Shri. T V Sankaranarayanan's concert in Detroit

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 12 Oct 2009, 02:01

Date: 10/10/2009
Venue: Detroit, MI
Vocal: Shri. T.V. Sankaranarayanan
Vocal support- Mahadevan Sankaranarayanan
Vioin- Nagai Muralidharan
Mrdangam- Srimushnam Rajarao

Song List
1) Gajananam bhoota ganati sevitham- Virutham
2) Vinayaka- Hamsadwani (S)
3) Sogasu jUDa- Kannadagowla (S)
4)Muruga.. muruga- saveri
5) Sri Pathe Jaya - Vachaspati (R, N,S)- sub-main
6) Puniyam koTi ( Keeravani) (R,N,S)- main
7)sarasamukhi
8) Vellai thamari - Bhimplas
9) Virutham ( Hamsanadi, Jonpuri) followed by 'Eppo Varuvaro)
10) English note- GMGRGP
11)Mangalam

TVS started the concert with an elaborate virutham in Hamsadwani followed by "Vinayaka". Swarams were brisk and set the stage for a beautiful evening. I felt that there was excessive swara singing (over 6 minutes) for the next piece in both kalapramanams. After a brief filler in Saveri, TVS took up Vachaspati alapanai. Mahadevan defintely showed lot of potential in the raga rendition. Of course, it will take him a few years to polish his skills but I think he is on the right track. My favorite part of the concert was the neraval line 'Padmanabha murare keshava" which was done for over 9 minutes with myriad combinations for the phrase 'Padmanabha'. Again, there was excessive swaram rendering- probably because TVS gave lot of opportunity for Mahadevan. The main piece was in Keeravani- ragam for 9 minutes, krithi (8 minutes), neraval in 'Anbe vativayvanthay annai kamakshi' for 6 minutes and again disproportionate length of swaram (about 13 minutes) followed by Thani for about 10 minutes. TVS chose to take up the popular MMI songs based on audience request and there was no RTP.
Overall, I wouldn't rate this to be a great concert as there were no innovative aspects. As others have commented before, nowadays, I don't seem to relish too much of swara rendition in concerts. Of course, the concerts had the usual good ingredients of a TVS concert. I felt that Nagai Muralidaran was not at his best and in fact played very little ( 3 mts of keeravani and 3 minutes of vachaspati). However, Srimushnam Rajarao provided admirable support on Mrdangam. I particularly enjoyed the patterns he played for the neraval line in Vachaspati.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 12 Oct 2009, 02:20

No.4 must have been 'murugA murugA' in sAveri; Shri TVS starts with the anupallavi mostly.

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 12 Oct 2009, 04:57

Thanks, Punarvasu. I have updated the list!

laks1972 · Post by **laks1972** » 12 Oct 2009, 12:47

TVS concert items are becoming increasingly predictable taken out of a small set of kritis.

I can't believe he knows only those many kritis

mridangam.karthic · Post by **mridangam.karthic** » 12 Oct 2009, 21:39

should be interesting to see his performance in toronto on the 31st of october

cz8zpk · Post by **cz8zpk** » 13 Oct 2009, 00:20

I felt good about the TVS concert. I think as long as you know what to expect in a concert, one will be happy. For e.g. going to a TNS concert and NOT expecting some "Kanaku" ....well, that is difficult to fathom.

So in a simlar vien, knowing TVS's style and bhani, I think he was bang on target. Nagai sir, I agree was a little off color, also on sruthi too, but then everybody has those days and he is too good for a lackluster performace to effect him.

Rajarao sir added the ususal color, which is always welcome...I just wish he can play in a kandu chapu 3 from samam or soemthing like that, where he can have a ball..

Overall, the hall was perfect, nice Bloomfiled Hills setting, and the organizers, like always, did a great job - starting and ending on time. Good job!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Oct 2009, 08:11

life_is_music,
Thanks for a nice review. Please write about other concerts in the area too. Most of us love to read reviews!
I hope TVS is teaching his son many other songs which he knows. How nice it would be if he himself sings them! He must have learnt hundreds of songs from his uncle and his father. With his bhAvam and clarity in singing, he would please the listeners no end with them.

jodha · Post by **jodha** » 13 Oct 2009, 12:02

I like TVS very much but for his reportire.Once I spoke over phone and pointed out he has not sung so far Pancharatnam,ragas like Simmendramadhyamam,Dharmavati,Kedaragaulai,etc.apart from not singing varnams.

He simply told me he doesn't know any krithis in SM,Dharmavati,etc.and though knows 4 of the 5 rathnams (except varali) he is not inclined to sing since they consume ~20 mins.and his school is not used to varnam singing.He may sing the same krithis again & again but there will be subtle variations and that is called manodharmam(?)

What do U say for this ?

I just can't understand how Shri.TVS managed to get awards like Sangita Kalanidhi,Padmabhushan etc.

I don't intent to stir a controversy but more often awards go to wrong hands only.

mahesu · Post by **mahesu** » 13 Oct 2009, 12:19

Jodha, does that mean, other people who have received such awards, did sing in all the ragas that are available? Have they all sung correctly as per theory? Have all of them given as many performances as shri TVS? The questions go endless and I am sure we would have many "NO"s as answers, if not for all of them. So let us get out of such controversies and keep enjoying these concerts of vidwans. Awards are just a recognition for the service to music, by these Vidwans and are no means to judge capabilities, I strongly believe. we all know the politics and other stuff that go before an awardee is decided. So let us quickly come out of this controversy

laks1972 · Post by **laks1972** » 13 Oct 2009, 13:08

jodha wrote:He simply told me he doesn't know any krithis in SM,Dharmavati,etc..

that sounds like an excuse.

Learning is a continuous life long process.

If MMI has not taught a kriti or a raga, that does not mean TVS can not learn it on his own, with his music knowledge.

It appears, efforts were not taken in that direction.

KSJaishankar · Post by **KSJaishankar** » 13 Oct 2009, 15:28

jodha wrote:He simply told me he doesn't know any krithis in SM,Dharmavati,etc..

I think Sri TVS simply avoided having to give an answer to an unwelcome question. I can think of quite a few other artistes who would have been far more provocative in their retort to such a question!

On the subject of Simhendramadhyamam and Sri TVS, I do not know about kriti renditions, but I have heard him live rendering a scintillating RTP in SM at the Nungambakkam Fine Arts on 01 Jan 1992, accompanied by Sri MSG, Sri Palghat Raghu and Sri B Suresh. It was one of his finest concerts, with Charukesi (Krupaya Palaya) and Dwijawanthi (Akhilandeswari) as the main pieces.

laks1972 wrote:that sounds like an excuse.

Learning is a continuous life long process.

If MMI has not taught a kriti or a raga, that does not mean TVS can not learn it on his own, with his music knowledge.

It appears, efforts were not taken in that direction.

How easily we denigrate someone who cannot, or chooses not to, retaliate? Sir (or ma'am, as the case may be), have you heard Sri TVS singing kritis or ragas which he could possibly not have learned from MMI? Examples like Lambodaram Bhavaye in Kambhoji (or plenty of other Tulaseevanam compositions), Gauri Sukumari in Vasantha come immediately to mind.

Besides, he regularly sings Sakala Graha Bala Neene in Athana, which MMI would NEVER have sung, or taught him! Mukhari ... a raga that Sri TVS sings reasonably often, and well ... again completely eschewed by MMI.

I completely agree that the level of predictability in a TVS concert is too high, but bashing TVS seems to be a favourite pastime on various carnatic music discussion fora!

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 13 Oct 2009, 16:10

jodha wrote:I like TVS very much but for his reportire.Once I spoke over phone and pointed out he has not sung so far Pancharatnam,ragas like Simmendramadhyamam,Dharmavati,Kedaragaulai,etc.apart from not singing varnams.

He simply told me he doesn't know any krithis in SM,Dharmavati,etc.and though knows 4 of the 5 rathnams (except varali) he is not inclined to sing since they consume ~20 mins.and his school is not used to varnam singing.He may sing the same krithis again & again but there will be subtle variations and that is called manodharmam(?)

What do U say for this ?

I just can't understand how Shri.TVS managed to get awards like Sangita Kalanidhi,Padmabhushan etc.

I don't intent to stir a controversy but more often awards go to wrong hands only.

I cannot speak to the repertoire of Shri TVS, but I have heard him sing RTPs in simhEndramadhyama and kEdAragauLa. I vaguely recall hearing ninnE nammitinayyA from him, but my memory is quite hazy on this topic.

I also don't think kEdAragauLa was a rAgA Shri MMI sang very often...?

Please do listen to the concerts of Shri TVS from the 70s, 80s and early 90s. They are simply incredible. The TVS / MSG, TVS / MC, TVS / UKS, TVS / TKM and TVS / KRM were just amazing during these times with some power-packed singing.

mahesu · Post by **mahesu** » 13 Oct 2009, 17:00

Jaishankar and Prashant, I couldn't agree more. And for me, the best combination was with Sri MC and Srimushnam,

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 13 Oct 2009, 21:48

Not to forget a great RTP in Surya that still rings in my ears.

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 14 Oct 2009, 04:53

Thanks, Arasi for your kind words. I am really scared of writing reviews in this forum! But your words encourage me to try it again. I attended a Vocal arangetram of two sisters a month ago. Actually, I should say that it was a concert.. so much of energy, vidwat, confidence, fast briga based raga rendition, exceptional synchronization of voices and so on. This concert is still haunting me and I will try writing the review. The sisters won a unique concert competition at Cleveland this year. Mr. Sundaram announced in the middle of the last concert at Cleveland that the sisters will be given at least three concerts in major Sabhas during the December season.

mridangam.karthic · Post by **mridangam.karthic** » 14 Oct 2009, 05:13

thats fantastic "music_is_life" when was their arangetram/concert? who is their guru?

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 14 Oct 2009, 07:46

Their guru is Shri. Madurai Sundar. The arangetram was on 15th August

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 14 Oct 2009, 09:21

Good to hear that. I know the guru well and his singing too, of course!
Would be nice to hear the sisters on Youtube.
And also to hear their guru this season.

jodha · Post by **jodha** » 14 Oct 2009, 11:37

KSJaisankar,

When there is no demand from the rasika community the artists will go stale.A good artist will not at all get provocated when there is a geniune request/plea/demand.If any artist gets provocated it will only show their immaturity and weakness.TVS is neither.He is a gentleman.

laks1972 · Post by **laks1972** » 14 Oct 2009, 13:08

music_is_life wrote:Thanks, Arasi for your kind words. I am really scared of writing reviews in this forum! But your words encourage me to try it again. I attended a Vocal arangetram of two sisters a month ago. Actually, I should say that it was a concert.. so much of energy, vidwat, confidence, fast briga based raga rendition, exceptional synchronization of voices and so on. This concert is still haunting me and I will try writing the review. The sisters won a unique concert competition at Cleveland this year. Mr. Sundaram announced in the middle of the last concert at Cleveland that the sisters will be given at least three concerts in major Sabhas during the December season.

I am lost. what has this to do with topic under discussion ??

music_is_life · Post by **music_is_life** » 15 Oct 2009, 06:26

Arasi, I don't think it is on YouTube. I recorded a couple of songs and have attached the link in a separate topic reviewing this concert