The Cleveland ArAdhanA and Festival 2015

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 04 Apr 2015, 19:18

Now the sound is on at the end of NATTAI

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 04 Apr 2015, 19:47

Why repeat Nattai again in the middle of Arabhi ?
Is it because the sound track was missing in nAttai ? Does it mean we will be back to varALI soon ?

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 04 Apr 2015, 19:54

My guess was right ! Let us hope GowrimanOhari piece & the whole of Pancharatnam will be broadcast in right sequence in the "on demand" program

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 04 Apr 2015, 20:10

Punarvasu,
Glad that you are watching...

A veteran dancer that she is, and the way she had captured the hearts of dance lovers, it'll be nice to hear something from the rasikAs about Sonal Mansingh's dance last evening. I heard her intro where she spoke of her first performance in Chennai in 1968, when MS, Rukmini Arundel, Dr. Raghavan (was Balasaraswathi mentioned?) were part of the audience. I could see and hear lovely sarOd sounds--to me, even better than sitAr sounds. Birju and Saswathi were accompanied by one when they danced last year at Cleveland.

The sound was on for the opening JayadEvA piece and it was lovely to watch her. I also caught her last one about rAmA on the (and ) giri. How the bhAvA and movements stay intact in these dance veterans! Hope we get some more on her performance. What I saw was riddled with sound paucity.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 04 Apr 2015, 22:33

I didn't get his name. The idol winner, the very young boy did a good job of BajarE Chita BAlambikAyam in KalyANi and the MDR's ThillAna in kApi. If he continues his training and practice will have a good future in the field.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 05 Apr 2015, 00:48

I had Sowmya's concert review, but the computer went dead and my review was gone., before I could send it. I have problems with my computer and cannot write anything until itis fixed. I enjoyed the interaction of the vidwans and the students. Now I can hear Mr.Sundaram well- Thanks to icarnatic team.
Good to hear Dr.Narmada's Nalinakanthi.

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 05 Apr 2015, 00:50

Happy to be here today!

Now enjoying the MSG tribute session chaired by Sri VKV.

Dr Narmadha demonstration of MSG special Naliniakanti in progress. Beautiful!

Earlier in the morning enjoyed a great conversation with Dr VKV. Looking forward to a conversation with Lakshmanji later this afternoon.

BTW Lunch was great too!

Thanks to all the hard working organizers!

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 05 Apr 2015, 01:22

2 veena 2 violin 2 mrdanga 1 venu presentation by U S youngsters shaping up well but sounds like a high volume affair from where I am sitting.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 01:31

maduraimini,
A shame we lost your review. Please do not use quick reply for long posts--not even post reply. Type in word pad and copy and paste--something you learn after losing the content of your posts over and over again

Sreeni,
Glad that you are there today! Good lunch too, eh?

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 05 Apr 2015, 01:52

Very nice, elaborate hEmavati.
Packed auditorium.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 02:42

Cleveland's Age of Epic choir of the kids ranging from the age of six (?) and conducted by NSG was a delight.They started with varavINA, then the english note which started in viLamba kAlam but got jaunty after the first round. Hearing the children sing it was more appealing than when you hear adults singing it ??

The chorus rows were many, percussion side full, two vINAs, four violins. Neyveli's Sishya kulam (his expression, not mine) which trained them were there in the last row, bordering them.

Then a first line of a 'song mAlA' of many TyAgarAja kIrthanAs, starting with nityA lOlam (of nAda tanumaniSam Sankaram). A complicated layA pattern with chenchuruTti which even the babes handled easily!

Their transition from one rAgA to the next was impressive.

vAtApi gaNapathim with some svarA rounds. NSG's mEdA vilAsam and teaching skills was reflected in the children's singing, with the help of his students.

After suraTi in the mAlikA, Neyveli's composition for the children tYAgarAja ArAdhanai, Cleveland--il tyAgarAja ArAdhanai.

Bravo, choir

*

The Harvest of Tomorrow's Musicians in Cleveland!

Then a spitited interaction among the Cleveland premier league of musicians and super pros,
NSG, Nagai Muralidharan, MAE and Dr.Narmada. It got better and better, as the pros gently guided them to sing more and more variations, play more.

Their impromptu session was invigorating. How much they know! How much they are into it! How talented they are! How keen they are to learn and adapt!

Later, when VVS bragged about them (we all do), it was not an exaggeration. North America is producing vidvAns and vidUshis of CM of the future in large numbers. No doubt about it.
*

MSG, the perfect artiste
..............................

Our beloved VKV was on stage, to mark the greatness of a musician, one of the trio of CM violinists, M.S.Gopalakrishnan. A book about him by his daughter, his prime student, Dr.Narmada was released by VVS and a key organizer of the festival, Rajan Natarajan received it.

VKV spoke briefly (as is his wont) about the perfection MSG achieved through sAdhanA, with the help of the treasure he inherited from his father Parur Sundaram Iyer. MSG, whom Abdul Karim Khan and MMI admired along with all of us!

Music always playing in the family (practice results in perfection). The Parur school is known for it. Dr. Narmada added that they brought HM to the south and took the violin to the north!

SK, Sangeetha Ratnakara Prof. Tiruchy Sankaran spoke about MSG, the one he brought to the US for a twenty five concert tour (and I heard one unforgettable concert at Vassar then!). VKV remarked how that was mostly a musician sponsoring a musician tour!

NSG, with his usual bonhomie and great respect for MSG, lauded him.

The icing on this delightful bit of the honoring of MSG was his daughter ( from the age of five his student too, and inheritor of his musical treasure) played a delightful nalinakAnti rAgA and the song manavinyAlakincarA.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 03:19

Sreeni,
While the Madurai goddess's pics are eagerly awaited (did you see her snapping away?), why don't you please send us some? Lakshman being feted, for instance--we can't miss that! And MAE too of course, among forumites who get honored. You already would have met NSG, Suryaprakash, Ravikiran, Shashikiran , Dr. Narmada and other musician members.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 05 Apr 2015, 05:19

This year, one more forumite, Shri Erode Nagarajan is also there.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 05 Apr 2015, 05:43

Thanx Arasi for your super narration.
Keep on writing
with wishes,
Thanjavooran
05 04 2015

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 07:18

Thanks, my friend Thanjavooran here (and from the literary wing of Rasikas.org too.)
There is so much to watch and write about, AND to remember my home too in all the time when I'm watching and writing. Grocery shopping has been postponed time and again...

The great thing is, we are more reporters now on the Cleveland phenom now. Proud that we are from the oldest set of members! Inviting the younger ones to join in too.

What a busy day it has been!

They Make Us Proud!
........................

The kids did a stupendous job of the two hour long program on VenkateSA. What an array of songs! rAgA and svarams in rotation for some songs. Great accompanists on every instrument--including the super small mrudangist

Great selection of songs. How many from KVN's (Ariyakudi's) list! B. Krishnamurthy was one of the gurus they learned from and I'm not surprised. All other gurus too taught them well and the kids lapped it up.

Some songs from the concert: ikanaina nA mora vina rAdA? sEshAchala nAyakam, SrivenkatESa girISam, SrinivAsa tava charaNam, paridanamiccitE, venkaTESA ninnu, SrinivAsa thiru vEngaDamuDaiyAi, bhAvayAmi gOpAla bAlam...

They rounded it all up by chanting SrinivAsAya mangaLam.
Qudos, kids! May your music make your lives a sweet journey...
*

'Prizes' for Our Prized Ones
.................................

As some of the musicians read our posts, do organizers from the Cleveland festival read our posts too? Just wondering

Last year, I wrote about the way I was a bit miffed the way the honoring ceremony was a 'rush rush' affair, our barely being able to see the recipients even fleetingly.Time has to be kept, I know, but not allowing them to take a moment to take a bow and for us to see them!

This year it was different. It was not a crowded stage as last year, the camera showed them in close range.

Will write more after looking at My Fair tODi!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 09:30

Did catch most of My Fair Todi which was very interesting, but leave it to others who saw it to write about it.

The Awards
..............

I tried my best to make sure that I didn't miss the ceremony (knowing it would be brief), but the programs running late at Cleveland made me somehow miss the beginning of it due to that. That's when Madurai Sundar would have received his award. I missed seeing him

Nonetheless, feel proud about him for the kind of teacher he is.

Again, thanks to Cleveland for making the short ceremony rasikas-friendly by clearing the award giving area of too many people, slowing down the process and showing larger images of the awardees.

Lakshman,
Our hearts swelled with pride when we saw your
being recognized. Not that you were looking for an award for all the sEVA--the hard work you have put in all these years in garnering compositions from every possible source and in sharing them with all rasikAs and musicians. Still, Cleveland recognized you and we are proud...Tried to spot Shantha in the audience to see her smiling face!

Another rasikas.org member, MAE delighted us not only by receiving the award but in his being part and parcel of the festival (fellow Nagai Muralidharan too)--in participating very actively, in judging and in encouraging children and fellow artistes on stage. Loved it when he said "I haven't been awarded an honor in a crowd as big as this! It was my birthday a few days ago, and this gift!"

NSG, that sarva vyApi and amicability personified! He was another star forumite among us who was another recipient.

Folks, whether we deliver our hundred pound bag of rice for the unchavritti or not (merely quoting big cat), we have to realize that Cleveland has a way of attracting artistes from everywhere. Sonali Mansingh, Yella and others could not rein in their feelings when called upon to receive their awards.

Whether anyone in the Cleveland committee read my comment last year or not, it so happened that they made the award ceremony a very nice one this year.

Of course, congratulations to one and all of the distinguished awardees

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 09:41

A footnote:
If you remember, I also frowned upon and protested the 'shawling' and Sachi posted a beautiful picture of an array of shawls, Mahavishnu agreeing with me, but many, not. I accept defeat in that effort. I still do not budge to honor guests with a shawl but with a gift in the events which I hold...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 10:01

Punarvasu,
Yes, I did see Nagaraj on stage at the time of the ArAdhanA. Hope to catch him playing too. I have to consult the schedule. You could count a number of the forumites on stage this morning

Okay, name them all

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 05 Apr 2015, 10:01

Yes, the return of the shawl! I think I am now resigned to the fact that it will stay in its vestigial role for a while to come.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 05 Apr 2015, 17:57

rajeshnat wrote: Congratulations that your student is selected as pallavi winner and had a chance to sing in an exclusive slot. Can i also assume he learnt from both mohan and sangeetha ayyar.Ashwin's first guru Mohan was born in africa , having learnt in australia and then gives a performance in america, truly a global vidwan. How old is Ashwin?

We have a lot of NRIs doing well in Carnatic music now. Sandeep Narayan and RK Murthy are two notable ones.

Ashwin was born in Neyveli but lived the first ten years of his life in Sydney. His family then moved to California.He learnt in the Bay Area from Smt Hema Sista and later has been learning remotely from Smt Charumathi Ramachandran. He is a now freshman studying at San Diego. He has been performing in the Chennai December season for the last few years as well.

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 05 Apr 2015, 19:19

Arasi avare,
As I was driving back from Cleveland, I realized I should have taken more pictures!

Two samples here: NSG conducting the Choir. The picture is not as grand as it looked inside the auditorium (picture taken with my phone camera from way back in the auditorium). I would still like to upload this picture to give you all an idea how big the effort must have been to train so many kids and enable them to come together on stage.

The second picture is our Legend - Dr VKV

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 05 Apr 2015, 19:40

Thanks Sreeni...and with an anga vastram too!
Note the single sheet of folded paper in his pocket. Points for his speech--not multiple pages in hand which threaten the audience with an endless speech...kidding folks

meenaakshi · Post by **meenaakshi** » 05 Apr 2015, 22:20

Glimpses:)

https://picasaweb.google.com/Minavg/Cle ... etival2015

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 05 Apr 2015, 22:59

arasi wrote:Punarvasu,
Yes, I did see Nagaraj on stage at the time of the ArAdhanA. Hope to catch him playing too.

namaskAram. I am here and feeling so happy about being part of this great festival. Amazing energy is generated by Sundaram mAmA and comittee members that we see everyone moving around sporting enthusiastic faces amidst the joyful selfies flooding the facebook.

Now listening to a vibrant concert of GV.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 06 Apr 2015, 00:17

Very nice "glimpses," meenaakshi

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 06 Apr 2015, 00:45

Congratulations to all the budding artists who won prizes in the various competitions. Best Wishes to all!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 06 Apr 2015, 01:29

Thanks for the photographs Meenakshi. Awesome.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 06 Apr 2015, 01:47

Sunday afternoon, Gayathri Venkataraghavan concert with Anuradha Sridhar on the violin.

This concert turned out to be . A concert never to forget. I always liked Gayathri’s concerts and try to go whenever I can. This concert I heard from my home, turned out to be the Best. It was so emotional - filled with all essentials needed for a wonderful concert. Added to this was Anuradha Sridhar beautiful violin strings.

She started with a beautiful sloka in Abhogi . I had to answer the phone and missed the song, which I do not know. I heard the swarams and they were beautiful.
A beautiful Alapana in Pantuvarali was next. After the violin, Gayathri sang Thyagaraja’s ‘Appa Rama Bhakthi’.
Then came my favorite , Raga Reethigaula. After the sloka, she sang Subbaraya Sastry’s
‘Janani Ninnu Vina’. I love this kriti. Gayathri sang this with as much emotion as the composer put in this song. It was filled with pathos, as this raga evokes. The chittaswarams were beautiful and Anuradha’s violin was as good as the song itself. I would say this was an award-winning song.
Then she sang Kalyani alapana followed by Sivan’s ‘ Chidambaram ena manam’.
Then came a Grand alapana of Kamboji. There are no words to describe it. Anuradha’s Kamboji was excellent. After that the artist said a few words about Sivan and continued with the Sivan song ‘Adum Deivam nee arulvai’. Niraval, swaram was good. The Kamboji alapana was out of this world. The Mridangam sound was very soothing. He went along with the song, with no big Upmanship. The Thani was very good. The mridangam ,Ghatam and kanjira artists showed their talent well.

The next was Sivan’s ‘Sodanai sumaikku veru .
I heard her start Rhillana- But the screen was gone and I heard children singing the Malahari geetham. All in all, the concert was wonderful. Gayathri Venkataraghavan with her wonderful
accompaniments did a superb job.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 06 Apr 2015, 02:04

Sunday concert by young artist Adithya Chakravarthy

Started with Natta raga krithi ‘Swaminatha Paripalaya. sang swarams at ‘Kamithartha’.
After a nice Poorvikalyani raga alapana, he started a song, I haven’t heard-
Then a Todi alapana- way beyond his years, I thought. I was really wrapped up in his raga- He has a beautiful voice and I don’t know if it is going to break. But the Todi was excellent. He sang Thyagaraja kriti ‘ Dasarathi’ Niraval and swarams at Bodhinchina was good. He had stalwarts accompanying him- Raghavendra Rao on the violin, Vaidianathan on Mridangam and Sri Balasubramaniam on the kanjira. Like Sri Sundaram said in his speech ,we are all proud of him. He gave a first class concert.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 06 Apr 2015, 03:20

Thanks Sreeni for the pictures.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 06 Apr 2015, 08:00

Wonderful photos meennakshi. I especially enjoyed all the photos when awards were presented , each of the award recipient are so delighted and in turn that delights me. It would be nice if you do a bit of censoring to avoid uploads with many duplicates (for eg sonal mansingh award is about 20+ photos), that way all will see all the photos . Thank you.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 06 Apr 2015, 10:10

Thanks for the pics, Meenakshi.
Any reviews of NSG's concert with Nagai and Trichy Sankaran? I don't think I have ever heard Sankaran-sir with NSG.

ashwinsrikant · Post by **ashwinsrikant** » 06 Apr 2015, 10:36

Hi All,

I apologize for the late reply on this thread - just got back from a flight from the Aradhana.

As Mohan Anna mentioned, I learned from him in Sydney for many years while we were there, and then learned from a local disciple of Dr. MLV in San Jose and am currently undergoing training from Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran.

The pallavi that I presented was set in Nandhi talam. This talam is one of the 108 talams in the ancient scheme of anga-talas, with a structure of Laghu-Drutham-Drutham-Laghu-Laghu-Guru. In this pallavi, my guru had set the laghus to be in Khanda Jathi, though any of the 5 jathis can be used (typically, we would keep it in Chatusra Jathi). The guru is typically put (to my knowledge) by putting 1 thattu (beat) and using a fist motion in a clockwise direction for the remaining 7 beats (as it is a 7-beat angam). But in this pallavi, for purposes of convenience and to be able to show all 8 beats clearly, I used 1 thattu and 7 fingers. The pallavi had a total of 27 aksharas with a split of 14-4-9 (Purvangam - Karvai - Uttarangam).

Hope that helped clarify the talam of the pallavi. Would like to especially thank both Mohan Anna and arasi for their kind words.

Regards,
Ashwin

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 06 Apr 2015, 11:14

Welcome to the forum Ashwin.

Thanks for the introduction to the Nandi thala

There has been a lingering question about where the arudhi is ( the purvangam-Karvai junction ) when a tala has more than one laghu. Like in Kanda jAthi Ata thalam. 'Ata' is a bit tricky since the approx mid point of thala does not align with the anga boundary. The nandi thala provides for a good split at the middle for at least chathurashra and Khanda jAti.

I did not get a chance to listen to your pallavi.. Since the take off point after the kArvai is atItam with respect to the following Guru, is there a big emphasis on the beginning beat of the Guru?

Congratulations on the performance at the Cleveland Aradhana.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 06 Apr 2015, 11:48

Dr. Narmada added that they brought HM to the south and took the violin to the north!

With due respect to Parur School, Dr.Narmada's statement is historically wrong. HM and its practitioners were brought to South few centuries earlier, before Parur Sundram Iyer. PSI,MSA and MSG did not take the violin to the North. There were many maestros of HM playing violin-both solo and accompaniment e.g. Pandit V.G.Jog. Great Maestro MSG Sir was the first to get recognition and acceptance of HM pandits and rasikas as a Pandit in HM, to my knowledge. His success inspired many more violinists maestros, vidwans and vidushees of KM also to master HM e.g. VVS Sir. His success also inspired many other -vocal and other instrumentalists- maestros, Vidwans and Vidushees e.g. TVG and TVR to learn and perform HM.

In my observation and belief, MSG Sir's superior quality, character and discipline unmatched by his other two great contemporaries, LGJ and TNK was in selflessness, respecting art greater than artist and accepting to accompany any artist who sought his accompaniment and never attempting to show his higher vidwath over the main artists in accompanying or conveying either in overt or covert manner, doing a favor in accompanying. When I did discuss this aspect with this great maestro, MSG Sir replied to me that every opportunity gives him experience and knowledge, gives opportunity of better practice on the performing sadas/platform, able to get opportunity to observe and appreciate the unique manodharma of the performing main artist. To put it simply, MSG Sir was humility personified. I am sharing this knowing that Dr.Narmada can not share this knowledge, in public domain for obvious reason.

munirao2001

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 06 Apr 2015, 15:02

Beg to differ with Munirao. MSG did have the tendency to overplay or setting off tangentially to the main artist.
Just to give an example to judge, listen to Sri T K Rangachari's Mysore Bidaram Hall rama navami kutcheri (a recording
that has wide circulation and also available in Sangeethapriya ). You will find MSG playing much ahead of TKR, rather
overshadowing him, yet the humble TKR not minding it says ' besh besh '.

MSG , LGJ and TNK were all great in their own respects. To hold MSG superior in "quality,character and discipline umatched by..." compared to LGJ & TNK is only a propitious statement lacking substance.(not in good taste either).

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 06 Apr 2015, 19:24

purist Sir,

I am aware of LGJ and TNK were selective in giving accompaniments, after they achieved the success they truly deserved. They both of them considered giving accompaniment to some of the artists, as favor or for reciprocity and even have refused to accompany. Fact is fact. But this fact is not any manner judgmental on their great vidwath and greatness as maestros.

MSG did have the tendency to overplay or setting off tangentially to the main artist.

. I am not aware or I have experienced. I can reply only after listening to the specific recording you have referred.

munirao2001

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 06 Apr 2015, 20:24

Purist
Facts are facts
Some pure
Some impure
Easy to conjure
Some,not so demure
beware, the result may be "perjure"
And if you can sift fact from fiction,
a certain pleasantness is there, for sure

Purist · Post by **Purist** » 06 Apr 2015, 22:24

meenaakshi · Post by **meenaakshi** » 07 Apr 2015, 02:25

Thanks all.
rajeshnat, I did it:)

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 07 Apr 2015, 02:37

How is it that I don't see any reviews of Sunday's program including Neyveli's concert ? I was away and could not watch any except the last portion of the Kuchipudi Dance. The Kuchipudi dance was really good. I am glad i did not miss that completely.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 07 Apr 2015, 07:22

meenaakshi wrote:Thanks all.
rajeshnat, I did it:)

Meenaakshi
I am assuming you are in cleveland or have you left like most of the aspiring students

. Please keep appending more photos of concerts looks there is a lot of artists who have not come into photo frame yet and cleveland aradhana is just at half point. Thank you for your photo coverage.

meenaakshi · Post by **meenaakshi** » 07 Apr 2015, 07:43

rajeshnat, sorry I could not capture all the artistes, as I was in the dining hall for the better part of Saturday.
We came back as there are many hurdles like work and all that nonsense:) Will try to go on Friday and fulfill a teeny bit of your wish:)
I missed meeting you on arasi’s CD release - Gayathri Girish’s concert. Had a lovely chat with Nick:):):)

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 07 Apr 2015, 08:43

Thank you Maduraimini for your coverage of NeyvEli's concert

Today's Sikkil Gurucharan concert had to start at 8:55 p.m., 85minutes behind schedule. I am NOT complaining but suggesting that in future it would be realistic to schedule the day's first program at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:00, especially when the previous day's program could end quite late.

Sikkil Gurucharan- vocal
Nagai Muralidharan- violin
ThiruvArUr Vaidyanathan-Mridangam
Guruprasad-Ghatam

1. Ninnu kOri- Sri rAga VarNam
2. Birana BrOva IdE-kalyANi-Tarangambadi Panchanada Iyer; Neraval at nee pAda pankajamu
3. nAtakapriya RAga aAlpana + violin return : Ithi Samayamura - Mysore VAsudEvAchar (?) 22 min
4. sAmikku sari evvarE- kEdaragowla- pApanasam Sivan
5.Giripriyam- kathanakuthUkalam- HMB
6. Piece de resistance- Bhairavi rAga + violin return-15+7 min
Raksha bettarE-thyagaraja- neraval at geethapriya thyAgaraja + swaram-26 min; Total 48 min
7. Percussion Thani- 10 min
8. vEndhanai kandhanai- (sEndhanai ?)- rAgamAlika- virutham followed by
kArthikEyanai kaNNArakkANa vEndum- kApi
9. Chali nEnE- Paras- Tanjore Quartet10.Mangalam-srirAmachandranukku. 11:10 p.m. !!

Two hours and 15 minutes of blissful concert.
Each item was a gem. I specially liked the KalYANi, Bharavi piecs.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 07 Apr 2015, 09:19

Todaay, Monday, I was looking forward to Sikkil Gurucharan concert. I am a big fan of his and love his music. It was announced to start at 7:30 p.m. But even at 8:30, the Kuchipudi dance was going on. I loved the dance and they did a terrific job- but I didn't want to miss Sikkil. I hoped there was no sikkal (snag) in his getting here Around 9 p.m. Sikkil and the accompaniments came on the stage and I breathed again!
It was very warm to hear The Gurucharan say namaskaram to all and apologize for being late. This shows the humility of the artist.
The concert started with the Sree raga varnam 'sami ninne kori' and was good. After a brief sketch of the raga, he sang ''Birana Brova' in Kalyani, Tharangambadi Panchanatha Iyer composition. This was fast paced and he did niraval in Nee pada pankajamu'. The Kalyani was delightful and warmed you up. Then there was a raga alapana, and the rtist announced the raga was Natakapriya. Nagi's violin after the alapana was very good. Mysore Vasudevachar's kriti ;Ithi samayamu brova rada' was sung. Swarams at 'Idi samayamu'.
a brief Kedargowla raga, and the song ' Samikku sari evvaro' I was lucky- Yesterday I heard Neyveli Sir's ' Saraguna palimpa' and today samikku. I love both these songs. There was a fast song' Giri priyam Gangadharam' in raga Kathanakuthuhalam. The composer was none other than Harikesanallur Muthiah Baghavathar. IT was embellished with chittaswarams and Gurucharan handled it beautifully. After this, he sang a breathtaking Bhairavi and Thyagaraja kriti "Raksha bettare'. It was soothing. Niraval at Sangeethapriya Thyagaraja and Nagai's violin was superb. Thani was nice. Vaidhyanathan and Guruprasad did justice to the Tani.
There was a beautiful viruttam, 'chendanai,kandanai'- I did not get the ragam- it was getting late, and my mind is not working well! Some knowledgeable soul, please write the ragas for this song. I thought I heard some Todi, then I knew it was Jonpuri! 'Karthikeyanai kannara kana vendume'.
Paras Javali 'cheli nenetlu' was sung fsst and well. He sang ' sri Ramachandranukku jaya mangalam,.
The concert was wonderful. The accompaniments were great. I thank Sikkil Gurucharan for a wonderful concert and The Aradhana committee for bringing us such nice concerts. Thanks!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 Apr 2015, 09:47

Sundararajan,
I had to take time off from writing yesterday and all of today. Commitments, doctor's appointment.

I took in as much as possible of children singing, but had to miss the melharmonic this morning but want to watch it when the ON Demand facility is ready.

Welcoming a new member
................................
Thanks to Ashwin for posting his RTP's Nandi tALA details Mohan had asked for. Welcome to him on joining Rasikas.org. He can find loads of information in the Technical Section, Sahitya Section and in many others!

SIKKIL GURUCHARAN
Yes, heard most of Sikkil's concert. Thanks for the list.Was wondering what the varNam was.
KalyANi to me was the best. He sang it with a lot of verve. You know I'm not a great Bhairavi fan

Neraval for KAlyANi at pada pankaja (Rajesh would want to know).

nATakapriyA was spirited. Nagai adding more embellishment and substance to his singing.

KalyANi and kEdAragowLai are in Cleveland's air this year (NSG's 'satadruti pUjitha' of yesterday still ringing in my ears).

Tiruvarur V and Guruprasad's playing enhanced the concert, and that tani! I love it when you hear the konnkOl in playing, as it sounded when they played. Added to that, I like Vaidyanathan's pleasant presence on stage and his being a super teacher...

sAmikku sari evvarE was not given that much emoting time.
Gurucharan's viruttam was very appealing. (M&M, just saw, our posts crossed, so I am adding this: I too think that he began with 'chEndanai').

That kApi at first made me think it was Sivan's, but heard the word viswanatha, so Mayuram Viswanatha Shastry's?

After ages, loved listening to Sri rAmachandranukku jaya mangaLam!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 Apr 2015, 10:03

Meenaakshi,
Thanks for your 'as usual' super shots

A long drive again perhaps, but we shall have another crop of great pics. you look great, as ever

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 07 Apr 2015, 14:02

Sundara Rajan wrote: Today's Sikkil Gurucharan concert had to start at 8:55 p.m., 85minutes behind schedule. I am NOT complaining ...

You can complain. It is allowed.

Obviously, participants and organisers would be painfully aware of such a delay anyway, but I'm sure that non-personal-agenda-based criticism is accepted constructively.

meenaakshi wrote:Gayathri Girish’s concert. Had a lovely chat with Nick:):):)

Yes, it was nice. I think you were leaving the next day or we could have had several more. Hope you will be back this coming December: you'll be able to find me, mid morning (if not inside) sitting in the Music Academy canteen with a pocketful of tea tokens.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 07 Apr 2015, 19:18

Tea transformed from leaves, then bits put in sachets for convenience, but they do brew tea in MA canteen and Nick sir (I'm catching up with the sAr addition which I find more prevalent now) who finds it agreeable, but not worth waiting for the token in a line, buys them in one go, I see!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 07 Apr 2015, 22:21

First, prime the pumps, with Rs.8 hotel tea or two, and maybe even a cheap idly, then move to MA, and yes, it is so much easy to buy the tokens in bulk. I know I'm going to spend them