Shri TK Govinda Rao Sept 8, 2007 HCC Bothel

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 14 Sep 2007, 01:45

Vocal: Sangitha Kalanidhi Sri T. K. Govinda Rao
Vocal support: Sri Vikram Sundararaman
Violin: Sri Nishanth Chandran
Mridangam: Sri Shriram Brahmanandam
Ghatam: Sri Ravi Balasubramanian

Hindu Temple and Cultural Center
Bothell, WA

Varnam- mOhana -Adi (RSI)
NinnE bhajana sEyu vADanu- nATa- Adi (T)-A,N K
Ikanaina na mora vinarAda- puShpalatika- Adi (Tirupati NaaraayaNaswaami)-K
Ini Agilum ninai manameâ€“ pUrvikalyANi-Rupaka (Ambhujam Krishna)-A,N K
evarani-dEvAmruthvarshini-Adi-(T)
AnandasagaramIdani- garuDadhwani-dESAdi (T) A, N ,K
Sri subramanyAya namastE â€“kAmbhoji- rUpaka- (MD) A
nagumOmu- AbhEri- Adi (T) A,N,K-tani
antakana-?- (PD)
tillana- bEhAg
mangaLam

I felt absolutely thrilled when I heard that he was going to perform in my city. I attended to see this person, Sangeeta Kalanidhi TK Govind Rao, whom I knew as one who wrote all the Notation books of Tyagaraja and Dikshitar etc in English.

He appeared like a sage on the stage and then I heard him sing.
The temple premises was reverberating with his slightly husky voice but with full energy which everyone in the audience could feel.

He started with ninnu kOri varnam and rendered in 5 speeds with additional kalpanaswaras. A great alApana in nAta and neraval at sitanAtha sakala lOka in the kriti ninnE bhajana followed. I was happy to hear this unusual piece.

Next I struggled a bit whether it was kAmavardhini or pUrvi kalyani and watched the violinist touch D2 to make sure it is PK. The kriti of Ambhujam Krishna was new to me and very enjoyable with neraval and kalpana swaras.

Then came AnandasagaramIdani and I could not immediately place the raga. TKG was giving away the arohana/avarohana all through his rendition SRGMPDNS /SDPGRS thatâ€™s when I thought it is reverse of bilahari â€“and Yes Garudadhwani! I identified it !

I wish to hear this krit again, it seems rare- Anyone who can point a link?

kAmbhoji alApana was like a lesson to me as well as for the violinst. He was constanly giving tips to the violinist while he was replying to his phrases. Nevertheless Nishant Chandranâ€™s performance was quite good all through.

NagumOmu was an audience request which was followed by an excellent tani by Sriram Brahmanandam coming from Lalgudi family and Ghatam by local artist Ravi Balasubramanian. I canâ€™t elaborate on tani. I can only play- tha dhi tOm nam on the mridamgam.

I specially liked the way Shri TKG was appreciative of the accompanying artist, encouraging as well as praising them. He was given vocal support by his student.

Being at this concert was worth the 30 mile drive I took.

BTW this isn't a review. Only my experience at this concert.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 14 Sep 2007, 05:07

Suji,
That was LOVELY for a first attempt!
So, Shriram is Smt. Shrimati Brahmanandam's son, huh (making him Sri Lalgudi Jayaram's nephew)?

meena · Post by **meena** » 14 Sep 2007, 05:23

THANKU suji.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 14 Sep 2007, 08:07

Thank you Suji.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 14 Sep 2007, 09:54

Thanks folks,

I forgot to mention that it was a 3 h concert with no break. Though the list looks short-it shows how elaborate he went about presenting each piece.

So, Shriram is Smt. Shrimati Brahmanandam's son, huh (making him Sri Lalgudi Jayaram's nephew)?

Yes indeed. He was too good. He was playing for the song. One could hear that. Family trait I suppose.

I pulled up this post while searching for the garudadhwani kriti on this site. Anyone has this ? if non commercial can I get it. Or any other artist will do too. I would like to learn it.

kalgada78 wrote:Friends,
Iam posting Sri T.K.Rangachari's concert on behalf of Kulkarni Sir..
Items:
1.Ananda Sagara - Garudadhwani

Hope you all enjoy the concert..

Sarma.

Does anyone know if TKG learnt any instrument. He seemed to use his arms and move his fingers a lot while singing as if playing an instrument. Or do other singers do this too?

mahesh3 · Post by **mahesh3** » 14 Sep 2007, 18:17

Suji Ram

Thanks for that review. Do you know his schedule? It seems so hard to know who is singing where and when in the United States these days....

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 14 Sep 2007, 22:45

mahesh3 wrote:Suji Ram

Thanks for that review. Do you know his schedule? It seems so hard to know who is singing where and when in the United States these days....

Sorry,
I do not know. It seems this concert itself was planned in a very short notice. I got the email from "rAgamAla' organisation just 4 days before concert. I usually rely on emails, and don't look up.
I do know that TNS is going to perform in OCT. here in Seattle.

5 speeds --> is that a typo????

No, I counted as he was rendering. It was amazing. He did start very slow.

This brings me to a question. What is 1 st speed in CM. Do we have a timimg for each beat?

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 14 Sep 2007, 22:47

Suji Ram

Here you go. Probably downloaded here in Rasikas.org earlier. T.K.Rangachari seems to be the expert in Garudadhwani. His "Tatwa Meruga Tarama" is absolutely wonderful.

01-Ananda_Sagara-Garudadwani-Adi-Thyagaraja.mp3

http://www.mediafire.com/?cgtcvdcvtjm

Hope to hear your rendition soon!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 15 Sep 2007, 23:31

The posts on speeds of rendering moved to http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=58450

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 16 Sep 2007, 09:51

It was really nice to see a review of the great master an unsing hero who is one of the torchbearer of the Musiri bani He is a scholar of music and his books on music speak for itself. I have heard a number of lecdem and his musical knowledge is so vast that he can speak on any aspect of carnatic music. BfN Ragjay

gb · Post by gb » 22 Sep 2007, 12:11

Suji Ram wrote:Does anyone know if TKG learnt any instrument. He seemed to use his arms and move his fingers a lot while singing as if playing an instrument. Or do other singers do this too?

He knows to play Mirudangam and when he was in music college he used to play concerts for intra cultural .. This is something he has shared...
If you have the concert recorded please post

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 23 Sep 2007, 00:12

gb wrote:
Suji Ram wrote:Does anyone know if TKG learnt any instrument. He seemed to use his arms and move his fingers a lot while singing as if playing an instrument. Or do other singers do this too?
He knows to play Mirudangam and when he was in music college he used to play concerts for intra cultural .. This is something he has shared...
If you have the concert recorded please post

Thanks,
The concert was video recorded by the organiser. I wish I could get too. Will contact to find.

gb · Post by gb » 04 Oct 2007, 02:28

thanks for the response Suji Ram