T M Krishna at IACRF, New Jersey

[erode14]

I have lot of respects to yester year's masters and today's stalwarts, since; I am true rasika of them. I have never missed an opportunity of hearing to their concerts in person and through tapes, as UKS sir has imparted the importance of knowledge gained by unbiased listening, "sravanam".

Being a sishya of UKS sir, in the process of realising the art, I wish to share what I have learnt and continue to learn.

Whether mike volume is a bit higher or it is mike-less, UKS sir can produce perfect balance.

Enveloped with sunAdham in thooL vAdhyam or kuchi vAdhyam, enhancing, embellishing, being part of what is happening, contributing to the heights by means of giving pause or by filling the gaps, to make everyone feel the vishranthi even while playing and also to create a feel of pharan even in kaarvais by maintaining the continuity, ornamenting the krithis with appropriate phrases and ideal proportion (in weight), irrespective of varying kAlapramANams [whether in a slower krithi like MDR’s O rangasAyee or a faster one like VVS’s varanAradha or DKJ’s chelinEnEtlu sAhinthunE ], with impeccable clarity and immaculate creativity in any sruthi right from MDR’s to Ravikiran's G+…..

Sivaraman sir’s art of mrudangam has a lot to be understood and enjoyed.

[annamalai]

True_rasika,

I am convinced that you have an AXE to grind.

You did not like the concert. That is fine.

In your rambling review or laundry list of complaints - totally peripheral to the concert - there is only one or two points about your interpretation of musical quality - N0.6 and 7 and perhaps, personal animosity towards some artists.

Your language and choice of words is not correct in the review - Now you are threatening for barrage of words - That shows where we are ...

There were 400+ in the packed hall and several went back without a ticket. I presume they all liked it. So, your characterization of the concert is way, way off. The concert was a success, independent of your rating.

IIRC, the concert was advertised for 6.30 and the long introductions started at 6.40 or so.

According to your western standards, Why did you not tell the Mama sitting next to you that he can not go to the bathroom, in the middle of the concert ?

[hindolam]

When the great MDR himself has indicated who his favourite accompanists were , who are we mere mortals to discuss this?

[sanskritscholar]

Why is it that almost every regular on this forum pounces upon anyone who holds a critical view? Is this an open forum or is it open only to members of fan clubs of popular musicians and organizers?!!

true_rasika hit the nail on the head with many of his observations about the NJ concert. I was there and have to agree.

Speeches delivered in a patronizing tone do not go down well with many audience members, no matter how famous or accomplished the musician may be. In the past, I have conveyed this to many organizers of Hindustani music concerts, after watching the behaviour of a few prima donnas (who will remain unnamed here) on stage.

Audio checks have to be done before the audience is seated, not after. If that is not done, the musicians should gracefully intimate to the sound guy what needs to be adjusted within the first ten-fifteen minutes of the concert. That is what most Indian classical musicians (Hindustani and Carnatic) do anyway, so audiences are used to that. What happened at the concert in question was simply unprofessional.

The chelas and general fans of musicians belong in the audience, not on stage. Only exceptions should be the chelas who give vocal support or are there to pour out the coffee or other "refreshments"

ps. hindolam, MDR may not have been mere, but he was mortal too!

[balu]

Very well said.When somebody can be appreciated to heaven level, why not somebody should not be criticised.TMK can start the concert even with mangalam., that is his rights.But the listener has the right to say they donot enjoy it.

[jukebox]

Well said, sanskritscholar. I have been following this thread and wondering if most people see the point that there can always be critics for even the greatest endeavours? Music being subjective, it is quite natural that all artistes are not worshipped by all music lovers. True_rasika does appear to be a true rasika! I wouldn't question his intentions.

[fuddyduddy]

hmmm.. just like someone has the right to voice their negative opinions, I guess rasikas who have a positive opinion have the right to argue for their positive opinion..

[manvantara]

Reg what true_rasika said:
"5. The organizer Rajam Ramanathan made a request on behalf of the artistes to refrain from walking in / out during the songs."

I totally agree with the artistes on this one - it is very rude to keep walking in and out during a concert.
While I am happy that we Indians allow our children, even the very young ones to attend concerts (which is good - they need to be exposed to the music early on), I feel that it is time we learn to be polite to the artistes and the rasikas by maintaining some discipline in the auditorium. It is only in concerts by Indians that almost always there are children running around, some baby crying loudly for several minutes, some kid chomping on some chips/snacks (even though the auditorium rules say no food or drink inside), etc. I am tired of seeing this concert after concert. I have brought it to the attention of the local organization, but am yet to see the rules enforced. Are these too difficult to follow?

I myself have a two year old and so far, when we were not entirely sure if he'd listen to us, we (my husband and I) took turns attending concerts, while the other would stay home with our son. Right now we feel he will sit and listen for at least 20-30 minutes, so we have started taking him along - though we continue to take turns listening to the concert, with one person staying with him at the back of the hall, ready to run out any second.

Attending an opera/concert (western classical) was a difference experience altogether - the atmosphere was so formal and strict that when I felt a sneeze coming up, I was terribly scared!
We need not go to that extreme, but it is time we show some respect to the artistes on stage and to the other rasikas.

-------------------------
The second point I'd like to make is about rambling speeches. We Indians seem to love giving long speeches at inappropriate places!
I have been an active member of Toastmasters International - I joined mainly because the meetings were held during lunch time at the office and I thought I might learn a thing or two by being there. Well, I learnt more than that! To make a point relevant here, we Indians take a speech for granted - both content and timewise. Most people seem to think that if they know, broadly, what they are going to talk about, the speech will simply flow out. No, it won't! Even the best of speakers have to *practice* (which is why they are so good!). At Toastmasters, we have 4-6 minute speeches and 5-7 minute ones. Over time, we get a thorough feel for the length of a speech even without a timer, but for a long time (over 15-20 speeches in my case) I definitely needed a timer. And it helped to have a grammarian who'd note all the fillers and useless words I'd add in between, when my train of thought was lost ("um", "ah", "you know" and such).
In our concerts, when someone is introducting the artiste, they need to write down exactly what they are going to say. They need to practice how long the speech is going to be. They need to allow just a sentence or two for spontanity. They need to be crisp and short and make it professional (by planning every bit). It might be just a 3-4 minute speech, but done well, it will set the tone for the evening in a nice way. It is time we Indians pay attention to detail.

[arasi]

Positive and negative comments are fine, without one getting carried away. Better get carried away with positive aspects (and get commented upon!) than come out with utterly negative things.
All is not as simple, though. How we feel is one thing. How we say it to convey it to others is another. How others react to all this is yet another aspect. How many of us read the review counts too!
In all this, we have to appreciate the performers for not getting upset over being subjected to long threads of intense discussion. They do go on like troopers to sing in many other venues without looking back.
We have to appreciate the reviewers too, for doing their job without being discouraged...

[arasi]

Manvantara,
You make two very important points:
1. Yes, those who bring young children should make sure that at least one of the parents sits at the rear and would leave the auditorium instantly without disturbing the audience. You were far too considerate in taking turns in attending concerts! Wish others would have consider ation enough to leave the hall in record time when thechild gets restless. I am not forgetting some older kids who are a delight to watch, sitting in the front rows, being absorbed in the music and tALA keeping.

2. Very concrete suggestion on speech giving, indeed! Are office bearers of sabhAs paying any attention? After all, to hear someone come to you and say 'that was a lovely speech!' should appeal no end to a 'concert speaker'. If some of the speakers ever look at the audience when they indulge in their speeches, they would read the impatience written in bold letters!
So, time your speeches by rehearsing. If you have to speak about the concert-impromptu-even then, limit it to no more than a few minutes.
If this becomes a practice, we may even start writing reviews about
'maNiyAna (gem like) mini speeches!

[harimau]

A Carnatic music concert in the US is a wonderful thing.

The concert itself may not be all that good but it does bring forth the geniuses that are so sadly unrecognized by the Indian community who have no choice but to make their genius known on rasikas.org (or in the good old days on sangeetham.com).

Their talents at managing events, which so sadly goes unutilized by the organizers, at least get due recognition -- though only by themselves -- on rasikas.org.

They are full of suggestions as to how the event could have been made so much more pleasant for themselves and for the public at large, be it seating on the stage, audio system, the selection and sequence of kritis and ragas, the mridangam accompaniment, the lack of konnakkol, etc.

To hear them hold forth on these, it would seem like if only they had been seated on the stage instead of the artists in question, they themselves would have turned out a far superior performance. And all the arrangements would have been such a marvel of efficiency that the US DOD (Department of Defense) Logistics Command would be sending senior generals to these affairs so that they could learn a thing or two.

I have something to tell these people: nothing -- absolutely nothing on earth -- prevents you from running for election to a position of responsibility at your local Carnatic music organization.

If you do not get elected -- obviously due to the foul machinations of an interested coterie of persons intent on destroying the purity of Carnatic music as seen only by you -- start your own organization. Whoever sponsors artists from India have no vested interest in ensuring the continued existence of IACRF or the local generically named Indian Fine Arts Association. If you are willing to pay the going rate for a concert in your town and to host the artists, the sponsor would happily deal with you.

There are at least two organizations arranging concerts in Austin, TX. Surely New Jersey, with a dosa shop in each corner, should be able to do better than just one IACRF.

So, go for it! I shall hold your coat for you and cheer you on. And perhaps the competition from such a superior organization would spur even IACRF to shake away its lethargy and improve its performance.

But if you do not do that but merely show up periodically on websites to complain about your unrecognized organizational skills, I can only come to one conclusion.

You suffer from the same issue at work where you are a low-level flunky even after 17 years. Your wife refuses to make coffee for you at your bidding and even your dog refuses to come when you call.

[srikrishna]

This post concerns the restlessness of children during concerts. I have had a great difficulty to get my daughter to sit for about 20 minutes in a concert at one place. I took her to a concert in CT in 2006 by Nityasree with her father accompanying her on Mridangam. I pleaded to her to sit still in the concert and put the tala throughout. At the end of the concert, the artistes, in particular, Nityasree's father acknowledged all the children for behaving so well in the concert. This seems to have had a definite impact on my daughter as she sits through the concert without giving us any trouble. I must thank him personally when he visits this part of the country.

[arasi]

Wish I had a wife like that

Seriously, I see your point. In my younger days, doing my bit in arranging concerts was not easy at all. It needs a lot of abilities. Above all, patience and perseverance! And I left out team spirit (can really pull you down if there are tug of egos).
I am not in favor of 'we pay for the tickets, so they better deliver' attitude which leaves out any sympathy for unavoidable delays and mix ups.
On the other hand, efficiency and promptness really helps.
As rasikAs, we also show our eagerness in being on time, in being good listeners who do not talk when the music is on, and in practicing other niceties which becomes an audience.
Let's say it is a concert in some state which is not California or NJ and most listeners travel for hours to reach the venue, and after
enjoying the concert, have to travel back the same distance--which they gladly do. To face delays, listen to long speeches and having to go back to work the next day are not things that they look forward to, though. Add to it a few other negatives like a bad sound system, not getting a bite to eat and so on. All this is not easy for the rasikA either.

On a lighter note, if all of us get to be organizers (agonizing though it sometimes can be), who will be there to do the listening?

[sanskritscholar]

Their talents at managing events, which so sadly goes unutilized by the organizers, at least get due recognition -- though only by themselves -- on rasikas.org.

They are full of suggestions as to how the event could have been made so much more pleasant for themselves and for the public at large, be it seating on the stage, audio system, the selection and sequence of kritis and ragas, the mridangam accompaniment, the lack of konnakkol, etc.

Criticisms need to be taken constructively. No need to be so sarcastic. Why, aren't people free to hold views different from the vocal majority and to express them on a public forum?

To hear them hold forth on these, it would seem like if only they had been seated on the stage instead of the artists in question, they themselves would have turned out a far superior performance. And all the arrangements would have been such a marvel of efficiency that the US DOD (Department of Defense) Logistics Command would be sending senior generals to these affairs so that they could learn a thing or two.

I have something to tell these people: nothing -- absolutely nothing on earth -- prevents you from running for election to a position of responsibility at your local Carnatic music organization.

Now, now, what makes you think some critics on this forum are not involved in organizing concerts? Also, why do you assume that every local Carnatic music organization in the US operates through elections? In New Jersey, which has a dosa shop in each corner, as you so eloquently put it, there are many organizations, much more than in Austin, TX. Many of them are friends-and-family affairs in the way they are run - no elections. Surely, people like true rasika and I can go to the concerts they organize and offer criticisms if we feel like it, don't you think?

[appu]

In the end I hope artists like TMK, Sanjay, Sudha and others take into account the comments and constructive criticism of rasikas and in the future try to adhere to some basic rules of concert ettiquette. Arrrive early to do mike testing, Not to parade their shisyas etc.

[rshankar]

In the end I hope artists like TMK, Sanjay, Sudha and others take into account the comments and constructive criticism of rasikas and in the future try to adhere to some basic rules of concert ettiquette. Arrrive early to do mike testing, Not to parade their shisyas etc.

While that may be an ideal situation, we must also understand that our artists are at 'our' mercy:

1. They do not stay in hotels like many other professional artists do. They are usually 'hosted' by a local enthusiast.
2. The artists depend on the hosts for their ride to the concert venue. So, depending on the hosts' schedule and other commitments, they can arrive 'early', 'on time' or 'run late'.
3. If the organizers have chosen a venue where the concerned artists are the only performers, they can, and do make audio checks before the concert starts.

If another program precedes theirs, they have no recourse but to wait (punctuality is the exception rather than the rule for most South Indian events). If the same crowd forms the audience for the concerned artists concert, then, asking them to leave and come back after stage arrangements have been made is possible, but the organizers get numerous complaints about that as well. I remember a concert in Chicago where this happened, and as the artist tested her sound settings by humming/singing a few lines (behind the curtain, mind you) with restless crowds milling outside, I could hear some mAmA comment about the song chosen ('nannA oru vinAyakar pATTO, illai oru varNamO pADi test paNNalAmE, inda pATTA pADuvA?') There were complaints about who could sit where, and if seats were 'reserved' based on the seating for the previous event, etc. ect. BTW, that was a concert that did start at the advertised time!

All of these incidents just serve to highlight the fact that once you are in the public eye, it is 'damned if you do, damned if you don't', or more picturesquely as my mother would say it: 'ErinA kuttam, eranginA aparAdham'....

In any case, I hope that artists continue to listen to all of us, internalize our requests/demands etc, and do exactly as their heart tells them to (in other words, 'suniyE sab kI, kariyE man kI'). That process of externalizing their creative urges can take many forms - and they will be certain to take us along with them on their journies of discovery/re-discovery. All the routes may not be for everyone, but there is bound to be something for every rasika!

[Suji Ram]

What about the rasikas who come late? I have seen some of them arrive 45 min. late (ah.. but they are actually on time for the concert ) and cooly say we know it won't start on time.

It seems like a vicious cycle..

And me, I cannot get rid of my die-hard habit of being there on time..may be I am not creative..

[vgvindan]

'damned if you do, damned if you don't',

There was once a sanyasi passing thru a village. As he was feeling tired, he lied down on the ground with a brick under his head; some girls were passing thru and saw him and commented - 'look at him - he is some sanyasi who needs a brick as a pillow'. The sanyasi, heard it and felt that what they said was true and threw away the brick. On their way back, the same girls saw him again and commented - some sanyasi is he - he is pinched by our words'.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's parables

[komalangi]

Looking forward to many more wonderful concerts by TMK including one wherein he sings ragam, tanam, mangalam or starting of with a thillana and ending with a varnam. Who says Ariyakudi has all the rights to concert format? Go TMK, Go!! More power to your innovativeness and creativity!!! How about starting a concert with a thani like thavil vidwans???

Looking forward to a book by VKV on how to organize concerts, how to interact with senior artists, and how to rub shoulders with great artists.

Looking forward to Arun Prakash using sound proof mridangams of mufflers on the thopi to control the sound and gentleness of his playing.

Looking forward.

[balu]

Kolalangi, you said it.very well put.

[prashant]

<deleted>

[cacm]

komalangi
Looking forward to a book by VKV on how to organize concerts, how to interact with senior artists, and how to rub shoulders with great artists.
Dear k,
very funny! I don't know how to write( can count only to ten-bec. of Dasavatharam taught by my mother) & the only interactions i know are "weak interactions" in quantum physics which deal with electrons in radioactive decay! Reg rubbing shoulders with senior artists they were not that senior then? Any way in physics rubbing causes friction& may not be a good idea?...."The Two thousand year old cave man" vkv

[cacm]

DEAR K,
Please read the link I am providing- OTHERS MAY FIND IT INtTERESTING TOO!- You will have many further ideas to post! vkv http://www.indiacurrents.com/news/view_ ... a3fd3c4a97

[Purist]

Komalangi wrote :Looking forward to many more wonderful concerts by TMK including one wherein he sings ragam, tanam, mangalam or starting of with a thillana and ending with a varnam. Who says Ariyakudi has all the rights to concert format? Go TMK, Go!! More power to your innovativeness and creativity!!! How about starting a concert with a thani like thavil vidwans???

Welcome -your sense of humour ....your wait may not be too long ...bound to hear soon. Let's see how many
will board Anti -Ariyakudi bandwagon.

[cacm]

Dear Purist,
While you are entitled & shd. express your views. PL DON'T TRIVIALISE OTHERS ESP ARIYAKUDI WHO IS SINGULARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR POPULARISING CARNATIC MUSIC SO EVEN AVERAGE JOES LIKE ME CAN APPRECIATE CM. THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANTI-ARIYAKUDI BANDWAGON ETC. GNB& MMI WERE NO FOOLS BELIEVE ME. vkv DON'T HIDE UNDER "SENSE OF HUMOUR " ETC. READ WHAT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA HAS SAID. vkv

[srkris]

VKV, I think you and Purist are on the same side. He/She was just responding to Komalangi's post.

By the way Komalangi (as far as I can see) was also being only sarcastic. So all three of you are probably on "Ariyakudi's concert format" side.

[cacm]

Dear skris,
I uinderstand what you are saying. However I was expressing my view that it is not a good idea to be flippant & for just a joke or clever statement write things that can be misunderstood. ESP for example, now a days the ARIAKUDI concert format is NOT BEING FOLLOWED. His recipe called for R.T.P. & various other things which have NOT been followed for almost 20 years now. So why drag his name like a phantom just to knock a non-existent scheme?...I am NOT on any side except saying things that are correct. vkv

[dhanyasi]

I am thoroughly confused... Ariyakudi's format Is followed/Is NOT followed /should be followed/ should NOT be followed ..... Is there an actual format that he proposed or it is some data mining from his concerts and comming up with ones own conclusion....
if it is varnam/ganesha kriti/sub main/ main/ RTP/virutam/tillana/mangalam then I think it is been pretty much followed and TMK is been hearing a lot for occasionally not sticking to it ... but if there is something else.. I would like to be enlightened..

[mohan]

dhanyasi, see the article by Ariyakudi himself about his views on concert structure http://www.narada.org/ariyakudi/tradition.html

[cacm]

Dear dhanyasi,
The BASIC DISAGREEMENTS based on my discussions with VIDWANS/VIDUSHIS about the ARIYAKUDI format are the following: 1) The contention that the minumum time for a concert has to be at least 3 hours preferably 4 hours. Actually the BEST MMI & GNB concerts have been outside of MADRAS -typically close to four hours-because the leading sabhas llike music academy do not allow long concerts. Actually Madurai Somu used to sing for upto seven hours etc! and I know for a fact that those artists preferred that length(3-4 hours) as they wanted to expound at lenghth with at least two thanis one in the R.T.P.1A) Varnam/Ganesha kriti OR EQUIVALENT.2) There will be at least two kritis(short) & 3)two with raga elaboration etc at some length, Niraval & Swaram. one with Thani. 4) A short fast paced kriti. 5) R.T.P. 6) A few called Thukkadas 7) Virutham 8) Thillana. 9) Tirupugazh(optional) 10) Mangalam.
The FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE starting in mid eighties is contracting things to 2-2.5 hours & expanding kriti numbers more & contracting time for R.T.P. & omitting it altogether in many instances. This is claimed to make the concert more difficult to present emphasising depth & encouraging flashiness & superficiality according to critics of today's format.
I have NOT followed the artists since 1985 seriously & do not have the expertise in terms of listening to concerts on a consistent basis to comment. But I listen to the Ariyakudi Formulation I have stated above on a DAILY BASIS- at least two concerts a day for close to 15 years.
Hope I explained it somewhat. Interested in your comments& reactions. vkv

[cacm]

Dear Mohan,
Thanks for the reference from the great Ariyakudi himself! I TRIED to decribe in my posting what I learnt from discussions with various leading vidwans about the "Practical" aspects of implementing his scheme in a concert. vkv

[Purist]

VKV wrote
Dear Purist,
While you are entitled & shd. express your views. PL DON'T TRIVIALISE OTHERS ESP ARIYAKUDI WHO IS SINGULARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR POPULARISING CARNATIC MUSIC SO EVEN AVERAGE JOES LIKE ME CAN APPRECIATE CM. THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANTI-ARIYAKUDI BANDWAGON ETC. GNB& MMI WERE NO FOOLS BELIEVE ME. vkv DON'T HIDE UNDER "SENSE OF HUMOUR " ETC. READ WHAT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA HAS SAID.vkv


VKV sir ,you are completely mistaken.. I haven't trivialised Ariyakudi at all . Infact I am against mindless tinkering
of the format. Since TMK on many occassions has attempted that.. i said let's see how many are willing to get into this bandwagon. Infact my concern is if this trend catches up , 10or 20 years down the line it could be utter chaos..sing anything anywhere anyone likes.
As for innovators and people looking for change....evolve a fresh format and try out .

Lastly, vkv sir .please reveal what Swami vivekananda has said ..( I could not figure out what you meant)

[annamalai]

Most of the thread has been a vitriolic attack on TMK and other artists bashing for everything.

Some questions -

1. Ariyakudi is a great great musician. No dobut. Does that mean, his format should NOT be changed for ever ?

2. Should the first song in the concert be Mayamalavagowa ? - Meru Samana or Tulasi Dhala ?

3. Some one frowned since Vatapi Ganapathim was sung right in the middle of a concert as the main item - Hamsadhwani (R, N, S, T)


Varnam can be rendered in a perfunctionary manner or a pure voice warming exercise.
But some of the Varnams are great compositions, and do not get the detail in concerts.

For e.g. a classic Varnam - Kanakangi - Thodi - Pallavi Gopala Iyer - This Varnam so ripe in Thodi is probably a better composition than many other thodi krithis.

Then is it ok to give this composition its place in a concert , to sing that as a main or sub main item ?

Subbarama Dikshitar's varnams - Khamas or Suratti are so grand, almost impossible to sing as the first item in a concert.

Many musicians have experimented with non-varnam start. - For e.g. Mali has started the concert with Enduku Peddala in concerts.

Some musicians like Madurai Mani Iyer and MD Ramanathan have such excellent voices - they are right on - sruthi , concert tempo, right from the first note.
Usually for mamy musicians, it takes 30 minutes to get in to the groove of a concert and can provide all the detail when they are set.

TRS has composed a Varnam in Behag and Thillana in Pantuvaraii and has sung that in concerts.

[cacm]

Dear Purist,
I thank you for explaining to me what you had written. I APOLOGISE for not properly understanding what you meant as the CONTEXT was confusing to me. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS CLEALY STATED for not so bright a person to understand properly what you meant..I do agree with you as srkris pointed out......
Swami Vivekananda's quote- paraphrased as the particulr book has been borrowed from me right now- is: No country or Culture that does not honour its past has NO future. It is this single statement of the Swami that has inspired me to arrange & participate in being active in various activities involving our culture &music. vkv

[arasi]

Annamalai,
I see your point. Experiments which would make a performance more enjoyable are always welcome. Such presentation by musicians should not become targets for artiste-bashing so long as it enhances the quality of a concert.. Some reactions were just puzzlement over the order of presentation one is not used to--like dessert served at the beginning of a meal.
Lyrically too, the subject matter of varnams mostly belongs to the tukkaDA section (another tradition!), considering the SringAra rasA in most of the compositions. Still, varnams are the essence and grammar of a rAgA and are like a sport drink for the musician to launch upon a concert with them. Who am I to say which consideration has more weight?

[saveri]

I have kept away for a long time from writing in this forum and now am tempted to add my two bits to this thread which is already overflowing with "vaadhams" and "prativaadhams".

On the issue of experimentation , as Arasi and a few others have pointed out, experimentations that don't affect the aesthetics and sensibilities are always welcome and our forefathers in the Indian tradition, be it music, art or even spiriual studies have always welcomed it.

A well constructed structure is pleasing to the eyes and ears. So what if you sing Endhuku Peddala to start with and sing Sarasuda (Saveri Varnam) as the 4th item?
Yes it definitely DOES NOT LOOK OR SOUND PROPORTIONATE. Its like having a large head with a skeleton like shoulder and tummy.
Or a small head with an obese tummy.
When we seek shape and structure even in inanimate objects , what is wrong in seeking the same in a fluid art like music?

Varnam can be a third or 4th piece, if it is a heavy weight Pada Varnam like, RoopamuJoochi, Maathe Malayadhwaja and so on. If not then it is better at the beginning, as like Arasi put it so succintly , its like an energy sport drink, that revs up the engine.

Also , a Harikambhoji, Hamsadhwani, Vasanta, Devamrutavarshini are the types of ragas are well suited to start with.

It is just that the artist has a responsibility within him/her to ensure that the balance is not lost.

Also some strange rules and byelaws have got passed in the musical circuit, like, Surutti, Madhyamavati or Sri should be sung at the end and that Mangalam should not be sung if you sing in the middle of a series! One can sing the above mentioned ragas as the first few pieces, infact the Surutti Varnam ( Entho Prema) is a superb start with its multitude of janta and dhattu swaras patterrned beautifully.

Also Mangalam can be sung in between the series. Mangalam denotes a thanks to the Lord for making a success of that preceeding event and after every event we thank Him before proceeding to the next. Mangalam does not mean close or end of show. Dont we do intermittent Aarathis after the close of every sargam when we read Ramayanam or Narayaneeyam. It is the same principle.

One thing that really bothers is the intolerance that is developing amongst people as far as reviews are concerned. A review is just a re viewing of that days proceedings, some could like it , some may not. I thought we are in a fairly democratic society where freedom of expression is constitutionally permitted.

Lokho binna ruchi,- as many reviews as there are people. Especially in this forum sometimes a mafia like thing gets formed and very stifled and opinianated comments, sometimes hurting and insulting, are passed by members.

Lets learn to live and let live, only then the fun will last. This is my humble thought which i have penned down, with no offence meant to anybody.

[rshankar]

with no offence meant to anybody.

Saveri - well summed up! And so what if ANYONE takes offence. It is their prerogative. You should not feel bounden to assuage their feelings.

[Svaapana]

I have heard TNS start a concert with Chakkaniraja_Karaharapriya (R, N, S, T) and sing for nearly 3 hours. The duration of the raga alapana alone is about an hour. The next one hour or so he sang virutham and several minor pieces. It was a fabulous concert. There was also a short beautiful speach by TNS himself after the tani.

[VK RAMAN]

Opinion are Opinions as such and nothing more. If it is to be it is upto the rasikas and artists how they choose to take the opinion.

[annamalai]

There is a concert MDR in circulation and the first piece in that concert is Amba Kamakshi - Bhairavi Swarajathi

There is a superb Thillana in Thodi by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar. No one sings this item, since it has become the norm to sing Thillanas only in light ragas - Chandrakauns, ...

[coolkarni]

Raising the level is the function of the champion :
a considerable number of people found they could run the 4 minute mile once Roger Bannister had done it.... [quote][/quote]
From the essay "Dancer and the Dance " by Susan Sontag

[knarayana]

Looking forward to many more wonderful concerts by TMK including one wherein he sings ragam, tanam, mangalam or starting of with a thillana and ending with a varnam. Who says Ariyakudi has all the rights to concert format? Go TMK, Go!! More power to your innovativeness and creativity!!! How about starting a concert with a thani like thavil vidwans???

How about starting a concert with Mangalam and ending it with a vinayagar kriti like Vathapi???

[vasanthakokilam]

Reverse order of the usual? Consider what happens after mangalam..it is people leaving the auditorium just kidding.. If TMK does full justice to a heavy varnam in the middle of a concert, it is fine by me.

[rajaglan]

Disiplining the audience :

I support fully the efforts by TMK on displining the audience. Few of our audience really create a mess at the auditorium.
Some of the incidences narrated below.

1. I go to chennai during music season from Blore. I know chennai audience have a heavy dose of CM. That really makes
some jobless middle aged people come to the concert like a living a room discussion place. The instance was of TMK's concert and a middle
aged couple were least bothered about enjoying what goes on in the stage. They listen to teh starting of the song and goes on discussing
within themselves. I told them to stop talking. Then they started writing on a paper and exchanging in a paper and giggling. What a nuisense.

2. Some people sing along with the musician. This is the worst you can have on a day when you want to sit and enjoy music. In ISS blore,
there was one old man, just singing along Smt soumya, in the balcony. And people in the ground floor wondering what is happening and who is
singing along teh artist. He even sang during the niravals. After few complaints, he went to a corner of balcony and started singing at high pitch. I have
seen in quite a few noon sessions in chennai, during music season, this happens.

3. Kids : They can enjoy Maggi and "just Chill". Nothing beyond that. The blame is on the parents who bring in restless kids and spoil their time
and others too. Kids who donot have inclination to CM till age of 12 need not come.

4. Leaving the auditorium during songs: discussed a lot here.

5. Song requests : Handle it through organisers. Should not be done by going to the podium and handing over. especially during thani, people
hand over song requests. I saw how unhappy Mannagudi Eshwaran once was with this attitude.

6. Once in odukathur Mutt, I saw a family (an NRI) brought all kids and laptop and started showing youtube for kids to engage kids. what kind of
people, this is not a weekend outing

I think it is the duty of all of us to show respect for CM. There is nothing wrong in artists displining the audiences. It is high time we get displined.