Two concerts...

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 12 Dec 2006, 23:25

One would have been better off, staying indoors instead of going to the concerts that are going to be reviewed here.

As one entered Raga sudha, Smt Vasundara Rajagopal, was singing dhurita kAla svarams. Was it sAvEri? Was it chArukEsi? Was it nATTAi? which was the apasvaram? 'jaya jaya padmanabha' was the pallavi line. Quickly followed was a fast rendition of 'ciththam irangaadhadEnaiyyA'. This sahAnA kriti in such a pace doesnt give any effect. any kriti, not sung in appropriate pace will give counter effects. and that is what this kriti did precisely.

The next AlApanai begun as a vAchaspati, in the first line. later it was made into a rAgamAlika of hEmavati, simmEndra madhyamam, rAmapriya, kalyANi and other known and unknown prathi madyama rAgams. Violinst also gave similar reply. Patnam Subramaniya Iyer's 'ennaDu nI krupa' came to rescue telling us that it was indeed vAcaspati that was elaborated. Couldn't sit beyond this point and hence left.

Went to P S High School, for Athira Krishnan's violin concert under the auspices of Music Connoisseur's Club. She started with 'viribhONi' in three speeds. dvijAvanti which followed was good in parts. dIkshitar's 'akhilAnDEsvarIm' followed. bahudAri AlApanai which followed was good in parts again. The essential 'p d n p m g m' and 's g m g s' were there but all else was just going up and down the octaves. 'brOvabAramA' was rendered with svarams. They were not so appealing and the vidwan was not keeping to tALam all the way. I left the auditorium at this point.

bharath

a more detailed post in tamil is found here...
http://me-and-music.blogspot.com/2006/12/blog-post.html

sridevi · Post by **sridevi** » 13 Dec 2006, 00:54

Jaya Jaya padmanabha ( smt.Vasundara's concert) is in Sarasangi ragam. I believe it is a composition of Swati tirunal.

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 13 Dec 2006, 09:45

1) Yes. Jaya Jaya PadmanabhamurArE is in SarasAngi(27th MK )of Swati TirunAL MahArAja.

2) I suggest that the artists can announce not so frequently sung raags before the start of alApanai(instead of letting rasikas scratch their heads without enjoying the raag) . This can also bridge gap between artists and rasikas who are listening.

3) The prati madyama counterpart of SarasAngi 'Latangi' is famous because of number of kritis that are being sung.

.. seems 'mixing trend' is order of this season ..

hindolam · Post by **hindolam** » 13 Dec 2006, 15:00

Here is a review of Vasundhara Rajagopal's concert from chennaionline. The reviewer does not know any ragas! jaya Jaya padmanabha in mayamalavagowla and muripemu in Bhairavi! Makes hilarious reading!

Lilting concert by Vasundhra Rajagopal Review

The charming Vasundhra began her concert at the Chennaionline Music and Dance Festival 2006 with a varnam followed by a song in Mayamalavagowla â€“ â€˜Jaya Jaya Padmanabha Murareâ€™.

Her presentation of â€˜Chitham Irangadhaâ€™ in Sahana was captivating. Her bountiful Bhairavi was par excellence. Rare composition â€˜Muripenuâ€™ sent the audience into unimaginable heights of ecstasy.
The neraval of â€˜Varamridhu Bashaâ€™ was well structured. Vasundhraâ€™s ebullient burst of kalpana swaras was commendable. The famous â€˜Enna Thavam Seythanaiâ€™ in Kapi was lilting.

Usha Rajagopalan on the violin was oozing with melody. Her raga versions were utterly in the classic mould.

A S Ranganathan was splendid on the Mridangam. N Rajaraman on the Ghatam emanated ethereal naadham. Their tani avarthanam made the audience swim in the ocean of music.

More

Mira Published on Dec 13th, 2006

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 13 Dec 2006, 15:06

Will THEY review their own REVIEW?

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 13 Dec 2006, 15:12

hindolam wrote:The reviewer does not know any ragas!

this is what i have to say:

Jaya Jaya Padmanabha is a ST composition in sarasAngi.

muripEmu galigE is a popular composition of Tyagaraja in mukhAri. I have heard people sing it in mukhAri. however, it is possible that Smt Rajagopal sang it in bhairavi. i am not surprised at all. Thankfully, i left early enough to miss it.

sindhu wrote:2) I suggest that the artists can announce not so frequently sung raags before the start of alApanai(instead of letting rasikas scratch their heads without enjoying the raag) . This can also bridge gap between artists and rasikas who are listening.

if an artist is able to establish the rAgam within the first few phrases of the alapanai, nothing like it. If they continue to present an ambigious elaboration, then it is better to not sing it.

I am reminded of a veteran Artist commenting that "oru raagathula pathu keerthanamaavadhu kathukanum. therinja keerthanam yellathaiyum pala naal paadi, practice panni, raaga bhavatha purinjundu apparam thaan alapanai paada try pannanum. illainna seriya varaadhu"

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 13 Dec 2006, 15:52

At least when the raag is announced, the artist him/her self gets a 'self made boundry' and (s)he consciously does the sanchArs. A soul searching sort. Many keerthanas in a particular raag may only give some outlines of that raag.

alApanai has to be continuously heard and sung many many times. On the spot itself, some new sanchArA may arise. Back of mind, those are to be checked and executed. Accompanists do contribute in development.

Yes, one can refer/verify kritis of Trinity for a newly constructed, unheard sanchArAs. For an example, sa daa pa ma ga maa in raag kamas, to my best of knowledge, does not get covered in any of the kritis we have been hearing. This sanchAr gives a very good effect to the raag.

Raag elaboration is a bit wider subject. I have heard many people correctly singing the raags, without knowing the raag name and even a kriti on it. Immediately to my mind, Sindhubhairavi, Kaapi, KaanadA etc. are coming. When even an exponent sings such raags, unknowingly they would sing with the exponents. This kind of knowledge may have come to them just by hearing bhajans and alike group music. A different kind of bliss.

Ow.. seven notes or heaven's notes (seven wonders to say the least)

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 13 Dec 2006, 16:54

ignore, I typed a wrong post in this thread.

108talas · Post by **108talas** » 13 Dec 2006, 18:32

Sindhu,

Good observation and inputs. Of course known to many.

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 13 Dec 2006, 18:48

108talas

thanks

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Dec 2006, 22:16

Wish I knew at least a dozen of the tALAs right, 108 talas. My other name is tALA impaired...

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 13 Dec 2006, 22:29

very true, sindhu. have to accept it all.

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 14 Dec 2006, 09:44

Thank you rbharat.

sb