Cleveland Aradhana 2016 (March 23, 2016 to April 3, 2016)

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 03:34

It was not the icarnatic streaming that I lost. I lost local internet connection from the provider. I got it back after about an hour.
Now Karaharapriya by ramA Ravi. Let us see what her choice is.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 03:36

I was wrong ! It appears to be thodi instead.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 01 Apr 2016, 03:37

It almost looks like some of these rAgAs are like infectious particles - they seem to be 'infecting' the singers with a high degree of contagiousness!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 03:54

Yes, doc. What's more, some rAgA particles have clung to our ears as we got saturated with all this music the past ten days that we find it difficult to tell them apart at times

The tOdi led to ninnE namminAnu by SS. Neraval at kanna talli kAdA!ow.

Tani started now with Balaji's drum roll sounds. The lessons which happen on stage for Karthik! I love to see him following with his mind, learning and then playing along. His only rest time is when he plays the khanjira--what a busy bee he is, otherwise!

The percussion teams make this novice so happy, interspersing the music, all different but proficient, pleasing us groundlings just the same as those who can follow the technical stuff...

Padam time now...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 05:23

Ranjani and Gayathri on stage with accompanying artistes M. Rajeev on violin, Sai Giridhar on mridangam and Guruprasad on the ghaTam.

They started with SaraNu siddhi vinAyakA, Purandara dAsA's saurAshtra kriti.

Next came from the favorites list of mine (yours too, I hope folks)--MD's tyAgarAja yOga vaibhavam, in all nidAnam and bhAva.

Sundararajan, I hope you are not put off by another panthuvarALi (singing rAgA now). After all, they all want to pay homage to MS, and so, the frequency of its appearance. Or, will it be rAmanAtham bhajEham to celebrate ARI?

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 05:37

Save me OH Lord; Let it not be one that has been repeated, but at least be a different one as you suggested, albeit in PanthuvarALI ! Thankfully I missed most of the composition at my dinner table.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 05:41

Now beautiful AlApana in MukhAri. Will it be "enRaikku siva kripai" their favorite?

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 05:45

They are singing T's KheeNamayi.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 01 Apr 2016, 05:57

I am happy to hear Ksheenamai. Their Mukhari alapana was very good. The violinist Rajeev's return was also very good. They are singing niraval, swaram now.
If the artists want to sing M.S. songs, it doesn't have to be Pantuvarali. She sang many songs in different ragas. I am also tired of hearing Pantuvarali, a raga I always liked. It is like eating too many sweets at one time, one after another.
I was happy to hear them sing Thyagarajam in A.Bhairavi.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 06:14

Thani after the third song ?! Is it going to be a short program ?

The sisters redeemed themselves in my book by their beautiful MukhAri !

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 06:23

Yes, Rajeev did a fleeting filament of a mukhAri phrase which was a delightful surprise. The sisters wove an intricate pattern of svarAs. niRaval was at edi chEsina.

Guruprasad, with any concert proves himself to be an asset of a ghaTa player.

Next, idi samayamurA in chAyA nATa.

RTP? chArukESi...Ranjanistarting...

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 01 Apr 2016, 06:32

After Mukhari, they sang Thyagaraja's ChAya Nata kriti 'Idi Samayamura Inakula Tilaka. Now they are singing Ragam, Tanam. Started with Charukesi.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 06:36

Ranjani is unfurling the beauty of the rAGA, and now, Rajeev's reply.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 06:38

Now Gayathri sings, taking us to the higher notes...

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 07:14

The sisters did an exceedingly good job of the Pallavi in CharukEsi of the first line of the 19th Ashtapathi "priyE chAruseelE munjamayi mAnam anithAnam"with ragamalika kalpana swaras in multiple rAgas.

After "UlagellAm unarndu Otharkariyvan"

they now present the kamAs song "thEruvatheppO nenjE"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 07:17

The AbhanG. Where are you Harimau ?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 07:27

You mean, abhang time, any time now!

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 01 Apr 2016, 08:13

whenever Sai Giridhar accompanies the RaGA sisters in Bangalore,the concert gets marred by the noisy pitch of Mridangam.But it looks like he is their preferred accompaniment.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 01 Apr 2016, 08:33

The abhang was sung with verve and was pleasing. Purists be damned!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 18:28

Friday morning. Sahana SAmraj is singing (with her little sister this time). She's Cleveland's find a few years ago from India. I love her voice which is loaded with bhAvA.

This year, the MS centenary year, here's another such voice. Lingering on nIla nIrada now in neraval in bAla gOpAla, and the little sister surprising us with her potential.
A quick ninnu vinA gati.

Now I'm awed by so beautiful a mOsa bOdE in sahAnA (ah, name sake!) couched in nidAnam of a fine kind and given to us swaddled in care and love...

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 01 Apr 2016, 18:34

Is it behag next?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 18:37

sAramaina mATalanta chAlu chAlurA following, flowing, flooring me. Etched in perfection, delivered with the composer's intent perfectly. Her behAg reaching the upper notes like the waving of a flag atop a pole after sprinkling the flowers of svarAs enclosed in it.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 18:41

Couldn't hear a word of what Sundaram had to say

I remember Sahana to be Suguna Varadachari's student.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 19:55

Yes. Sundaram's mike is off ?!

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 19:56

After almost 5 minutes, the speech could be heard.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:15

Heard Padma Sugavanam start with the durbAr varNam and then panthuvarALi (Again, Sundara Rajan!), ST's sArasAksha paripAlaya. Strong and pleasing voice. A pity, I missed almost all of the concert, but was here to hear her sing entaTi kulukE which she delivered so well. The last sangathi was just perfect, I thought. Sound was off until the end, but when it came, Sundaram was saying that Padma is Seetha Rajan's student. Keeping to the Semmangudi way, he praised her.

The youngsters--Kamalakiran tirelessly and expertly playing for seniors and juniors. VVSubramanyam even asking him whether he could play a duet with him, Sundaram said! Kamalakiran, how proud are we!

Janani Iyer! Tirelessly playing tambUra for the young and the veterans! Bless you!

I see, Sundara Rajan . Our posts crossed!

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:20

It was interesting to hear from RamAkAnth about the relationship between MSS and Rudraparnam family. Although I had attended several concerts of MSS supported on the violin by R.K.Venkatarama Sastry, It is news to me that he wouldn't accompany her to the US on religious grounds ! Also about Devara nAmas.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:27

After the AndOlika varnam by HMB, he is singing Biahari composition "EkadantaM" of Dikshitar.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:31

All these years, when he was singing along/beside his father, we couldn't hear his strong voice, as we do now.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:37

His third item is the kaikavAsi raga ( of nEEthimati-mEla 60 ) composition of T: vAchAma gocharamE manasa

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 20:56

Next is HarikambOdhi AlApana followed by "rAmA nannu brOvarA"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:12

Extensive neraval and swara at usual "meppulakai kannathAvu"

Next is SyAma sAstri's famous Ananda bhairavi composition "OH JagadambA"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:21

I am surprised to note that he has to constantly depend upon his tablet for even this famous & popular kriti !
Next is T's nEnenduvedakuthurA in karnAtaka Behag

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:29

I"m glad you are listening and writing about this concert, SR.

Yes, Ramakanth has a voice which is very pleasing, and today, he is bringing his father to our minds, with a depth to it which is appealing.

Either sound is not right with the mike for the violin, or is Murari underplaying? With all the emotiveness in Ramakanth's voice, the replies and playing together are not very forthcoming.

Good to see Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy on the mridangam, one of the early ones among the north american crop of young musicians. A pity I won't be around when he plays tani with Shree Sundarkumar at that! Must be a special one.

I am going to be away for a while...

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:45

After about 15 minutes of AlApana in Dharmavathi rAga, he follows with JayachAmaraja Wodayar's 'DurgAdEavi samrakshamAm"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:48

neraval and kalpana swara at the pallavi line DurgAdEvi

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 01 Apr 2016, 21:56

Sundara Rajan wrote:It was interesting to hear from RamAkAnth about the relationship between MSS and Rudraparnam family. Although I had attended several concerts of MSS supported on the violin by R.K.Venkatarama Sastry, It is news to me that he wouldn't accompany her to the US on religious grounds ! Also about Devara nAmas.

Could you please elaborate on this?

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 22:04

rshankar: Mr. RamAkanth mentioned that although MSS & Sadasivam requested him very earnestly, RKV refused to accompany MSS to her UN concert and hence VVS accompanied her. I was already in the US and attended her concert in Chicago in 1966 (67?) and had wondered about then young VVS accomapanimemt. I did not Know about the religious belief of RKV. That is what I meant. Hope that clarifies.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 22:05

Ramakanth sang dEvarunAma in nAdanAmakriya at the finish.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 01 Apr 2016, 22:13

Sundara Rajan wrote:rshankar: Mr. RamAkanth mentioned that although MSS & Sadasivam requested him very earnestly, RKV refused to accompany MSS to her UN concert and hence VVS accompanied her. I was already in the US and attended her concert in Chicago in 1966 (67?) and had wondered about then young VVS accomapanimemt. I did not Know about the religious belief of RKV. That is what I meant. Hope that clarifies.

Thank you. It is interesting that Sri RKV accompanied her in the early years , and his grandson, Sri RKSK accompanied her during the last years!! A sort of fitting symmetry.
And what was the information about the dEvarnAmas?

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 01 Apr 2016, 22:33

I was at my lunch break !
I am only quoting Mr. RamAkAnth. RKV turned down the offer because it was against his strict Hindu observance not to cross the oceans !

He also mentioneed that MSS contacted RKS to learn DEvaranAmas from an authority on the subject as RKSrikantan . When RKS offered to go to Madras for the purpose, MSS instead went Bangalore and stayed there and learned from him several compositions that she presented in her concerts.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 01 Apr 2016, 23:10

It is nice of Cleveland committee to see Rohan's merit and separate it from his father's pointless diatribe. Not many organisers would do that.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:20

Bharat Sundar started his concert with SwAthi's karnAtaka kApi rAga varNam sumasAyaka.
What a voice he has ! He dedicates this concert to late KVN.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:36

2. Diksitar's rAmanAtham bhajEham in this year's oft repeated panthuvarALi.
neraval at kumAra guruguhamahitham

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:37

3.YadhukulakAmbdhi AlApana ( indicative of heccherkA ?)

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:41

My guess was right. sometimes it is possible to guess the following song from the way of the AlApana, although it may not be right always !
3. Heccherika rArA hE rAmachandra of T in Yad.KAmbodhi

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:48

4. Tanjavur Sankara Iyer's kuthalavarALI composition "kandavarku kanavilum"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 00:50

5. thOdi AlApana now.
After 20 minutes of AlApana & violin return, now thAnam for 5mintes followed by pallavi "dasarathabAla rAmachandrayyA dayAnidhE"

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 01:41

After about 15 minutes of pallavi and swaram 8 minutes of Thani Avarthanam completed the RTP.
6. ThAyumAnavar's rAgamAlika composition: "paNNEn unakkAna pUjai" stating with sindu bharavi. I may have heard KVN sing this rAgamAlika.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 02 Apr 2016, 01:45

6a. followed by Thanjavur Sankara Iyer's manaukkuganthath murugan rUpam in Sindu bhairavi