Toronto Brothers March 8, 2014 Pasadena, CA

[VRV]

Ashwin and Rohin Iyer (Vocal)
Aishu Venkataraman (Violin)
Rajna Swaminathan (Mridangam)

Venue: Herrick Chapel, Pasadena, CA
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes.

SONG LIST:

1. Mohanam Ata Tala Varnam (Rendered in 3 speeds)
2. Kalike Unte Katha, Kirvani, Adi (2 kallai) (R, N, S)
11 mins ragam, 7 mins violin return, approx 13 mins swaram
Tani Avartanam 6 mins approx
3. Nannarunchi, Malavi, Adi Talam

4. RTP Ragam Gamakakriya, Talam Adi (2 Kalai)
Pallavi in Bimplas, Shiva Ranjani, Sahana, Behag

5. Chidambaram Poi Neer Varum Ayya, (In Tamil) Ragam Syama Gopalakrishna Bharati
6. Mangalam

A cracker of a concert, well balanced, choreographed and tailored predominantly for a hindustani audience. Concert began at 8:05 PM with a Ata Tala varnam in ragam Mohanam. Toronto brothers presented it in 3 speeds with exquisite accompaniment by Rajna Swaminathan on the Mridangam and Aishu on the violin. The stage was set for a wonderful concert.

Next came the tyagaraja kriti Kalike Unde Katha in ragam Kiravani. Rohin started the alapana and developed the ragam in a very slow and calculated manner. The brothers traded off amongst each other paying close attention to sruti allignment. Between the brothers they elaborated the ragam for approx 11 minutes. Aishu on the violin accompanied with confidence and her violin return for the ragam was approx for about 7 mins traversing the mandira stayi all the way to the top sadjam.

The only recommendation I would impart to the brothers is to pay attention to the tala tempo as they tend to push the speed as they get to the kalpana swarams. This was followed by a brilliant tani avartanam by Rajna. The nadam of the mridangam reminded me of the evergreen nadam of her guru Shri UKS.

The RTP in Gamakakriya was the main for the evening. The whole 3 part elaboration was rendered for an hour and 5 mins. Ragam alapanai was roughly 14 mins with a violin return for 9 mins. Tanam was traded deftly between the brothers and the violin alternatively. Pallavi was the charanam from Meenakshi Memudam kirtanam at "Madura Puri Nilaye" . After doing trikalam they embarked on an elaborate kalpanaswaram alternating between Bimplas (Rohin), Sahana (Aishu), Shiva Ranjini (Ashwin), Behag (Aishu) and so on. The audience were held spell bound in their seats for the good 3 hours of the concert. Everyone who attended stayed rooted in their seats.

The toronto brothers concluded with a kriti from Nadanar Charitram "Chidambaram Poi Neer varum Ayya" in ragam Syama to a standing ovation. In my opinion here is a vocal, violin, mridangam combo one should not miss when the opportunity presents.

An excellent concert for close to 3 hours.

Vinod Venkataraman

[rshankar]

Sounds like a wonderful concert! Thank you for the report, Vinod!! Any chance of sample recordings?

[rajeshnat]

Vinod,
It is always nice to have a longer duration concert where there are limited numbers. Just curious has aishu accompanied any one except the toronto brothers in a vocal concert.

Personally I have never heard this GKB song chidambaram Poi Neer Varum Ayya song in shyamA in any of the concerts in the last decade .To hear a local chidambaram song should i go all the way to LA/Canada to hear this song.

Keep it going - entire NRI team.

[rshankar]

entire NRI team.

Rajesh - to clarify, I think it is a team of North Americans (Americans and Canadians), and not NRIs...

[arasi]

An all north american concert! All so talented! Hope the team will perform in more venues in the akhaNDa america kaNDam.

What was the pallavi line?

corrections:
kaligiyuNTE kada
nenerunchinAnu

[VRV]

Any chance of sample recordings?

Shankar, Both video and audio recording was made. I will post some clips for everyone's listening pleasure.

Vinod,
Just curious has aishu accompanied any one except the toronto brothers in a vocal concert.

Rajesh, This is Aishu's second accompaniment concert. Has not accompanied anyone else yet.

Vinod,

Personally I have never heard this GKB song chidambaram Poi Neer Varum Ayya song in shyamA in any of the concerts in the last decade .To hear a local chidambaram song should i go all the way to LA/Canada to hear this song.

Rajesh, No you do not have to travel to LA/Canada. Just make sure to attend either the Toronto Bros next concert in India or Aishu's solo concert in Chennai. Guaranteed they will sing or perform this song. This is a SRJ gem. From the Nandanar Charitram, SRJ mama has taught his students a number of songs. All songs are in Tamil which makes the concert well rounded (language wise)

What was the pallavi line?

It was the sahityam of the charanam from the kirtanam Meenakshi Memudham at " Madhura Puri Nilaye"

[Lakshman]

For those interested in the GKB song here are the lyrics:
cidambaram pOi. rAgA: sAmA. Adi tALA.

P: cidambaram pOi nIr vArumayyA nAn seidadellAm apacAramayyA
A: cidambaram pOvIr padam peruvIr vErE cintanai vENDAm nandanE inimEl
C: eddishaiyilum umakkiNai sollappOmO bhaktiyE mudalenru pazhagiya periyavar
cittamum teLindadu deivamE nIr enru buddhiyum vandadu sattiyamallavO

[mahavishnu]

Congratulations to the performers on a successful concert!
:ymapplause:

[rshankar]

cidambaram pOi. rAgA: sAmA. Adi tALA.

This must be the song the vEdiyar sings when he realizes the truth about nandan...
Vinod - thank you - will look forward to the clips!

[appu]

Vinod,

I echo rshankar's sentiments. If I may go one step further and request a clip from the kalpana swarams of the pallavi, would appreciate it.

Thanks.

[VRV]

rshankar, appu and friends

Here are a couple of video links for everyones listening pleasure.

Mohana Ata Tala Varnam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhoB80Qqj_4

Swarams in Gamakakriya Ragam RTP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S53k4VuVoZ4

Rajesh,
I will post Chidambaram Poi Neer Varam Ayya soon. That will save you the trip to N. America

Vinod Venkataraman

[Ashwin]

Thanks to Vinod Uncle for posting the review and videos. We enjoyed our concert experience for the LA Music Circle and were very pleased to have Rajna and Aishu on the stage with us. Vinod Uncle, please keep us appraised of Aishu's upcoming performances.

Ashwin

[rshankar]

Vinod - thank you for the clips - they were great..when the RTP clipended abruptly, I was !