Lalgudi G. Jayaraman

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 02 Feb 2006, 09:32

I read that Lalgudi Jayraman gave a performance last week with his Son and Grand Daughter-a concert that was billed as his last public Concert.

As an admirer of his music , i could not help taking a stock of my entire journey, in appreciating CM and how much Lalgudis Music had to do with this.

My earliest memory of Lalgudi was listening to his thillanas on Radio.They were so magical then (they still are even today) Sometime later we learnt that he was scheduled to perform at Davangere (10 miles away from my Native Harihar in Karnataka) .The lowest priced ticket was Rs 15.00 .Since my monthly pocket money in the 70s was just Rs 20.00 , I had been hesitating for a while to get a ticket.My Dad, sensing my problem , assured me of bailing me out at the end of the month if necessary."don't miss that concert" he said ."and I pray that he should play bilahari for you that day"

I did reach the concert hall a full hour in advance -they were such exciting trips (the late night exit would mean no town bus back home and we would have to hitch a ride by the Transport lorries travelling from Bangalore to Bombay on the highway- a casual experience for my uncle, but a great adventure for a tiny tot like me!)

Lalgudi , having discovered that the concert hall was just a drama Tent (thatched one) had struck work and refused to play .He was not sure of the accoustics.after sometime he relented and decided to play .I remember it was a fabulous concert (yes bilahari was there indeed).

Many years later when I settled down around West Mambalam,and KK Nagar in Chennai I was lucky to attend numerous solos at the KGS -mostly in the Company of Karaikudi Mani and Harisankar.And it was such a divine experience ! Many of these concerts have been brought out commercially , but here is a track which will give a very good idea of the atmosphere inside.

A RTP in Dharmavathi ..

http://rapidshare.de/files/12183230/01- ... i.mp3.html

Much later As I started to appreciate the Old masters progressively , one thing remained constant.Since lalgudi had been accompanying them all , my own appreciation of his artistry was growing continously.
And I have been continously amazed at his ability to take accompaniment to such great heights.

So here is a capsule of the tracks from some of the finest concerts I have with lalgudi as an accompanying artist.Hope you will all enjoy as much as I have done.

To start with
a track with MDR
http://rapidshare.de/files/12176525/02- ... m.mp3.html

a track from that all time great AIR broadcast with MM Iyer and Palani Subr pillay

http://rapidshare.de/files/12187267/05- ... _.mp3.html

Next GNB
a breathtaking track - his final response to GNB's swara prasthara is one of my favourites.

http://rapidshare.de/files/12209157/03- ... i.MP3.html

The same krithi , but now with GNb's disciple Kalyanraman

http://rapidshare.de/files/12224651/10- ... i.MP3.html

A lovely rendering with Chembai

http://rapidshare.de/files/12210283/04- ... a.MP3.html

Somu-Lalgudi- a combination in a class of its own

http://rapidshare.de/files/12214035/07- ... 1.wma.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/12215485/06- ... t.mp3.html

Next Nednuri-Lalgudi

A combination I was lucky enough to listen in a Live Concert

http://rapidshare.de/files/12221726/08- ... a.mp3.html

A lilting track with TMThyagarajan
http://rapidshare.de/files/12231939/11- ... a.mp3.html

and to close the first part of this capsule a track from a concert of TMt's Guru .

After his final round of swaras, Semmangudi watches Lalgudi decide not to play a response and close the the song.He then goads him and says "play on, man"
after a brief pause Lalgudi starts a detailed response , an outstanding one..
http://rapidshare.de/files/12222621/09- ... i.mp3.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 02 Feb 2006, 10:45

coolkarni

I think this is a false alarm!

Please look at the site
http://www.newstodaynet.com/06dec/mu1.htm
"Sri Krishna Gana Sabha which is celebrating its golden jubilee of music festival.....
The golden jubilee of festivals valedictory will be held with special violin concert by Lalgudi G Jayaraman and party on 26 January, 2006. "

Hence the valedictory concert touted by Nick was indeed valedictory for the golden jubilee.

Apparently LGJ is not laying down his bow!
How can he? Did T ever stop singing? He comes in that illustrious sishya parampara and will he ever quit CM?

Pl somebody at Chennai chekout and tell us!

Anyway I am not complaining. We got in the bargain a nice story amd a string of pearls. Do please continue to post LGJ's best....

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 02 Feb 2006, 12:52

oops.
shall wipe away my tears.
but will post the rest of the tracks !!

nallanchakra · Post by **nallanchakra** » 02 Feb 2006, 14:24

Coolkarniji
I am new to this forum but I am an ardent fan of Lalgudi . Have you in your collection Lalgudi's 1965 concert at Edinburgh Commonwealth festival which impressed yehudi menuhin? If so, please share with us.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 02 Feb 2006, 14:49

nallanchakra
any idea of the details of the concert (krithis , ragas etc ?)

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 02 Feb 2006, 14:57

Wheather Lalgudi sir going to stop solo public performance or not,it gave an opportunity to discuss about his music.
As known,he has accompanied all major vocalists,from Ariyakudi to OST.Never got a chance to see him as an accompanist,by the time I started attending concerts,he stopped accompanying.But fortunate enough to attend some memorable concerts and lec dems.
A documentary was made on him(by lalgudi trust I suppose)some 10 years ago,any body having idea about it? Is it commercially available? I remember some lec dems and talks by artists,in connection with this docu,U.Sreenivas and Umayalpuram Sivaraman were all there.
Started playing solo with his sister in 1960s probably,lowering the sruti to 2 to3,which was widely welcomed.As coolkarniji mentioned,plenty of concerts at KGS, his association with that Sabha is so close.
He developed some physical problems to bow and reduced the number of solo concerts in 1980s.But when certain organizations invited him to perform,like Palakkad Mani Iyer Trust,he simply couldn?t say no.I recall such a concert,with a packed auditorium,probably in 1990,in Ernakulam.During season he used to perform only at some places like KGS,MFC. But he concentrated to compose tunes for dance.And I understand he composed music for a movie recently.
GJR is a good friend of mine,I enquired him couple of years ago wheather his daughter learns music from him,he replied she is learning under appa!! Never knew she has reached the performing level.
Even if he stops solo,,GJR/Viji is there to carry the torch and he can concentrate more on composing music and teaching youngsters
More audio files, coolkarniji,as promised!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 02 Feb 2006, 21:27

Coolkarni
Not trying to rush you but I do hope some jugalbandi may come out!
Also i am pretty sure there are some nice anecdotes lurking in that memory cubicle. Again pl share any interesting stories on LGJ that MC may have shared with you! If only you can find out why he refused SK it will be HISTORY !!

vrbadri · Post by **vrbadri** » 03 Feb 2006, 00:43

Another magestic rendition of kSInamai in mukhAri by SemmanguDi maama (accopmanied by LAlguDi, of course) is that in 1960 Airport concert. It can be found in Surasa.net. A great neraval by both followed by a ravising svaraprastAra......

nallanchakra · Post by **nallanchakra** » 03 Feb 2006, 09:51

coolkarniji
no idea of the content of the concert at Edinburgh. I did enquire about the same with GJR . Apparently even he does not have the recording!

vr badri
There is also an AIR concert with Alathur brothers where Lalgudi's mukhAri is superb...

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 03 Feb 2006, 10:14

Here is the full report on the valedictory concert

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/02/03/stor ... 410400.htm

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 04 Feb 2006, 11:13

cmlover
lalgudis jugalbandis..
his work with amjad ali khan is well known and also published as EMI records.
I am not aware of other duets.
Have you come across his duets with N Ramani- only a few exist with likes of us from the 25 concerts they gave in US on a special tour.there are some great moments..will try and put up something from there.
then
there are his duets with Doreswami Iyengar - we should give them a full hearing.Right now they are undergoing some editing work.

For the timebeing though , here is a beaauutiful concert of TNS with lalgudi at Pune1974

http://rapidshare.de/files/12476351/TNS_07-I.zip.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/12478310/TNS_07-II.zip.html

(with due thanks ro sarma bandi)

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Feb 2006, 11:09

http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PVX ... F7MI067L54

a track fit for the thread on the subject of laya as well.HP Ramachar and Vellore Rambhadran in divine form(apart from lalgudi of course ) (and karthik and his dad with their wah wahs !)

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 08 Feb 2006, 17:24

cmlover
lalgudis jugalbandis..
his work with amjad ali khan is well known and also published as EMI records.
I am not aware of other duets.
.....
(with due thanks ro sarma bandi)

Cool

Indeed there is one - TNK and Amjad Ali Khan (AAK). I remember very well the day when Doordarshan telecast a program from Mumbai - Jugalbandis of BMK/Bhimsen Joshi and Lalgudi/AAK. This was preceded by large ads in The Hindu. I think that program was watched almost by everyone.

Doraiswamy Iyengar later played with AAK. And in Tiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Festival, AAK played Sogasuga Mridanga Talamu that was telecast on Madras DD. A week later Madras DD carried out an interview with AAK.

Kaumaaram

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 09 Feb 2006, 18:22

Hi
Rapidshare is not allowing me to download TNS concert ZIP files. Can anybody help me out?
Thanks in Advance
Kiran

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 09 Feb 2006, 18:34

<<I am not aware of other duets.>>
What I had meant here was "Other duets of Lalgudi"

Yes you are right.
TNK -AAK album is a commercial one too.
BMK-Bhimsen Joshi duet was watched in this forum as well.
I can put up a cute and short video file and the full audio track again if you wish.
So also Balmuari-Kishori Amonkar( I can see CML sneering at it again)

I am told that AIR Chennai broadcast a series of duets in the 60s as part of a special program
Balchander-Ravisankar , VG Jog-MSG , .... wonder if any one has them .

mantra · Post by **mantra** » 09 Feb 2006, 20:22

Coolkarni Sir,
We would love to see the video tracks.

abadri · Post by **abadri** » 10 Feb 2006, 02:07

http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PVX ... F7MI067L54

a track fit for the thread on the subject of laya as well.HP Ramachar and Vellore Rambhadran in divine form(apart from lalgudi of course ) (and karthik and his dad with their wah wahs !)

rapidshare link for the track above:-
http://rapidshare.de/files/12903912/LGJ ... mAvati.mp3

Kji, the rapidshare "upload progress bar" seems to be back.

rajajisrinivasan · Post by **rajajisrinivasan** » 11 Feb 2006, 03:23

is LGJ's solo version of thyagaraja's pancharathna krithis available for download? would appreciate any help...

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 11 Feb 2006, 09:55

Mantra .
Will Work On It.

vrbadri · Post by **vrbadri** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:44

Rajajisrinivasan,

The following link actually has a LAlguDi solo rendition of JagadAnandakAraka (ignore the name of the file in the foll. link....rename after download)

http://rapidshare.de/files/6241292/02_O ... a.mp3.html

I do not have the rest....I myself am looking for them....

)) Since this is a thread specifically for LAlguDi sir's renditions, I presume you may not be interested in the the pa~ncaratna kRti renditions of T M Krishna. Eitherwise, here is the link:

http://www.aradhana.org/music.html

vrbadri

rajajisrinivasan · Post by **rajajisrinivasan** » 16 Feb 2006, 21:57

vrbadri: thank you for LGJ's Jagadanandakaraka...

do you happen to have TN Krishnan's solo rendition of the 5 krithis?

Thanks again!! Rajaji Srinivasan

vrbadri · Post by **vrbadri** » 17 Feb 2006, 19:41

Rajajisrinivasan,

I went through my collection.... Sorry! I could not find any solo renderings of any of the Pa~ncarathan kRtis by any violinists....of course, I have various copies of vocal renderings by several arists....

vrbadri

nallanchakra · Post by **nallanchakra** » 18 Feb 2006, 12:41

I would like to post this piece.... Lalgudi-GJR-Viji- playing the Lalgudi's varnam in Huseni-kannanai manivannai..

http://rapidshare.de/files/13524333/LGJ ... m.oma.html

it is one of my favourites.

knrh05 · Post by **knrh05** » 18 Feb 2006, 21:25

mp3 version of this file... (converted from .oma -Sony atrac3 format- which can be played only with Sony Connect player)
--deleted link--

Bharathan · Post by **Bharathan** » 23 Feb 2006, 01:03

Coolkarni,

The GNB_Lalgudi piece was breathtaking. I now feel I am such a blessed person. The commercial piece sung by BMK was the only manasuloni track I had. This one is Amazing indeed.

Thanks for your effort in posting this.

God Bless.

Regards,
Bharathan

nallanchakra · Post by **nallanchakra** » 23 Feb 2006, 12:04

I have a video version of Mansuloni played by the lalgudi trio at Puttaparthi. If anyone is interested, I will post the same.....

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 23 Feb 2006, 12:46

kindly post that video

nallanchakra · Post by **nallanchakra** » 23 Feb 2006, 13:39

i will have to convert it into mp3. I will post it after conversion

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 23 Feb 2006, 14:39

Hi, Vrbadri,

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan has rendered the Pancharatna Kritis along with an orchestra. Brand: Keerthana. This is also available on www.udbhava.com

Dear all,

Here are some video clips from vasya10.tripod.com

Lalgudi Jayaraman
Lalgudi video clips (source: Coolkarni)

http://www.savefile.com/files/8521513
http://www.savefile.com/files/8475106
http://www.savefile.com/files/8249594

Coolkarni to comment.

Kaumaaram

vrbadri · Post by **vrbadri** » 23 Feb 2006, 17:57

Kaumaaram,
Thank you for your suggestion. Shall give then a try!
Thanks,
vrbadri.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 23 Feb 2006, 18:11

Coolkarni to comment .
Wonder on what.
Did i upload them ?.Yes defintely it was me.
I put up small bits only because I do not have facility to upload big files.
I will request Kalgada to upload a bigger chunk if he has the time .It is a beautifuly produced video.

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 24 Feb 2006, 09:29

Coolkarni,

That was something that you had shared with that website owner. I meant that your popularity is so wide that if you contest in the next elections from the T Nagar constitutency, I am sure that you will win! I need not say that our NRI members will cast their votes by post.

Please do share the bigger chunk.

Kaumaaram

param · Post by **param** » 24 Feb 2006, 13:55

Does that mean that we need to request the authorities to start a seat to be voted for only by e-votes. Then K-ji will be elected even if he decides not to contest.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 25 Feb 2006, 01:11

I thought coolkarni was already elected here without a contest! When he posts JJ's solitary renderings (as a manasika sishya of BMK/Kunnakudi) he will get the seat for South Chennai

jeevarathna · Post by **jeevarathna** » 27 Feb 2006, 00:20

Deccan Herald: 26-2-2006

Better late than never?
G Ulaganathan writes about violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman who has entered the arena of films with his music composition for the film, Sringaram - Dance of Love.

Lalgudi Jayaraman, the well-known violinist, is a purist to the core and is one of the Carnatic music legends of our time. He has mesmerised music lovers all over the world with his traditional music and has shyed away from controversies, unlike some of his contemporaries.

He, along with his children G J R Krishnan and Vijayalakshmi, form an unique team. Apart from the numerous tillanas that he has composed, which are widely used in the dance repertoire today, Lalgudi has been a connoisseur?s delight and has been lecturing students from different parts of the world, sharing his enormous music wisdom.

However, one field which he had managed to avoid all these days, is films. Though many of his compositions have been used fully or partly in film music, he has never ventured into composing music for films so far.

?I am not very comfortable with films that are being made these days... they are mostly on romantic themes interspersed with a lot of violence. For me music is divine, and anything that amounts to demeaning it is taboo,? he told a writer some time ago.

So, it comes as a surprise when he actually accepts to compose music for a feature film. ?But it is about music and the dominant theme will be the Sringara rasa, one of the Navarasas, he says.

Sringara, incidentally, is a hot favourite among poets and authors. The movie, Sringaram - Dance of Love is based on the Devadasi tradition. The movie has been directed by Sharada Ramanathan and the renowned cinematographer Madhu Ambat handles the camera.

Many popular classical singers including Bombay Jayshree, S Sowmya, O S Arun and T L Maharajan have rendered songs for this film. There is also a special instrumental number called Three seasons by G J R Krishnan and Vijayalakshmi. Mallari, a popular temple music form, has been stylised and presented by the Injikkudi Brothers on the Nadaswaram.

According to Sharada Ramanathan, the movie is a feature film and her chief protagonist is a Devadasi seeking freedom. Newcomer, Aditi Rao Hydari, a half-Konkani half-Muslim, who is also a Bharatanatyam dancer, has played this role. Malayalam actor Manoj Jayan plays the role of a mirasdar and the script is in Tamil. The film will be dubbed in other languages as well.

?Lalgudi agreed to compose music only after listening to the story and script a few times. It is still a mystery why he agreed to do this film though earlier he had rejected many film offers. There must have been something in the script to inspire him,? the director says.

An interesting addition is a folk song, and a traditional song of the Brahmanical engagement ceremony, contrasting with the sensuous Padam of the Devadasi.

The audio cassette was recently released recently in Chennai by maestro Ilayaraja who rarely attends such audio release functions. ?I came because I wanted to honour the living legend Lalgudi Jayaraman for his yeoman service to the field of Carnatic music,? he said at the function.

meena · Post by **meena** » 14 Apr 2006, 00:39

sumram99 · Post by **sumram99** » 14 Apr 2006, 02:20

Coolkarniji:

In the second video clip of Lalgudi, though we can see him playing, the sound that is heard is that of flute.

sumram99 · Post by **sumram99** » 14 Apr 2006, 02:24

Coolkarniji:

was it during the Tyagaraja Aradhana? the other person next to Lalgudi, is he Sri Parur Anantharaman ?

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 23 Apr 2006, 23:44

Lalgudi, Ramani, UKS etc...

new_cmfan · Post by **new_cmfan** » 02 Sep 2006, 07:54

http://rapidshare.de/files/31636695/12_ ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¦ _.mp3.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/31636695/12_ ... _.mp3.html

I picked up this concert of LGJ from a generous donor and I was just listening to this song while working and my mother directed my attention to the way LGJ plays parts of it - he is certainly a genius.

The way he plays "vilayattu" is so playful, the way he allows the mridangist to take away the "thatti" in "thingindra podile thatti parippaan", the way his violin beseeches "enappan en aiyyan enral", the way his notes weave "pinnal"s in "pinnalai pinnindru", the way the notes disappear at "maraivan", the colorful notes that adorn the "vanna pudhu chelai", and of course when he plays "pullanguzhal kondu varuvan" is just mind-blowing(or should i say wind-blowing

), and i sure am drunk after listening to "kaLLal mayanguvadu" - how can anyone create such emotions and sounds in a violin?

Wonder if he's done anything similar with other songs?

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 02 Sep 2006, 09:50

new_cmfan, I'd heard N.Ramani render the same piece (with his disciples) - it was absolutely brilliant! I think describing his rendition would be similar to your description above - but I haven't heard this rendition of LGJ's just yet.

rajajisrinivasan · Post by **rajajisrinivasan** » 07 Sep 2006, 09:01

I agree with you new_cmfan. LGJ is a genius. LGJ's rendition of Enna Thavam in kaapi is another example. Interestingly, there's a version of this krithi on musicindiaonline accompanied by N.Ramani.

kumaran.nadesan · Post by **kumaran.nadesan** » 09 Sep 2006, 00:33

kumaran.nadesan · Post by **kumaran.nadesan** » 09 Sep 2006, 00:34

rajajisrinivasan · Post by **rajajisrinivasan** » 09 Sep 2006, 01:29

Here it is:

http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/kJf ... As1NMvHdW/

kumaran.nadesan · Post by **kumaran.nadesan** » 09 Sep 2006, 09:32

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 10 Sep 2006, 01:01

Does any one have excerpts/etc from his final concert?

Ninja

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 10 Sep 2006, 03:19

He has not yet had his final concert

Probably you meant his latest one?

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 10 Sep 2006, 03:45

srkris,

I guess I must apologise for saying that. I remember reading in some newspaper once that he had retired and given his final concert, a violin duet with GJR... I must have been mistaken.

Cheers
ninja

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 17 Sep 2006, 06:22

Lalgudi sir turns 76 today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!