Veena Jeyaraaj and Jaysri, RS Hall, 7-Feb-12

[Nick H]

I have been waiting for a review. The concert really cannot go unmentioned here, so here goes with a thread starter at least. An informed review, song list, etc, would be really appreciated.

The concert began at 6.00pm. As the clock ticked past 8.00, I realised that that this had been so that it could extend to three hours, without passing 9.00pm and it did indeed turn out to be a three-hour program.

It's a while since I've seen our fellow forumites, J&J, play. I thought that they have achieved even greater heights in expression and delicacy. It was a wonderful concert, with an RTK with an extraordinary thanum.

The hall was almost empty at the beginning, but by 6.30 to 7.00 there was a slightly more respectable number of audience.

The only thing I could have wished for in the concert might have been stronger percussion support --- but I'm not sure that that might not have masked some of the delicate touches in the veena playing.

[arasi]

Thanks Nick, for covering the concert of our dear, dignified and fine playing pair of fellow forumites.
Who provided percussion?
Rajani and a few others were there, perhaps? A song list helps us imagine the concert somewhat!

You are right. This year, I heard them at the Academy, with yet another from the Rasikas family: Erode, fine percussion there. Enjoyed every minute of J&J's playing.

[Nick H]

Mridangam, Trichur Narendran; Ghatam, N Govindarajam.

Yes, Rajani was there. Hope she gives us a report.

[Rajani]

Yes , my family and I attended the concert and enjoyed it very much. Here is the song list

1. Varnam - Kanada Ragam
2. Tulasidala - Mayamalavagaula Ragam, Rupaka Talam - Tyagaraja - N,S
3. Balasubramanyam bhajeham - Surati Ragam, Adi Talam -M Dikshitar - R
4. Brova bharama - Bahudari Ragam, Adi Talam - Tyagaraja - R
5. Sadashraye Abhayambike - Chamara Ragam, Rupaka Talam - M Dikshitar - RNS
6. Manasa Etulortune - Malayamarutam Ragam, Rupaka Talam - Tyagaraja
7. Akshayalinga Vibho - Shankarabharanam Ragam, Mishra Chapu Talam - M Dikshitar - RTNS, Tani
8. Vishvanathena - Samantha Ragam, Adi Talam - M Dikshitar

The concert was organized in memory of Dilip Veeraraghavan. It was Thai-pusam and the Teppam (float) festival in the nearby Mylapore temple tank. Probably that explains the attendance in the start. But as Nick said, people came in later.

Rbharath was there too , hope he adds a few lines.

[gardabha_gana]

Dilip, what a man! This takes me back years....wish I had kept in touch with him more than just my final year. I can still hear him sing Bhavayami in front of Divya Cafe @ IIT-M

[bilahari]

Lovely to see sadASrayE in a list after quite a while. It is a beautiful composition.

[Nick H]

Rajani, can you, or some other knowledgeable person who was there, say more about the epic thanum?

[rshankar]

Rajani, Nick and RBharat are indeed fortunate creatures (and the rest of us, very jealous ones!)..what a lovely list, and true to their Calcutta pANi, the Dikshitar pieces are as fabulous as they are rare! SuraTTi rAgam on the vINA, and SankarAbharaNam in an RTK format - nothing more mangaLakaram...I hope J&J post a link to either of these!

[srikant1987]

Calcutta pANi

Are there any general characteristics of the Calcutta pANi?

[gardabha_gana]

Any recording?

[Sindhuja]

Could someone throw light on the link between Chamara ragam and Shanmugapriya? Are they exactly the same with just different names (the former associated with the Dikshitar school) or is there a real difference? I was taught Sadashraye as Shanmugapriya, so was curious... Thanks.

[rshankar]

Are there any general characteristics of the Calcutta pANi?

I meant students of the guru guha vidyAlaya...I have a friend who learnt music there and she sings the most exotic MD compositions, that are delectable....that's what I meant.

[Rajani]

Sindhuja - You are right -Chamara and Shanmukhapriya are different names of the same raga - Dikshitar calls it Chamaram.

To Nick's post - the lovely Tanam in Shankarabharanam spanned Saveri, Bilahari, Sumanesaranjani, Nartaki and was about 20 minutes long.

[arasi]

Nartaki? How does it go?
(please don't say--dancing)!

[keerthi]

Here is a description of nartaki.

[arasi]

Thanks Keerthi!
Sounds a lot like valaji--but there is rishabham in Nartaki.
Any examples of the rAgam sung or played?

[vasanthakokilam]

say more about the epic thanum?

Nice. Right context to use the word 'Epic'. ( Internet usage of this word of late has diluted and distorted it )

[veenajj]

Thank you to all rasikas for attending our concerts and others for their interest. It was our privilege to honour the memory of Late Prof Dilip Veeraraghavan, who was an ardent lover of music, particularly Dikshitar krits...hence the Dikshitar-loaded list.

I hope J&J post a link to either of these!

Must admit, we are not good at all at recording our concerts. If someone or Naada Inbam has recorded it, they can definitely go ahead and post the thanam here! What we do have is Balasubramanyam Bhajeham from a CD that was produced by Mudhra Music quite a while back. Below is the link, hope you are able to download from there.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zjzytnylhd5

Arasiji, there is another raga called Veenavaadhini (perhaps you and the rest do know already), which is Nartaki without the dhaivatam.
Arohanam: sa ri gu pa ni Sa, Avarohanam: Sa ni pa gu ri sa. Now........if you would excuse our temerity to request you to compose a kriti in this raga, preferably on Goddess Saraswathi, with a cittaswaram, we hope it is not too much of an ask!!

We do have CDs available exclusively of thanams in various ragas played by us. Should anyone be interested, we would be happy to provide the details.

Regards,
Jeyaraaj and Jaysri

[arasi]

J&J,
Your asking me is a compliment, if anything! Whether I'm capable of getting one, is another thing! I need to hear the rAgam a few times and get familiar with it before a song comes. Would be nice if that happens!

[sridhar_ranga]

Here is a description of nartaki.

Translation of the piece from Mathrubhoomi found on that URL:

Description from Mathrubhoomi (Courtesy: Adarsh KR)
Saadhakam: Narttaki – N. Latika


Aro: SRGPDNS
Ava: SNDPGRS

Narttaki is a janya raaga of the 28th Melakarta, Harikaamboji. This is a Shaadavaraagam. Madhyamam is the varjya swaram. (Harikaamboji’s madhyama varjya raagam)

Shadjam, Chatushruti Rishabham, Antara Gaandhaaram, Panchamam, Chatushruti Dhaivatam, Kaishiki Nishaadam are the swara sthanas. G, N and R are the jeeva swaras. If the Chatushruti Rishabham of this Raga is replaced by (? What does “something-inu pakaram” mean?) Shuddha Rishabham, one gets Malaya Maaruta Ragam, and replacing Kaishiki Nishaadam by Kaakali Nishaadam, one gets Sudhaa Kalyaani Raagam. This is a Murchanakaaraka Ragam.

If P, N are respectively made Adhara Shadjam and a Shruti Bhedam is done, Onkaari (SRGMPDS-SDPMGRS – janyam of 22nd), Kalyaanadaayini (SRGMDNS, SNDMGRS – janyam of 65th) are born.

It Is not known if there are kritis in not-so-popular Narttaki. A few good film songs exist: ‘Nala charitattile naayakano’ (Ponnappuram KOtta), ‘Ponnil kuLicha raatri’ (Sindhuraccheppu) are these.