Flute Shri T.S. Sankaran at Nadopasana

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 03 Feb 2008, 23:03

Shri T.S. Sankaran and Master J A Jayanth - flute
Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam - mridangam
Vaikom Gopalakrishnan - Ghatam

Date: feb 2nd 2008, 6:30 PM
Sabha: Nadopasana
Venue: Swamy Hall

1. sarasijanaba - Kamboji varnam - khanda ata - Thanjavur Quartet
2. kalainirai ganapati - hamsadhvani - adi - Ramalingaswami
3. Tholinenujesina - kokiladhvani - adi - Thiagaraja
4. Sogasujooda tharama - kannada gowla - tisra ekam - Thiagaraja
5. Baagaayanayya - Chandrajyoti - adi - Thiagaraja
6. Chinna Naadena - Kalanidhi - adi - Thiagaraja
7. Biraana varalichi - Kalyani - adi (tisra gathi) - Shyama Shastri
8. Thanayuni Brova - Bhairavi - adi - Thiagaraja
(tani)
9. Sakhipraana - Chenchurutti - adi - Dharmapuri Subbaraayar
10. Neenama rupa (mangalam) - Saurashtra - adi - Thiagaraja

Vidvan Kalaimaamani and Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee Shri T.S. Sankaran represents a unique bani of flute playing, only one of its kind, that seamlessly combines the Mali bani with elements of the Tirupambaram Swaminatha Pillai bani. The hallmark of Shri T.S. Sankaran's playing are perfect shruti shuddam, extreme fidelity to gamakas, long kaarvais interspersed with rapid nagaswaram type phrases in ragas, great control over slower kaalapramanam, blow control, sound modulation and finally sahitya shuddam and great bhavam. Having spent many years in AIR Delhi, he has not been heard as often as he otherwise might have been in Chennai. It is extremely heartening to note that Vidvan Sankaran has been able to successfully groom his bright young grandson Master Jayanth in this unique bani. Incidentally, Jayanth was the winner of the instrumental event in the recent Carnatic Idol competition conducted by Carnatica.

The Kamboji varnam was replete with tisram variations in the charanam. Almost all the pieces had engaging swara exchanges between the two flutists and the talented violinist. Shri Sankaran played heroically as he was nursing an injury in his right middle finger (the panchama finger of the flute) from an accident, thereby giving the youngster free rein ! And he delivered in spades. Jayanth played a superb cameo alapana of chandrajyoti. Shri Sankaran gave a beautiful sketch of Kalyani and Shrikanth followed with a superb version of his own, thoroughly appreciated by Shri Sankaran. The swara exchange in the charanam were very exciting, given the tisra gathi.

The high-point of the evening was the excellent Bhairavi alapana by Jayanth. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the neraval and swarams at "vatsamu venta" had to be cut short.

The tani was a lesson in sowkhyam on the part of both artistes. Shri Bhaktavatsalam apologised for playing "too much" but that few opportinities arise for him to play for such an optimal kaalapramanam.

Shri Vaikom Gopalakrishnan's ghatam had a chappu that was in tune with the shruti and so his syncopated beats throughout the kriti renditions were nice.

The audio was a tad louder than needed.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Feb 2008, 14:19

Uday,
Such a nice review. The first one by a 'brother' player for a flute concert, I think.
Another star performer in the making, by the sound of it. How old is the grandson?

jnaanasoonyam · Post by **jnaanasoonyam** » 04 Feb 2008, 14:39

Isn't jayanth one of the winners of the Carnatic Idol thing that was conducted late last yr? He must be abt 15 yrs old, I guess..

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 04 Feb 2008, 14:41

arasi
jnanasoonyam is right and I added that detail above.

I must confess Sankaran sir is my old flute teacher for whom I have tremendous respect and love. Therefore I cannot claim complete objectivity

.

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 04 Feb 2008, 18:02

Uday_Shankar wrote:Shri Vaikom Gopalakrishnan's ghatam had a chappu that was in tune with the shruti and so his syncopated beats throughout the kriti renditions were nice.

Dear Uday_Shankar,

there is no chApu in gatam. chApu and aRai chapu are sollu-s that can be played in mrudangam....

erode nagaraj.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 04 Feb 2008, 18:13

Thanks nagraj for pointing out the error. I was aware I was using the term loosely.

It might be even more helpful if you could help me put a name to the sound that emerges from the ghatam when it is tapped gently with the fingers (NOT with the knuckles which produce the "clicking" sounds) and/or thumb in the area surrounding the mouth of the ghatam ?

"Nam" maybe ?

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 05 Feb 2008, 16:30

Sri Sankaran is defintely an amazing flautist, unfortunately very underrated, and un recognised.

As of Jayanth, i wasnt very happy with his blowing the last time i heard him a few years ago, should go and listen now may be...