The Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival 2014

bsnram · Post by **bsnram** » 13 May 2014, 04:57

Video link to 72 Mela Ragamalika presentation by students of Smt. Kiranavali Vidyasankar @ Cleveland Aradana on Apr 25th:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... t_NfltaH0C

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 May 2014, 09:37

From Baby Sister to Big Brother...

Ravikiran's concert to the accompaniment of Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and MAE was unique. I wish it had lasted a little longer! But there was a second part to the program, when Birju Maharaj and Sasvath Sen joined them on stage. The program was aptly called: Dancing Strings and Singing Feet!

Listening to Ravikiran is a musical experience unlike any other. Immense is his knowledge. Young though he is, in his musical years he ranks among the veterans. He is a supremely gifted artiste who perhaps plays the most difficult stringed instrument. Watching and hearing him, I have been reminded of a master taming a difficult animal, making it eat out of his hand. And how quietly it's all done! How this child trained his instrument when he was being trained by his father in playing it!

As if Ravikiran's stature as a musician, researcher and composer is not enough, he is an excellent guru too. We see him shine as a player, composer and teacher. Add coordinator to that. When Cleveland provided the unique opportunity, his dream ideas materialized in the festival--as when Kathak came together with carnatic music.

When the strings are at play, there is calmness in the stream. Notes spring out of deep waters. He is one with his music, with that fund of his music, and we wonder--how did we get here to be part of it? Anyway, whenever I have heard him play, that's how I've felt, and it happened again that evening.

Ravikiran started the concert with vAraNa mukha vA. How rich a hamsadhvani it was! In a short time, Ravikiran extracted every possible beauty of the rAgA on his strings.

That being a thursday, he played bruhaspathE next. Then came a panthuvarALi. His rAgA, essence as always. LalguDi Vijayalakshmi's response to that was rich and resonant (as I mentioned before, the Lalgudi family truly honored their patriarch in a fitting manner by playing their best at Cleveland this year). Agamamulanu was the neraval line, svarAs bursting forth in gay abandon.

Birju Maharaj then played the tabla to which Sasvathi Sen danced, and it was something to watch! Then, Birju Maharaj indulged in Sol (bOl?) to which MAE played beautifully.

Sasvathi Sen had another surprise for us. She danced to Ravikiran's thAyE yaSOda, as if she knew the piece (she would not have had enough time to rehearse). Like our children, there seemed to be no problem of a language barrier there. With Lalgudi,UthukkADu Venkata Kavi was also honored, the kathak way!

Vijayalakshmi's kalyANa vasantham was moving.

The synergy was something to experience that evening...

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 13 May 2014, 11:13

Arasi
Thank you for your eloquent description of a unique event.
Slight correction: I think Ravikiran has been a performer for 40 years now

The five artistes you mention bring together perhaps 300 years of India's rich music and dance traditions!!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 May 2014, 18:37

Sachi,
Thank you for your kind words.Will make the correction.
Past midnight, and what I meant to say was, though young in years, Ravikiran ranks among veterans in his musical years!

The pluses (quiet time) and minuses (past bed time!) of late night writing

The expression child prodigy is something I try to avoid using, because it's freely used these days for extremely gifted children, and Ravikiran is one of the few among countless children who has gone on to prove his immense gift. In his forty odd years of life, musical life, he has earned that label as a child prodigy in every step of his musical journey.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 15 May 2014, 03:45

Folks,
I remember reading a post about the festival and particularly about the Mahabharatha segments in this thread yesterday. Did anyone else see it? I forget who posted it, was thankful that it covered all the five episodes (unlike my thumb-nail sketches of some programs). Where is it? I'm not able to find it now

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 03:37

Another Young Singer in the AriyakkuDi Tradition...

I have been hearing good things about Ashwath Narayanan, student and nephew of Padma Narayanaswamy who is starting to follow the KVN tradition. Well, AriyakkuDi tradition nourished KVN and he in turn flowered into his own kind of a musician with all his guru's given gifts intact. His music came to stay with Hemmige Srivatsan who is singing/playing the violin and teaching many students on the west coast--Srivatsan, a pioneer among young north american youngsters who now go and live in India for a few years to immerse themselves in the pursuit of the music of their ancestors.

Ashwath Narayanan is too young to have known KVN. Thanks to his aunt and guru Padma Narayanaswamy, he may also continue in KVN's tradition and may be a force in keeping it going.

Apoorva Krishnan (another of our youngsters who lives in India now to learn her music) played the violin and TVM Balaji played the mrudangam, boosting his singing.

ambaramE thaNNIrE brought in memory waves of KVN's singing--especially the neraval at SemboRkazhalaDi SelvA.

With smaraNE sukhamu Ashwath made us feel more comfortable about his likeness to the master.

I heard his tODi AlApanai and then had to go away from my lap top. He is very good, is so young, has all the time to develop into a reputed vocalist, we hope.

Later, I heard him sing in one of the mahAbhArathA episodes and for Nartaki Nataraj on the final day of the festival.

He has got it

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 04:00

Then for Some Seasoned Senior Singing...

Suguna Varadachari gave an excellent performance. I loved the choice of her songs. maravakavE O manasA in SAMa was a fine starter.

Her ninnu vinA in balahamsA was a very pleasant surprise.

parama pAvana rAmA's neraval and svarAs pleased no end.

How I missed the other Suguna! The two Sugunas were a fine duo (of a different kind from the popular ones). I do not know if they have sung together that much in India, but their chemistry was something to witness earlier at Cleveland. These are seniors to be treasured, not only for their music but for their coming together in a concert, bringing with them the musical riches they have gained over the years and giving a performance in unity!

Our thoughts are with Suguna Purushotham...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 04:25

I was glad I could hear her student K. Gayathri...

Suguna Purushotham has many talented students. Among them, K. Gayathri shines.
She started her concert with nannu brOva inka in AbhOgi which had enough pep to carry the concert along in a lively manner.

Her sahAnA was very appealing and was sweetly delivered.
Gayathri's chittam irangAdadEnaiyyA? was a classy piece of work. Then came a good kApi.

Her simhEndra madhyamam main was immensely pleasing. rAmA guNa sImA! was a very good choice.

Then, manOhara vELai (lovely time) with dEvamanOhari, jaya manOhari, sarasvathi manOhari with two handed tAlam for the RTP!

I also heard K. Gayathri singing for the first episode of the mahAbhArathA. She has everything going for her...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 06:33

Sahana Samraj Once Again!

The gifted youngster who had made an impression on many listeners earlier (see cacm's post) sang again. Did she fill in for anyone?

Anyhow, after that kIravANi she had sung earlier, the SankarAbharaNam which she chose to sing that morning commanded attention. Sri dakshiNAmUrthE with lovely svarams ensued.

Sriranjani rAgA had some fine touches. Her kANa vENDAmO...had pathos. I particularly liked the way she sang 'viNNuyar gOpuram' with the majestic temple tower conjured up in her singing with those two words!

Way to go, Sahana

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 07:02

The Sonorous Professor Impresses...

One of the concerts I was looking forward to was that of Dr.Balasubramanian of Wesleyan University whose concert and that of his students I had heard at Cleveland before. I've also heard his students singing a stunningly sweet concert at navarAtri at the university a few years ago (on Youtube).

His concert began with krupa jUchuTaku vElarA rAmA and enlivened the audience. I loved his list of songs. malayamArutham (PS's kaRpaga manOhara) was next.

Mood changing 'kArubAru' in mukhAri flowed effortlessly and bhajana parula next.

'EdaiyyA gati' had a flowing movement and his chala nATa framed Koteeswara Iyer's plea of many tones handsomely.

Balasubramaian's rich voice found a vehicle in kalyANi and in the super song enduku nI manasu karagadO?

Then came a brand new song for me: en mEl paTcham irukkumADi annamE? in kAmbOdi.

naLinakAnthi tillAnA wound up his concert.

I relished this concert no end. Nagai Muralidharan made it even more pleasing for the listeners...

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 16 May 2014, 08:29

Arasiji !
Excellent coverage of every event. Very interesting to read. Many thanx.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
16 05 2014

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 16 May 2014, 09:23

Thanjavooran,
Thanks for your kind words. I wish I had the time and energy to have watched each and every program! It would have been impossible, of course. That's why I kept asking others to join in. That way, every single program would have been written about...

I did try to take in as much as I could, believe me! The programs went on from early morning till late night--not leaving enough time to write about them.

We are not a newspaper or a magazine, and though some of our members are capable of writing far better reviews than some professional writers, many of us are just rasikAs but like to share our musical experiences with other rasikAs, no matter how we go about it. There was a lot to write about, and sometimes I got distracted by the demands of every day life. Still, in my own way, informally, without much musical knowledge, I kept going, though not delivering every day!

I have been a member here long enough to consider Rasikas.org family part of my life. Music binds us all, however different we all are. That's why the Cleveland festival strikes a chord in me. After all, it is a salient part of the recent history of CM and its high moments--besides, everything about CM interests us all!

I have a few more posts to go, and then, may be I will start listening to the webcasts and other pieces of music which are on hold--also find time to pursue my other interests

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 00:39

The Singing Strings of the Lalgudi Siblings...

Another Lalgudi native, denizen of Chennai like their own father, the illustrious writer lA.SA. rA brought out in his writings the ambiance of Lalgudi in an inimitable way. Thoughts and feelings blend and find their way to our heart in his writings. Like the river kAvEri, chintA nadi flows in all his writings.

kAvEri found a way to enter another Lalgudi family as music (all are generations of rasikAs in the village, mind you), and Jayaraman thrived on it, lived with it, worked with it constantly, creating his own gems of compositions. He also produced impressive students.

No wonder, with music flowing in their veins and in their growing up in the proximity of an extraordinary artiste, Vijayalakshmi and Krishnan have turned out to be excellent violin players (singers too--we heard Viji sing on the tape VKV played in the symposium about Lalgudi).

The siblings work hard on their craft too, it seems. They'll continue to do so and will keep what they have inherited and have imbibed. They are going to reach heights which will make their parents proud.

They had the privilege of being accompanied by sangitha kalanidhi Tiruchi/Toronto Sankaran. The bonus was that Tirupunithura Radhakrishnan played the ghatam.

aTANA varNam was the opener. A lovely mukhAri followed. Every stroke carefully thought out and played, brother and sister paid homage to their father throughout the festival in some way or other, joined by family, fellow artistes and rasikAs, all admirers of the Lalgudi bANi.

Kalyanavasantham (nAda lOluDai) stood out and I loved their sAVEri (rAma bANa ). Ambujam Krishna's enna Solli azzhaithAl came next.

One can't help being musical, coming from a musical family. However, to cultivate a life of immersion in it in spite of life's demands and against odds is another thing. A difficult thing, because, if your parent happened to be a superstar, it's doubly hard for you to live up to your own expectations and to that of others!

May they reap the benefits of their labor of love in the coming years

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 02:26

Fitting Finale...

With Bhagavad Gita Gnanam, the MahAbhArathA series came to an end with aplomb. It was yet another feather in Ravikiran's cap. His students Anahitha and Apoorva sang beautifully. I should mention that all the musicians, established and young, embellished the series with their singing and playing. As in the previous programs, some of the lyrics in the four programs were attention grabbing (one of the five solely being BhArathi's work panjAli sabadam). Ravikiran's music nourished the words and reverberated in the appealing voices and instrument sounds of the orchestra.

Several genres of dance came together in this program--bharathanatyam, Kathak, kuchipudi...

Rhadha and Birju danced again with joy, and the young dancers were as good as they were in other programs.
They worked very hard and gave their best--coming from different parts of the world, getting not much time for rehearsing together, but performing very well...

The five parts of the epic and the intermingling of dancers and singers made it difficult for me to note things any better. All the good stuff flowed into one for me

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 03:34

I went back and looked, but did not find my mentioning Vana VirATa Vijayam anywhere. It was another part of the mahAbhArathA with music by NSG and choreography by Anita Guha. The singing stood out in that ensemble. I remember a thODi by Surya, Sriranjani and K.Gayathri contributing more power to the team, also, Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman playing the nAdasvaram!

Anita Guha's choreography has a special feature which even my untrained eyes notice. It's the way dancers come together on stage, and those formations they create which are very pleasing to watch. This I noticed even with her work in the rAmAyaNA series. The costumes are also eye-catching in her productions. Did she play Kunti also?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 07:21

Dance, Dance, Dance...

The festival was drawing to an end...It all started with our little ones and teens singing on the very first day of the festival in competitions, and then a never-ending stream of music (so it seemed), then visually pleasing dance with music, and a bit of conversation on stage (all right, symposia).

We had arrived at the dance competitions which go on all day on the closing day of the festival. I had to be away quite a bit, and so missed a few programs--watched the children dance here and there as I was in and out of the house. I did this because I think of all the toil and trouble which has gone into it. Children, parents, teachers, helpers--all focusing on those few minutes on stage, dancing in front of the judges and an audience. In music contests, the preparations for stage appearance are minimal, but the prospect of being grilled by the judges is a daunting one. With dance, the getting ready part of it isn't that simple, but once they are on stage, they just have to concentrate on their presentation. No interruptions from the judges until their time is up and then they can leave the stage! They all must have done a good job, The ones I watched certainly did.

I was keen on watching Gowri Ramnarayan's presentation Sarpa Sutra but could not, due to my commitments. I will catch it on the webcast.

Staying with the subject of dance, I had a surprise and a treat that morning!

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 17 May 2014, 10:55

Arasi madam,

Excellent reports by you regarding the festival.The details of each and every event with critical remarks were interesting to read for one who is in Bangalore.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 17 May 2014, 12:16

[quote="arasi"]Sahana Samraj Once Again!

The gifted youngster who had made an impression on many listeners earlier (see cacm's post) sang again. Did she fill in for anyone? .THE VIOLINIST WAS ABSENT FOR HER FIRST CONCERT! INEXPLICABLE! SO SHE was asked to sing again with proper accompaniments. SHE DID GREAT BOTH TIMES!

Anyhow, after that kIravANi she had sung earlier, the SankarAbharaNam which she chose to sing that morning commanded attention. Sri dakshiNAmUrthE with lovely svarams ensued.

Sriranjani rAgA had some fine touches. Her kANa vENDAmO...had pathos. I particularly liked the way she sang 'viNNuyar gOpuram' with the majestic temple tower conjured up in her singing with those two words! ....YES. DEFINITELY A GREAT TALENT WHICH DESERVES ALL OUR ENCOURAGEMENT & SUPPORT...

Way to go, Sahana ....YES. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH ARASI'S OBSERVATIONS! VKV

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 18:25

hnbhagvan,
Thanks!

VKV,
Ah, that's why! Yes, I look forward to seeing Sahana more in the music scene...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 19:53

Always_Evolving,
So, it was you who wrote about the dance dramas five! I found your posts just now on searching again. Thanks once again. I had somehow forgotten that it was you who wrote about the dances along with your comments on some programs of music

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 21:37

A Day of Dance...

Dancing, quite Astonishing.

I realize I live in the dark ages when it comes to being a keen rasikA of dance. Someone like Ravi (rshankar) would have been of immense help if he had been there with me.

I had only heard of this artiste and had never seen her perform. When she did (and choreographed too), I admired her becoming river gangA in her movements in the first episode of the mahAbhArathA. When she played one of the KrishnAs in the last segment, the play of emotions on her face was worth watching for me.

The final day of the festival brought her to the stage again...

Remembering Kittappa Pillai:

It was the master's student Narthaki Nataraj. In honoring her guru, the subtlety and restrained creativity she displayed touched me. mahA gaNapathi was invoked in the first piece and the majesty of vinAyakA was brought out in it. All deities she danced about gained their individual stature in her aesthetic and emotive interpretation.
The master seems to have handed over many gifts of the art to her--her exquisite facial expressions to start with. No comparisons, but how she reminded me of Bala!

SAmiyai azhaithu vA sakhiyE was beautifully sung by Ashwath Narayanan among other songs.

Narthaki did full justice to this major varNam. Even while doing jathi-s, her face burst out with shades of expression. Her body language subtle and robust at the same time.

The nAyikA plays the vINA, a string snaps, and how she goes about restringing it! I relished it. Her getting ready for and offering upachArams was a cameo worth recalling.There were many such moments.

Annamalai Reddiyar's kAvaDi Chindu was a shining piece.

rAmanukku mannan muDi was a crowning piece (pun intended, with non-crowning too!). The way kaikEyi and kUni carried on a conversation (and the ominous conversion) could be read on her face in quick turns. Arunachala kavi's dramatic moment captured there by Narthaki.

Nalinakanthi tillana, and an AnjanEya song. Her dancing and the posture at the end announced the soul of the festival--Tyagaraja's rama bhakthi.

A true homage to a great guru in bharathanatyam.

I stayed till the end to watch it all...

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 17 May 2014, 21:57

ABOUT DANCE PERFORMANCES:
THERE IS SO MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT THE DANCE PROGRAMS I WILL JUST STATE THAT THE MUSIC, CHOREOGRAPHY & DANCE WERE WORLD CLASS EQUALLING ANY LEADING WESTERN BALLET COMPANIES LIKE THE BOLSHOI BALLET WHICH TO ME IS THE ULTIMATE ONE I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST 60 YEARS.
WHILE there were many memorable performers in my mind ONE DANCER MEDHA HARI STOOD OUT. SHE WAS JUST PERFECT! In addition to the perfect symmetry & movement of a CALDER MOBILE, HER BHAVAM was just unbelievable as it evoked memories of the one & only Balasaraswathi & the foot work of a Berishnikov.
A VERY EXCITING ADDITION TO THE CLEVELAND REPERTOIRE IN PRESENTING THE BEST IN OUR MUSIC........VKV :ymapplause:

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 May 2014, 22:18

VKV,
There were many dancers I wished I had made notes of, and as I said, I cannot recollect many brilliant moments in their performance to write about days after seeing them. Was it the young girl who appeared at least in two of the episodes? I thought she was unbelievable. She portrayed the young brides with grace and in every movement and wonderful foot work she was excellent...

Every dancer had put her or his best into the enactment of the story. Otherwise, all this wouldn't have happened...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 18 May 2014, 00:25

Now, for a bit of fun...

Cleveland Festival 2014

A is for the ARAdhanA

B is for Best show in CM and for the behAg we heard so many times but didn't tire of.

C is for Cleveland, the other name of Sundaram.

D is for Delay, which we had experienced more often than in previous years? Also for doddering old diehard fans of music like me.

E is for Excellence in everything. Organizing, performing and whatever else there is.

F is for Fellowship without which nothing as grand as this can happen--and FUNDS!

G is for Generating more love for CM, and in bringing up Generations of musicians.

H is for Hierarchy (actually the lack of it). Veterans playing for babes and little ones sitting on stage with megastars and performing.

I is for International. It isn't a regional, state or country-oriented event.
I is also for icarnatic. Great work, team!

J is for the green-eyed monster but that was taken care of with ritualistic gestures with a coconut or two!

K is for Keep it Clean. Apart from the environment, the committee wants to stick to what is traditional in CM to them (sing Tradition!, the Fiddler on the Roof way to yourself

Still, Cleveland is very world music too. See I above).

L is for Louder! Technology may take leaps by the minute, but 'louder!' is heard more on the stage now. If not for the microphone, the feed back

If the performers take turns in doing this, it's worse. As a result, we also see abhinaya moments in music concerts.

M is not for Michigan but for melody. It filled our hearts for many days, non-stop.

N is for Nothing is perfect. But Cleveland surely is near-perfect.

O is for Overdosed. No, I didn't feel that way. You have to go to E to find out why. The music was Excellent.

P is for persistence. The Cleveland idea that nothing is impossible to achieve if only you try, try, try...

Q is for Quick--quickly vacate the stage is a prime example of it. Another leveler for big names, even if lisping little ones are going to occupy the stage next.

R is for rasikas. What else?

S is for Sundaram and Co who make it all happen. Balu's beaming face comes to mind along with other 'make it all happen' folks.

T is for TyAgarAjA, the very reason for all these thirty seven years of cultural activity

U is for United (see also F for fellowship).

V is for Veeravanallur. Eh? a small village near Tirunelveli? Well, if musical family trees have borne the artistes who light up Cleveland every year, why not name an 'organizer/rasikA bearing' family tree too, and its origin? Also allows me to recall my native village with pride :ymparty: always wanted to use this smiley and here it is!
V is for VKV too, who was honored this year.

W is for Waaetjen Auditorium. What would the festival do? Where would it go without it? (look at F. If the funds poured in, the ArAdhanA can build its own auditorium!

X is for X-treme, in festivals.

Y is for Youngsters Rule!

Z is for Zeal. Hope we don't ever lose it...

Now, to a (*) of a festival, :ymapplause:

:-! May it continue year after year!

That's all, folks!

Mangalam

Post script:
Hope others start adding to/correcting whatever I have written so far, so that we can have a complete picture of Cleveland Aradhana 2014...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 18 May 2014, 20:06

MKR,
I am thankful for all the praise you heap on me in the TVG thread about my Cleveland Chronicles. You would have done better, had you put your mind to it. Also, it was easier for me to write, distancing myself from all that was happening right there. You were so steeped in your experience, excited about it all, and above all, were meeting friends and artistes. I say this because writing about the Chennai season is tougher for me--for the same reason. That's why I am so thankful for the streaming.

Yes, it's a lot of work, and you will sympathize with me on this: my basic (if at all) skills in computer matters made it more difficult (lost several jottings and had to
rewrite them). My life was being consumed by nothing but Cleveland for a few weeks. Watching, and then in writing what I couldn't cover in those eleven (?) days of the festival.

I am richer for it, though. All the music I could listen to! It was also a responsibility (in writing) which I wanted to stick to until I completed it.

Above all, sharing my pleasure with like-minded people propelled me most. My other little projects await. I'm a good (?) procrastinator which a few on Rasikas.org know about--and now, help keep Rajesh under guard on this 8-| )

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 19 May 2014, 10:29

Thank you again, Arasi. I think we are richer for it.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 20 May 2014, 03:13

arasi wrote:VKV,
There were many dancers I wished I had made notes of, and as I said, I cannot recollect many brilliant moments in their performance to write about days after seeing them. Was it the young girl who appeared at least in two of the episodes? I thought she was unbelievable. She portrayed the young brides with grace and in every movement and wonderful foot work she was excellent...
Every dancer had put her or his best into the enactment of the story. Otherwise, all this wouldn't have happened...

The dancer kum. Medha Hari I referred to appeared in EVERY episode (in different roles in each!)....
However I must add that PRACTICALLY EVERY DANCER who appeared in the Mahabharatha episodes was VERY GOOD. The MUSIC& CHOREOGRAPHY WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I have come to the conclusion that LGJ in his UNIQUE& INIMITABLE WAY is the generator of this genre of Dance Dramas starting with JAYA JAYA DEVI (which produced the HEADLINE in the CLEVELAND PRESS a national leading newspaper " A PERFECT 10!" which is in cricket terms equivalent to a Triple century!) has started in my opinion a new dance,musical & choreography revolution........VKV :-BD :ymapplause:

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 20 May 2014, 03:58

Very true. I can't resist bragging a bit there. Sumithra and Sunanda were very much part of it

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 20 May 2014, 05:59

Arasi: So was Sujatha --the Researcher Par Excellence!! Acorns do not fall far from the tree!!!

Our association with LGJ blossomed during the creation of the Dance Drama-Our kitchen walls still reverberate with LGJ's music--his explanations as to why he chose Atana for the Dakshan-Dakshayani episode(where Dakshan belittles Shiva) combined with Sujata's lilting lyrics,the Nalanikanthi Thillana( The piece starting majestically with the Sa Ga Ri Ma Pa Ni Ma Pa Ni Sa Pa Ni Ga Ri Sa --LGJ would sing and ask us our opinion (!!!) about the crescendo beginning!!

Oh memories,memories--to be continued in the LGJ Reminiscences thread.

I agree with you and VKV that the Dance Choreography and Music was OUTSTANDING--the dancers,the singers. the accompaniments--collectively transported us all to heaven!! Ravi Kiran,CVC et al worked tirelessly to pull these performances off with style and grace.

What I liked most about the Festival is its distinct shift in Focus towards encouraging the youth to learn and perform our CM--the 650 odd students who came all from all over NA and their parents grasped the opportuniy and performed outstandingly. VVS and his "gang" plus the second generation of VVS/Balu/Venkatraman were indefatigable and the torch of preservation is being commendably passed on to the next generation, It is upto all of us Rasikas in NA to encourage the Festival with our presence and our contributions.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 May 2014, 03:35

rsachi in another thread says that Apoorva Krishna has bagged the Bengaluru Youth Festival prize for the best violinist.
Congratulations, Apoorva

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 26 May 2014, 03:55

arasi wrote:Very true. I can't resist bragging a bit there. Sumithra and Sunanda were very much part of it

Dear Arasi, PL SEE LALGUDI JAYARAMAN UNDER VAGGEYAKARAS WHERE I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT SUJATHA VIJAYARAGHAVAN THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE TRINITY RESPONSIBLE FOR JAYA JAYA DEVI- LGJ & RADHA BEING THE OTHER TWO. There were too many dancers to single out VKV

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 May 2014, 04:47

VKV,
Agreed

You make me feel prouder! I mentioned the offspring because it comes naturally to celebrate the kids. I did not get to see Jaya Jaya Devi (were we in the UK then?).

Can't agree more with you--If Sujatha was guided by her mother in matters of music, her father instilled in her the sensibilities, erudition and other qualities she possesses, which makes me even more proud!

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 26 May 2014, 09:22

Arasi, How true you are & your words! What a glorious time we have been lucky to live in.......VKV

tanapp · Post by **tanapp** » 26 May 2014, 10:47

What a thread and coverage arasi. TVG mama described Shri VVS as the modern aala maram (Banyan Tree) of Carnatic Music - and your A to Z of Cleveland Festival more than once mentions him. :ymapplause:

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 May 2014, 13:01

arasi wrote:rsachi in another thread says that Apoorva Krishna has bagged the Bengaluru Youth Festival prize for the best violinist.
Congratulations, Apoorva

I saw this young lady yesterday and was amazed and delighted by the sensitivity and beauty of her playing.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 May 2014, 19:01

tanapp,
Thank you for your appreciation of the thread.

TVG said it. Sundaram and his team of organizers and volunteers have brought more nourishment to CM in the past few decades than any other organization. Several years ago, I called the Cleveland ArAdhanA ' a phenomenon' unlike any other in the CM world (not an exaggeration). The Cleveland festival certainly is an Alamaram (banyan tree), taking foothold in cold NA and growing from strength to strength as years go by...

Mahavishnu, sarva vyApi (all pervading),
Thank you for chiming in again to say 'what a good girl I was' in sticking with it, late though I was in delivering!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 May 2014, 19:03

Nick,
Isn't she something? Where did you hear her?

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 26 May 2014, 21:08

Apoorva, CONGRAGULATIONS :ymapplause: and BEST WISHES!....The musical world at least is your Oyster. GO CONQUER IT.....VKV :ymapplause: II

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 May 2014, 21:42

arasi wrote:Nick,
Isn't she something? Where did you hear her?

I saw her at yesterday's Musiri House concert. Three youngsters performing, of which, I guess, she would have been the middle:

Aishwarya Vidhya Raghunath, vocal
Apoorva Krishna, violin
Akshay Anand, mridangam.

It was also the first time I have seen this Aishwarya.

Aditto · Post by **Aditto** » 14 Jun 2014, 19:20

arasi wrote:Back to last friday afternoon...

BMK, the adored king of CM was in a collaboration with CSU Jazz ensemble. He had created a new rAgA for the occasion. Then came the amazing rasikapriya ouvre. How his voice rained nectar!

The university jazz ensemble played the rAgA too. The children did a splendid job of their singing. Gayathri Venkataraghavan and the maestro wove a grand strand of what became the rasikAs' priya (Rajesh, I'm emulating you here!).

Shashikiran was the coordinator, singer, and connector of all elements. Ganesh sang too, but he barely played the chithravina (he was billed to). I was waiting to hear him, but heard only a few strains of his playing, though Shashi was signalling him to play more. Murari's violin sounds were very pleasing. Since there was a violin already in the ensemble, a bit more of the chithravinA sound would have added more dimension to the piece.

Tiruvarur rocked and the jazz percussion's multi-sounds were a treat to hear...

Here is the link !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLWjAHa_9PQ

cpblog · Post by **cpblog** » 06 Jul 2014, 20:01

This may not be the right place to mention this particular news item, but there are so many wonderful Rasikas here talking of dance and one of the most premium and enriching organizations of our times, the Cleveland Thygaraja Aradhana group in the USA, that this member thought of lauding a very recent dance event.

The Shiva Jyoti Dance Academy of NJ, under its founder and illustrious teacher Smt. Thejeswini Raj have left their mark with the audiences in the Clevelend Aradhana of 2010.

This past Friday, July 4, 2014, the Chinmaya Mission "Vrindavana" in Cranbury, NJ celebrated the opening of their beautiful temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna and to their Dakshina Murthy Teaching Institute under the auspices of the Chinmaya USA Chief Acharya Swami Shantananda and Swami Tejomayananda,Chinmaya Worldwide Head, who flew in from Mumbai for the "Kumbha-Abhishekham".

The Shiva Jyoti Academy staged their dance drama "Krishna Geetam" specially tailored for this occasion and this may have been one of the most remarkably choreographed dances ever witnessed in the last 40 years by lovers of Bharatha Natyam living here in the NY to Boston Eastern belt (gathered by comments made by the many mature dance and Carnatic music connoisseurs). The child and the older lady who played Krishna, the lady that played Pootana, the one that played Partha and the Lord who gave the sermon, and the entire ensemble deserved completely the thunderous ovation of the huge and spontaneous crowd. The group played out an entire Krishna's life in just under an hour with fast paced, rollicking and mesmerizing histrionics. The dance movements and the "Abhinaya" from the professional seniors and juniors was simply out of this world. You were caught staring into many a wonderful face of many future Balasaraswathy's.

Readers can visit their website at http://www.shivajyothi.com/ShivaJyotiDa ... tions.html.

A write up of this event may not be there yet. This is just a mention from a person who is afraid of any mantle of a Rasika, but who can tell of a genuine thing. This is just a reminder to members of this great forum to go and see this group wherever and whenever possible.

For CPBlog Team

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Jul 2014, 22:30

CPBlog,
This again may not be the place to say it, but why not? Your contribution to rasikAs of Parvathi concerts is something very valuable too, and needs mentioning.

I do not know about a mantle for rasikAs, but the service as more than a rasikA (organizers too) that you and other folks bring to the forum cannot be forgotten.

I will look out for the Siva jyOthi Academy's performances on Youtube.

Are you here in the US on a visit?

cpblog · Post by **cpblog** » 07 Jul 2014, 03:22

Arasi-ji,

Many thanks for your kind words.

I normally do not "gush" on many things nor seek to promote anyone in any form, but I did wander in here on this occasion to express something spontaneously in joy that I heard from an astute crowd and was myself thrilled by something. I do wander in silently into this forum, on many an occasion, mainly to learn from group members here who I find are very well informed on matters pertaining to their heritage and very proud of it. They also lend their expressions in a very respectable and welcome way.

As to your kind question on whether I came visiting from India, no, I have been in the USA for the last four decades.

The youtube medium I realized does not do much justice to a person's "abhinaya" or perhaps it may lie with the person doing the lensing.

Here is something that I found on the Youtube on the dance academy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkbdz8VpKSM

Best regards,
On behalf of the CPBlog Team (but this is just one person's opinion)