TMK delights audience at SanJose

Sanjose · Post by **Sanjose** » 05 May 2008, 09:34

T M Krishna - Vocal
R K Shriram Kumar - Violin
K Arun Prakash - Mridangam

Venue :CET, SanJose
Date: May 4, 2008

It was an excellent concert by TMK. TMK sang for over 4 hrs and rendered 17 Items. Rasikas admired the performance. Kudos TMK !!

Sanjose · Post by **Sanjose** » 05 May 2008, 09:56

Concert Song List
1.Swami Nee Pai
2.Sree Mathrubutham
3.Vinatha Sukhava
4.Shabdham - Swathi Thirunal
5.Sudha Mayeem
6.Sree Neelothpala Nayikae (Nari Reethigowlai)
7.Thanavari Thanamu
8.Upacharamulanu
9. pArvati ninnu nE - kalgaDa
10.RTP -"Thyagarajaya Namasthe"
11.Maulau Ganga(Appaya Dikshatar's Slokam) followed by Jambu Pate
12.Marubari
13.Nadantha Kalam Ennavo
14.Ranga Barao
15.Varugalamo Ayya
16.Mamava Madhava
17.Sharade Karunanidhe

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 05 May 2008, 10:27

It was an excellent concert - Something I will remember for a long time!

I went in little late (I see that was the 4th item, as per the above list)

Adding a few more missing details- and fixing some in the above list:

The shabdam was a rAgamalika composition - kAmbhOji, dhanyasi, pUrva kalyANi and suruTi. AlApane was done all the 4 ragas.

#5 - sudhAmayI, HMB's composition in amRtavarShiNi

#7 - tanavAri tanami - Tyagaraja composition in bEgaDe

# 8 - bhairavi kriti - A, N, S, T

#9 - in the list above is pArvati ninnu nE in kalgaDa, a composition of Syama Shastry

#10 - Pallavi was set in khanDa naDe, khanDa jAti tripuTa tALa - ShankarAbharaNa rAga.

#11 - The shloka mouLou ganga (in rAGa mAlike - beginning with Bilahari, and ending in yamunA kalyANi. - This was followed by MD's grand panchabhoota linga kriti jambU patE in yamunA kalyANi.

#13 was in sindhu bhairavi

#14 - was set in mAnD, a pada of purandara dAsa

#12 - khamAch jAvaLi

#17 - was set in hamIr kalyANi - by RK Shriramkumar

There was very good co-ordination in the team ; The sensitivity of the accompanying artists was very visible.

In another thread there was a discussion of vocal range - TMK's range seems to exceed all other vocal ranges I have seen. In today's performance he was traversing all the way from anumandra madhyama to ati-tAra gAndhAra!

-Ramakriya

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 05 May 2008, 11:35

I agree with SanJose and Ramakriya that it was a very enjoyable concert. My observations regarding the concert.

1) Shri Mathrubootham was a nice start. Was hearing this krithi in a concert after a long time. Well, I was attending a live concert after a long time.

2) Fell in love with Nariritigowla and the krithi itself. The raga has a calling that I couldn't identify with. It was playing havoc with my mind probably because it was close to Reethigowla but not quite. I was hearing the krithi for the first time and totally liked it. TMK rendered it very well.

3) Bhairavi felt slightly incomplete probably because he did not sing neraval in the 3rd speed but sang swaras in the 3rd speed. Also, the fact that he gave tani before completing the song put me off slightly. No question about the quality of the music though. Minor nitpicking. I heard shades of the earlier Nariritigowla during the alapana but I don't know if it was just me. On a side note, I don't understand the need to sing 3rd speed swaras to bring about a grand finale before the thani. It somehow tends to spoil the earlier mood.

4) Jambupathe was beautifully rendered. For some strange reason, it brought visions of Dikshithar composing this on the banks of the river Cauvery (I've no idea where it was composed) and also of a large river flowing gracefully. I liked Arun Prakash's accompaniment for this krithi. Was very sensitive.

5) Varugalamo was rendered too slowly. If Arun Prakash's playing is judged on this speed, then I can't help feeling sorry for him. It was too slow. I'm a big fan of MDR but this was just too slow for comfort and though it was very pleasing to listen it was not in the least bit moving as MDR's or KVN's rendition.

6) The mAnd krithi was Ranga baaro Panduranga baaro.

7) A gripe about fillers in concerts. It's so apparent that something is being sung as a filler, especially since they tend to be quick affairs. Makes it hard for me to give it as much attention. Do people sing slow fillers?

8) Liked Arun Prakash's accompaniment today but I think he can do better.

seldnplan · Post by **seldnplan** » 05 May 2008, 13:21

ramakriya wrote:In another thread there was a discussion of vocal range - TMK's range seems to exceed all other vocal ranges I have seen. In today's performance he was traversing all the way from anumandra madhyama to ati-tAra gAndhAra!

that's quite incredible! almost 4 octaves wide. seems to grow with every concert, too.

seldnplan · Post by **seldnplan** » 05 May 2008, 13:22

actually, speaking of TMK concerts, does any one know where his chicago concert will be? is it at the aurora temple?

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 05 May 2008, 13:22

Thanks for your inputs folks. Did he render swaras for Bhairavi in 3 speeds or was the third speed in Tisram?

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 05 May 2008, 14:15

I belive there was a concert in LA on the 3rd May.Any inputs?

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 05 May 2008, 19:10

He is capable of taking the audience on a musically elevated divine journey and judging from what has been reviewed it must have been so. Our only expectation is that this phenomenon be repeated at every concert. Bye Ragjay

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 05 May 2008, 21:16

The chicago concert will be at the Lemont Temple. It is part of the Chicago Thyagaraja Utsavam (http://tyagaraja-chicago.org).

Arun

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 05 May 2008, 21:23

shripathi_g wrote:I

4) Jambupathe was beautifully rendered. For some strange reason, it brought visions of Dikshithar composing this on the banks of the river Cauvery (I've no idea where it was composed) and also of a large river flowing gracefully. I liked Arun Prakash's accompaniment for this krithi. Was very sensitive.

Sripathi_g,

If I had to choose just one composition out of the whole concert, I would pick jambUpate mAm pAhi.

It is composed on Jambukeshwara, at Trichy

So, of course, it is on the banks of kAvEri. Yes, the rendition had the grace of a river!

Now - it is evident there are several rasikas on this forum from San Jose - So, a rasika pin or a T-Shirt would help recognizing each other!

-Ramakriya

shripathi_g · Post by **shripathi_g** » 05 May 2008, 21:41

Ramakriya,

It's easy to spot me in a concert. I'm usually the guy who says 'Sabash' at the wrong places.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 05 May 2008, 22:09

Seems like a great concert. He is performing this Saturday in Seattle.

Would like to hear a vocal rendition of nariritigowla kriti. Does anyone have one to share? Heard Kalpakam Mami play and since then craving to learn this.

rajeeram · Post by **rajeeram** » 05 May 2008, 22:22

Suji, Here it is, by Sowmya. Sowmya has released a CD on Nilotpalamba kritis.

http://sangeethamshare.org/sunil/gurugu ... Sowmya.mp3

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 05 May 2008, 22:32

rajeeram wrote:Suji, Here it is, by Sowmya. Sowmya has released a CD on Nilotpalamba kritis.

http://sangeethamshare.org/sunil/gurugu ... Sowmya.mp3

Thanks rajee. Just heard it- quite good
Somehow for me the veena rendition of this kriti is like magic and brings out the essence of this raga better

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 06 May 2008, 01:19

In another thread there was a discussion of vocal range - TMK's range seems to exceed all other vocal ranges I have seen. In today's performance he was traversing all the way from anumandra madhyama to ati-tAra gAndhAra!

I think his sruti is pretty low (A?) and that's why he was able to go higher. In which raga did he show his range?

hari2810 · Post by **hari2810** » 06 May 2008, 01:23

Another small tidbit for those who might be interested: TMK mentioned (smack in the middle of his RTP rendition, I might add) that the pallavi was Arun Prakash's composition. It went something like "Thyagarajaya namosthute". He also mentioned that it was Thyagaraja's birthday yesterday (day of the concert) and hence very appropriate.
Who knew! I thought (assumed?) the Thyagaraja Aradhana was the time of his birthday. But I just looked up the Wikipedia entry for Thyagaraja and his English birthday is May 4th.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 06 May 2008, 01:24

suji - i do not think TMK's sruti is that low. I think it is C# or maybe D.

Arun

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 06 May 2008, 01:37

hari2810 wrote:Another small tidbit for those who might be interested: TMK mentioned (smack in the middle of his RTP rendition, I might add) that the pallavi was Arun Prakash's composition. It went so. 1846mething like "Thyagarajaya namosthute". He also mentioned that it was Thyagaraja's birthday yesterday (day of the concert) and hence very appropriate.
Who knew! I thought (assumed?) the Thyagaraja Aradhana was the time of his birthday. But I just looked up the Wikipedia entry for Thyagaraja and his English birthday is May 4th.

Tyagaraja was born on 4th May 1767, and his samAdhi day was January 06, 1847

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 06 May 2008, 01:51

Suji Ram wrote:
In another thread there was a discussion of vocal range - TMK's range seems to exceed all other vocal ranges I have seen. In today's performance he was traversing all the way from anumandra madhyama to ati-tAra gAndhAra!
I think his sruti is pretty low (A?) and that's why he was able to go higher. In which raga did he show his range?

In that case it would have been too difficult for the anumandra phrases, Right

?

I think he sings in C or C#.

Many of the rAgas (bhairavi, shankarAbharaNa, rItigouLa had anumandra phrases). IIRC shankarAbharaNA had ati tAra. There were definitely a few more, which I can't remember exactly.

-Ramakriya

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 06 May 2008, 02:06

OK Arun Ramakriya. I was basing on his pancharatna kriti rendition in Cleveland Aradhana site which I think is lower than his usual Sruti.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 06 May 2008, 02:27

Ah ok. That could be for group rendition etc. - although with A - both gauLa and SrIragam can be tough in the mandra stayi

seldnplan · Post by **seldnplan** » 06 May 2008, 08:19

the recordings i have of TMK are all in D. according to ramakriya, he went down to *anu*mandra madhyamam, which is quite stupendous. not many carnatic musicians have good discipline in the lower octave (though many hindusthani musicians do).

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 06 May 2008, 09:08

TMK delights audience at SanJose

Sometimes I used to wonder whether Indian newspapers are newspapers or viewspapers. No wonder that this disease has caught on the music-rasika community also.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 06 May 2008, 09:36

seldnplan wrote:actually, speaking of TMK concerts, does any one know where his chicago concert will be? is it at the aurora temple?

25th May 2008 at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC), Lemont, IL as part of the festivities of the 32nd Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam. http://tyagaraja-chicago.org/WordPress/?p=243

gravikiran · Post by **gravikiran** » 06 May 2008, 10:19

sri tm krishna sir always sings at D (2-kattai) shruti.

thanks,
ravi.