T Mukta Centenary Celebrations & Webcast - Sep 9 & 10

[the_ARTery]

Sangeet Natak Akademi in association with Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts is hosting a two-day birth centenary celebration of Sangita Kala Acharya Smt. T. Mukta on Sept 9th & 1oth 2014 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai. The ARTery in association with kalakendra.com is pleased to bring you a free live webcast of this two-day event! Do tune in at http://www.theartery.in/live-webcast

Schedule:

[Rsachi]

Congratulations on getting up a great programme.
I find the ARTery has its sights on the right kind of programmes and has excellent production standards.
You will go far with these values!
Look forward to the concerts and presentations.
How come Ravikiran is not there? Also Rama Ravi? Aruna Sayeeram? Turf battles??

[the_ARTery]

Sir, thanks for the kind comments. Regarding this particular programme, it is an effort by Dr. V. Raghavan Centre in association with SNA. The ARTery is doing only the webcast. The artiste line-up is purely the organizer's call. Btw, the names you have mentioned are all primarily disciples of Brindamma.

[Rsachi]

Ok, thanks!

[kittappa]

RaviSri, disciples of Mukthamma have told me that Rama Ravi has mostly learnt from Mukthamma. Of course, she has also learnt from Brindamma. Rama Ravi herself has recounted her learning experiences with Mukthamma in 'Sruti' in an issue of 2007. RaviSri have also told me that Aruna Sayeeram has learnt from Mukthamma also.

[kittappa]

The programme gives the impression that B-M knew only padams and javalis. They were equally adept in singing the authentic versions of major pieces of the Trinity, that too rare ones. That should have been the highlight of at least one of the sessions.

[rupavathi]

Is there a word like 'appreciation' in your dictionary, sir? Here is someone taking the pains to organize a celebration of a great artiste whom no one else remembered in her centenary year. The programme hasn't even happened yet and here you are... already leveling "this could have been", "that should have been" homilies!

[arasi]

Finally, we have a fitting series of events to celebrate the centenary of a key figure in about a century of CM! Thanks to the organizers...

Hope many rasikAs gather to experience these events which have been arranged with care and devotion in celebrating Muktha's music, part of a heritage which CM treasures.

Appreciating the organizers...

[kittappa]

Of course, I also appreciate the organisers for celebrating a veteran musician's centenary. None else remembered her. But the programme showcases only one aspect of their vast treasure of music. Either Vedavalli or Sowmya could have been drafted to highlight their mastery of rare kritis of the Trinity. Rama Ravi should also have been invited to give a programme. This is a major slip. There is nothing wrong in pointing out this.

[cienu]

Wishing the 2 day centenary program in memory of Muktamma all success.

[rupavathi]

...This is a major slip. There is nothing wrong in pointing out this...

If you are such a passionate admirer of the school and have such a great and deep understanding of their treasures, maybe you should take the initiative and come up with a perfect programme, enduring all the inherent logistical headaches, funding, artiste fixing, theme assignment, etc. There is everything wrong in finding fault with somebody else's initiative, when you have done precious little other than preach from your keyboard, sir!

[kittappa]

The way you are getting angry over my pointing out an oversight on the part of the organisers suggests that you might be one of the organisers. If so, you will have to understand that this is an oversight. I am not saying it is deliberate, but a slip perhaps. When an organisation conducts a seminar/tribute to an artiste, it must go all out to bring out all the facets of the art of that artist. That's all. In case you are not an organiser you have no right to say this:

There is everything wrong in finding fault with somebody else's initiative, when you have done precious little other than preach from your keyboard, sir!

maybe you should take the initiative and come up with a perfect programme, enduring all the inherent logistical headaches, FUNDING, artiste fixing, theme assignment, etc.

I am an ordinary person, though with a passion for music, including that of the vast repertoire of B-M. I am not rich. This seems like a"savAl", a challenge thrown in the manner of a Tamil cinerma dialogue. People with no influnece and no resources cannot hope to go anywhere near artists or sponsors. I have heard many stories of such failures occuring to well meaning people who have wanted to organise seminars/tributes. Despair and disappointment have been their lot. You perhaps are placed in such a lofty positioon that you may find it easy to get sponsors, artists for your endeavours. That is not the case with most others who have the passion to do such things, but find their enthusiasm thwarted. In the case of B-M too his has happened to certain people. I personally know this.

SNA and Dr Raghavan Centre have the resources, the influence and the experience to conduct such programmes. It is imperative on their part to do such things with a "muzhumai", a fullness. That's all.

[rupavathi]

The way you are getting angry over my pointing out an oversight on the part of the organisers suggests that you might be one of the organisers.

How very convenient! [-x
(Just for the record, I am not part of the organizers and neither did I get angry. I simply pointed out the holier-than-thou-ness of your preaching)

As for the rest of your rant... "where there is a will there is a way". Examples being nadopasana srinivasan mama or thiruvanmiyur narasimhan mama. Thanks and have a great time at the event, in case you plan to attend. /:)

[the_ARTery]

Reminder: Live webcast of Mukthamma centenary starts at 1730 IST today. Do tune in at: http://www.theartery.in/live-webcast

Also avbl: live webcast of veena festival from Narada Gana Sabha, 1800 IST!

[the_ARTery]

Live webcast of Smt T Mukta's centenary continues today, from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore.
10.00 am IST : Lec-dems, book release, tributes
6.00pm IST: Valedictory function followed by group presentation of padam-javali and a concert by S. Sowmya featuring kritis/padam-javali/tillana learnt from Muktamma

Pls tune in to http://www.theartery.in/live-webcast

Also: Live webcast of veena mahotsavam at narada gana sabha, alwarpet (from 6.15 pm IST)

[CRama]

I watched this programme yesterday. First, a group of young vidushis sang padams in Begada, Mukhari(Ososi) and Sankarabharanm (Maname bhooshanamu) and a javali in Khamas.

Next was the concert by Sowmya. It was fabulous one- a fitting tribute to Muktamma by one of her noted disciples. The list of songs as I remember now.
Arunachalanatham-Saranga
Ekklathilum unnai maravathirukka-Poorvikalyani
Vinave-Vivardhini
Kamalambike- Thodi- Subbraya Sastri- Not MD.
Padams- Telisenura-Saveri
Payyada - Nadanamakriya
Thiruvotriyur Thyagarajan- Athana
Velavare umaithedi-Bhairavi
Begada
Javali- Samayamide-Behag
Karunajoodu-Sree-Syama Sastri.
Only ragams were sung- Poorvikalyani and Thodi very elaborately. No neraval, swarams- probably to give way for more padams and javalis. All these songs are from the treasure chest of BM school. There was visible difference in the patantharam of Vinave. Yesudas used to sing this very often. I have not heard this much from other vidwans. The accompanists- RKSK and Arun Prakash played with lot of sensitivity. Thanks to the organisers and ARTERY for the webcast.

kittappa- your crib has been attended to. Be happy.

[anandmurty]

Smt. Sowmya's concert was outstanding. So many moments of just dissolving in the melody. That Athana was particularly special for me - enough to haunt me for days. Grateful I could 'attend' this via the webcast.

[CRama]

ARTERY. Any amount of thanks is inadequate for the great service you have done by webcast of this very important event. Can you tell me where I can get Vedavalli Mami's concert. I could not get it.

[the_ARTery]

Thank you sir. Credit actually goes to Smt Nandini Ramani and the V Raghavan Centre for putting this together along with SNA and thanks to them for allowing the livecast. Smt Vedavalli did not appear or perform in the 2-day event as she was indisposed.

[mahavishnu]

I have been really busy at work lately that I haven't had an opportunity to write much here.

But I am glad that I took the 2 hours to watch Smt Sowmya's concert (I must confess that I skipped through the speeches and the first program which appeared to be quite nice. maybe some other time). I thought the poorvikalyani was absolutely blissful. And Sriram Kumar was like a second voice through this event. The music was beautiful; the sangatis had the spins, curves, meanders, edges & turns all executed with the exactness that is characteristic of BM.

Small correction: The begada Dharmapuri Subbarayar song "idi neeku mariyAdagA ErA nAsAmi" came after the behag jAvali.

Let me echo CRama's sentiments and thank the ARTery folks for webcasting this.

[arasi]

Mahavishnu,

Look forward to listening to Sowmya's concert. Meanwhile, I did catch some of the webcast--which happened to be very interesting! Gayathri girish, one of the volunteers too, we were told, started the second day's event with her singing 'gurulEka' sweetly. How apt, when the event was not only about a great musician but a super teacher!

Padma Subramaniam's bilingual speech was worth listening to. She came out with all her admiration for Muktha and the entire family--mentioning that she was a student of Viswanathan. She marveled about their pA(bA)Ni * and said how difficult it was to sing as they did (she praised Sowmya highly for her excellence in singing--how she had imbibed the style, and all the hard work which went into it).

I liked it when she said: how did they do it, the way they sang! I used to wonder--singing 'between' a sangathi and a gamakam! Such a difficult task!

Nandani Ramani gave a solid speech, and you could tell how much of love and hard work went into this effort. She made it a point to thank all those who helped. Even mentioned the webcast, but I didn't hear her say 'Artery'. Thanks, Ramanathan!

She specially thanked the Sangeet Natak Academy. Leela Samson who now heads it not only made this occasion a special one by getting SNA's support in funding, but added graciousness to the occasion by her presence.

Before I forget, V.V. Ramani's stage decor was something to admire. Each detail added to the beauty of its simplicity...

* May be I'm wrong, but I think pANi a better word--it's after all handling, 'kaiyALudal' in tamizh.

[CRama]

Yesterday, I took some time to see the short film on MUkta produced by Nandini Ramani, demonstrations and speeches and some other blissful music which was the hallmark of the entire event. There is one concert of Padams and Javalis by the mother-daughter duo- Dr.Nirmala Sundararajan and Dr.Subhashini Parthasarathy. They belong to the BM lineage which is always explicit in their concerts. They faithfully adhere to the bani without any mutilations. I have heard many of their concerts. The following songs were rendered.

Nithirayil soppanathil-Panthuvarali-Padam
Morathopu-Sahana-Padam
Telisevadana-Bilahari - Padam
A long Thirupugazh in Ragamalika- Chenjuruti, Anandabhairavi, Nadanamakriya, Mohanam, Saranga, Neelambari.

Exquisite rendition- unhurried, savouring each note, full of raga bhavam- just like walking down the years of Mukta’s music. RKSreeramkumar followed like a shadow never interfering in the soulful music. But the Mridangam of Ganapthiramam was a tad higher in volume.

There is another demonstration by Subhashini Parthasarathy titled Lesser known composers of Padams. In that she had sung the following padams without any accompanists. (This is available in Day 2 Session 2)

Maaname bhooshanamu-Sankarabharanam Padam
Poosaadhaaramu-Thodi Padam
Sivadeekshaa paruraalanu-Kurinji

The thodi padam was a longish one- sung in a very very leisurely kalapramanam covering the entire gamut of the ragam- the grandeur of thodi dripping in each phrase. I request our folks to spend some time and hear this padam. You can not hear this padam in a regular concert.

Sivadeeksha is a famous padam- The Grand Old Lady Dhanammal has cut a record of this padam and hence popular.

The entire event has been immaculately conceived- Thanks to all the organisers, sponsors and webcast team.

[venkatakailasam]

Smt. S Sowmya Live & Group Rendering of Padam Javali - T Mukta Centenary

I have watched this half a dozen times...full program..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HraG19YzHgY


Post no 7...

" great artiste whom no one else remembered in her centenary year"

Kindly see :

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... 1&start=75


Centenary Celebration of Vidusi T Mukta - 1st Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgg3Ya0suU

[advaitin]

Agree with CRama. The mother - daughter rendering on day 1, was lovely. Have listened at least 5 times by now
The sahana lingers on. Yet to hear the 2nd day lecdem

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Thanks CRama for the report.
I have been following the music of Smt Nirmala-smt Subhashini for about 30 years now and it is really great that their performances have never lost the lustre. There is a Pre-recorded Cassette (Padams and Javali-s) released during the 1980s by Sangeetha and they have rendered some great compositions in it(quite a few they have included in this concert too). That was perhaps my introduction to art music and I have gifted this cassette to many of my friends and relatives. Giri Traders, Mylapore used to fetch me this cassette whenever I entered their modest shop during that period! I became a great admirer of Kshetrajna too in the process!

A few years ago, they presented a series of concerts on the theme 'Nayika-nayaka' consisiting of padams and javalis in various venues in Chennai and all those concerts have been so enchanting and scholarly. I think both of them did their doctorate in music on topics related to this subject.

Being away from Chennai for the past few years I have not bee able to attend important events happening there; thanks to our forumites for prompt reporting.