Dr.Narmada, Cleveland Aradhana 2015

[maduraimini]

Dr.Narmada entertained us with a beautiful concert on Tuesday afternoon.
She started the concert with Saveri varnam of Kottaval Venkatesa Iyer- Sarasuda.
She took Sivan's famous kriti 'Tatvamariya Tarama' in Reethigaula. The song was very nice to listen to. She sang niraval swaram with Madisekaran magane.
Next she sang Dikshitar's Kamalamanohari raga song 'Kanchadalayathakshi in memory of M.S. amma. That is a song where Dikshitar describes Ambal in all her glory with beautiful, poetic words. The artist brought out Ambal before us with her melody.
The next one was my favorite song (which I learned recently after wanting to for many years)-Ardhanareeswaram in the rare raga Kumudakriya, composed by Muthuswamy Dikshitar. But as luck would have it, I could see her, but cannot hear anything. Maybe my computer went kaput or I moved my finger at the wrong place- No sound. I was upset- Sitting in front of the computer and waiting for the kriti- only to stare at the silent computer. Then she sang raga Kathanakuthuhalam. Raghuvamsa was good.
A beautiful Mohanam with all its flourishes ensued. It was Thyagaraja's kriti 'bavanutha'. Then it was a blank for me as I dozed off, I guess! I heard Sri Sundaram speaking. I don't know what I missed. The concert was very enjoyable and Dr.Narmada entertained us with her violin expertise.
Thanks Dr.Narmada for a wonderful concert.

p.s. For all of you critics- I am 80 years old, with failing eyesight and other problems of old age, but my mind is still alert and my love for CM is staunch. I try to write my experience with the concerts, but it may have many mistakes.. I may repeat I want you, who are younger and in better health to take it in stride and correct them, knowing it is written by an older person. Thanks to all who put up with me and my reviews. Big thanks to all CM rasikas.

[arasi]

Maduraimini,
I only came to the computer when she was playing 'sundara gamanE' in kanja dalAyadAkshi. Lovely svarams. The percussion jelled well, and her playing was like a melodious brook playing in rhythm . With her eyes closed at times, I wondered if she was seeking her father's presence.
ardha nArISvaram was class. The AlApanA for kumudakriyA was soothing and spirited at the same time.

Came back again when she was playing an expert mOhanam, with a sprinkle of whimsy which was very pleasing and was fun for us and for her.

Then, the sindhu bhairavi...I had heard several s. bhairavis in the past week, but this was a pristine one. The tarAnA was a finely chiseled piece

[rshankar]

I only came to the computer when she was playing 'sundara gamanE' in kanja dalAyadAkshi.

Arasi, it should be 'kunjara gamanE' - in this composition, Sri MD compares the majesty of the dEvi's gait to that of an elephant (kunjara)...

[arasi]

Thanks, Ravi!
Adjectives are rife in one's mind, and I forgot. Over-working as we (of the golden years) are, trying to get as much of music as possible for ourselves and for bringing news about it here, I feel like my bygone days of working on a daily are back at Cleveland festival time and the Chennai season...

[Sundara Rajan]

Maduraimini: There is no need to be apologetic about your minor mistakes. You have an older brother here at 82 who makes more mistakes and who sometimes has difficulty in identifying a raga or a song played on an instrument. I have to have an afternoon nap, come what may, and miss some performances ! These are normal effects of passage of years and I am sure that members of rasika .com would understand and appreciate our problems and
bear with us.
By the way, do you plan to come to Tampa on 4-11-15 for Malladi Brothers' concert, which I plan to attend. My wife and I live in Winter Springs,FL , ten miles north of Orlando. I guess you live on the east coast of southern Florida. It would be nice if we could meet sometime and get acquainted. I have met your cousin Arasi in Madras during her CD releases and in the Music Academy whenever I managed to visit Madras.