THANJAVUR ROUND UP: FEB.-MAR. 2014

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Given below are my impression of a few events that happened during the couple of months that followed the Tyagaraja Aradhana (Jan 2014)at Thiruvaiyaru.

The event billed as 'Festival of Sacred Music' organised by Prakriti Foundation, Marabu Foundation and INTACH also happened in Tiruvaiyaru during 21-23 Feb 2014. Teams led by Ranvir Shah d (Prakriti-Chennai), Rama Kousalya (Marabu-Tillai staanam) and Muthukumar(INTACH-Tanjore chapter)got up the 3 day music programmes in some very good locations in the town.

A Hindustani music concert was rendered on the first day by Vidya Shah of Delhi at the historiocal Husur Palace. The somewhat dilapidated premises was 'aesthetically spruced up'by the organisers much to the delight of the audience consisting of several foreigners and tourists besides students of the Tiruvaiyar music college and the local population. They were treated to a very enjoyable and superb recital by Vidya (disciple of Shubha Mudgal) to the accomapaniment of Sarangi, Guitar, Tabla and Dolak. The Khayal in Shyamkalyan was brief. Importance was given to a variety of Bhajans of SurDas, Meera and a few contemporary authors. The 'surprise items' were Dikshitar's Parvatikumaram (Natakurinji) and Appayya Dikshitar's celebrated Margabandhu stotram. (The suspense was broken when it was duly informed that Vidya is the sister of front ranking carnatic musician Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam!) A sufi piece at the end was entertainment oriented.

Pushya Mandapa Ghat on the Kaveri banks adjacent to Tyagaraja Samadhi was the venue for a Layavinyasam by Umayalpuram Sivaraman and his team on the second day. The evening recital arranged beautifully on a platform jutting on to the dry river bed had a special appeal. There was a short Namasankeertananm (by young students of Mythyili Kannan, a veteran vocalist of Tanjore) and a 'Kaveri pooja'enactment by a group of young men doing some aesthetic steps and aarathi as done in the banks of Ganga preceding the concert.

The Layavinyasam by Umayalpuram opened with a vocal rendering of the Kriti 'Naa Jeevaadhaara' by Saketha Raman with rounds of Kalpana swaras to be followed by a grand Tani in the same rhythmic cycle-Aadi taala (2 kalai eduppu at samam). Srisundar kumar(Kanjira), Guruprasad(Ghata), A S Krishnan(Morsing) and Subramaniam(getthu vadyam-resembling a Veena and stroked gently for rhythmic sounds) were on the other vadyams. The grand strokes of the mridangam maestro laced with his characteristic 'araichappu'prayogas filled the atmosphere.The performance attracted a huge audience. Fireworks display (described by the maestro as containing several rhythmic patterns) was also part of the festivities.

The third day had Shashank Subramaniam on Flute with Akkarai subhalakshmi(violin) and Parupalli Phalgun (mridanga) at the sacred Panchanadeeswarar or Aiyyarappar temple premises in front of the Subramania sannidhi.He played a lilting Nalinakanti(manaviyala), Hindolam (Maa ramanan)and a RTP in kalyani(aadi Tala - sahitya on Lord Siva). Krishna nee begane headed the Tukkada segment. Shashank demonstrated some special techniques of bamboo flute playing which well received by the audience.

The sacred music festival was widely covered by the media.

THE BRAHAN NAATYAANJALI organised by the Brahan Natyanajali Foundation, Tanjore that commenced on the Sivaratri (27.2.2014) at the Big temple, Tanjore was a colourful event that had participants literally from all over the world. While the recitals during Sivaratri extended throughout the night, performances on the remaining 5 days in the evenings The individual recitals of around 45 minutes duration. Apart from the traditional Bharatanayam packages, it included 'amazingly edited versions' of presentations such as Kannappa Nainar charitam, Parvati parinayam etc. Mohiniyaattam, kathak and many dance forms were featured. 'Bho Shambho' (Revati) was performed by at least 2 teams every evening! Such is its 'inevitability' in dance recitals!! Watching Classical dances in the backdrop of the huge Nandi and a towering Gopura in the open air is a unique experience. The Brahan natyanjali is easily a photographers delight! The festival is growing into a International event like the Chidambaram natyanjali.

Natyanjali-s were also held at Thiruvaiyaru temple, Kumbhakonam (Aadi kubheswarar temple etc.) during he Sivaratri week.


The 233rd Jayanti of Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavatar-the prime disciple of Saint Tyagaraja was celebrated during 22-24 February at Ayyampettai (historically known as Ramachandrapuram -16 k.m. from Tanjore and about 11 k.m. from Tiruvaiyaru) domicile of the Composer(Bhagavatar moved to Wallajapet in Kancheepuram district later in his life). The festivities organised by people of the village belonging to the Sourashtra Community began with the customary procession with the decorated idol of the Composer from his ancestral house to the sangita Mahal near the Prasanna Rajagopala swami temple. The bhajana ghoshti which accompanies the procession still carries the Tambura used by bhagavatar as a mark of reverence.The 3 days had brief concerts by artists mostly from nearby District. Many kritis of Bhagavatar with the Mudra 'Ramachandrapura vaasa sri venkataramana'could be heard. Bhajare manasa(Gowla), Ra ra Vasudea (Todi), Guruvara mahimalo (Ananda bhairavi) were some popular kritis heard a the festival.The final day of course is marked by rendering of Tyagaraja pancharatna kriti-s in the morning. The entire village participates in the annual event with devotion.

The NARAYANA THIRTHA ARADHANA is another major annual event observed on the Krishna ashtami day of the Maasi month (Feb-Mar)at Thirupunthuruthi, 15 k.m from Tanjore on the kandiyur-Thirukattupalli road. The 268th Samadhi day was on 8 March 2014. The Aradhana Committee led by its advisor Thirupunthuruthi Venkatesan has been conducting the function with lot of fervour and participation of the musicians. This year's inaugural session on 6.3.2014 was also attended by dignitaries from Andhra Pradesh (native State of narayana tirtha) apart from heads of Corproate sponsors from Tamilnadu. The evening concert was by T M Krishna who gave a solemn recital followed by Namasankeertanam by Udayalur kalyanarama Bhagavtar. ( I could attend only the inaugural session).There were several concerts by leading musicians and panel discussions on the following days to be concluded with a Bharatanayam thematic presentation (Krishna anubhavam of Narayana Tirtha)by Leela Samson & party on the final day.

[kvchellappa]

Thank you for a nice report, which informs and kindles interest about such happenings.

[rajeshnat]

srk,
thank you , i knew that apart from thiruvayaru there is a festival in the panchaDeeshwarar temple in thiruvaiyaru and also to an extent the thirupoonthuruthi festival. Nice to see there is more happening there , especially would love to sit watch and enjoy the program in brihadeeshwarar temple. Keep them coming - you being posted at tanjore is a boon to all of us.

[arasi]

Agreed!
Thanks for bringing us the roundup along with the ambiance of kAvEri thIram.
Keep them coming...

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks all, it's sheer joy to share 'music news' with you all!

And sorry, I missed to report on another important event on Sivaratri day that was held at the haloed Tyagaraja samadhi mandapam at Thiruvaiyaru.
Yes, you've guessed it right, it was the Tyagaraja Akhandam led by Sri P S Narayanaswamy and his devout group from Chennai, also joined in by enthusiasts mostly from other centres of Tamilnadu.
The Akhandam envisages singing of Tyagaraja kritis from the morning of Sivaratri day to be concluded the next day covering the entire Yaama-s of the sacred night. The organisers ensure that kriti-s are not repeated (by keeping a tab on the renderings by each musician). The time tested Tyagaraja kriti book (Sri Tyagarajaswami keertanaigal) by T S Parthasarathy seems to be the ultimate reference as most available compositions are compiled in it! Each singer might get time to sing 3 or 4 kritis depending on the time and visit of musicians apart from the dedicated team present at the venue throughout.

When I reached the venue by around 9.30 p.m. young Sunil Gargyan was singing Gati neevani(Todi) very well among a few other kritis. Next was veteran Sri Madurai Rajaram (whom I have not listened earlier & I got his name only at the venue). Really a surprise, what felicity of rendering! He sang 5-6 kriti-s including kanukontini(Bilahari), endamuddo(bindumalini), Durmargacharadamulanu(ranjini) with absolute ease and authenticity. If you hear the voice alone that resembles T N Seshagopalan's (my personal view). Next was a rendering by Akshay padmanabhan who sang Rakshabettare(bhairavi) among some other kritis.

Not much crowd. A mike only for the singer and violinist. Mridangams free of amplification, the atmosphere in the Kaveri river bank was really divine(!). T K Padmanabhan was on the violin at my visit time. Mridangists included Trichur Narendran, Chertalai Ananthakrishnan, Mudra Bhaskar etc. kanjira artist Sreesundar kumar who was found playing Mridangam for a song proved himself excellent on the vadyam. Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna was also sighted playing the instrument.

Food to all vidwans and visitors was served in the adjacent pandal. The programme would end by the next day morning. Sri PSN would be present throughout as in many years in the past. The Akhandam team consists artists mainly from Chennai, they said. I was seeing the event for the first time.

As I had to escort one of my personal guests back to Thanjavur (A non Tamilnadan, he had targeted maximum coverage of centres in and around Tanjavur!) I had to leave the venue by around 11p.m. after prostrating before Saint Tyagaraja and darshan at Panchanadeeswar-Dharmasamvardhani temple where natyanjali was in full swing.

[mahavishnu]

Thank you, Sivaramakrishnan-sir for your interesting report!

[thanjavooran]

Thank you shri Sivarmakrishnan for the nice report of all the events in and around Thanjavur.
Thanjavooran
17 03 2014