Sowmya at Sringeri Vidyashram (T Nagar, Chennai) for Navarat

rain_of_nectar · Post by **rain_of_nectar** » 10 Oct 2008, 19:31

Visiting the forum after a longish gap... just thought of making a quick post about a Sowmya concert that I heard last week in the course of Navaratri... wondering if any of our fellow forumites attended. The main piece was a lovely elaboration of Anandabhairavi followed by 'O jagadamba'; haven't heard that in ages. Song selection was appropriate for the occasion and reflective of her large repertoire. Accompanists were good. Lovely ambience at the temple but sound system was below par. I also felt that the constant movement of devotees within the hall could be regulated, at least for the two hours of the concert as it tended to distract from the concert experience. Full list:

S. Sowmya, M Narmada, Manoj N Siva
Sringeri Vidyashram, T Nagar, Chennai, Oct 5 2008

Shri Ganapatini - Saurashtram - Tyagaraja
Rara Sita - Hindolavsantam - MD (s)
Enadu Manam - Harikambhoji - PSivan (r, n, s)
Parvati Ninnu Ne - Kalgada - SS
Hiranmayim Lakshmim - Lalita - MD (r, s at sangita vadya)
O Jagadamba - Anandabhairavi - SS (r, n, s, t)
Rajarajaradhite - Niroshta - HMB
Bhuloka Kumari - Bharatiyar
Karunai Deivame - Sindubhairavi - Madurai Srinivasan

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 10 Oct 2008, 22:21

Nowadays not having much window period to browse rasikas. I was there for this as well as one another concert before this.Few corrections in your list to start with:

Dr narmadA in violin and manOj shiva - mridangam were accompanists.

3. enadu maNam kavalai eNNum(R N S )
neraval in "uNNadu malaraDiyiL thOZhuvEN viZhuvEN ammA"
6. O Jagadamba - Anandabhairavi - SS (r, s, t)
This krithi had no neraval
8. bhUlOka kumAri - kar devagAndAri or bhimplAs ??? - bhArathiyAr
10. rAma nAma bhajarE - madhyamAvati -T
11.pavamAna

Yes , you are quite right , this temple's ceiling is too high and there is always not the best of sound setting done. The first krithi was a first minus lost to poor sound setting and perhaps little too high tam tam nim nA by the mridangist. rArA seetha shaped up well .To me the harikAmbOdhi was very good. Especially it is just lovely to hear sivan's krithi in a typical thyagarAja dominated rAga, the rAga thrust and the diction of sowmya were just excellent.kalgaDA was quite good.

Her start of lalitA was very good never I got ever confused lalithA with vasantA, I just love this rAgam and krithi in and out . Especially when I was expecting the lilting lalithA as hiraNNmayEEEEEEEEm lakshmEEEEEm with soaking lalithA , bit disappointed with her pallavi start as it was a bit of plain hiraNmayEEm lakshmEEEm.Her rendition from anupallavi was very good , particular liked her swara patterns which had a definite on spot new manOdharma patterns that I have not heard from yesteryears lalitha gold

DKJ or to the present lalithA gold

standard maharAjapuram rAmachandran.

Certainly Sowmya had a lot of lung power till then , but Anandabhairavi was more focussed on mean rAga stability , definitely her rendition of the krithi was just mediocre .One just feels this Anandabhairavi krithi needs to take off more high and low , but got a somewhat not the best rendition as there was this staying more close to mean syndrome .

Selection of nirOshtA was perhaps not a good choice , her voice completely sagged . However all the last 4 from there was rendered very good, with the best pick being kar devAgAndhAri or bhimplAs. Heard for the first time this rare madhyamAvati krithi of thyagarAjar.

While manOj shiva was really bringing a lot of success points to the concert , Dr narmAdA was bit on and off , at times she sounded too off key, but I liked her fast MSG patented hindustani glides in lalitA.

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 11 Oct 2008, 00:40

If I am right, rArA sitA ramani manoharA is a composition of Thygarbrahmam. His hindolavsantha has a chaturshruthi daivatham , as opposed to Dikshitar's hindolavasantham (santhAna rAmaswaminam), with a characteristic shuddha daivatham. Someone can clarify.
I have also heard Sri TNS sing bhUlOka kumAri in amruthavarshini, where he does some wonderful neraval at bAlE.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 11 Oct 2008, 06:20

I was there too.With Knanadagopal from Kolkatta , and Mantra .

Yes it was as nosiy as it can get -I mean the temple atmosphere-something which as-Sowmya admitted- was extremely distracting.
We chose a breezy spot outside and I could feel the spirit of DKJ hovering around until the Niroshta bit.The concert had such a DKJ lilt.
I simply love the Bhuloka Kumari song - It is a great sizzler in Sowmyas repertoire.
Standing outside , and watching some impossible feats of very old men and women making it up the stairs , pausing at each step ,aided by tiny tots,it was a perfect navarathri evening.Everything was IN CONTEXT.
Prefer this to the rustling plastic bags.overhearing of small social talk , and the sight of a neighbour reading kutcheribuzz in more accoustically ,well equipped halls.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Oct 2008, 09:01

Cool,
Obviously, an enjoyable concert by Sowmya.
Yes, the 'rustliest' plastic bags are made in India, I think! Loud bells ringing outside the temple hall are better than rustling plastic in your vicinity. Until a concert starts, it is a good way to occupy yourself with reading while waiting. Once the concert starts? I have seen someone come into the Academy, throw the newspaper sections on the empty seat next to him, and spend the next twenty minutes or so, reading the paper with a virtual screen between him and the performers on stage---by the way, seated right in the center, a few feet away from the stage!
So, Nandagopal came on a visit to Chennai? Haven't heard from him in a while on the forum. While both of you with mantra had a good listen and vision of grandparents and grandchildren, Rajesh was left out, being seated inside...

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 11 Oct 2008, 16:11

bhaktha wrote:I have also heard Sri TNS sing bhUlOka kumAri in amruthavarshini, where he does some wonderful neraval at bAlE.

Sowmya sings it in Bhimplas.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 11 Oct 2008, 19:32

bhaktha wrote:I have also heard Sri TNS sing bhUlOka kumAri in amruthavarshini, where he does some wonderful neraval at bAlE.

Yes, and I felt that it was a great choice of rAga, given that the pallavI is 'bhUlOka kumArI, hE amrita nArI' - to salute the immortal (amrita) lady by drenching her in a shower of nectar (amritavarSiNI)

Vocalist · Post by **Vocalist** » 11 Oct 2008, 20:28

arasi wrote:Cool,
Once the concert starts? I have seen someone come into the Academy, throw the newspaper sections on the empty seat next to him, and spend the next twenty minutes or so, reading the paper with a virtual screen between him and the performers on stage---by the way, seated right in the center, a few feet away from the stage!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Oct 2008, 07:10

Arasi
Yes Nandagopal was indeed here.For 10 days .Visiting temples , copying down inscriptions on the stones , and having refresher classes with his teachers ( Rama Ravi and Vedavalli).We spent three days with him and it was a heavenly experience.
We went to kancheepuram yesterday and it was singing all the way up and down.We were a bit absorbed with Dasara padas yesterday and so we had Loads of TRS and Bangalore Shankar tracks,playing through the car stereo.
Mrs Cool also sang lots of kannada folk songs and lesser known dasara padas..
It was one fun filled day !!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Oct 2008, 07:49

So, you all had a great time! Wish I had heard the queen of Madurai sing

Nandagopal,
Such khAndAn! Are you planning to be back in Chennai for at least part of the season?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Oct 2008, 09:53

Arasi
And Yes I forgot to mention that we went to the Lalgudi Home ,too.The Maestro was in full flow ,with anecdotes.He kept quoting dates and events from his impeccable diary , dating back to the early 40s.
The maestro gifted me two of his latest DVD releases.Ah ! The beauty of Chennai ..It is so easy for a commoner to ........
Nandagopal is on the Coromandal Express and will probably add a bit tomorrow.

He should be back,on demand.We have discussed a group activity , moving around a bunch of Temple towns, for about 3-4 days , singing and listening to CM all the way.One is scheduled just before next Ganesh chaturthi to coincide with the sawai gandharv festival at kundgol and complete the sringeri-udupi-dharmasthala-subramanya-kollur routine .
Working on a Hm workshop in Bangalore when you are here, at your Villa.
More later.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 12 Oct 2008, 10:29

All,
Let us discuss about NandagOpal in the thread http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=93326#p93326

Cool
Nice to hear about your kanchi trip

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 12 Oct 2008, 12:50

If we can get the schedule right, we can have one at my place in Bangalore as well. I am sure the local community will be interested...

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Oct 2008, 16:07

Yes.Vijay .I have your villa ,too, in mind.Only afraid that you may be with the fishermen on a boatride singing a SD Burman melody, in the backwaters of.....

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Oct 2008, 23:03

Great, Cool!
I just saw this thread after reading Rajesh's on Nandagopal.
That will be better than eating rasgullas!
Vijay,
I am hoping there will be two events in Bangalore while we are there--then, you can host one as well!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 12 Oct 2008, 23:29

Indeed am on my way to "Mere sajan hai us paar" land but I should be in town (B'lore) around Diwali.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 12 Oct 2008, 23:30

And mine is no grand villa and a little out of the way. But the ambience is just perfect for a concert...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Oct 2008, 23:42

Who said our humble abode is a villa or palace? Ah, Cool did! The latter, something in the manner of 'madam' which catches up with my name like a shadow. I am a mere citizen 'queen' !
As for ambience, year by year, the traffic noise is getting unbearable at our place...