The Glory of Alathur Tradition :: Prof. Trichy Sankaran @ The MA 20.12.2015

[semmu86]

The Glory of Alathur Tradition :: Sangita Kalanidhi Prof. Trichy Sankaran.

Sangita Kalanidhi Prof. TS presented a scholarly lec-dem on the above subject at the MA. This lec-dem was in a way, a centenary tribute to Alathur Subbier. He was assisted on the vocal by Shri Venkatraman (Son & Disciple of Alathur Subbier)
The Lec –Dem roughly consisted of the following portions.

1. Lineage of Alathur Tradition: - Prof. TS spoke in brief about the family belonging to the Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbier school of Swami Tyagaraja Sishya parampara & how this school blossomed under Alathur Venkatesa Iyer (Father of Subbier), the contrast in voices between Subbier & Srinivasier, the effect of Dakshinamurthy Pillai and PSP on their music, all of which is extensively documented and known to one and all.

2. The Bros’ expertise in pallavis, swarakorvais & kalpanaswaras singing: - TS wanted to demonstrate a couple of audio clips of Alathoor recordings, but somehow there seemed to be a compatibility problem between his computer and the sound system, the recordings never turned out properly. Shri Venkatraman then demonstrated sample from “dAchokOvalEnA” krithi, with typical Alathur style swara patterns @ soumithri tyAgarAju, with TS’ accompaniment.
Unfortunately, the sankirna nadai pallavi which he wanted to demonstrate also could not be played, due to the problem in the audio system. This was then demonstrated by both of them.

3. Unique repertoire in the Alathur School:- The school is known to have unique repertoire of tyAgaraja krithis and of many others. Shri Venkatraman with TS demonstrated “kAru vElpulu nIku sari” again with some trademark swarakorvai patterns, unique to them.

4. Tiruppugazh:- Its only well known, the connection between Tiruppugazh & Alathur School. TS recounted that PSP too, used to be extremely fond of playing thani avarthanams in many of the rare chanda thalams in which these verses are set to. The famous “Paniyin vinduLi pOlavE” in khanda dhruva thAlam was demonstrated, with TS playing the famous mOhrA that starts in the “vEEchu”.

The program concluded with a khanda nadai thiruppugazh in adi-thalam, with the eduppu after 4aksharas in the last veechu or 1 aksharam before samam. After Venkatraman sang it, TS played a mOhra kOrvai, composed by himself for that tricky edam.

Comments from expert committee: - VidhwAn B. M. Sundaram recounted his experiences with Alathur Venkatesa Iyer when he was in Trichy and congratulated Prof. TS on this lec-dem.

Personal Observations:

1. Personally didn’t feel that the time allotted was enough to do justice to a topic of such magnitude. Am not sure how come 45 mins would be enough for this.
2. I wish against hope that the MA goes back to the practise of having only one lec-demonstration per day on atleast selective 2 or 3 days and stretching the time of that one lec-dem to 90 mins. This was in vogue, not too far back, for TS himself gave an outstanding 90 min lec-dem on Thisram & khandam in the 2008 season.

[mahavishnu]

Semmu, Thanks for the review of this event. I agree that such lec-dems need much more time.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

I too attended this rasika-friendly, nice presentation. Vintage vocal support by Alathur Venkataraman ( Alathur venkatesa Iyer's son) added to authenticity.
However some minor technical snags (in the ppt) affected the flow.
I have been suggesting in the MA 'open forum' for several years now regarding extension of time/limiting to one presentation a day or alternately to hold the lec-dems in an exclusive week prior to the concert series. Seems nothing could be done about it.

[Vedavanam]

Agree that the lec-dem should have been longer. My only disappointment was that Sri. Sankaran chose to just read from prepared notes rather than speak spontaneously. Surely, a vidwan with his unique experience in accompanying them had a lot more to share than what the public already knows about Alathur brothers? For example, he would have been privy to how they may have readied themselves before a concert.

[semmu86]

Vintage vocal support by Alathur Venkataraman ( Alathur venkatesa Iyer's son)

Am sure you meant Shri. Alathur Venkatraman to be the son of Alathur Subbier and not the son of Alathur Venkatesa Iyer.

[sureshvv]

Did Sanjay have any observations or opinions at the end? I think this is a subject matter dear to him.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

semmu86,
Thanks. I stand corrected.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

sureshvv,
Sanjay's comments at the end were brief and formal.

[semmu86]

My only disappointment was that Sri. Sankaran chose to just read from prepared notes rather than speak spontaneously. Surely, a vidwan with his unique experience in accompanying them had a lot more to share than what the public already knows about Alathur brothers?

The topic was by itself a very tricky one to present, in the sense that so much of information about Alathur Bros (or for that matter any great musician of their times) is researched and properly documented, that a regular listener of CM would probably know all that or atleast most of the stuff which was presented that day. Had Shri TS made this an impromptu session, am afraid the flow of the presentation would not have been in a coherent manner, as it was on that day.

Also the minor technical snags never helped things either, which prevented some recordings of the Brothers that were due to be played. It also prevented Shri TS from explaining how the Bros handled the Sankeerna naDai as 3-3-3, anulOmam-pratilOmam, chathusra thisram etc, which would have provided an insight into their handling of pallavis, that not many would have probably understood.

For example, he would have been privy to how they may have readied themselves before a concert.

This would have been possible only with extended timings, where we could have more snippets of recordings and also personal anecdotes making way. I was hoping that Shri B. M. Sundaram would chip in with some lesser known info, but never happened. Maybe he was in the danger of being interrupted in a caustic way as it happens in the lec-dems at The MA, even to the expert committee members, who genuinely want to say something, sometimes.

[SrinathK]

Maybe we should have private lecdems on Parivardini or even organized by fans themselves with no time limit (or at least ample time limits without Formula 1 timing devices keeping track). We aren't too concerned about professional HD video quality.

By the way do these Lec Dems get released anywhere?

[semmu86]

By the way do these Lec Dems get released anywhere?

I think the MA records all these lec-dems and keeps them in their archival library, which i think is accessible to the Public, though am unaware of the means to approach and access them.