BSU 2015

[MV]

I just wanted to do a quick synopsis of some of the concerts I heard on-line, mostly after the event.The veena accompaniment for NSG/Sowmya was innovative and very pleasant to hear. The duo picked vainika/gayaka songs and lines for neraval as well-clever touch that! I know veena has been used in the past but I wonder if the sheer size of the instrument makes it slower than the quick responses of the violin. Or maybe we are just used to it now. Ananthanarayanan played beautifully though.

Bharat Sundar/JA Jayanth and Akkarai Sisters Violin were both splendid. But the 45 mins of Laya Vinyasa which was uploaded was outstanding. I don't know if I'm any wiser with the 'lay' side of things but it was indeed the highlight for me

[arasi]

MV,
I heard Soumya, NSG's concert (most of it). Yes, I really liked the vINA accompaniment. Seemed as if was just right.

Both being experts, they chose songs to go with the vINA. Soumya's singing was beautiful. NSG was his usual ebullient self, singing away. Somehow felt that Soumya could have sung a bit more.

Shashikiran comes up with exciting ideas and is capable of pulling off a mega show like the BSU, but these are interesting innovations and are worth presenting only as a novelty. Give us the regular concerts, anyway.

Yes, and Shashikiran did, making the festival grander this year, and we applaud him for that...

[MV]

Shashikiran comes up with exciting ideas and is capable of pulling off a mega show like the BSU, but these are interesting innovations and are worth presenting only as a novelty. Give us the regular concerts, anyway.

Yes, and Shashikiran did, making the festival grander this year, and we applaud him for that...

Agree with you Arasi. Well done to Shashikiran but I am looking forward to the 'regular concerts' as you say in Dec

[Rsachi]

Seeing for the pasy few years, Sri KN Shashi Kiran is easily the best musician organiser i can think of.
The only caution is not to hand over the quality and name to commercial interests by cobranding as it happened a couple of years ago in Blr Sangeet Utsav or some such thing

[grsastrigal]

Let me conclude BSU with Tiruppugazh concert - Shri Umayalpuram Sivaraman and Sikkil gurucharan.

What Mr.MV started, let me finish...... Another coincidence is today is Kandha shasti..beginning day.

5th November 2015
Sri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman
Sikkil Gurucharan
Nagai R Sriram.
Tiruppugazh anubhoothi- selective songs of Tiruppugazh. (Mylai mudhal kailai varai.)
One lady (from Podghigai TV) compered the programme. Excerpts from her speech

Murugan is the first letter combination of Mugundan, Rudran, Kamalan.
This whole programme was conceptualized by Sri UKS.
Sandham is very important for Tiruppugazh . 1008 sandha vagaigal were made. But only few available to us. Layam, kalapramanam.
Totaly 16000 songs were penned by Arunagirinathar, 1365 songs only available.
After Paramashwaran, agasthiar,arunagirithar is the only third to get direct “updesam” form Lord Muruga..
To start from Muthaithiru, Arunagirinathar had gone evento Kasi, Srilanka kathirgamam besides Mylapore/Tiruvamiyur and rendered songs in praise of the respective God and place.

Excerpts from Shri UKS speech:

Yester years, Kutcheris had been performed only with Tiruppugaz, with full Bench (all the upa pakka vadhyam).
This concept was started by Sri.Nayana pillai. Followed by Chittoor subramanya pillai. The major credit should go to Sri.Dakshinathmoorthy guru.
Susequently, Alathur brothers gave a performance for 4 hours only on Tiruppugazh, accompanied by Shri UKS, violin LGJ, Kajira V Nagarajan-Kanjira, Mahadevan-Morsing which had featured 5 Tani avarthanam, 5 different Talam. (Shudder to think such concerts existed here )
Teaming up with Gurucharan he concluded bringing old Tiruppugazh as “Old wine in old vintage bottles”
Then, the concert started.

Followed by Tiruppugazh songs on some ragas. Tani was amazing.

[CRama]

The uniqueness of the above concert- Thirupugazh was rendered in Chanda talams- as conceived by Arunagirinadhar. Many of these talams are not in vogue today and the same thirupugazh songs rendered in various other talams. Sikkil did a splendid job with the guidance of Umayalpuram Sivaraman Sir. Main song was Kadhi Modhi- in Sankarabharanam.

[MaheshS]

Is this concert available on YouTube? Thanks.

[kvchellappa]

It is not. This is the link: http://www.kalakendra.com/webcast-temp.php
Some are still on.

[Sundara Rajan]

It appears that this Thirupugazh concert is NOT available in the above website since it is indicated to be PRIVATE ! Hope it is made available later.

[kvchellappa]

unlikely, sir. The artists may not agree when they have not agreed once. I believe it may be available on payment, I do not know how.

[Vocalist]

Hats off to Sashikiran Sir; I can confidently say his efforts are greatly appreciated by rasikas, both close and far. What an excellent (and unique) line up of artists, themes, and combinations. I think that's what makes up the real splendour of this festival.

I really looked forward to it this year too and was in no way disappointed; I can hardly wait for next year's now.

[arasi]

grsastrigal,
Ms MV. Not Mr

[MV]

grsastrigal,
Ms MV. Not Mr

Thanks Arasi..But that maybe my death knell... Not only an NRI but an Ms as well.

[arasi]

Oh dear, I should be 're'living then!
Not only NRI but Ms too to boot!
How many death knells in all of
Ten years here! At my age too...

To Jungle cat, 'ah, women!' sorts
'CM is sacred, mind you' kind--
'Frivolity not in our books' type
We are but Incorrigible NRIs...

Then adventure land, SingAra
Chennai in season--a long trek
Suffer jet lag, then sangIta safari
Fighting traffic, waiting at box office...

Heed!
We do our penance, we are serious
Music is soul, life's very expression
See us as you will, but do pay heed
Seriously, we are very serious indeed

[MV]

Touche.