Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's compositions

Rasikapriya2013 · Post by **Rasikapriya2013** » 05 May 2014, 11:12

May 4th being the birthday of Sri Tyagaraja, it was befitting to showcase a

living legend on the part of the Karnatic Music Forum in their

ongoing Sangeeta Lakshana Lakshya Series as a topic for discussion.

The organizers could not have chosen a better person to give a lec dem on

Dr.Mangalampalli Sri Balamuralikrishna's compositions than one of his

foremost and most dedicated disciples Sri Rama Varma, who is a musician,

educator, orator, instrumentalist, admirer and a student himself.

Not even aided with a scrap of paper or a laptop, Sri Rama Varma's

extemporized and candid speech on Sri Balamurali Krishna as a student, a

celebrity performer, multi instrumentalist, an innovator and above all a

brilliant Vaggeyakara, shows how much Rama Varma has internalized Sri

Balamuralikrishna's music and his works.

Like a story he started the lec dem on young Bala Murali Krishna, his tutelage

under Parupalli Sri. Ramakrishnayya (Sri Pantulu was a direct descendant of

the sisya parampara of Saint Tyagaraja). His speech threw light on young

Balamurali as a composer of the 72 melakartha ragas. Moving on to his later

years showcasing his creative and brilliant compositions in Vivadhi ragas,

his innovations in four note ragas like Mahathi, Lavangi, Sumukham),

the three note ragas Sarva Sri, Ganapathy), it was like a riveting tour through

Disney's Magic Kingdom!

The focus all through the presentation was about the contrast between

Balamuralikrishna the performer and Balamuralikrishna the composer.

It was a revelation to become acquainted with some exquisite songs by him

in Rakti ragas like Sahana, Punnagavarali, Nattaikurinji, Kedaragowla,

and so on, which seriously changed many listeners' perception of

Balamuralikrishna as somebody who sang only rare ragas, vivadi ragas

or ragas with three or four notes. I guess this would be largely thanks to

what the musician chooses to sing during his concerts.

Sri Rama Varma spoke about the contrast between music for performance

on stage and music for the pooja room. These Balamurali masterpieces,

particularly from the pooja room category which we seldom hear the

composer sing these days, highlighted the contrast between the

composer aspect and the performer aspect of the same man vividly!

Each topic, be it the vivadhi ragas, the four note ragas, the brilliant

swaraksharams incorporated in his songs, the breath taking chittaiswarams

in some songs or the profound poetic aspects, Sri Rama Varma explained it all

so beautifully.

One of the loveliest examples that I would like to share is Sri Balamurali

Krishna's composition on Udippi Krishna in the ragam Neelambari. Gave me

goose bumps to know that when asked to sing in front of the little krishna in

Udippi, he spontaneously composed this song. Another beautiful example of

his creative ability is the krithi "Chinthayami Santhatham" on Sri

Muthuswamy Dikshithar in the raga Sucharithra.

The entire morning was filled with Oohs and Aahs, moments of profound

insights and moments of hilarity which seems to be a perfect package crafted

by Sri Rama Varma over the years. One cannot be deceived by the light

hearted mood that was generated with his humour because what he delivered

was so rich in content and grandeur, packing as much information as possible

in such a short time.

Sri Balamurali Krishna being a multi instrumentalist, Rama Varma explained

how his knowledge on instruments has helped him innovate the new tala

system as well. Last but not least his famous Thillanas. It was interesting to

know that all of Balamurali krishna's varnams are devotional unlike most

other varnams which have sringara content in the lyrics.

Most of us would have gladly sat through the whole day, but Sri Rama Varma

wound up at 12:30, giving us tantalizing glimpses into the mind of a

great composer. He said that he hadn't even touched on the tunes that

Sri Balamuralikrishna had given, to the songs of other great composers

like Sri Jayadeva, Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, Sri Purandaradasa, Annamayya,

Sadasiva Brahmendra, Bhadrachala Ramadasa and so on.

That would indeed be another treat, worth waiting for!

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 08 May 2014, 19:31

Two songs that he sang.

Hamir Kalyani

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cyafd1ETRs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cyafd1ETRs

Neelambari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx5jtzdOexk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MBhZj66G_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DQZGTXtd0E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VyKAhS4g3s

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 31 May 2014, 17:48

The second part of this series will feature a thematic presentation
by Prince Rama Varma, Vid S.R.Vinu, Vid S.J.Arjun Ganesh and Dr.S.Karthick
at the same venue Arkay Convention Centre, Luz, tomorrow (Sunday. June 1)
at 10:00am.

This would feature compositions by Sri Purandara Dasa, Maharaja Swati Tirunal,
Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadasa, Sadasiva Brahmendra,Jayadeva and others,
where Dr.Balamuralikrishna has set the music..

A newly released 3 CD pack will be available for sale at the venue too, the details of which
are given below.

Live at Veenavadini School of Music,

http://veenavadini.com/about-us/

Prince Rama Varma - Vocal

Avaneeshwaram S.R.Vinu - Violin

B.Harikumar - Mridangam

Dr.S.Karthick - Ghatam

Payyannoor T.Govindaprasad - Morsing

Video samples from the concert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xh-avtjcwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRwiyVM7NZU

Song List

CD ONE
1) Sarasuda - Varnam - Saveri - Adi - Kotthavasal Venkatarama Iyer

2) Gajavadana - Hamsadhwani - Adi - Varada Dasa (M.D.Ramanathan)

3) Naada Tanum Anisham - Chittharanjani - Adi - Thyagaraja

4) Krishnaayena Baaradey - Kedaram - Mishra Chapu - Purandara Dasa

5) Pancha Bhootha - Kiranavali - Khanda Eka - Muthuswamy Dikshitar

6) Indariki - Harikamboji - Tisram - Talapaka Annamacharya

7) Hodi Nagaari Mele Kaiyya - Anandabhairavi - Mishra Chapu - Purandara Dasa

CD TWO
1) Gangeya Vasana Dhara - Hamir Kalyani - Adi - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal

CD THREE
1) Pankaja Mukha - Western Note - Muthuswamy Dikshitar

2) Ae Theeruga Nanu - Naadanaamakriya - Adi - Bhadrachala Ramadasa

3) Bala Tripura Sundari - Folk Song - Prayaga Ranga Dasa

4) Raja Raja - Shankarabharanam - Adi - Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna

5) Thillana - Kunthalavarali - Adi - Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna

6) Mangalam - Yadukula Kamboji - Rupakam - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal

Rasikapriya2013 · Post by **Rasikapriya2013** » 02 Jun 2014, 19:03

Rama Varma's thematic concert comprising songs of various Vaggeyakaras was a fascinating trip down memory lane, all the way to the 16th century.
The listeners experienced a whole range of emotions as the morning progressed. Prince Rama Varma, ably accompanied by Sri S.R.Vinu, Sri Arjun Ganesh and Dr.S.Karthick, took us on a tour, exploring the beauty of the lyrics by Purandaradasa, Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadasa, Sadasiva Brahmendra, Swati Tirunal Maharaja, Tulasidas, Kaiwara Amara Nareyana and others, coupled with the musical genius of Dr.Balamuralikrishna.

Most of the songs were of Bhajanai Sampradaya prior to Thyagaraja, Dhikshitar and Shama Shastri period, with Pallavi followed by many Charanams. Reflecting and internalizing the mano Bhava of these saints and tuning their krithis shows the sensitivity and devotion of this great Musical Legend.

The introductions to the composers, the lyrical content of the songs and the
musical uniqueness, was just Superb, as was the perfect harmony and camaraderie
between all the four artists on stage.

At times playful, at times soaked in devotion, at times funny but always keeping the
attention of the listeners riveted, he chose to bring those songs that were very rare and not frequently heard at concerts, yesterday.

Rasikapriya2013 · Post by **Rasikapriya2013** » 02 Jun 2014, 19:08

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 03 Jun 2014, 19:14

Beautiful review! Thank you also for the really rare and moving footage of
Sri Rama Varma with M.S.Amma.

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 03 Jul 2014, 13:30

Two videos from the concert

Ihame Gaani

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

Maya Mohamu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05bfkj8T ... UQQpJMVZlQ

rasikas.org

Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's compositions

Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's compositions

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition

Re: Lec dem by RamaVarma on Balamuralikrishna's composition