INJIKUDI SUBRAMANYAM'S NADASWARAM CONCERT ON 25.12.2012

[S.NAGESWARAN]

Dear Rasikas,

During the grahapravesam function of my new home, Sri Injikudi Subramanyam was kind enough to lead us to our new home with the playing of the mangala vadhyam in the early morning on 31.08.2012.

Since all the rooms were vacant, there was a very good echo effect when he played the nadaswaram.

Sri Injikudi Subramanyam played an enchanting Alapana in the ragam Bilahari. Early morning time was most apt for playing the Bilahari ragam.

Since it was a religious function, Sri Injikudi had to stop his playing of nadaswaram whenever the sastrigal started the manthras for the function and again continue the Bilahari ragam whenever the sastrigal gave breaks from the manthras.

I would have uploaded the Bilahari Alapana if there were no breaks.

One of these days I wanted to upload the enchanting Bilahari ragam in spite of the breaks in the continuity.

Fortunately, there was a concert of Sri Injikudi Subramanyam with violin and mrudangam accompaniment on 25.12.2012 morning 10.00 AM TO 12.30 PM at Ragasudha Hall.

I understand that the concert was sponsored by the Sangeethapriya organizers.

Sri Injikudi Subramanyam played the Bilahari ragam and krithi as the main ragam.

The whole audience including Sri Gamakam, Radhakrishnan, the U/S and one or two members of our website were completely mesmerized by Sri Injikudi’s music.

Sangeethapriya will be uploading the full concert in their website. I have made a request to the organizers to kindly post the link of the concert in our website for the enjoyment of our Rasikas.

All Rasikas of our website including Sri Bilahari would be very happy to listen to the expansive Bilahari raga Alapana.

This is the only concert I have attended this music season.

Since I may not attend any more concerts this season as of now, I would be happy to meet Arasi [now I am correct], Bilahari, and other Global Rasikas who might have come for the December 2012 music season. They can select any sabha during the morning hours so that I will come and meet them all..

S.NAGESWARAN.
26.12.2012.

[Gamakam]

The Kedaram and the Bilahari he played was very apt for the timing and the mood.

Those who made it to the concert were privileged.

On observation based on the two Nagaswaram concerts I attended this season (other was of Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman), unlike other instruments, the Nagaswaram vidwan has to struggle every time to come in terms with the seevaaLi. He goes through several iterations before settling in. It takes about an hour for this warming up to happen. No wonder, we had Nagaswaram concerts that ran for well over 4 hours then. The extended thani avartanam played by the thavil legends must have helped the Nagaswaram artiste set right their instrument. In the sabha concerts, that run a little over two hours, almost half the time is spent on warming up. Whatever injikudi played after the saveri (which was the first half) was sublime stuff. But until then the instrument was refusing to listen to the artiste's orders.

Even such short Nagaswaram concerts are a rarity, I know it is too much to ask for a 4 hour Nagaswaram concerts. If only wishes were horses...

[Nick H]

It seems that I missed not only a great concert but also so many friends too. Sadly it was a day full of other engagements.

Although I was not there early enough for the puja and its accompaning music, the concert at Sri Nageswaran's house was unforgetable. I remember too, another Injikudi concert at Raga Sudha hall accompanied by violin and mridangam. This formula really suits his style.

[jagan]

Sri Nageswaran.

The concert at Raga Sudha Hall on 25th Dec. was organised by Naada Inbam.

[bilahari]

Sri Nageswaran,

I have been looking forward to meeting you and discussing our mutual interests in instrumental music, but am not in India this season. I eagerly await the upload of Injikudi's bilahari - I still vividly remember the moving teliyalEru rAma he played in San Diego several years ago.