TNS at Academy of Music Musical Festival 2008

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 28 Nov 2008, 14:19

Sri T.N.Seshagopalan gave a vocal recital at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on 26th Nov 08.

Accompanists: Sri C.N.Chandrashekar (violin)
Sri T A S Mani (Mridhangam)
Sri M A Krishnamurthy (Ghatam)

1. Varnam - Begada (Intha chala ) (S)
2. Sri Mahaganapathe - Malahari (MB) / (RS)
3. Nee Bhajana - Nayaki (T) / (RS)
4. Amma Ravamma - Kalyani (T) /RNST

The concert started about 30 min behind schedule due to the preceding inaugural function
stretch.

TNS gave a brief sketch of Begada before varnam. The swarams was a real treat being
soaked in ragha bhava. Malahari raga elaboration brought out all its contours and was
a pleasent experience for very rarely do artists take up this raga. The swaras were brisk
and neat.
After some initial hiccups (with a uncooperative voice) he gave a good account of
raga Nayaki. This majestic krithi of Thyagaraja needs an expert handling and TNS was
at ease. The swarams were very lively, he held on to the jeeva swaras for a couple
of seconds more to bring in the lingering effect.
Amma Ravamma was the main piece of the concert. Kalyani alapana was reasonably
good (not one of his bests, trying to reach the upper octaves with discomfort).The nerval
at 'Tamarasadalanetri" was brief and then he entered a very long swara vinyasa with lot
of kannaku. In the end you couldn't avoid feeling overstretched.

It was a revelation how important is voice fitness, for TNS unfortunately had sruti
lapses at couple of places. IMHO if TNS can reduce the kannaku aspect in his music it will
be great and make it more enduring.( Am I too late in the day!!!! )

CNC on the violin provided adequate support (though he could not fully match TNS in all depts)
TAS and MAK gave very good percussion support.

I could not be present for the post thani session. Anyone having attended may
add on.

braindrain · Post by **braindrain** » 28 Nov 2008, 15:45

Here we go :

05 padavini - sALaga bhairavi - Thyagaraja ( S )

06 RTP - vasanta , bhairavi & vasantabhairavi - Khanda triputa

pallavi line ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“ shruthi laya bhAva sangItam en vaSam tA , bhairavi pAhi mAmÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢

a short tani Avartanam

07 hari guN gAvat nAcUngI - navroz ?? - meerA bhajan

08 slOkam ( jagati vijita manthram? ) - jAunpuri

rAma manthrava japisO - jAunpuri - Purandara Dasa

09 paSupati - madhyamAvati - ?

not sure of this krithi . It had the line " iha para sowbhagyam arulvayo' in charanam.

10 mangaLam - saurAshtram - Thyagaraja

srIyay kAntAya ( slokam ) - Sri

braindrain · Post by **braindrain** » 28 Nov 2008, 16:05

Not reviewing here , but let me add a few thoughts..

His voice was strained initially and improved only towards the end of Kalyani apalana. From then, he was in full flow. As 'purist' suggested, the rest of the members on the stage was struggling , to keep up with TNS. So the 'overdoing' of kalyani swara singing did not create a 'aha' effect. With a better supporting artists, the story would have been very different. RTP was superb, by this time his voice was very good and had no trouble whatsoever. Others have also pithced in with much improved performance.

Some funny side of the concerts ( can remove if someone find this objectionable)

- The lady introducing the artists assigned a new 'guru' for TNS. According to her , Padmabhushan T N Seshagopalan is the desciple of Ramanathapuram C S Srinivas.

- After the not so elaborate opening ceremony ( thankful to the organisers) , she requested people not to leave as there will be a concert now to follow. You see, the 1000 odd people came in to the hall was to witness the 15 mins opening ceremony

- Just before he started his concert, TNS had the customery 'clearing the throat', a couple of small coughs. Next 10 seconds had a series of coughs across the hall ( i did it discreetly

)

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 28 Nov 2008, 16:17

Looks I missed quite something -RTP Vasantha Bhairavi, particularly if
his voice had settled by then.

braindrain · Post by **braindrain** » 28 Nov 2008, 17:26

RTP was in 3 ragas Vasanta , Bhairavi and Vasantabhairavi..

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Nov 2008, 17:50

Braindrain,
At least, she did not say TNS's guru was Srinivas, the playback singer of yore!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 28 Nov 2008, 22:35

Nothing remotely objectionable in your post braindrain - we are not that uptight yet!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 30 Nov 2008, 14:06

After the not so elaborate opening ceremony ( thankful to the organisers) , she requested people not to leave as there will be a concert now to follow. You see, the 1000 odd people came in to the hall was to witness the 15 mins opening ceremony

A good MC can use that line to good humorous effect.

I needed to lookup who TNS's guru is to enjoy the humor. It is Ramanathapuram C. S. Sankarasivam .

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 30 Nov 2008, 20:23

VK - his mudra is 'SakaradAsa' or 'harikESadAsa'.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 01 Dec 2008, 10:52

VK,
TNS's guru was one of a kind. His vidvat and teaching prowess apart, he was dignified gentleman whom I thought very higly of.
if you don't know, he was the brother of mrudanga vidvAn Muruga bhupathi (not to be confused with the young Muruga bhupathy who plays the mrudangam these days)...

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 01 Dec 2008, 11:55

TNS gave a concert near Palghat . A 5hr concert in which he sings the same RTP. Those interesed may download the entire concert from rasikapriya site,That was in the company of M.Chandrasekaran K.V.Prasad and Sridhar.I am not sure the percussion set of the concert under review was as competent as the Palghat concert. T.A.S.Mani is a very ordinary mirdangam player in comparision with his generation of players.Bye Ragjay

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 01 Dec 2008, 12:39

Thanks Arasi for that info.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 01 Dec 2008, 20:35

rshankar wrote:VK - his mudra is 'SakaradAsa' or 'harikESadAsa'.

SankaradAsa not SakaradAsa

saptaratna · Post by **saptaratna** » 03 Dec 2008, 18:37

Sankaradasa is the mudra used by TNS. U can find it in his Tillanas. Harikesadasa also is used by him sometimes,but Sankaradasa is specifically used by TNS and not his Guru Sankarasivam.

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 04 Dec 2008, 17:54

Ragjay wrote:TNS gave a concert near Palghat . A 5hr concert in which he sings the same RTP. Those interesed may download the entire concert from rasikapriya site,That was in the company of M.Chandrasekaran K.V.Prasad and Sridhar.I am not sure the percussion set of the concert under review was as competent as the Palghat concert. T.A.S.Mani is a very ordinary mirdangam player in comparision with his generation of players.Bye Ragjay

Ragjay ,
I could not trace it.Can you please provide the link?

Ragjay · Post by **Ragjay** » 05 Dec 2008, 12:35

Hi Purist, It is in the folder of N.V.Narayanan at rasikapriya site ,the last upload in that folder. Bye Ragjay

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 05 Dec 2008, 15:12

Thanks many Ragjay. Got it.