R.VEDAVALLI IN RAGA SUDHA HALL- 4/7/19

[CRama]

Forumite Nick has been much benovalent in organising his musical Goddess Vedavalli Mami’s concert on all his birthdays. What a better way to celebrate the birthday than to arrange concert of one’s favourite musician so that he and all the rasikas get an opportunity to get soaked in the pristine classical concert. Let us wish Nick many more birthdays to come so that we be blessed with the divine concert of Vedavalli Mami for many years. Eventhough I formally wished him in the concert hall, on behalf of the forumites, I wish Nick a long, healthy and peaceful life ahead.

Accompanists.
Dr. R.Hemalatha- Violin
B. Ganapathyraman- Mridangam
N. Guruprasad- Ghatam.
List of songs.
• Mariveregathi- Anandabhairavi- SS (S)
• Brovasamayamide Raamayya- Gowrimanohari- Garbhapurivasar (R,N,S)
• Azhimazhai kanna- Varali- Tiruppavai (N,S)
• Maati maatiki- Mohanam- T
• Bhuvinidasudane- Sreeranjani- T
• Ninnuvina marigalada- Abheri- SS
• Emanimatladitivo- Thodi- T (R,S)
• Thani
• Virutham- Oorilen kaani illai- kambodi, Saveri, Kapi, Kanada
• Enna solli azhaithal- Kanada- Ambujam Krishna
• Tillana- Vasantha
• Mangalam

It was a well structured concert that had all the elements of a Carnatic concert in the right proportion. Mami had crossed 84, but she never compromised on any aspect like raga alapana, neraval, or swarams to take refuge under the old age phenomenon. The concert had two alapanas- Gowrimanohari and Thodi- with all the characteristic phrases, gamakams and brighas in the right proportion to bring out the beautiful edifice of the ragas chosen. Of course, the age factor was evident in the alapanas, but compensated by her star disciple Sumithra Vasudev to an extent. The alapana was sumptuous and never contrived. Elaborate alapana of Gowrimanoharis is not very commonly heard and Mami deserves our gratitude for taking up this ragam and also a very rare kriti in that ragam. The elaborate neraval in the lines Karunaakarudu neeve gada in the Kriti Brovasamayamide showed the various colours of this ragam.

The prayer for the rain God is in everybody’s mind and lips. Azhi mazhai Kanna repeated the prayer with neraval on the lines Oozhi Mudalvan uruvam pol mey karuthu. Mati matiki is rare kriti of Thyagaraja in the ragam Mohanam which was popularised by Lalgudi. TRS also used to render this in his inimitable style. Here RV’s interpretation was slightly different from that of Lalgudi. Ninnuvina Marigalada is sung by DKP/DKJ in the ragam Reetigowla. But I have heard that the original ragam of this song was Abheri. RV ‘s rendering was in sync with the authentic version in Abheri.

There are umpteen kritis in Thodi. But it was the very rare Thyagaraja Kriti Emanimatladithivo that RV chose on this auspicious occasion. Perfect rendering of the sangatis and detailed swara prastaram for the pallavi was colourful. The post thani pieces were also well received by the audience.

Pakka vadyam- Dr. Hemalatha on the Violin was a big support to the veteran vidushi. Her alapanas closely followed he structure of the main singer and at her vidwat and experience also peeped in at the appropriate junctures. Ganapathyraman embellished the concert with his sunadam, dexterity, clarity and variety of strokes and appropriatrly complemented by N. Guruprasad.

Link for the concert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5b6NEpRNI8

[ajaysimha]

beautiful concert and beautiful write-up

[rajeshnat]

• Tillana- Vasantha

There are only 2 thillanas in vasantha . Vedavalli mami sings the thillana by Ammachatram Kannusamy Pillai. Thank you Crama for your review and best of birthday wishes to Morsing bhagavathar Nick Haysen alias Liam Neeson

[arasi]

Nick,
What a concert for your birthday! I wonder how and why my post on your birthday in this thread has disappeared now
So, once again, belated wishes for a very good, musically rich year

[CRama]

Nick,
What a concert for your birthday! I wonder how and why my post on your birthday in this thread has disappeared now
So, once again, belated wishes for a very good, musically rich year

Arasi Madam, It is here (in another thread)
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=29563&p=352963&sid ... e9#p352955

[Nick H]

Crama, Arasi, and all... Thank you very much for your wishes.

It was a wonderful concert. This is my third birthday concert, but with the grace of gods, fate, or whatever suits each individual, and with the grace of Amma herself, and the very willing cooperation of "Ragasudha Jaya," it will now be an annual event.

Where Vedavalli sings, there it is heaven. What more than can I say? Thank you to Crama for the real-rasika report and coverage of the concert.

I was amazed that so many people took the time to wish me a happy birthday, and even more amazed that so many people, including members of Vedavalli-amma's student family, expressed such gratitude and happiness that I had brought the concert about. I'm so happy that there was so much happiness all round!

It was a collaboration with Naada Inbam, and thanks are also due, as mentioned, to Jaya Balakrishnan, for actually hosting event --- and adding her happiness to the great amount of joy that Vedavalli-amma gave us. And thanks to the other artists, whose true artistry added to that. Sumithra once said to me, "whenever I am on stage with her, I am learning from her." And we are able to witness moments in their interaction when the "vocal support" becomes the recipient of a short master class.

[CRama]

And we are able to witness moments in their interaction when the "vocal support" becomes the recipient of a short master class.

The master class is here-1.18.11-1.18.57

[gardabha_gana]

HBD Nick, and thanks much for the concert!

[Nick H]

Thank you! Let us hope for more soon --- if not of Vedavalli-amma herself, then from her talented school

[arasi]

Sri. C. Rama,
Thank you for dispelling my confusion.. I didn't realize there was yet another thread on the concert. Ageing has its own way of nudging us about our 'capabilities'! You have a long way to go. Even 'young' Nick!

[humdinger]

Sri. C. Rama,
Thank you for dispelling my confusion.. I didn't realize there was yet another thread on the concert. Ageing has its own way of nudging us about our 'capabilities'! You have a long way to go. Even 'young' Nick!

Mea Culpa your majesty, I re-upped that old thread to wish Nick and inform the forum members. Should have created a new thread myself.

[arasi]

Thanks for being gracious Humdinger! Feels like old times on the forum when we were keen to share our thoughts in a pleasant manner and always looked forward to savoring and sharing music. Endless rich input from the gnAtA-s helped us pick up a thing or two. rasanA ruled--still does--but for some persistent expressions of a few rasikas: you better be experts, or else' expressions. Their valuable contributions get obscured by their attitude. It's momentary though, because we do have a lot to learn from them too:)

I also feel that these are very good times for Rasikas--when young artistes flourish and young rasikAs write valuable stuff, sharing what they know, and how much they know! On top of it, how they love to share their bounty with us! Any trace of negative or cynical expressions are chased away by this.

Since this is a thread about R.V, let her classicism shine on, and lead us to being better rasikAs

Oh, only in name am I royal, in rasanA in music, I'm a mere rustic....