R K Shriram Kumar - Fiddle Solo, Meenakshi College

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Oct 2008, 11:57

R K Shriram Kumar - K Arun Prakash - N Guruprasad

MS Rememberance Day, Meenakshi College
23 October 2008. 6:30 pm

teratIyaka rAdA - gauLipanti - Adi - T
kancadaLAyadAkshi - manOhari - Adi - MD (RNS)
sogasugA mrudanga tALamu - srI ranjani - rUpakam - T (R)
sundari nI divya rUpamu - kalyANi - Adi - T (RNS)
enta mAtramuna - brindAvana sArangA, mAyAmALava gauLa - misra cApu
bOgIndra sAyinam - kuntaLavarALi - kaNDa cApu - ST
dAsaratE - tODi - Adi - T (RS)
tani
mAyammA - Ahiri - Adi - SS
bhAvayAmi gOpAla bAlam - yamunAkalyANi - kaNDa cApu - A
hari tum harO - kAnaDA - Meera Bhajan
kuRai onRum illai - rAgamAlikA - Adi - Rajaji
maitrIm bhajata
nI nAma rUpamulaku - saurAshTram - Adi - T

The concert was very good. Compositions selected were those which were popularly rendered by MS Amma and they were rendered in a similar style with a lot of bhAvam. All the AlApanais were very beautifully rendered. Each phrase was precise and such weighty renditions are always very touching.

The beginning in gauLipantu was very serene and made up for a grand concert. The manOhari was good. The AlApanai, neraval and svarams were all good and interwound well with the kriti itself. The srI ranjani was very nicely presented.

The kalyANi began in a rather un-orthodox fashion and was carefully elaborated. The kriti with neraval and svarams was rendered well. The MS populariesed 'enta mAtramuna' and the kuntaLavarALi piece were both beautifully rendered.

The main tODi was very elaborate and played very touchingly. The kriti was rendered with a fitting round of svarams. The post tani part had tukkaDas which were popularised by MS and they were all rendered very well.

The overall playing and choice of pieces and rendering them to perfection were all very note worthy and made the concert much enjoyable. The percussionists gave very understanding support to make it all the more wonderful.

bharath

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 28 Oct 2008, 12:17

Bharath, is Manohari different from Kamalamanohari or just another name for the raga?

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Oct 2008, 13:38

vijay wrote:Bharath, is Manohari different from Kamalamanohari or just another name for the raga?

its called manOhari by Dikshitar while others call it kamalAmanOhari

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 28 Oct 2008, 14:21

Ok thanks!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 28 Oct 2008, 16:38

Didn't Sri Sriram Kumar accompanied Smt. MSS during the last phase of her concerts? I am sure he learnt a lot from her. Is this one of his first solo concerts?

Sathej · Post by **Sathej** » 28 Oct 2008, 17:57

Yes, Shriram Kumar accompanied MS in a few concerts I guess. And as for solo concerts, no he has played quite a few solo concerts. He has also given a few vocal concerts - atleast one that I can remember.
Sathej

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 28 Oct 2008, 18:09

SRIRAMKUMAR is a leading disciple of the great DKJ; His grand father R.K.Venkatarama Sastry was a major accompanist to MSS & OTHER LEADING MAESTROS like Flute Mali. R.K.V. Sastri & R.K.Srikantan- HE is part of this family- represent the GREAT tradition which fortunately continues thru' Sriramkumar, one of the MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE as well as TALENTED MUSICIANS WE HAVE TODAY. We should take better advantage of ALL his talents better.....VKV

Ramaprasad · Post by **Ramaprasad** » 28 Oct 2008, 23:15

Dr. VKV,
I am so happy that you joined in with your comments on Sriramkumar. I am sure you wanted to be brief, but might have had in mind many other facets of Sriramkumar's talents. For examples, he has a great voice and could as well have been a vocalist, if he had so chosen, I feel. His music scholarhip was driven home to me when I heard a lec-dem given by him on Dikshitar. To add to the roster of many great musicians that he has interacted with, I believe he has accompanied T. Brinda also.

Mr. Rbharath,
I feel that 'violin solo' would be a better phrase here than fiddle solo. Fiddle represents a group of instruments, violin being a sub-group under it [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddle]. Further the word fiddle, over time, appears to have acquired a colloquial shade in its import. I would definitely associate the word violin with Sriramkumar or any other violinist, wielding what we generally refer to as violin in music.

Ramaprasad

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Oct 2008, 02:31

It is all a matter of habit, I would think. Both are non-indian words, by the way. So is the instrument! Bharath's 'fiddle' sounds quaint to me, bringing back old time memories. One found the instrument listed as piDil in tamizh, pitilu in kannaDa. 'enna arumaiyA fiddle vAcichchAr rAjamANikkam Pillai!' was how rasikAs expressed their appreciation. Yes, the word has a folksy ring to it too: fiddle dee dee, cat and the fiddle, country music and so on.
A fiddle may make you fidget if it is played badly. When a pro plays it? A fiddle (violin) by any name is sweet...

By the way, just a sweet as Sriram kumar's violin is, so was his grandfather's fiddle!

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 29 Oct 2008, 02:51

Dr. VKV,
I am so happy that you joined in with your comments on Sriramkumar. I am sure you wanted to be brief, but might have had in mind many other facets of Sriramkumar's talents. For examples, he has a great voice and could as well been a vocalist, if he had so chosen, I feel. His music scholarhip was driven home to me when I heard a lec-dem given by him on Dikshitar. To add to the roster of many great musicians that he has interacted with, I believe he has accompanied T. Brinda also.

Dear Ramaprasad,
Thanks for your comments. You are right. I chose to be brief in my comments as I am not sure whether there is real interest in exploring in detail the unbelievable knowledge, dedication & pedigree of so many artists of the current generation. It is amazing to me how many such accomplished artists exist in Chennai & south india. not to mention Delhi, Mumbai & Calcutta- & are contributing to the furthering of our great music & culture. I truly believe we are witnessing the truth of darwin's evolution theory right in front of our eyes. My only hope is we realise the CONTINUITY of our past & point out the connections with past greatness which has created the platform for progress in a concrete fashion...
In conclusion I wish to recall one of the last public concerts of MSS in the ANjaneyar temple in Nanganallur accompanied by Sriramkumar& K.V.Prasad. OVER 500 PERSONS stood soaked in the heavy down pour for over an hour listening to what I can only describe as DIVINE & HEAVENLY music. In over 50 years of listening to greatness, Sriramkumar & K.V.Prasad in that MSS Concert transported every one present- every one stayed on till the end of the concert- showed how GREATNESS can inspire EVERY ONE to etheral heights.....VKV

suma · Post by **suma** » 29 Oct 2008, 04:54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=239KuN22-mI

RKS accompanying MS Amma

RKS is the one of the best musicians, best person, best violinist and a great teacher. He has helped shape my son with dedication and love. He has strict adhrence to tradition and what ever we learn from him, we can close our eyes and duplicate exactly in the same way. He is so perfect and I am go greatful to God that we get so much help from him.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 29 Oct 2008, 10:43

arasi wrote:By the way, just as sweet as Sriram kumar's violin is, so was his grandfather's fiddle!

That was nice

sappri · Post by **sappri** » 29 Oct 2008, 13:23

It is indeed wonderful to hear such tributes to amongst the tallest violinists of our times and yet the most humble.
I've had the pleasure of hearing him playing a solo concert at Malleswaram's Seva Sadan.
I understand he was honoured in France recently and played a solo concert there, again received brilliantly!
And if I may - he's amongst the most brilliant accompanyists today - I still relive the soul-stirring manji he played for T M Krishna during the last December season at Parthasarathy Sabha which moved most of us to tears...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Oct 2008, 15:00

When I have heard him accompany, I have wanted to hear him solo. I've missed more than one chance --- but I will catch up.

VKV... so glad I no longer have any stupid misunderstandings about your typography

. It is great to read your article praising the skills and abilities of the younger generation.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 29 Oct 2008, 19:57

Sappri, YES! That was some mAnji! RKSK, along with Charulatha Ramanujam, are probably my favourite violinists of today.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 30 Oct 2008, 09:08

nick H wrote:When I have heard him accompany, I have wanted to hear him solo. I've missed more than one chance --- but I will catch up.

VKV... so glad I no longer have any stupid misunderstandings about your typography . It is great to read your article praising the skills and abilities of the younger generation.

Dear Nick,
Thanks for overlooking my lack of ettiquette!.....You should interact with him. He is a fountain of knowledge & patient enough to share it. Regs, vkv

sappri · Post by **sappri** » 01 Nov 2008, 11:21

Oh yes bilahari - Charulatha is amazing too - incidentally she's accompanying TMK for the Ganjam series later on this month at Chowdiah!