I had the good fortune to attend Toronto Brothers' (Ashwin and Rohin Iyer's) Carnatic music concert in Naradha Gana Sabha on December 13, 2008. They were accompanied on the violin by T. Hemamalini, on the Mridangam by Mudhra Bhaskar and on the Kanjira by V.V.S. Manian.
The concert was held in the small hall in the back of the main hall. The ambience was good and the audience paid close attention to the music.
The brothers started the concert with a Varnam in the Raga Vandhanadharini set to Kanda Triputa Tala, music arranged by their Guru S.R. Janakirman, who was also sitting in the front row, appreciating the music of his senior disciples. This raga is rarely heard in concerts. I was watching SRJ sir's reaction to what he was listening, and I can tell you it was all in full approval.
The next piece was Maha Ganapate in the Raga Natanarayani by Muthuswami Dikshitar, set to Adi Talam. Again, we rarely hear Natanarayani being sung in concerts.
The third piece was Raka Sasivadhana in the Raga Takka by Saint Thyagaraja. Music lovers expect Swara Kalpana for this song, and the audience got the right quantity of it in this concert. I particularly liked the tempo in which this krithi was rendered.
By the way, I want it known that I know nothing about Carnatic music. So my comments herein are those of a lay man, who listens to Carnatic music with passion.
Raka Sasivadhana was followed by Diwakara Tanujam in Yadhukula Kamboji (Chathusra Ekam) by Muthuswami Dikshitar. The beauty of this raga was very well brought out by Ashwin and Rohin in this krithi.
There was no time for an RTP in this concert. Instead we got two main pieces. The first main piece was a Muthu Thandvar krithi, tuned by T. V. Swaminatha Pillai in Simmendra Madhyamam Ragam "Innum oru Sthalam". As I am a Niraval fan, no amount of Niraval is ever enough for me. However, Ashwin and Rohin did full justice to Raga Alapana, Niraval and Swarams for this beautiful piece. The raga Alapana was rendered by Rohin. From the moment Rohin started the Alapana, I was sure the Raga was Simmendra Madhyamam. I don't know the Arohanam or Avarohanam for any Raga!
The next main piece was Kaddanuvariki in Thodi by Saint Thyagaraja. I have heard SRJ sir sing Kaddanuvariki in his North American concerts (as well as Raka Sasivadhana). I can say that his Sishyas were at par with their Master's performance in rendering this Krithi. AShwin rendered the Todi Raga Alapana.
The Thyagaraja Krithi 'Yochana Kamala Lochana' in Durbar (or Darbar?) was a filler between the two main pieces. Again, it was rendered in the right tempo (not too fast, not too slow). I have heard many musicians sing this song too fast for my taste.
The concert concluded with a Thillana in the Raga Khamas. The accompanying artists did a fairly good job. The Kanjira impressed me the most.
The Narada Gana Sabha concert was a short, sweet, and memorable one. Torontonians take pride in saluting Ashwin and Rohin Iyer for elevating the standard of Carnatic music in North America and presenting it in major forums in Chennai.
By the way, Narada Gana Sabha should note that Toronto is spelled Toronto and not Torento.
I will write about Toronto Brothers' Krishna Gana Sabha concert tomorrow.
Hello Toronto music lovers, you don't know what you are missing!
SS Krishna, Toronto