M.S. Subbulakshmi

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 12 Apr 2016, 07:51

Yes, sir. I remembered you when she said that. She said your mother's formal name also.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 22 Apr 2016, 02:20

Dayadhivasa_M_S_Subbulakshmi_Chakravakam_Adi.mp3

A rare song.
https://youtu.be/c_6yxruPk7I

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 23 Apr 2016, 14:27

Since a while back there was a talk on an article that compared MS's singing in early years to her later days, I'll take a sample to demonstrate (the below discussion is strictly technical):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3t2Qwp1cF0 -- The original 1947 recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OtqGzH82gQ -- probably 30 years later?

The 1st thing that strikes you are those brighas. In tennis terms, you can a) hit a totally flat bomb with little topspin, but with so much speed it can blast down the line like a rocket or b) hit a slower, but much heavier ball loaded with huge topspin and harder to return too.

The early MS recordings show brighas that are much "lighter" and "breezier" -- in that there is hardly much gamaka, but the swarasthana shuddham is so clean you could reduce the record speed to 1/3rd it's normal tempo and write down the notes. That and the outright pace -- less gamaka means the speed of those brighas is well and truly supersonic -- it's like a lightning flash -- blink and you'll miss it. The most striking thing is that the ease with which those brighas and the upper octave modulations are done ... it's so effortless at times it defies belief. In her prime, it sometimes felt like MS Amma had just no limit to her vocal range in the upper octave, it just kept going and going -- there was enough range that she could sing in much higher keys for the film with no strain and could still hit those high notes.

One musician whose old recordings immediately come to my mind was that of Abdul Karim Khan -- his very fastest brighas were the plain note ones. The same principle is especially true in instrumental music, the plainer note phrases are the fastest. The only other musician I've heard who used those brighas (in short phrases) was MMI, which makes me wonder if this was something unique to Madurai.

Later MS brighas are WAY heavier. Those breezy brighas however stills showed up in short sprinkles at opportune moments in compositions, you rarely ever saw them in alapanas and some of us miss them, it's a lost art I think

. In MS recordings from the mid 1950s onwards, there's much more gamaka and the brighas are if I could say, less linear and more intricately structured. The speed of the brighas is noticeably slower (by that I mean not rocket like, but in absolute terms still supersonic and frighteningly fast), but that's the trade off between outright pace and the amount of gamaka. A little bit might be due to age, but it isn't that much. Also most voices tend to gain depth and weight as they get older. But this alone doesn't explain just how those phrases got THAT much heavier.

It kind of reminds me of how Roger Federer hits a much heavier ball today, compared the shots he used to hit early in his career where he could flatten the shot with extreme precision.

All differences in timbre between the 2 recordings are just the natural changes in the voice that happen over time and the adjustments made to compensate for that.

Those upper octaves also needed a bit more effort as time went on, but I've heard a recording of MS sing Maaye in what, her early 70s, and yes, she could still hit the upper N2 even then (I use that as the benchmark because that's probably the highest note you'll ever need to hit in CM). The only difference though is in later years, her voice tapers away and becomes softer in the highest notes, while in her prime she could have modulated it at will. That's expected though. In her very last concerts, when age and the decline of physical strength was catching up, it still really wasn't the lack of range (even at 80 I felt she had more range than most people half her age), but the lack of power to access all that range. It must have been very taxing to give a full concert in her 80s.

But it's the lower octave that really opened up and gained power and weight with the years, even into her 70s. I've heard early MS recordings from the 1930s reach the lower madhyamam already, but in later years MS Amma could reach down to the lower Sa with ease with much more mass. In fact, later MS sounded almost exactly like Brindamma in the lower octave. A part of this is the natural process of aging over time, but much of it is due to the immense sadhana of a lifetime of good practice. And maybe the improved recording quality....

Try as I might, I can't find a better comparison to MS Amma's voice than this -- it sounded like one of the finest Guarnerius violins with the added capabilities of a perfectly sruthi aligned nadaswaram at one end AND a veena played with exceedingly pure gamakas at the other and yet there was always that "gayaka" thing that is unique to the human voice, which remains the goal of every instrument.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 24 Apr 2016, 13:59

Fabulous analysis, Srinath!

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 28 Apr 2016, 07:32

On the occasion of the Centenary Year of MSS a vocal Tribute from her great granddaughter S.Aishwarya at the link below
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jhuJK6yA1M0

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 May 2016, 03:21

Aishwarya,
You put a smile on my face, and my eyes are moistened....

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 16 May 2016, 22:59

somebody please help me where can i get saraguna palimpa of ms amma commerical recording.i want to buy that album.and also needu charana pankajamule of ms and radha album if available

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 17 May 2016, 13:38

http://allindiaradio.gov.in/Oppurtuniti ... 0Final.pdf
in this list i found many unheard songs of mss-- karunasamudra in devagandhari,mariveregati anadabhairavi,sloka yasyam vachi ragamalika,sankari sankuru of savari,sangitajnanamu dhanyasi,gave guni ganika bhajan etc.
i wish air should release all these recordings as early as possible.

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 20 May 2016, 22:41

finally happy i bought two tracks saraguna palimpa cristal clear recording from US balaji temple concert album at just rs 9 in SAREGAMA and needu charana pankajamule from charsur 1977 concert.I also bought ms paduka stuti panchakam in SAREGAMA

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 22 May 2016, 07:34

GOI have decided to commemorate five eminent figures including M S Subbulakshmi.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 22 May 2016, 16:40

KVC: Any details of HOW WHERE and WHEN?

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 22 May 2016, 19:39

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease. ... lid=145484

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 22 May 2016, 20:36

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 382019.cms

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 25 May 2016, 03:20

DD Pothikai programmes on MS - Kurai Onrum Illai are archived. The link to the first episode is
http://www.ddpodhigai.org.in/wings/head ... ode-1.html
Googling KURAI ONDRUM ILLAI Episode 02 will take you to episode 2 and so on.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 25 May 2016, 03:32

Thank you!

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 06 Jun 2016, 11:02

https://archive.org/details/KuyilinKuralAIRBroadcast

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 06 Jun 2016, 12:52

https://archive.org/details/KambanKaviamudham

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 06 Jun 2016, 16:49

Thanks a lot varsha. Enjoyed it.

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 08 Jun 2016, 09:54

https://archive.org/details/DariniTelus ... iTyAgarAja

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 08 Jun 2016, 12:17

https://archive.org/details/DharanigeDo ... ndaraDAsar

some "less-frequently" heard krithis

ramvmt · Post by **ramvmt** » 09 Jun 2016, 06:26

Thanks a million Ms,Varsha for sharing this less heard one from MS

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 09 Jun 2016, 08:37

Varsha,
Thanx for the link
Thanjavooran
09 06 2016

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 09 Jun 2016, 14:06

Thanks.Will keep searching for such tracks.cheers.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 09 Jun 2016, 14:20

Request you to share concerts that are not commercial if that is possible.

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 10 Jun 2016, 08:11

Request you to share concerts that are not commercial if that is possible.

It has been decades since I have moved on from full concert uploads I restrict myself o pointed tracks.
like these:)
https://archive.org/details/Ihaparamenu ... AsamShivan

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 10 Jun 2016, 08:36

Varsha: Thanks for these gems--any idea the time period of this recording--I have never heard this before.
Thanks to Musical Archaeologists like you!!!

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 10 Jun 2016, 09:59

varsha ji any unheard bhajan of ms ?

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 10 Jun 2016, 10:26

Bangalore,1985
#1120

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 10 Jun 2016, 10:30

Ram Seva Mandal-KA-TKM (2)
#1119
Bangalore,1985
#1120
Radio recitals - no idea of dates
MKR
Thanks.Will post details if available

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 10 Jun 2016, 10:33

varsha ji any unheard bhajan of ms ?

you must be meaning less heard

mail me a list of what is the " heard " list and I can try

CRama · Post by **CRama** » 10 Jun 2016, 11:28

Varsha, Who is the singer of Needu charanamule in 1125. For a minute I was excited that you have posted Needu charanamule by MS.

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 10 Jun 2016, 11:59

yes i will mail it to you list of all songs i have so far. @varshaji

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 10 Jun 2016, 14:42

Who is the singer of Needu charanamule in 1125

I have no idea myself . An interesting version though
https://archive.org/details/NIduCaraNam ... mTyAgarAja

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 11 Jun 2016, 10:00

https://archive.org/details/RadioADaMOD ... iTyAgarAja
https://archive.org/details/Aademy1950S ... atiTirunaL

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 11 Jun 2016, 18:59

Couldn't guess the singer of Needu charanamule.
A puzzle indeed for the forumites.
Any clue?

sweetsong · Post by **sweetsong** » 14 Jun 2016, 00:23

Would be really nice if somebody could identify him.
I have heard the same person sing Jagadanandakaraka
and Sarasaksha also and have wondered even then,
who this was.

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 14 Jun 2016, 11:05

https://www.dhvaniohio.org/wp-content/u ... arayan.pdf

any recording of angai kodumalar?

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 14 Jun 2016, 11:42

AngaikoDu malar tUvi by MSS :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkzJXaStht0

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 16 Jun 2016, 13:38

file:///C:/Users/kvgb/Desktop/DEO/MS%20SUBBULAKSHMI%20REPERTOIRE.pdf

varsha garu please check repertoire of mss from various sources add if anything is missing

it contains total 530 songs + 31 slokas = 561

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 17 Jun 2016, 10:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFy6l38jXj0

what is that slokam?

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 17 Jun 2016, 11:42

drsA drAghIyasya daradalitanIlotpalaruchA
davIyAmsam dInam snapaya krpayA mAmapi sive
anenAyam Dhanyo Bhavati a cha te hAniriyatA
vane vA Harmye vA samakaranipAto himakarah
(Soundarya lahari)

Aditto · Post by **Aditto** » 19 Jun 2016, 10:40

Thanks a lot varsha ji

kartheeksharma · Post by **kartheeksharma** » 20 Jun 2016, 10:17

who is the composer of thugula sopana sung in parvathi concert

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 11 Jul 2016, 09:31

Post of Sri Pasupathy on 10th July, wedding day of MS
http://s-pasupathy.blogspot.in/2016/07/7.html
(Nostalgia in Tamil section)

A gist of Subbudu’s article:

The Queen of Music blessed with immortality

Many years ago, an engineer, my namesake, conducted an experiment with gadgets in AIR. He established that the voice of MS was the most outstanding in voices that dd not deviate from sruti even by a whit.

This must be elaborated. It is rare for the voice to remain steady without slipping from sruti even for a second from the start of the concert till mangalam. Owing to the warming up of the body and voice, the voice will sound a little higher than sruti. For a few others, the sruti will sag because of tiredness of singing. MS did not suffer from either in the least. She has the ability to keep confidently two tamburas tuned and hover on the basic sruti. After the sruti, the basis of music, is easily set what wonder that her music shines through with undimished freshness to this day!

Today MS stands out as hallmark gold rendering music without mutilating swara, tala or text. To boot, she presents it meshed with bhakthi.

We may say that she opens her mouth only to sing. Vedam says, ‘Humility comes from knowledge.’ For a true musician, humility is adornment. MS is storehouse of humility. Rash comment or haughty behaviour are unknown to her. Wherever there is chaste music, whoever may bring it out, she does not fail to honour them. Even if a young girl sings well, MS has the magnanimity to praise her liberally.

Her repertoire cannot be set in paper. What is more, all songs have been learnt by heart. In English it is called photographic mind and in Samskrtham ‘ekachandagrAhi.’ She has the ability to repeat with polish whatever she hears just once.

She knows nothing outside music, not even where the concert is. All that is Mr. Sadasivam’s portfolio. Keeping track of how many musicians performed, what ragas they handled and what ragas were covered in pallavi, and analysing them, Mr. Sadasivam would prepare a list for MS to sing. This is an example of how much he values the enjoyment by rasikas.

The scripture says, ‘He who has goose pimples and whose eyes glisten the moment the name of God is mentioned has no rebirth.’ From that angle, MS will have no rebirth.

It is a dictum that the world must benefit from music. Her music raked in lakhs for many charitable organisations. It is no exaggeration to say that no other vidwan has this name and fame.

Till recently Carnatic Music has been an unsolved riddle to the foreigners. That too, vocal music has been a matter of ridicule. MS changed it. It was due to MS that CM, esp. vocal, has gained approval in international fora. Indian music meant Hindustani Music abroad. CM’s flag did not fly that high. As a matter of fact, HM does not have the breadth and depth of CM. In HM, only instrumental music has fame, not vocal. In this backdrop, it was MS who unfurled the flag of CM sky high, by singing in UN for the first time and later in USA coast to coast. She sang a western tune too in the fare offered. Rajaji wrote the script, Handel Manuel of AIR tuned it to western music – but, the compulsion to sing it fell to the lot of MS, didn’t it? It was a worrying test. The course of western music is different. There is no basic sruti in it. One must have the stamina to hop from one octave to another. There is no step-wise progress like pallavi, anupallavi. It will start in one place and end elsewhere. It is an example of her profound ability to have learnt it with utmost earnestness, sung it in UN assembly with aplomb and passed the acid test.

In like manner, she has been through ordeals while learning Bengali songs. Bengali will sound alright only if one moves the tongue east to west with the tip touching the palate and converts ‘a’ to ‘o’, ‘viraha’ to ‘birohA.’ That calls for painstaking effort. Even a small slip will make ‘bangala’ to ‘vetALa.’ I mention this only to highlight the troubles taken by MS to fulfil the wishes of varied rasikas.

I consider it a rare privilege to have got a chance to write a preface to her life serial. It is like showing lighted camphor to the sun. In my opinion, there is no need whatsoever for it. I have tried to give shape to it as a rasika only.

There is no place for a critic in the music of MS.

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 11 Jul 2016, 12:20

Sivaramakrishnan wrote:Couldn't guess the singer of Needu charanamule.
A puzzle indeed for the forumites.
Any clue?

Probably Chittor Subramania Pillai

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 11 Jul 2016, 12:40

sweetsong wrote:Would be really nice if somebody could identify him.
I have heard the same person sing Jagadanandakaraka
and Sarasaksha also and have wondered even then,
who this was.

It must be Chittor Subramanya Pillai.
If you have links for Jagadananda and Saraskha please post.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 12 Jul 2016, 11:42

KVC: Excellent summation of MSAmma's Musical/personal qualities!!

If MS Amma had been alive this is what she would have said"

Chellappa--UNGAL VAIKKU SAKKARAI PODANUM"

MSAmma was always heartened by genuine rasikas'comments(like yours) rather than the copious fulsome praise heaped on her by critics and scholars.
Did u ever get a chance to meet the Great Lady!!You seemed to have explored her musical offerings extensively.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 12 Jul 2016, 14:28

Sri MKR sir,
I am only a translator. The excellent comments are from Sri Subbudu. (It cannot match the language of Subbudu).
I had the good fortune of being present in the gathering in Sivam-Subham when Smt. MS was conferred the Narayanaswamy award by Sri Rama Seva Mandali.

Pasupathy · Post by **Pasupathy** » 12 Jul 2016, 20:27

kvchellappa wrote:Sri MKR sir,
I am only a translator. The excellent comments are from Sri Subbudu. (It cannot match the language of Subbudu).
.

Thanks for translating my post ( this as well as some others.) A great service . There are many more such posts calling for such wonderful translations!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Jul 2016, 01:47

Subbudu was Subbudu, but look at this piece of writing! A delight to read. How the kuyil had won his heart too by her virtues and her music!

Pasupathy,
You are an endless source of old treasures in tamizh literature and music

Thanks as always.

Chellappa,
Thanks again.

Cienu,
Is it possible to hear Aishwarya sing my ode to her great grandmother one more time? I do know it is somewhere there in one of the threads--but which?