August 15: musical homage to Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan

[vainika]

Veena Vidushi Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan, who passed away earlier this year, would have turned 89 on Independence Day, August 15, 2011.

Some of us are putting together a chamber-event on August 15, 3.30 pm – 7 pm. The event is not a full-fledged concert, but will consist of her students each presenting a kriti they have learned from her, in the spirit of homage and celebration of her life and music.

Other vainikas/musicians who are not students of Kalpakam teacher but would like to pay musical homage are welcome too, as are rasikas who would like to share their memories or excerpts of their favorite recording of her music.

If you would like to be part of this event, please send email to [email protected] indicating whether you will be attending. If you would like to perform or share a recording, please indicate the song you will be presenting in advance. This will help us avoid duplication of items. Given time limitations, we ask that each person present for no more than 10 minutes.

The venue is most likely the home of one of Kalpakam teacher's students and/or rasikas, and will be announced to those confirming participation. For those unable to bring their veenas to the event, one will be available.

Updates will be posted here and at http://kalpakataru.blogspot.com

[vainika]

The venue for this event is
CP Arts Center (second floor auditorium)
1 Eldams Road, near the TTK-Eldams intersection
Teynampet, Chennai

3.30-7 pm.

If there's anyone who would like to present a kriti at this event, or speak about Kalpakam Teacher and her music, please email [email protected] or call 98415-57983

[rshankar]

Vainika (Ramki), Best Wishes! Can you record the event and upload it for those of us who will not be able to join-in?

[Nick H]

Very best wishes for your event. I'm sure there will be joy, along with a tear or two.

[Ashwin]

Can anyone provide a review of this function?

Ashwin

[vainika]

Hi Ashwin and others,

I haven't had a chance to write about the event yet: here's a brief note. It went well. I was happy to see so many of Teacher's students and rasikas, ranging in age from 12 to 65+, speak about her, and render her music with absolute fidelity to her style. We even had a couple of students travel from Bangalore to attend this event.

I have yet to upload the pix and the videos, except for the following rendition by some students from Madras University who had studied with Teacher as part of a government scholarship program.
http://www.archive.org/details/Krishnan ... undaMurare

One of these students, Ms. Nithya (seated in the center), said that she has completed her MPhil thesis analysing Kalpakam Teacher's kritis vis-a-vis the notation in Telugu and Tamil editions of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini. She has secured permission from the University to bring out the thesis as a book next year.

A partial list of compositions rendered at the event is at http://kalpakataru.blogspot.com/2011/08 ... ge-to.html

I hope to share images and more audio soon.

LR

[cienu]

Ramki,
That was indeed a wonderful way to pay homage to the genius of Kalpakam Mami.
Thank you for sharing .

[sruthi]

Very nice video - thank you for sharing. Also found a few clips on youtube from a related program.

I do have a question re: the Gaulipantu rendition: it sounded a little different from the Gaulipantu of tera teeyaga rAdA / mOsa pOku fame. Is there a difference in the Dikshitar vs Thyagaraga versions of this ragam?

Also look forward to the book being brought out by Ms Nithya on Kalpakam mami's music.

[srini_pichumani]

Ramki,

thank you for sharing that video... it was a wonderful homage to Kalpagam mami !

Listening to this kriti first from Prof.SRJ in his own inimitable style (1993 Pittsburgh SV Temple -- a program where he almost got through without singing a Dikshitar krit and then produced this gem when requested !), and then later from Kalpagam mami mid-1994 in her striking veena style, I used and to am always mesmerized by this kriti.

Dikshitar almost weaves in the 12 names of the Lord -- kes'ava nArAyaNa mAdhava nArAyaNa govinda... -- into this kriti.

-Srini.

[venkatakailasam]

Shri Ramki,
I have posted two veena rendering by Smt Kalpagam Swaminathan...

aryam abhayambam -bhairavi dvitiya vibhakti-Dikshadar..

rendered by vidushi Kalpagam Swaminathan...veena..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=canPnL_sSTA

Sri Guruna Palithosmi-padi..

composed by Dikshadar..(guruguha vibhakti krithis)

Rendered by smt. Kalpagam Swaminathan on Veena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pd9_DxNEDQ

venkatakailasam

These are avilable at this link also...

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... 7&start=50

[vainika]

This Sunday, April 6, 2014 is Kalpakam teacher's death anniversary.

Concerts in memoriam from 6:30pm onwards:

i. L Ramakrishnan (veena), Thanjavur Kumar (mridangam)
ii. SR Padmavathi and SR Radha (veena), Thanjavur Kumar (mridangam)
iii. Mangalam Shankar (vocal), Kalyani Shankar (violin), Thanjavur Kumar (mridangam)

All are welcome

Mahalakshmi Hall, 11 Park View Street, Rajah Annamalai Puram, Chennai

[rshankar]

Ramki, best wishes!

[Nick H]

I wish you had given some more notice, as I would have particularly liked to see your concert.

Might be able to make it later in the evening.

[arasi]

Ramki,
Best wishes for a good gathering.

[cienu]

Ramki,

Best wishes for the occasion