Sowmya - KGS Gokulashtami Series - Aug 8th

rupavati · Post by **rupavati** » 09 Aug 2008, 12:42

S Sowmya, T Rukmini, Mannargudi Easwaran, AS Krishnan
Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, Aug 8th, 6.30 pm

Valachi Vacchi - Navaragamalika
Enta Bhagyamu - Saranga (S)
Rama Nannu Brova - Harikambhoji (R, N - meppula, S)
Devi Brova - Chintamani
Nenanrunchinanu - Malavi
Munnu Ravana - Thodi - Mishra Jhampa (R, N - rajaraja, S, T)
Amba Minalochani - Nayaki - Mayuram Viswanatha Sastri
RTP - Vagadhiswari (Adi, 2-kalai) - "Ishvari jagadIshvari vAgadhishvari pAhi..."
Krishnaya Vasudevaya (Slokam) - Sindhubhairavi (R)
Kridati Vanamali - Sindhubhairavi - Sadasiva Brahmendra
Tedi Unnai - Bharatiyar
Seydi Solla Vandom Nandanare - Dwijavanti - Gopalakrishna Bharati
Ni Nama Rupamulaku - Saurashtram

Getting to KGS these days is a herculean task thanks to the road upheavals in T Nagar and yesterday was doubly difficult with the rains and the Aadi Maasa pandigai-related chaos. The sincere rasikas who braved these challenges and turned up last night were treated to some sublime music by Sowmya. The songlist above is itself evidence of an unusual selection. Vagadhiswari was the evening's surprise and Sowmya's handling was a revelation to this rasika. There is but one major composition (Paramatmudu, popularized by the late TKR) in this raga that is popular on the concert platform. With such a relatively minuscule reference point for the raga contours, the fact that Sowmya elaborated the raga for about 8 minutes (sans repetitive phrases), followed by an equally long and scintillating tanam is testimony to her stupendous vidwat and her keenness as a music student. The neraval in Thodi at 'rAjarAja', so reminiscent of the Alathur Bros' style was preceded by a somewhat off-beat but brilliant exposition of the raga. Harikambhoji was handled with an MLV-ish aplomb, especially the neraval.

The concert was also probably the first time that Easwaran Sir has accompanied Sowmya. No words to describe the man's percussion support... the seasoned pro that he is, he followed and embellished Sowmya's style as if they had been performing together for years. One hopes this is the start of a long, brilliant partnership. Rukmini Mami, another seasoned veteran displayed flashes of the brilliance with which she used to accompany titans like SSI & Mali, but age has unfortunately taken a toll. Krishnan on Morsing went along with Easwaran Sir's brilliant lead.

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 09 Aug 2008, 16:50

Sowmya is arguably the better - if not the best - of the younger artistes of today. Solid sampradaya music devoid of gimmicks is her forte. Hope she maintains her standard and style for a long time.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 09 Aug 2008, 22:12

The first Gokulashtami series I will miss in 8 years

Rupavati, thanks for the update...an interestign combination - I am sure they came up with a splendid performance.

rasaali · Post by **rasaali** » 11 Aug 2008, 22:16

Very nice to see Smt Rukmini's name in a concert review after a long time! One of the great accompanists of her generation.

blackadder · Post by **blackadder** » 13 Aug 2008, 12:23

In addition to TKR's, Mali's rendition of Paramatmudu is soul enriching.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 13 Aug 2008, 20:14

this will be good to have as a CD!

rupavati · Post by **rupavati** » 29 Aug 2008, 15:04

The Hindu seems to agree with my initial take on this concert!

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/29/stor ... 310300.htm

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 29 Aug 2008, 23:05

blackadder wrote:In addition to TKR's, Mali's rendition of Paramatmudu is soul enriching.

May I say that anything MALI touched (like Madurai Mani Iyer) he made it unique & pointed us to the unscaled heights&possibilities! I feel very lucky, fortunate & blessed I heard them LIVE & they were magnanimous enough to EDUCATE ME! vkv

kamavardhani · Post by **kamavardhani** » 30 Aug 2008, 11:17

rupavati wrote:The Hindu seems to agree with my initial take on this concert!
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/29/stor ... 310300.htm

A classy review (with none of the bloopers and factual errors that are de rigeur these days) about a classy artist!

By the way, I wasn't aware that Sowmya was a photography enthusiast until I came across her photoblog linked to her website: sowmya.carnatica.net. Some pics are really well composed...

blackadder · Post by **blackadder** » 09 Sep 2008, 08:47

vkv43034:

Well put! I remember reading this (by Ambrose Bierce?), "For every teacher willing to teach there are thirty students not willing to be taught".

You have learnt from listening to these greats and that kind of education lasts a lifetime.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 09 Sep 2008, 22:16

blackadder wrote:vkv43034:

Well put! I remember reading this (by Ambrose Bierce?), "For every teacher willing to teach there are thirty students not willing to be taught".

You have learnt from listening to these greats and that kind of education lasts a lifetime.

Very apt quote & astute observation! vkv