Chitravina Ravikiran @ MA - Dec 20, 2015

[Vedavanam]

Fantastic concert with splendid performances from the entire team. Will post details later.

[Vedavanam]

N Ravikiran - Chitravina
Akkarai Subbalakshmi - Violin
K V Prasad - Mridangam
Vyasavittala - Kanjira
S V Ramani - Ghatam

Song list:

1. Samidaya - Kedaragaula Varnam - Adi
2. Mahaganapathim - Nattai - Eka (Swarams)
3. Srikamalamba - Ghanta - Adi (Raga alapana)
4. Nidhichala - Kalyani - Misra Chapu (Raga alapana, Niraval & Swarams)
5. ??? - Umabharanam - Adi
6. RTP - Bhairavi - Adi (With a colourful ragamalika tanam in Behag, Varali, Nattaikurinji & not sure if there was a fourth)
7. Thillana - Hamsanandi - Adi

Ravikiran played like one possessed - flawless and classical, both of which are his hallmarks. What vidwat this man epitomizes! It is elegantly showcased through his chosen vehicle of expression. And man, what control and virtuosity on what appears to be a very difficult instrument to master! There was not a single note out of place. Perfection to the finest degree with all ingredients in place, and most importantly, dignity in classicism which seems to be a rapidly vanishing quality.

Akkarai has grown in leaps and bounds over the years - her silken touch and nimbleness of mind is matched only by a couple of others like Varadarajan and Nagai Sriram. The only place she appeared dumbfounded was in the Ghanta alapana - won't blame her because the raga seems to be an admixture of Dhanyasi (which was my first guess), Asaveri, Bhairavi and Punnagavarali.

The percussion team was the best possible one for Ravikiran's delicate playing. KV Prasad never bangs or overshoots his dharma. With his very soothing volume, he led the other two percussionists and they also blended in beautifully.

Only peeve was a constant buzz from one of the microphones. A couple of people complained to the sound guys but nothing was done about it. Guys, this is the Music Academy. They think they have it all right, including the choice of Sangita Kalanidhi (I know I reopen the Pandora's box with this one!). One other observation. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the audience in Trichy Sankaran's morning lec-dem collectively keeping tala. Yet they were passively sitting through the electronic buzz during Ravikiran's concert. Apathy or were they too lost in the music?

[sureshvv]

Yet they were passively sitting through the electronic buzz during Ravikiran's concert. Apathy or were they too lost in the music?

Find that a bit incredible. Are you sure it was not the sruthi box ?

[Vedavanam]

Not the sruti box, but some minor electronic disturbance.

[pperumal]

This season has been an overdose of Kalyani. God save us
pp.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Missed the concert unfortunately.
Ghanta can be handled only by the knowledgeable.
The only other composition I have heard is the insurmountable kshetrajnar padam 'Neyyamuna '.

Ravikiran is indeed a Mahanubhava of music.

[grsastrigal]

Thanks to vedavanam, his review evinced an interest to attend one concert of Ravikiran. I attended Parthasarathy sabha.
Sri. Ravikiran
Anantha krishnan
Haridhwaramangalam pazhani vEl- Thavil
Vinjamuri-Violin
Parthasarathy Sabha- 6.30 PM

If you see the Age difference of all the 4 artists-15 years. From the senior most H.Palanivel, followed by Ravikiran, Anantha and the young violinist- who played and Palanivel played Tavil. What a scene ?

Tani 35 minutes- It was “out of the word Tani” – Tavil -Mridhangam. – Two different Generation artist. H.Palanivel must be 60 and above and Anantha must be in 20’s. Anantha’s equal return for the intricate “pudi” of H Palanivel…. December season is only for this..

I got approval from Partha sarathy sabhA secretary to upload that “Tani” portion here. Will upload this after some time.
When I entered, they were playing.

Tatvararia taramA- Ritigowla-P Sivan-(S) in “stui muni uNarvaruL”
PantuvarAli-RAgam-apa rAma bhakthi-ThyAgarajar- neraval.
kAmAkshi ambA-Swra jati-ShyAma sAstri-bhairavi
ennai nEE maRavadhE- Amritha varshini- Danda pani dEsikar
kAmbodhi-RTP- “Ezu padai konda vadivElA, aruLavA enthan manamum sErndu”
Tani
Pallavi line is different, Ezu padai.. Ravikiran explained this “verse” from UthukAdu’s kriti where he included his “manam” (soul) also as one "padai"

To tell more about Ravikiran, well. vedavanam has said everything

[arasi]

We simply have to listen to him...and 'that's bliss...

[knrh05]

Ravikiran's Parthasarathy Swami Sabha concert is available on YouTube through the Sanskriti Series channel. Fantastic concert!

http://youtu.be/Dr8ZvNxKjlg

[Vyuptakesha]

Ravikiran can have us spellbound with his music. His distinction is to tap the right bhava of the krithi as has been espoused by the composer, and build the raga within that boundary.
His ability to pattern the laya with his innovation is so subtle and yet a great lesson for music students and co-artistes. The latest cutchery at Parthasarathy Sabha is an example.
He has nurtured and moulded several youngsters who will hold this music form aloft for several decades.
A pity the Academy did not deem him fit enough for their highest award. TNR, MDR, Ramnad Krishnan, mandolin Srinivas and several stalwarts too have been ignored by this Sabha. So he joins this "hall of fame" where he was'nt a favoured genius (atleast so far).

[Vedavanam]

I attended the Parthasarathy Sabha concert as well as that at NGS. He had the formidable stage in total command and recalibrated his laya vidwat to suit the tavil+mridangam combo at SPSS. Most importantly, he does it all nonchalantly and seemingly spontaneously (don't know if he prepares his moves ahead of time). How many artists are capable of this today? Only other exception in the laya department may be Abhishek, but he suffers from lack of balance and varying classicism levels.