Musical Tribute to Thyagaraja by Sri Rama Varma

[Rasikapriya2013]

Last Sunday got an opportunity to listen, learn,drench and enjoy Thyagaraja in all his Glory by Rama Varma with Avaneeswaram Sri S.R.Vinu - Violin, Sri B.Harikumar - Mridangam, Dr S.Kathick - Ghatam. He brought alive the spirit of Saint Thyagaraja in his own unique and special way, with total dedication, insightful commentaries, mesmerising voice quality ,perfect diction and with a refined sense of aesthetics and proportion.
Concert started with Rama Varma paying his homage to his manasika Guru Sri M.D. Ramanathan, 'Sri Thyagaraja Gurumasraye' on Saint Thyagaraja in Kedaram.

Parasakthi Manuparaada in Saveri which was sung after a Sampradayamana Saveri Alapana
http://youtu.be/30iYJj7eXWQ

Meevalla in Kaapi.
The swara approach to this song was delightfully rendered sometimes serious,sometimes joyful and with hint of 'Love Story' music seeping its way with subtlety.

A Dynamic Varanaradha in Vijayeshri followed next with a very informative explanation about the Raga and the context of the composition.
http://youtu.be/IqehcsBnAhI

Main song was 'Manasu Svadheenamaina' in Shankarabharanam. Very beautifully renderred alapanai .Sublime and brought out the salient prayogas and gave me the impression that he could sing just the alapana for three hours or more.Apt return by Sri Vinu and excellent rendition of the song with brilliant Swaras and a surprise prayoga of Mozart's symphony concerto 25 in his kalpana swarams.The multi-dimensional approach ,be it in the clear enunciation of the lyrics, the chaste rendition of every piece , the ability of Rama Varma to get into the mind of the composer,the brief but choc-full of information explanations, the harmony among the artistes on stage , the way we in the audience were made to sit up and listen to everything that was going on on stage, made the concert a fitting tribute to Saint Thyagaraja. Music indeed is the only language that is universal and his approach to Music emphasises exactly the sentiment.
Sri Vinu was brilliant throughout like a second voice. Highlight was Sri Harikumar and Sri Karthick during the thani. The way they played ending the koraippu with a silence was a treat to watch and enjoy.

His explanation and rendition of MDR's masterpiece (Tyagaraja Composition) Paripalaya Paripalaya in Reetigowlai was great.
Again a very rare and beautiful song.
http://youtu.be/YrYTkCpnueo

Seetha Kalyana Vaibhogame - Kurinji

Vara leela gaana lola.
Most of his concert has this song. Shows the command Thyagaraja had over language, poetry and devotion for Rama.


Behag Thillana by his Guru Sri Balamurali krishna on Thyagaraja.
The Sahityam's beauty lies in its meaning.
"Gaayaka jana Varadaayaka Vara Vageyakaarakula Vandaniya Ghananeeya Muraligaana priya Mahaneeya Tyagaraaya Gururaaya", meaning "One who grants boons to musicians , one who is worshipped by the composer clan, who revels in Muraligana,... The great Guru Sri Thyagaraja".

He ended the concert by singing all the charanams of Pavamaana Sutudu . Again I have listened to Sri MDR singing Mangalam this way as well. Overall a very Happy concert.

[saverilover]

Such a wealth of information from your post, Rasikapriya. Fascinated! The lyrics of the Behag Thillana are mind blowing! :ymapplause:

[cmlover]

Thanks for the sample of the brilliant exposition!
Some day they should award SK to the Prince as an absolution for the default in not warding it
to MDR (his manasa guru) during his life time!

[Sivaramakrishnan]

A true scion of Maharaja Swati Tirunal who had great regard for Tyagaraja!

[sweetsong]

Meevalla

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktcQ7kjVwBU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Umpm7XSjHQ

[Rasikapriya2013]

I have omitted in my initial write up, a song so beautiful and close to my heart, Gandhamu puyyaruga in Punnagavarali. This song which is part of the Nauka Charitram by Saint Thyagaraja, explains the Gopis celebrating Lord Krishna by worshiping him with Sandal wood paste thilakam, adorning him with beautiful vasthram, taking Harathi and doing pooja. Sri Rama Varma's rendition of this song taking in the meaning of the Sahityam and enacting while singing was like seeing the Gopi's worshiping their favourite Krishna. This was sung in Sri Balamurali Krishna's paani.

Beautiful Behag Thillana offered with a small intro on Thyagaraja, Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and ending with how beautifully the thillana is constructed after one beat by his Guru Sri Bala Murali Krishna.
http://youtu.be/rQo54vfT-rI

Mangalam with all the charanams
http://youtu.be/JlghWSI-SHU