manakkAl rangarAjan@Nungambakkam (concert #6) on August 25th

vageyakara · Post by **vageyakara** » 25 Aug 2007, 23:57

Hallo CM Devotees!
OLD IS ALWWAYS GOLD !!! MANAKKALJI'S GOLDEN CONCERT I MEAN !
THE SPIRIT OF A 25YR OLD YUVA IS STILL REVERBERATING !!!!
tHERE IS NO GAIN SAYING THE FACT THAT OLD IS ALWAYS GOLD !!!!!

What a thrilling three hours of Jog Falls experience it was !!! one should have been blessed to have had such an everlasting bliss throughout. Starting right from Shakthi Ganapathym-nATTai, Sri Manakkalji, in a phased manner took the rasikas to the sublime status of mind , which very few of our present day vidwans are capable of doing so.He never lacked the verve of execution.Since sone of the other members, will post the list of items any way, I restrict my views with regard to a few salient features.
In the Mohana kalyaNi piece(not Bhuvaneswriya) he dealt both AlAp and swara prasthara in a fascinating manner.Particular in some phrases, he deployed in the tAra stAyi region GA NI DA NI GA , which beyond any stretch of imagination, is the most hazardous proposition, whereas Manakkalji did it with consummate skill without deviating from the swarasthanam even a molecular of a meter. The K.harapriya alaAp was out and out Bhava-ridden , and I for one who wiped my tears (running thru'my cheeks)seamlessly.Here and even during the other kritis M.Chandrsekar followed in an inseperable and impeccable manner.In the Hamsanandhi, Tanam was rendered with innovation (i.e,) in thrikalam which added colour to the pallavi Needu Mahima pogada taramA-obviously adapting the pallavi line of the famous Kriti itself.And finally A mangalam in the rAgam pantuvarALi (HMB) was served as fitting finale .An unforgettable , enthralling experience indeed.
Chandru Sir and Sriram extended exemplary support and Mrs.Manakkalji, gave vocal supporrt.since I have not noted down the complete list of items, I request other members to provide the list for the benefit of discerning rasikas.
Ramaraj

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Aug 2007, 00:10

It looks our concert #6 by manakkAl was a great one . I am just posting the concert in the right thread . We are done with 6th concert.

manakkAl sriram wrote

Extending a hearty welcome and expecting your hearty support for Appa's concert on Aug 25th Saturday on behalf of Rasikas.org at Mr. Shyamkalyan's residence(Mantra) in Lake Area ,Nungambakkam.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HARIKESANALLUR MUTHIAH BHAGAVATHAR'S COMPOSITIONS

Gayaka Samrat
Kalaimamani
MANAKKAL RANGARAJAN(Father) Vocal
Padma Rangarajan (Mother) Vocal Support
Sangeetha kalanidhi M. Chandrasekaran Violin
Manakkal Sriram(myself) Mridangam

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Aug 2007, 02:27

Magical Musical Feast of Muthiah by MaNakkals and MC is over!
Rasikas await the Reviews to Relish and Rejoice!
Thanks Ramaraj and Rajesh for the appetizer!

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 26 Aug 2007, 09:18

Aaah!!! I would LOVE to hear this concert... I eagerly await the songlist, songs, and our discerning rasikas to review this one...

My grandmother would love to hear this, for all her fond memories of Kovilpatti....

Cheers
the long-absent ninja

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 Aug 2007, 10:05

Welcome back Ninja.
Good to hear about Cool.
rut badlE yA jIvan bItE, dil KE tarAnEn hO na purAnE (seasons change, life goes on, but may the music from the heart never get stale)...

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 27 Aug 2007, 12:24

Thanks to Mantra for hosting this concert. The ambience was excellent and there was this nice little balcony to stretch out one's legs for those of us (all shamefully far from retirement!) who were unused to a prolonged maintenance of the lotus position and tuck into the thoughtfully placed bajjis and boondi...

I enjoyed the main piece which is one of my favourites in the raga. I did not realize it was a pallavi - I thought it was just a krithi rendition repceded by a taanam, as in veena concerts. MC's voilin accompaniment for Kharaharapriya was haunting(enjoyed amidst gossip and tea in the aforementioned balcony I am embarrassed to admit!) . There was also a piece in the middle in a raga I could not identify (PSN2, seemed to be a trademark pidi of the raga). Also I thought there were distinct N3,N2 prayogas in the Mohanakalyani alaapana - this kept me in 2 minds about the raga's identity although MC's violin seemed to tilt the balance in favour of Mohanakalyanii which is indeed what it turned out to be.

It was heartening to watch this family affair with Mami providing support in a rich bass voice. Not to acknowledge the limitations of age would be to diminish the pinnacles this jambavan has scaled. However although the voice is no longer as co-operative, there is enough left in the man to not only provide an enjoyable concert but also in parts, transcend those limitations and give us a glimpse into the brilliance of his salad days - the neraval and swara prasthara for Hamsanandhi was one such example. Sriram provided energetic support and his elaborate tani explored tisram and khandam besides chatushram. It was probably the first time I've seen both the hands of a mrudangam artist in action!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Aug 2007, 17:34

It was a great concert. It was one of those concerts that I knew right from the first note that this was a voice I wanted to hear

It would have been nice if the mic had been a little closer. Next time...

It is fascinating to see the mridangam left hand for the first time. Happened for me first time I visited mridangam class before signing up. Until then I didn't even know what left-side looked like.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Aug 2007, 20:04

Vijay
Thanks for that poetic description which is your speciality. In spite of his age MaNakkaal still has a lot of punch left. Also his memories of the hey-days of CM should be captured on tape which is part of CM history! Instead of paying glowing encomiums after the lights go out we should all attempt to foster the 'jyothi' when it is shining bright. Please tell us whether he shared any anecdotes on HNB who he knew personally. If not we should persuade him to share his golden memories. Awaiting the full review of the concert....

Nick

For once, unlike the philanthropists in the case of our mridangists one hand knows exactly what the other hand is doing

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Aug 2007, 11:44

It was a nice occasion. Thanks a million to 'mantra' to have given that awesome drawing room and a more-awesome-r balcony [:)]

The nATTai and mOhanakalyANi were both very nice. The navarasakannaDa piece which came in the middle was quite rare and not heard off at all. The main hamsAnandi tAnam was nice as well...

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 28 Aug 2007, 12:05

Can one of you provide the song list of the concert???

violinlover · Post by **violinlover** » 29 Aug 2007, 14:56

dear vijay,
wat u thought was indeed correct... it was not a pallavi in hamsanandi..just the song preceded by the tanam..singing the tanam before the song conforms to the veena tradition.
the athimelkAla swaram in kharaharapriya and hamsanandi was just awesome.

violinlover

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 29 Aug 2007, 17:22

Thanks violin lover - presumably you were at the concert but I guess I missed being introduced to you so I can't quite place you! What a funny world this is!

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 30 Aug 2007, 22:50

do we take it to mean that the song list was not noted down by anyone???

...

I hope to upload notations of krithis taken down by my grandmother and her sister when they were learning music, back in the 20s and 30s - including the krithis they learnt from Muthaiah Bhagavathar. My grandmother claims that muthaiah bhagavathar's harikathas were something to listen to... Is there any recording of his harikatha?

Cheers
Ninja

violinlover · Post by **violinlover** » 30 Aug 2007, 23:41

yes vijay...
i was at the concert.. sitting behind MC mama with the violin case on my lap...can u place me now?

violinlover

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 31 Aug 2007, 00:11

rbharath wrote:The nATTai and mOhanakalyANi were both very nice. The navarasakannaDa piece which came in the middle was quite rare and not heard off at all. The main hamsAnandi tAnam was nice as well...

Which one was it in navarasakannaDa? durgAdEvi duritanivAriNi?

-Ramakriya

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 31 Aug 2007, 11:42

ramakriya wrote:
rbharath wrote:The nATTai and mOhanakalyANi were both very nice. The navarasakannaDa piece which came in the middle was quite rare and not heard off at all. The main hamsAnandi tAnam was nice as well...
Which one was it in navarasakannaDa? durgAdEvi duritanivAriNi?

-Ramakriya

i dint make notes during the concert, and am kicking myself for it now. dont remember the words now. might be this one.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 31 Aug 2007, 15:38

I think i was the one Ramakriya mentions - I think I remember hearing a song on Durga...we'll see once the upload happens

Voilin Lover, yes I can place you now - should'e guessed as much!

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 05 Sep 2007, 21:19

Any updates?

manakkalsriram · Post by **manakkalsriram** » 08 Sep 2007, 20:12

i was tied up in programmes. vijay,bharat and others i will give the programme list. especially,bharat,i will not allow you to kick yourself.

1 shakthi ganapathim nattai
2 sarasadalanayane saramathi
3 shivam vrishaba mohanakalyani
4 parasu hasthaya navarasa kanada
5 nenu jesina pooja palamu karaharapriya
6 sarasamukhi gaudamalhara
7 needu mahima hamsanandi
8 andavan darisaname jonpuri
9 todunida punagavarali
10 bhagavathe kurunji
11 mangalam punagavarali

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 08 Sep 2007, 21:18

What a list! When can we listen to at least part of the concert?
On a lighter vein, coming from a 'tAlA impaired' person, this may not be appropriate. But a layA man like you not posting the tALAs in the list?!

manakkalsriram · Post by **manakkalsriram** » 08 Sep 2007, 22:14

sorry, arasi madam, you are absolutely right, the reason being i was struggling with my keyboard (suddenly not working) i made use of the on-screen keyboard. since, it was already late i thought at present i will atleast list out the songs. i was compelled to miss it as my keyboard was troubling me(even now) and it was not a slip. i will give it in detail as soon as it gets alright. Appreciating your genuineness in the matter.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 08 Sep 2007, 23:18

I wish there were a smaller difference between a layaman and a layman!

How hard it is to add that extra "a"!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Sep 2007, 01:52

A layA man says it. A lay woman just sighs...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Sep 2007, 01:54

Sriram,
You are a good sport.
Now, if only that 'madam' is dropped!

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 08 Oct 2007, 08:09

any recordings? (revival of the thread)

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 08 Oct 2007, 23:15

Answering my own question. Here is the video of the kharaharapriya piece... starts with a beautiful MC aalaapanai...

http://www.cens.nau.edu/~nv9/etc/Manakk ... kkal01.MPG
http://www.cens.nau.edu/~nv9/etc/Manakk ... kkal02.MPG
http://www.cens.nau.edu/~nv9/etc/Manakk ... kkal03.MPG
http://www.cens.nau.edu/~nv9/etc/Manakk ... kkal04.MPG

ninjathegreat · Post by **ninjathegreat** » 09 Oct 2007, 01:41

Am I the only one who thinks that MC did not know the krithi?

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 09 Oct 2007, 01:45

ninjathegreat wrote:Am I the only one who thinks that MC did not know the krithi?

I noticed that immediately...he was bowing S P., but only in some places