Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy at The Music Academy - 22.12.2006

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 22 Dec 2006, 15:15

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy - Vocal
Nagai Sri Muralidharan - Violin
Sri K.V. Prasad - Mridangam
Sri T.V. Vasan - Ghatam
Malladi Sri Sreeramaprasad - Tambura & Vocal Support
Malladi Sri Ravikumar - Vocal Support

1. bhavanuta - mOhanam - adi [R,S]
2. nIvaNTi daivamu - bhairavi - adi - [R]
3. mAtangi sri rAjarAjESwari - ramAmanOhari - rUpaka - [S]
4. alarulu guriyaga - sankarAbharaNam - adi
5. CEsinadElla maraCitivO - tODi - adi [2] - [R,N,S,T]
6. shrngAra laharE - nIlAmbari
7. AlApanA - kamAs followed by 'rAmuDu gOrapAdakavirAmuDu' - telugu slOka - kamAs
8. I vELa nannubrOvarA - khamAs - adi
9. AdidEva paramAtmA - sindhubhairavi

The stage was set for the main event of my season, the much-anticipated concert by Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Nedunuri. As I took my seat at the Meccademy, a phalanx of stars trickled in, Sangeetha Kalanidhis Sri M. Chandrasekharan, Smt. R. Vedavalli, Sri T.K. Govinda Rao and the newly minted Kalanidhi Sri T.N. Seshagopalam. The audience was chock-full of musical luminaries eager to hear Sri Nedunuri's music: Sri S.R. Janakiraman, Smt. Suguna Purushottaman, Sri V.V. Srivatsa, Sri Ravikiran, Sri T.M. Krishna, Sri R.K. Shriramkumar and others too numerous to identify. In such a deeply musical atmosphere, what could one expect but a fantastic performance by Sri Nedunuri?

The opening of the concert set the mood instantly - the preliminary noodlings of mOhanam turned into a full-fledged AlApanA. The wizened octogenarian Sri Nedunuri was enjoying himself from the get-go as evinced by the lovely mOhanam. A crisp bhavanuta with 2 CaraNas - 'pavanasutApriya' and 'prabala jEsi' was followed by Sri Nedunuri's characteristic 1-avartana swarams. I must have heard 20 different versions of bhavanuta from Nedunuri gAru - each time the ideas are fresh and the delivery is unique. His energy and verve while singing swarams was just awesome to watch. Sri Muralidharan replied capably and appropriately winning praise from Sri Nedunuri.

A short and sweet bhairavi AlApanA preceded the seldom-heard tyAgarAja krithi. The sangatis at the pallavi line were beautifully delineated and the song as a whole was rendered with passion and punch. Nedunuri gAru's trademarks followed - mAtangi with a few rounds of kaNakku swarams and alarulu [requested by yours truly - thanks, Nedunuri gAru!].

Before I say anything about the tODi that followed, I must mention that this was Nedunuri garu's fifty-third concert at the Academy, an all-time record. The tODi he sang today was the culmination of all the 'tapas' he must have put in over the last 6 or 7 decades. It showed all the moods of this grand rAgA and even after a 20 minute AlApanA, one got the sense that Nedunuri gAru had hours more worth of insight into tODi to offer the learned audience before him. I apologize for not saying more, but providing an accurate description of Nedunuri Sir's tODi is beyond my musical and verbal capacities. I could see Sri TNS, Sri Ravikiran, Sri TKG and Smt. Vedavalli in raptures letting forth volleys of 'bhalEs' - I guess that says it all.

The tani was gentle with a mellifluous khaNDam passage. All the supporting artistes provided mellifluous support to Sri Nedunuri, keeping his music front and center. It was a lovely team effort from the team of Sri Muralidharan, Sri Prasad and Sri Vasan, and an admirable lesson in how to accompany a senior musician. Among the post-pallavi pieces, the khamAs AlApanA, especially was a delight.

To watch Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy on stage is to watch an artiste radiating delight and joy, having left every major milestone and landmark behind him in his musical journey. His legacy is secure with his disciples, the Malladi Brothers; he has been recorded extensively, ensuring that his music will survive through generations; he has contributed immensely as an archivist and tunesmith. His music is the gentle song of someone at peace with his contribution to the art of Carnatic Music.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 22 Dec 2006, 16:24

prasanth
Is nedunuri gAru singing anywhere else. Some time before I saw him in his 80th birthday concert in NGS. When he spoke , he still had rich voice timbre.

humdinger · Post by **humdinger** » 22 Dec 2006, 16:53

Not a concert to miss! i only hope to catch a recording some how. will the music academy release these concerts as cds?

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 22 Dec 2006, 18:33

The tODi he sang today was the culmination of all the 'tapas' he must have put in over the last 6 or 7 decades. It showed all the moods of this grand rAgA and even after a 20 minute AlApanA, one got the sense that Nedunuri gAru had hours more worth of insight into tODi to offer the learned audience before him.

Prashant, I can understand how you felt. I heard him in Toronto in the early 90s and his Todi there was memorable! He gave light touches and flourishes that enhanced the beauty of this king of ragas. I was sitting right in the front seat, and I must say I got transported to a different place...

Perhaps he should be called 'Todi Nedunuri'.

I too hope we can get a recording of this concert.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 22 Dec 2006, 23:33

AFAIK this was Nedunuri's only concert this season. I have always been a fan of Nedunuri more for the brilliance of his ideas and I must say the brain is still razor sharp even if the voice has lost a little bit of the old edge. As Prashant pointed out, the musicians present would have picked up many a phrase from his Thodi for future reference! Jesidanella is one of my favourites in the raga and Nedunuri simply just soaked me in the raga rasa...

KV Prasad's Khandam was simply haunting. I don't know much about the technical aspects of mrudangam playing but he seems to be one of the best among the (relatively) younger mrudangists. This tani was one of the best I have heard although his tani for TMK at Bharat Kalachar had more complex korvais.

As far as the recording is concerned, unless the Academy is really turning some sharp corners, extremely unlikely...but Murali has been doing some good things so one never knows

padren68 · Post by **padren68** » 23 Dec 2006, 08:02

For those of us who could not attend this lovely concert, a little consolation. A beautiful thodi, sparkling swaras and the same kriti

rendered by Sri Nedunuri in an AIR concert in the early 90s
http://www.rogepost.com/n/7317534788

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 23 Dec 2006, 08:27

PADREN

there is more consolation , round the corner ?
care for few tracks-nednuri of 1960 ?-- if yes ,watch out after jan 2nd..
courtesy-who else ?- Prashanth

padren68 · Post by **padren68** » 23 Dec 2006, 11:17

Wow that will be lovely. I am waiting:)

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 23 Dec 2006, 12:40

Coolkarniji:

The 1960 Nedunuri is being planned as a commercial release next month - it is currently with Nedunuri Sir for review and decision. Therefore I'd humbly request you not to upload it until he decides whether to go ahead...

humdinger · Post by **humdinger** » 23 Dec 2006, 13:07

if the recording is of commercial release quality then what else we want....his music is priceless!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 23 Dec 2006, 13:08

offer withdrawn...

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 23 Dec 2006, 20:25

Sorry Coolkarniji: hope I have not offended you

rasam · Post by **rasam** » 24 Dec 2006, 12:32

padren68, thanks so much for the recording. What a masterful rendition! Could you please identify the violinist?

padren68 · Post by **padren68** » 24 Dec 2006, 16:09

Violinist, I think is Komanduri Krishnamachari

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 24 Dec 2006, 19:07

prashanth....
offense ..not at all.sometimes i get carried away with these mind blowing stuff.may be i am a liability , sometimes .need to rein myself in.
but let me know if the commercial stuff does not come out.
the world should not miss out on the nednuri of 1960 ..that much is sure.

mdrbalaji · Post by **mdrbalaji** » 24 Dec 2006, 20:44

Prashant,
Thanks for a wonderful review.. felt "Listener's pride, reader's envy".

I remember attending Nedunuri mama's concert in Krishna Gana Sabha in the late 80's with violin support from Lalgudi mama. All i remember from that concert is that grand Todi he sang that day. I don't remember the kriti, but the alapana was out of the world and to me that was one of the finest Todi's i ever heard in my life.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 27 Dec 2006, 00:34

sad that had to miss this concert. hope to catch him at the next occasion.

Nedunuri is singing at Valayapatti Nadalaya on the 30th of December.

meena · Post by **meena** » 27 Dec 2006, 12:36

The Hindu review:
DELETED

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 27 Dec 2006, 23:49

rbharath wrote:Nedunuri is singing at Valayapatti Nadalaya on the 30th of December.

i stand corrected. it is on 31st sunday morning at 10 am.

mahesh_narayan · Post by **mahesh_narayan** » 27 Dec 2006, 23:52

Bharath Sir,
Do you have info. on the accompanying artistes?

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Dec 2006, 00:06

no. i dont. as of now.

and you can conviniently drop the sir and call me bharath.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Dec 2006, 09:59

the hindu of 1st decemer says Nedunuri Krishnamurthy - Sriram Parasuram - Guruvayur Durai

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 28 Dec 2006, 10:08

Ah, the evergreen Dorai Sir! Should be a very nice combination.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 28 Dec 2006, 12:44

Coolkarni Sir: if the commercial release does not happen, I'm looking forward to immediately sharing this treasure with rasikas here.

It's a rare recording from the early 60s recorded in Mumbai with Annavarapu Ramaswamy and Kamalakar Rao. His voice is completely different and is replete with briga sanCaras. The concert contains a kalyANi of dizzying brilliance, a superbly imaginative sA paSyat kausalya and a 13-minute rendition of the mIrA bhajan 'tum bin mOrE' which is awesome.

Sorry, friends, to titillate you with this information - my intentions are good; as soon as I know whether or not it will be released, info will be posted.

mahesh_narayan · Post by **mahesh_narayan** » 28 Dec 2006, 23:45

Thanks for the info. bharath.
Nedunuri Sir mentioned to me a while ago that Shri. Valayapatti is usually relentless in requesting him to sing. He usually sings there every year, even though he has cut down his other season concerts drastically (usually only 1-2 per season).

Prashant, Sir promised at FAS last year that he would come back to sing a begada RTP:). With the same team !!!. Think that could happen ??:). That concert is still ringing in my ears.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Dec 2006, 00:33

Prashant,
Thank you for the write up on the concert of a great vocalist of our times. You said all that I wanted to say and more--and so well too. He is an ideal example of the mingling of tradition and imagination--the factor which is going to take CM into future times, keeping its traditions intact, and allowing it to blossom more in its creativity.

I was transported that morning...

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 29 Dec 2006, 07:28

Mahesh: for that, I think, Sri Raghu would have to show up

mahesh_narayan · Post by **mahesh_narayan** » 29 Dec 2006, 20:33

I wish he does. They give us another chance to learn when they visit:). Mumbai needs to see more veterans. Our youngsters need more exposure to presentation and bhava.

On the same tone, here is Nedunuri Garu's inerview from today's hindu:
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/29/stor ... 850300.htm.

He has made some good suggestions on how to use the media and sabhas for propogating musical knowledge, and has some caring and helpful advice for youngsters.

humdinger · Post by **humdinger** » 04 Jan 2007, 23:50

Here we get the magnificient Todi...I salute the kind soul who uploaded it and a big thanks to AIR as well.
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/svasu/20 ... 8.45%20AM/

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 05 Jan 2007, 06:09

On the same tone, here is Nedunuri Garu's inerview from today's hindu:
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/29/stor â€¦ 50300.htm

His concluding remarks are quite pertinent:

Nedunuri recalls with embarrassment how, as an inexperienced, young performer, he had presented a disproportionately elaborate exposition of Ahiri, a minor raga, before a stalwart like Semmangudi! "While appreciating my creative ability, he affectionately cautioned me to properly understand the range and scope of a raga. This is a lesson to youngsters. Proportion in music is very important."

Reading thru some of the concert reviews here of late, I feel some of the younger artistes could do well to pay heed to this advice.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 05 Jan 2007, 06:52

jayaram
you remind me of a joke I picked up this season.
Not sure if it is true though , but still hilarious.

The story goes that S Balchander opens a concert of his in T Nagar with an elaborate Panthuvarali- 15 minutes into the raga , a few backbenchers start whistling .Unperturbed , SB plugs on.
15 more minutes , and the catcalls increase.
SB looks up at the direction of the hecklers and digs more deeply into Panthuavarali .At the end of 50 minutes , the hecklers get tired and that sizeable crowd walks away.

After a few minutes , SB abruptly concludes the Panthuavarali, and quips..
"Now that we have got them out of the way , shalll we settle down to my original plan ?"
The chap who narrated it to me swears it was true .

But it could be true , given the more well recorded history of a young SB standing up and asking difficult questions at the academy to the Expert bench on the dias - eliciting replies like - Cannot explain that here .. will let you know later..

But more to the point here ...
Decades ago I remember first hearing a 60 minute vathapi by a star CM performer and was convinced of this argument.
a few weeks later came a 72 minute classic in Hamsadwani by Kishori Amonkar...and turned the world upseide down for me.

A canvas as wide as Lawrence of Arabia , or as simple as Bicycle Thief....

rasam · Post by **rasam** » 05 Jan 2007, 07:13

Nedunuri recalls with embarrassment how, as an inexperienced, young performer, he had presented a disproportionately elaborate exposition of Ahiri, a minor raga, before a stalwart like Semmangudi! "While appreciating my creative ability, he affectionately cautioned me to properly understand the range and scope of a raga. This is a lesson to youngsters. Proportion in music is very important."

I dont know about other people here but I would welcome, rather than put down, such an indulgence, simply because of the rarity of alapanas in ragas like ahiri. As long as the alapana does not contain repetitive phrases, how can one caution anyone to restrain their creativity? I have nothing against SSI, but a comment like this coming from him sounds hypocritical especially since he was known to sing extensive (and aggressive!) swaras in tiny ragas like karnataka behag (sounding dangerously close to harikambhoji) or nayaki (dangerously close to you-know-what).

In fact, but for creativity would ragas such as andholika, ranjani etc. be as popular as they are today?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 05 Jan 2007, 07:32

And I forgot to add that one of my favourites is a concert of SB where he starts with a Paraloka for 27 mts, then plays nee bhajana for 21 mts followed by a khamboji ragam for 30 mts, khamboji tanam 31 mts , subramanyaya namasthe for 36 mts and concludes with a Kaa Karoon Sajni Aye na Balam for 23 mts.

or for that matter that memorable Andolikai RTP of MLV , which we were told , she picked up as a muse from the introductory speech , where the speaker was praising GNBs style and referred to his Andolika..
Ah ! MLV- Kalyanraman -TNS ....those rare Raga essays of Sanjay....

SSI looks like Frederick Taylor with his Scientific managment methods in todays world of Enterprise Resource Management.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 05 Jan 2007, 14:03

Ahiri AlApanai!!! i m reminded of a narration. I am told, Once Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer wanted to take up tODi for main. However, the first phrase of his AlApanai sounded more Ahiri-ish. Hence, he changed his mind and sang an elaborate Ahiri and the kriti 'Adaya srI raghuvara' with neraval and svarams. Which all lasted for about 45 minutes.

I am also told that somebody has even attempted to sing a pallavi in Ahiri.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 05 Jan 2007, 15:33

Ahiri alapanai at the hands of a veteran like MVI is a bit different from a junior artiste singing an RTP in a minor ragam. Especially when they haven't yet exhausted the major ragams.
I believe this is what the excerpt is telling us.

There's a reason why major ragams are major. Next thing we will hear is an RTP in Gowlipantu or... Karnaranjani! (already done, perhaps?)

ksrimech · Post by **ksrimech** » 05 Jan 2007, 22:28

rbharathji,

Some time back IIRC Sowmya presented a ragam thanam pallavi in ahiri during an ahiri - neelambari concert at Raga Sudha Hall (IIRC for Carnatica) after discussions between V Subrahmanyam (SSI's Student), V V Srivatsa and R Vedavalli about where to place ahiri i.e, under melakarthas 8, 14, 17 or 20. At one point, I felt as if the 3 where debating pretty wildly and everything was going over my head as high bouncers. I dont have my notes about the discussion/concert, I left it in India. Sorry.

Is there a recording of the MVI Ahiri neraval recording?

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 06 Jan 2007, 05:21

Hmm, Ahiri. Isn't this the ragam that can lead to no food? Must be a dieter's dream!

Seems the dikshitar version of this ragam (as in the nava-varana piece) is different from others.
There's some earlier discussion on this topic here: http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=723

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 06 Jan 2007, 05:40

jayaram wrote:There's a reason why major ragams are major. Next thing we will hear is an RTP in Gowlipantu or... Karnaranjani! (already done, perhaps?)

jayaram

I am sure karNaranjini is taken severla times

-Ramakriya

sindhu · Post by **sindhu** » 06 Jan 2007, 11:08

Yes major raags are simply major and majestic ones.

For an example, there are more than 1200 kritis in Shakarabharanam, by various composers. This would only mean the raag has so much depth and still being searched for the real nector. Quite rightly, THIS IS A MAJOR SCALE RAAG.

The knowledge really increases about a particular raagaa when more kritis are learnt. As it is said 'kritigaLai gavanam paNNU' means practice more and more the kritis and expertize them. T

There is some good relation with 'gavanam' and english word 'govern' (which means influence or in fluency of...).

-sb-

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 06 Jan 2007, 11:35

ksrimech wrote:rbharathji,

Some time back IIRC Sowmya presented a ragam thanam pallavi in ahiri during an ahiri - neelambari concert at Raga Sudha Hall (IIRC for Carnatica) after discussions between V Subrahmanyam (SSI's Student), V V Srivatsa and R Vedavalli about where to place ahiri i.e, under melakarthas 8, 14, 17 or 20. At one point, I felt as if the 3 where debating pretty wildly and everything was going over my head as high bouncers. I dont have my notes about the discussion/concert, I left it in India. Sorry.

I was there too, nice debate with Shri V Subrahmanyam saying that the books say Ahiri is a janya of vakulabharanam(#14),whereas Smt Vedavalli said Ahiri is more approriate from tOdi (#8), forget about the classification. The moderator Dr ShrivAstava could not even stop the vidushi.I remember that was a very good concert with 2 rtp's in both rAgas and 2 or 3 krithis in each.

gs · Post by gs » 06 Jan 2007, 12:01

jayaram wrote:Next thing we will hear is an RTP in Gowlipantu or... Karnaranjani! (already done, perhaps?)

Yes. An excuse for an RTP was rendered by Nithyashree in MFA this year in Karnaranjani:D She concentrated on laya and forgot everything else.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 06 Jan 2007, 15:20

i think Suryaprakash also sang a pallavi in karnaranjani sometime somewhere.

an RTP in gauLipanti, i would wanna hear that

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 09 Jan 2007, 11:23

Let us open the floodgates on the Nedunuri of 1960s, shall we? Starting with an very different interpretation of the popular sA paSyat kausalya: http://www.rogepost.com/n/6453736203

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 09 Jan 2007, 16:50

Here's one more: a Mira bhajan [something he rarely sang later]. The creativity on display is just awesome...

http://www.yousendit.com/download/EshwEKlJ4oB5TA%3D%3D

[Sorry, could not log on to rapidshare or rogepost for some reason this afternoon].

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 09 Jan 2007, 16:55

prashanth
i did not see this thread and posted kalyani alapana , in the vidwan section.
you can now upload the rest , either here , or in the vidwan section.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 09 Jan 2007, 16:58

Oh sorry Coolkarniji! You are right, Vidwan section is more appropriate. I shall post further there.

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 10 Jan 2007, 14:55

What about a Malahari RTP by TNS and Suryakantam RTP by Sanjay (both available in S.priya..

mahesh33 · Post by **mahesh33** » 19 Feb 2007, 20:58

For those of you like me, that read this magnetising review by Prashant, and found ourselves wishing we were there...worry not. Sangeethamshare is here to help us out!

http://www.sendspace.com/folder/934z67