar throughout the concert played softly (inspite of the loud bass of the sound system that was set right after the first krithi) and accompanied the main artist quite well. He and Vyasa Vittala presented a tani that was nice to hear (don't know the intricacies of tani).

The concluding pieces were sung quite passionately. Sharade in Hamir Kalyani is a good addition to the concert list (second rendering in 3 days by TM Krishna). Sagara sayana vibho was sung in a very slow tempo (heard this one for the first time again) and at places sounded like darbari kaanada to me, is bagesri close to darbari kaanada?

In all a very fulfilling concert.

[squims]

Didn't know about this concert, though I couldn't have made it even if I'd known! Thanks for the report Sais72!

Sagara sayana vibho was sung in a very slow tempo (heard this one for the first time again) and at places sounded like darbari kaanada to me, is bagesri close to darbari kaanada?

This song is in Bageshri. Bageshri and Darbari Kanada can have a somewhat similar feel to them at times. It can be quite confusing if you're not familiar with either of them.

[srikant1987]

Thanks for the review, sais72.

I knew about it, but also knew I couldn't make it. Should have been a very nice concert.

Sagara sayana vibho was sung in a very slow tempo (heard this one for the first time again) and at places sounded like darbari kaanada to me, is bagesri close to darbari kaanada?

Not very. I find bAgEshri close to varamu / shuddha hindOLam and, to some extent, shrI ranjani.

[CRama]

How I wish him to continue this pattern

[ganeshkant]

I think srikant is right about the allied ragams of bAgEsri.Moreover darbAri has shudh dhaivatham so closeness to bAgEsri may only be a perception.

[CRama]

Yes. Bagesri has similarity with Sreeranjini. It was very much visible in a jugalbandi concert of Dorasiwamy Iyengar with Amjad Ali Khan where both these ragams were played excellently.

[Purist]

Janakipathe (Karaharapriya -PS) was simply out of the world. It had in full measure the Raga & Sahitya bhavam, perfect diction and kalapramanam. Oh my God ..what a nereval , this will linger for a long time to me. Interestingly the nereval cannot be categorised
to his ' typical TMK' ish one. Dachukova (thodi) was again majestic and thoroughly enjoyable, but to me it got shadowed under Karaharapriya.
Yes this was indeed a purist's delight. I concur with CRama when he says ' How I wish him (TMK) to continue this pattern'.

[nri]

Bhavanuta is a personal favorite. Having heard Nedunuri's pallavi sangathis, long and relaxed swarams, I have simply refused to hear any other Bhavanuta's. Recently I came across one Bhavanuta recording of MMI on Sangeethapriya. Both versions seem very different to me. Which one was TMK's? Is there any comment on any other versions or an authentic version?

[annamalai]

Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer's rendition of Bhavanutha is considered one of the best or any krithi in Mohanam - Mohana Rama, Evarura Ninnuvina, or Dayarani Dayarani ...

[cacm]

What about MMI'S RENDERING which MVI praised to the skies? He called him Mohana Mani & MMI said he was honoured that MVI considered his rendering of Bhavanutha& Mohanam so highly! In a sense "Vashisthar Vaayal Brimmharishi" type situation! VKV

[varsha]

Not very. I find bAgEshri close to varamu / shuddha hindOLam and, to some extent, shrI ranjani.

now that you have the tnk- n rajam interpretation , you can change it to " close to shrI ranjani and somewhat to varamu / shuddha hindOLam "
http://www.mediafire.com/?eomzol193t0eva2
(ignore the tag of the track which says abhogikanada)