Season's summary - The best and the worst
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Do you mean general impression of concert of the season kind of opinions....anyway here's a quick summary
Positives:
Meeting up with forum members, Jam Session, Debates
Attending several concerts of stalwarts such as Nedunuri, RK Sriknatan, Tanjore Sankara Iyer, Parasala Ponammal etc.
The depth of music in the afternoon slots
Yummy food especially meals at MFAC
Extremely good audience response - most stars were sold out at the Academy this year
Reports on rasikas.org
BHajana rounds around kapali temple
Opportunity for Photography
Negatives - the usual:
Quality of acoustics - hardly 2-3 sabhas acquitted themselves honourably - Acsdemy being one of them...
Boorish audience behaviour
Toilets/Amenities as already mentioned in another post
Being sandwiched in an extremely uncomfortable seat at the Academy
Positives:
Meeting up with forum members, Jam Session, Debates
Attending several concerts of stalwarts such as Nedunuri, RK Sriknatan, Tanjore Sankara Iyer, Parasala Ponammal etc.
The depth of music in the afternoon slots
Yummy food especially meals at MFAC
Extremely good audience response - most stars were sold out at the Academy this year
Reports on rasikas.org
BHajana rounds around kapali temple
Opportunity for Photography
Negatives - the usual:
Quality of acoustics - hardly 2-3 sabhas acquitted themselves honourably - Acsdemy being one of them...
Boorish audience behaviour
Toilets/Amenities as already mentioned in another post
Being sandwiched in an extremely uncomfortable seat at the Academy
Last edited by vijay on 03 Jan 2008, 15:49, edited 1 time in total.
-
ANU
- Posts: 17
- Joined: 12 Nov 2007, 11:39
This season was as frenetic as any. One major addition: the meeting of west and East in the form of NRI's.
We all know about Hamsadvani and its NRI series. But this year, the participation of the Indian Born American desis (let us keep it at that) was quite overwhelming. Starting with the young Ranjana Swaminathan on the mridangam who must have had at least 15 concerts including one at the Music Academy, Roopa Mahadevan (vocal) who must have bagged as many, right up to 'Madras veteran' Kalpana Venkat who also got an award in the process. Internet and technology have really come to stay and never has the music season seemed more like a world festival.
As for the concerts, well, in my opinion, I think Sanjay and Krishna must have been the most sought after, not to mention the ever favorites: Sudha, Aruna , Nithyashree...
Sabha hopping is becoming easier with the Mylapore pocket boasting of a Sabha at almost every lane.
Sponsorship is going on like mad. The Academy has been done up really tastefully and the seats too are in a sedate, dignified blue.
The morning concerts featured many of the veterans who are turning stars in recent times: RKSrikantan, Nedanuri (who always was one), Suguna Purushottam, Suguna Varadachari...
Chennai had a new crowd puller with the majestic Parassala Ponnamma who, at 83 really wowed the elite. I am sure she will be the toast of the next season at the veteran levels.
The youngsters too put up a wonderful show and vied with each other in merit. I think gone are the days when people regretted dilution in standards. Of course, mediocrity is always there, but the number of highly proficient youngsters is I think at an all time high: Balamurali Krishna, Amrita Murali, Nisha Rajagopal, Abhishek Raghuram, Prasanna Venkatraman, Amrutha Venkatesh, Ranjani Hebbar... to name but a few. I can see many Sangitha Kalanidhis in these.
So much for music. On to extra curricular activities, the canteens were doing top business. Narada Gana Sabha had the meals arranged just above the mini hall so that one would get misled into thinking that the afternoon concerts were attracting huge crowds. (Actually the attendance at the afternonn concerts was really good). Most of them were just trudging through on their way to getting their lunch.
MFAC's canteen had a wonderful carrot halwa. As if to prove that it was giving fresh stuff, very often the afternoon concerts would be accompanied by the drone of the mixie , at a sruti different from that of the main artiste. A new variety of Sruti Bedam.
Krishna Gana Sabha had its canteen at its usual place, and of course Parthasarathy - a venue that has played host to many a mass meal.
Mike amplification continued to be a bane even at the prestigious venues, with mike shrieking going on like the sthe dickens and artistes continually asking for volumes to be raised. At a concert of Neyveli Santhanagopalan, the entire first item was nothing but one loud squeal of th mike so much so that the singer had to turn off the microphone. But that too couldn't be done because the mike man needed to mend matters there and then.
Reviews continued to pour in the press, thick and fast, with the top stars commanding most of the attention. The Hindu had photos of each artiste in colour and is bringing out reviews and snippets with unprecedented focus. This importance given to music by such a well read paper will surely serve to bring music closer to more and more people.Thank heavens the president of the Music Academy is also the head of this giant of a newspaper.
The morning sessions at the Music Academy went on well and were for the most part, crowd pullers. Raghu sir's lec dem on Misra Chapu was full beyond capacity.
Yet, many of the afternoon concerts at other venues were pathetically sparsely attended with the aritiste mainly reliant on his relatives to warm the seats with their presence.
Well, the music season 2007 is sort of over. As always, it's about the stars, the aspirants, tthe winners, the also-rans, the sabha hoppers, and , people like me, who really don't know much but just love to soak in the ambience.
I may not know much about music, but I can tell you juke box, that for a music lover, Chennai is the best place to take a vacation in December - even if you are a Chennaiite. I wish you in advance, a happy music season 2008!
We all know about Hamsadvani and its NRI series. But this year, the participation of the Indian Born American desis (let us keep it at that) was quite overwhelming. Starting with the young Ranjana Swaminathan on the mridangam who must have had at least 15 concerts including one at the Music Academy, Roopa Mahadevan (vocal) who must have bagged as many, right up to 'Madras veteran' Kalpana Venkat who also got an award in the process. Internet and technology have really come to stay and never has the music season seemed more like a world festival.
As for the concerts, well, in my opinion, I think Sanjay and Krishna must have been the most sought after, not to mention the ever favorites: Sudha, Aruna , Nithyashree...
Sabha hopping is becoming easier with the Mylapore pocket boasting of a Sabha at almost every lane.
Sponsorship is going on like mad. The Academy has been done up really tastefully and the seats too are in a sedate, dignified blue.
The morning concerts featured many of the veterans who are turning stars in recent times: RKSrikantan, Nedanuri (who always was one), Suguna Purushottam, Suguna Varadachari...
Chennai had a new crowd puller with the majestic Parassala Ponnamma who, at 83 really wowed the elite. I am sure she will be the toast of the next season at the veteran levels.
The youngsters too put up a wonderful show and vied with each other in merit. I think gone are the days when people regretted dilution in standards. Of course, mediocrity is always there, but the number of highly proficient youngsters is I think at an all time high: Balamurali Krishna, Amrita Murali, Nisha Rajagopal, Abhishek Raghuram, Prasanna Venkatraman, Amrutha Venkatesh, Ranjani Hebbar... to name but a few. I can see many Sangitha Kalanidhis in these.
So much for music. On to extra curricular activities, the canteens were doing top business. Narada Gana Sabha had the meals arranged just above the mini hall so that one would get misled into thinking that the afternoon concerts were attracting huge crowds. (Actually the attendance at the afternonn concerts was really good). Most of them were just trudging through on their way to getting their lunch.
MFAC's canteen had a wonderful carrot halwa. As if to prove that it was giving fresh stuff, very often the afternoon concerts would be accompanied by the drone of the mixie , at a sruti different from that of the main artiste. A new variety of Sruti Bedam.
Krishna Gana Sabha had its canteen at its usual place, and of course Parthasarathy - a venue that has played host to many a mass meal.
Mike amplification continued to be a bane even at the prestigious venues, with mike shrieking going on like the sthe dickens and artistes continually asking for volumes to be raised. At a concert of Neyveli Santhanagopalan, the entire first item was nothing but one loud squeal of th mike so much so that the singer had to turn off the microphone. But that too couldn't be done because the mike man needed to mend matters there and then.
Reviews continued to pour in the press, thick and fast, with the top stars commanding most of the attention. The Hindu had photos of each artiste in colour and is bringing out reviews and snippets with unprecedented focus. This importance given to music by such a well read paper will surely serve to bring music closer to more and more people.Thank heavens the president of the Music Academy is also the head of this giant of a newspaper.
The morning sessions at the Music Academy went on well and were for the most part, crowd pullers. Raghu sir's lec dem on Misra Chapu was full beyond capacity.
Yet, many of the afternoon concerts at other venues were pathetically sparsely attended with the aritiste mainly reliant on his relatives to warm the seats with their presence.
Well, the music season 2007 is sort of over. As always, it's about the stars, the aspirants, tthe winners, the also-rans, the sabha hoppers, and , people like me, who really don't know much but just love to soak in the ambience.
I may not know much about music, but I can tell you juke box, that for a music lover, Chennai is the best place to take a vacation in December - even if you are a Chennaiite. I wish you in advance, a happy music season 2008!
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Anu,
Thanks for your impressions. I share many of yours. Vijay's too.
This year was great in that I heard many tamizh songs. Several musicians sang 'not often heard' kritis. It was a great year for veterans. Lots and lots of youngsters singing, and some very well.
Ah, now on to what we women pay attention to. Female singers dressed and adorned themselves more lavishly than before, it that is possible. mrudangam vidvAns matched their mrudangam wrap with the main singer's sari! In a recent mArgazhi utsavam telecast, I saw not just one grandly dressed mrudangam--the spare one looked more lavish with a multi colored cover sparkling with jari! Even Suguna Purushottam, who is simplicity personified , donned a rather fancy sari at her Academy concert--nothing to compare with the garbs of the popular female singers, of course. She wore no gobs of gold ornaments :either
Thanks for your impressions. I share many of yours. Vijay's too.
This year was great in that I heard many tamizh songs. Several musicians sang 'not often heard' kritis. It was a great year for veterans. Lots and lots of youngsters singing, and some very well.
Ah, now on to what we women pay attention to. Female singers dressed and adorned themselves more lavishly than before, it that is possible. mrudangam vidvAns matched their mrudangam wrap with the main singer's sari! In a recent mArgazhi utsavam telecast, I saw not just one grandly dressed mrudangam--the spare one looked more lavish with a multi colored cover sparkling with jari! Even Suguna Purushottam, who is simplicity personified , donned a rather fancy sari at her Academy concert--nothing to compare with the garbs of the popular female singers, of course. She wore no gobs of gold ornaments :either
Last edited by arasi on 03 Jan 2008, 21:34, edited 1 time in total.
-
cmlover
- Posts: 11498
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36
Nice to know that Tamil songs are being sung. Also I hope new vaggeyakaras are receiving attention. CM has to come out of the closet and self-imposed fetters. Nice to know that Parassala Ponnammaal who as a tiny tot was appreciated and blessed by my mother is now the GOL (Grand Old Lady) carrying the beacon of CM. She has hidden inside her a lot more kritis of yore (not just svAti alone) which have to be brought to light. God bless her for many more years to come!
As one who could not make it I am glad the NRI crowds had a field day. But I am depressed that many raided the canteens for those loaded foods and I sure hope there are no dire aftermaths
I would have loved to be part of our Rasika community ( :sigh ) but am enjoying the pics and comments vicariously. Let us keeep up/low the spirit (s
As one who could not make it I am glad the NRI crowds had a field day. But I am depressed that many raided the canteens for those loaded foods and I sure hope there are no dire aftermaths
I would have loved to be part of our Rasika community ( :sigh ) but am enjoying the pics and comments vicariously. Let us keeep up/low the spirit (s
-
Nick H
- Posts: 9472
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Oh, Arasi, surely you must know that the men notice the women's appearance much more than other women do!Ah, now on to what we women pay attention to. Female singers dressed and adorned themselves more lavishly than before
Although my very limited concert-going this season doesn't seem to have included any so far...
-
sureshvv
- Posts: 5542
- Joined: 05 Jul 2007, 18:17
And surely you must know that they notice different thingsnick H wrote:Oh, Arasi, surely you must know that the men notice the women's appearance much more than other women do!Ah, now on to what we women pay attention to. Female singers dressed and adorned themselves more lavishly than before
Suresh
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Actually I suspect women pay a lot more attention to the jewellery and saris than men do...I can't remember a single saree/piece of jewellery from the truckloads of women artistes I heard this season...but then I have a habit of not looking at the stage except occasioanlly as I find it distracting...but the Academy's balcony offers enough anonimity to observe proceedings with a keener eye!
-
priyaram78
- Posts: 393
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:57
-
venkatr
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 19 Dec 2007, 23:05
Lavish dressing is equally applicable for both men and women. In the past MVI, ARI and GNB were known for their personal preferences, be it jarighai veshti, or perfumes, or style displaying angavastrams on their self, kadukanns etc.
Though I am not a keen observer on such aspects , the one male artist who comes to my mind is TM Krishna, who sported a beard and kadukann . Also in the parthasarathy swamy sabha he was dressed in a cream jibba with rose or prehaps red frilled silk borders on both hands and neck. This clearly stood out for visibility. I could hear some mamis discussing this behind me when he started the concert.
Nothing wrong as long as lavish dressing and vidwath go together - vidwath dominates and not the other way round.
Though I am not a keen observer on such aspects , the one male artist who comes to my mind is TM Krishna, who sported a beard and kadukann . Also in the parthasarathy swamy sabha he was dressed in a cream jibba with rose or prehaps red frilled silk borders on both hands and neck. This clearly stood out for visibility. I could hear some mamis discussing this behind me when he started the concert.
Nothing wrong as long as lavish dressing and vidwath go together - vidwath dominates and not the other way round.
-
saveri
- Posts: 91
- Joined: 18 Feb 2007, 11:46
The good takeout from this season was that CM can and still will be protected by some committed youngsters.
The afternoon slots in Academy especially was a breather and also a learning for us to see as to how music and musicians are shaping.
In general, youngsters are taking on the profession seriously and learning the ropes well. In some the quality of vidwat and presentation was really good.
Few examples to quote :
Sumitra Vasudev in the academy sang a vidwat kutcheri, though some who may have heard her must have felt that glamour was lacking. She did present Simhendramadhyamam and Shanmukapriya in the same concert with one song in between.
Though this has come under flak in the newspaper review, what was amazing is that she , being so young had the courage and the vidwat to present them in pure essence, without even one stray note clashing with each other. It is the listener who has to train his ears to accept such fare. Artists whom we call greats, like Ariyakudi, RV, TNS have done such things and hence they are called vidwat artists.
The little masters like Balamuralikrishna and Abhishek Raghuram have flowered into artists of sound calibre. Though Abhishek has to gain some mastery over ragas, he has gained expertise in tala and is working hard on it. Balamuralikrishna has learnt a good balance and is able to present a well balanced concert. TNS Krishna also has fined tuned his presentation and is able to proudly claim his legacy.
Among violinists and mridangam players, some sharp youngsters are ruling the roost, with good knowledge and stagecraft, like Akkarai Subhalakshmi, Amrita Murali, Charumati Ramanujam, Charumati Raghuram,KV Gopala krishnan,R Sankaranarayanan to name a few.Some of them don double hats like singer-violinist,mridangam-kanjira player and so on.
Musicians from out of Chennai metros have been spotted by the Academy this year and they have shown their mark. A case in point is Shertalai Ranganatha Sharma, Salem Sriram and so on. They gave very good concerts with a lot of paddhati in it.
We anyway have the Sanjays, Krishnas, Jayashrees , RKirans and the Sivas, the senior-young musicians who have become torch bearers for the field of Carnatic music, not to undermine or forget the veteran- seniors like RV, RKS,PP, SP, NK,DrNR, TNS, UKS,TS,VR,SRR to name a few, who keep reminding us of the glorious art form that CM is and act as role models / icons for all the youngsters.
The afternoon slots in Academy especially was a breather and also a learning for us to see as to how music and musicians are shaping.
In general, youngsters are taking on the profession seriously and learning the ropes well. In some the quality of vidwat and presentation was really good.
Few examples to quote :
Sumitra Vasudev in the academy sang a vidwat kutcheri, though some who may have heard her must have felt that glamour was lacking. She did present Simhendramadhyamam and Shanmukapriya in the same concert with one song in between.
Though this has come under flak in the newspaper review, what was amazing is that she , being so young had the courage and the vidwat to present them in pure essence, without even one stray note clashing with each other. It is the listener who has to train his ears to accept such fare. Artists whom we call greats, like Ariyakudi, RV, TNS have done such things and hence they are called vidwat artists.
The little masters like Balamuralikrishna and Abhishek Raghuram have flowered into artists of sound calibre. Though Abhishek has to gain some mastery over ragas, he has gained expertise in tala and is working hard on it. Balamuralikrishna has learnt a good balance and is able to present a well balanced concert. TNS Krishna also has fined tuned his presentation and is able to proudly claim his legacy.
Among violinists and mridangam players, some sharp youngsters are ruling the roost, with good knowledge and stagecraft, like Akkarai Subhalakshmi, Amrita Murali, Charumati Ramanujam, Charumati Raghuram,KV Gopala krishnan,R Sankaranarayanan to name a few.Some of them don double hats like singer-violinist,mridangam-kanjira player and so on.
Musicians from out of Chennai metros have been spotted by the Academy this year and they have shown their mark. A case in point is Shertalai Ranganatha Sharma, Salem Sriram and so on. They gave very good concerts with a lot of paddhati in it.
We anyway have the Sanjays, Krishnas, Jayashrees , RKirans and the Sivas, the senior-young musicians who have become torch bearers for the field of Carnatic music, not to undermine or forget the veteran- seniors like RV, RKS,PP, SP, NK,DrNR, TNS, UKS,TS,VR,SRR to name a few, who keep reminding us of the glorious art form that CM is and act as role models / icons for all the youngsters.
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Saveri,
You are so right. The Academy showcased a lot of talents among the young. The sound system was so very pleasing, except once (believe me, I made frequent visits to the Academy for the morning to afternoon sessions), and only once did I hear some problem with the mike of the mrudangist. A badge-wearing committee member was around, and I mentioned it to her.It was a pleasure to listen to concerts in the Academy.
Just as you did, I found Shertalai Ranganatha Sarma's concert very satisfying. That was some solid singing.
One other youngster among accompanists that I liked was Rajana Swaminathan. ..
You are so right. The Academy showcased a lot of talents among the young. The sound system was so very pleasing, except once (believe me, I made frequent visits to the Academy for the morning to afternoon sessions), and only once did I hear some problem with the mike of the mrudangist. A badge-wearing committee member was around, and I mentioned it to her.It was a pleasure to listen to concerts in the Academy.
Just as you did, I found Shertalai Ranganatha Sarma's concert very satisfying. That was some solid singing.
One other youngster among accompanists that I liked was Rajana Swaminathan. ..
Last edited by arasi on 04 Jan 2008, 15:51, edited 1 time in total.
-
lswaminathan
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14
Arasi,
Glad to report that the Music Academy gave Rajna the Best Mrudangam Artist award for her accompaniment in junior slot for flute by Vijaygopal on Dec 24. This was her first featured concert in the MA.
By the way, she is playing for Carnatica Brothers at Naganallur on Jan 5 evening - just before leaving to the airport for USA and to face her 11th grade 1st semester exams. . .
Glad to report that the Music Academy gave Rajna the Best Mrudangam Artist award for her accompaniment in junior slot for flute by Vijaygopal on Dec 24. This was her first featured concert in the MA.
By the way, she is playing for Carnatica Brothers at Naganallur on Jan 5 evening - just before leaving to the airport for USA and to face her 11th grade 1st semester exams. . .
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
-
Nick H
- Posts: 9472
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Here's a big positive: being able to stay here after the season, and attend relaxed concerts, mostly without paying, for the whole year! 
Although if course there is a a certain big something about The Season --- not least of which, for me, is finding myself sitting next to someone who looks familiar, who turns and says, "I haven't seen you in London recently."
Although if course there is a a certain big something about The Season --- not least of which, for me, is finding myself sitting next to someone who looks familiar, who turns and says, "I haven't seen you in London recently."
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Other teens whose concerts I attended partially:
Sriranjani (Neyveli's daughter) at Carnatica's Swamy Hall concert. Very promising. Lovely strong voice. Lots of confidence. Will shape up very well, I think.
Another young teen was Arundhati Krishnan at Shastry Hall. Has a pleasing voice and there was nidAnam in her delivery.
Sriranjani (Neyveli's daughter) at Carnatica's Swamy Hall concert. Very promising. Lovely strong voice. Lots of confidence. Will shape up very well, I think.
Another young teen was Arundhati Krishnan at Shastry Hall. Has a pleasing voice and there was nidAnam in her delivery.
-
lswaminathan
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 26 Aug 2006, 05:14
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
How about the most unusual ragAs you heard this season which made an impression?
I heard the 35th mELakartA rAgam SUlini for the first time. It was beautiful. Sanjay sang it elaborately at NGS with ragam and svaram. The song was KOTISvara Iyer's parAgamadEnO? at NGS. Nagai Muralidharan was extremely good tooin playing it. I notice that more and more musicians are singing mELakartA ragAs, but how many of them sing R and S for them? I am curious to know...
I heard the 35th mELakartA rAgam SUlini for the first time. It was beautiful. Sanjay sang it elaborately at NGS with ragam and svaram. The song was KOTISvara Iyer's parAgamadEnO? at NGS. Nagai Muralidharan was extremely good tooin playing it. I notice that more and more musicians are singing mELakartA ragAs, but how many of them sing R and S for them? I am curious to know...
-
suddha
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 19 Oct 2007, 11:19
On unusual ragas , TMK sang alapana of bhoopalam (another rarely heard ragas these days) followed by Sadachaleshwaram, with swarams, the original abheri for an RTP i.e Karnataka Devagandhari with Suddha Dhaivatham, Sowmya sung Bhavani ragam followed by ? composition made famous by her Guru with swarams, Sanjay sang Narayani at MA followed by Ramanee ve, Sudha Raghunathan sang GNBs composition Sudha Madhurya Bhashini after a brief alapana of Vandanadharini and sang swarams.among the ones I remember.
-
arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Wonder how many of us got to hear fellow-forumites in concert this year.
As for me, I heard Neyveli, Suryaprakash, Neela Ramgopal, G.Ravikiran and Jayshri and Jayraj on the vINA . I hope I haven't left anyone out. Wanted to hear our mrudangist-members too. Didn't have a chance.
As for me, I heard Neyveli, Suryaprakash, Neela Ramgopal, G.Ravikiran and Jayshri and Jayraj on the vINA . I hope I haven't left anyone out. Wanted to hear our mrudangist-members too. Didn't have a chance.
Last edited by arasi on 05 Jan 2008, 16:55, edited 1 time in total.
-
kamavardhani
- Posts: 92
- Joined: 13 Dec 2006, 22:57
-
mahavishnu
- Posts: 3341
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56
-
ramapriya
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 21 Aug 2007, 18:37
Dear Arasi, Thanks for your appreciation about .Arundhathi Krishnan. Just wanted to mention about a very encouraging review on 1/1/2008 in DIna Thanthi of her singing at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha on 29th Dec-2007.
Feedback from talented people like you builds a lot of confidence/ satisfaction for any upcoming artist. This forum has written many such encouraging reviews which will help newcomers reflect for themselves and rscale great heights.
Happy New Year and Happy Pongal to one and all.
Feedback from talented people like you builds a lot of confidence/ satisfaction for any upcoming artist. This forum has written many such encouraging reviews which will help newcomers reflect for themselves and rscale great heights.
Happy New Year and Happy Pongal to one and all.
-
srikanthnarayan
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 10 Dec 2007, 09:59
The best for me were: Nedunuri Krishnamurthy (MA), Parassala Ponnammal (Nada Inbam), Rama Ravi (MA), Suguna Purushottaman (MA) and N Ravikiran (MA).
The worst, as someone has already mentioned, were the Hindu reviews! It was v.apparent that Mr. V Subramaniam and his wife Kripa had some axe to grind. Gowri's judgement is questionable and her quality of writing has also degenerated visibly.
The worst, as someone has already mentioned, were the Hindu reviews! It was v.apparent that Mr. V Subramaniam and his wife Kripa had some axe to grind. Gowri's judgement is questionable and her quality of writing has also degenerated visibly.
-
gobilalitha
- Posts: 2056
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 07:12
in a bhajan concert on 24th O S A run sang bhajans in 2 apoorva raagas (1) 47TH MELAKARTA8th chakra swarnangi, I was actually scratching my brain about the id of the raaga because in the aarohana,sarigama was in subapantuvarali,padanisa in kalyani(sbp dominating) my daughter swati, a member of our forum ,identified it as swarnangi, later on confirmed by OSArun himself the second bhajan was in Lavngi , created by the legend BMK GOBILALITHA
-
jnaanasoonyam
- Posts: 53
- Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 23:56
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Outlook's annual potshot at the Season...this time, from condescending pen of Sadanand Menon. You may have to register (free) to take a look and send out a rant (as I have already done)
http://www.outlookindia.com/diary.asp?l ... e=20071224
http://www.outlookindia.com/diary.asp?l ... e=20071224
-
vageyakara
- Posts: 602
- Joined: 01 Dec 2006, 20:24
Hallo GBL, You have mentioned about LAVANKI. Please to my creation in this ragam "Dasaranandana dasa mukha Bhanjana Shasi viDambana vadhana" in praise of Lord Rama. This kriti was composed under motivation (Bhuvana Venkat) -presently known as Swathy Venkat -incidentally your daughter.
the link Ref;www.karnatik.com/c3516.shtml
the link Ref;www.karnatik.com/c3516.shtml
-
vijay
- Posts: 2522
- Joined: 27 Feb 2006, 16:06
Here's the artciles alongwith the raves and rants...nothing even remotely poetic - I was quite angry when I read it....
The Good Conductor
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness gives way, in Chennai, to a season of kacheris and callow derring-do. Imagine it as the Grand New Chennai Cacophonic. An orchestra of opposites where the old obfuscates the new, the classical cohabits with kitsch, the austere is upstaged by the ambitious, the traditional is threatened by the contemporary. It’s Chennai’s December of dichotomies in which the pious and the credulous, the soul-pure and the techno-contaminated, the connoisseur and the dilettante, the resident and the non-resident—all assemble into a mega sin-phony of contraries, to briefly lock together in a tight embrace and syncopate under the compulsive, charismatic baton of a good conductor called ‘Our Culture’. It is another matter that you are required to coax out the word ‘culture’, devoid of plosives in slanted sibilants, with an accompanying lump in the throat.
Today, this entire circus denoted, in capital letters, as ‘The Annual Music and Dance Season’ is a gigantic pageant of contradictions. On the one hand is the tyranny of quantities and numbers. In a span of some 55 days, from late November to late January, some 350 musicians, dancers, scholars will present over 2,400 performances and lecture-demonstrations at 26 venues, under the aegis of 85 or more organisations, sponsored by almost 200 state, corporate and private agencies. On the other hand, quantity belies quality. Lucky are those who might catch even half-a-dozen high standard kacheris, in an ambience that serves up the Bhairavis, Kalyanis and Karaharapriyas like quick-fix dosas at a fast-food stall.
Nibble, Nibble
Quantity brings on its own brand of ‘concert fatigue’, conditioning audiences to a stimulating new mode of musical consumption called ‘kacheri-nibbling’, in which even 15 minutes is an unfashionably long amount of time to chew on any one concert. Concerts are tasted, like pakodas, in swift nibbles—that one bite being enough to reveal its spicy or bland potential. This has led now to a new kind of conspicuous and exhibitionist exit of elite rasikas from concert halls, which has become an entertaining sideshow during the season. Yet, the large-scale empty halls at most venues and concerts leaves you wondering why the hype is hyphenated with the hypocrisy of service to high culture.
The point is the whole bluster of the festival happens amidst the clatter of rapidly crumbling institutions, the rubble of ‘cultural debris’ accumulating around us, in a city rapidly fortifying itself with supermalls and IT corridors. It is inconceivable the annual festival can lead anywhere without addressing the larger totality of cultural decline. While the elitist jamboree may continue awhile as some hothouse flower, it increasingly resembles the mad cow disease brought on by the animals being fed on their own offal. Here, it is in art forms that are insular, inward-looking, self-devouring. The cow is bound to buck.
Rants and Raves
Daily Letters | 9 Jan, 2008 05:24:27PM (IST)
Mr. Sadanand Menon’s dismissal of the Music Season is as burdened by adjectives as by his prejudices. Kutchery-nibbling may be an unwelcome trend but far better than the author’s gratuitous snipes, propped up by convenient assumptions such as “empty halls at most venues and concertsâ€
The Good Conductor
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness gives way, in Chennai, to a season of kacheris and callow derring-do. Imagine it as the Grand New Chennai Cacophonic. An orchestra of opposites where the old obfuscates the new, the classical cohabits with kitsch, the austere is upstaged by the ambitious, the traditional is threatened by the contemporary. It’s Chennai’s December of dichotomies in which the pious and the credulous, the soul-pure and the techno-contaminated, the connoisseur and the dilettante, the resident and the non-resident—all assemble into a mega sin-phony of contraries, to briefly lock together in a tight embrace and syncopate under the compulsive, charismatic baton of a good conductor called ‘Our Culture’. It is another matter that you are required to coax out the word ‘culture’, devoid of plosives in slanted sibilants, with an accompanying lump in the throat.
Today, this entire circus denoted, in capital letters, as ‘The Annual Music and Dance Season’ is a gigantic pageant of contradictions. On the one hand is the tyranny of quantities and numbers. In a span of some 55 days, from late November to late January, some 350 musicians, dancers, scholars will present over 2,400 performances and lecture-demonstrations at 26 venues, under the aegis of 85 or more organisations, sponsored by almost 200 state, corporate and private agencies. On the other hand, quantity belies quality. Lucky are those who might catch even half-a-dozen high standard kacheris, in an ambience that serves up the Bhairavis, Kalyanis and Karaharapriyas like quick-fix dosas at a fast-food stall.
Nibble, Nibble
Quantity brings on its own brand of ‘concert fatigue’, conditioning audiences to a stimulating new mode of musical consumption called ‘kacheri-nibbling’, in which even 15 minutes is an unfashionably long amount of time to chew on any one concert. Concerts are tasted, like pakodas, in swift nibbles—that one bite being enough to reveal its spicy or bland potential. This has led now to a new kind of conspicuous and exhibitionist exit of elite rasikas from concert halls, which has become an entertaining sideshow during the season. Yet, the large-scale empty halls at most venues and concerts leaves you wondering why the hype is hyphenated with the hypocrisy of service to high culture.
The point is the whole bluster of the festival happens amidst the clatter of rapidly crumbling institutions, the rubble of ‘cultural debris’ accumulating around us, in a city rapidly fortifying itself with supermalls and IT corridors. It is inconceivable the annual festival can lead anywhere without addressing the larger totality of cultural decline. While the elitist jamboree may continue awhile as some hothouse flower, it increasingly resembles the mad cow disease brought on by the animals being fed on their own offal. Here, it is in art forms that are insular, inward-looking, self-devouring. The cow is bound to buck.
Rants and Raves
Daily Letters | 9 Jan, 2008 05:24:27PM (IST)
Mr. Sadanand Menon’s dismissal of the Music Season is as burdened by adjectives as by his prejudices. Kutchery-nibbling may be an unwelcome trend but far better than the author’s gratuitous snipes, propped up by convenient assumptions such as “empty halls at most venues and concertsâ€
-
Anusha
- Posts: 124
- Joined: 19 May 2006, 13:50
-
Anusha
- Posts: 124
- Joined: 19 May 2006, 13:50
Coming to the season's summary -
I was there in Chennai for over a week. As already said by others, it was indeed a privilege to listen to the veterans successively. Each having a unique style, gave scope for a lot of subtle learning. Among the upcoming youngsters, I heard only Prasanna and Nandita Ravi. Both were very good, representing their banis very well. I have heard Amrutha Venkatesh quite a few times in Bangalore. Her confidence is nice to note.
It was a pleasure meeting some of the rasikas on the forum. I couldn’t meet Coolkarniji though. Being a regular visitor of the forum, it was nice to see the faces behind the names.
I had been craving to meet Chitravina Shri Narasimhan, ever since I had first read about him, 3 years back. I didn’t have much to say though. And it was a very pleasant surprise, privilege that I got to meet him, at a concert of Carnatica brothers.
Misses-
Couldn’t attend a single lec-dem. I was there at Music Academy in the mornings, where lectures and concerts were happening at the same time. Don’t know if there’s a better way out. But in 2005, I remember that lectures were scheduled from 8:30 – 9:30 in the morning, and the concert began at 10.
I was there in Chennai for over a week. As already said by others, it was indeed a privilege to listen to the veterans successively. Each having a unique style, gave scope for a lot of subtle learning. Among the upcoming youngsters, I heard only Prasanna and Nandita Ravi. Both were very good, representing their banis very well. I have heard Amrutha Venkatesh quite a few times in Bangalore. Her confidence is nice to note.
It was a pleasure meeting some of the rasikas on the forum. I couldn’t meet Coolkarniji though. Being a regular visitor of the forum, it was nice to see the faces behind the names.
I had been craving to meet Chitravina Shri Narasimhan, ever since I had first read about him, 3 years back. I didn’t have much to say though. And it was a very pleasant surprise, privilege that I got to meet him, at a concert of Carnatica brothers.
Misses-
Couldn’t attend a single lec-dem. I was there at Music Academy in the mornings, where lectures and concerts were happening at the same time. Don’t know if there’s a better way out. But in 2005, I remember that lectures were scheduled from 8:30 – 9:30 in the morning, and the concert began at 10.
-
cmlover
- Posts: 11498
- Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36
Bravo vijay!
'tis more like a rational Brutus's repartee to an inflammatory Mark Antony tirade.
Vijay can take Men on any day! But a 'bahu dari(dra) sadaananda taaNDavam' lacking laya, shruti or even sense is not worth a 'rational' rant!
Let his putrid carcass be the feast of the mosquitoes who will tune in the appropriate dirge when he gets interned at Chennai the next season
'tis more like a rational Brutus's repartee to an inflammatory Mark Antony tirade.
Vijay can take Men on any day! But a 'bahu dari(dra) sadaananda taaNDavam' lacking laya, shruti or even sense is not worth a 'rational' rant!
Let his putrid carcass be the feast of the mosquitoes who will tune in the appropriate dirge when he gets interned at Chennai the next season
-
kamavardhani
- Posts: 92
- Joined: 13 Dec 2006, 22:57