Lalgudi GJR Krishnan & Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi-Violin -Oct 11,

[Ramaprasad]

Lalgudi G J R Krishnan (Violin)
Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (Violin)
Patri Satish Kumar (Mridangam)
Tripunithura Radhakrishnan (Ghatam)

Sanathana Foundation sponsored concert - Oct 11, 2009 - Venue: Linwood Middle School, North Brunswick, NJ

1. Varnam_Mandari_Adi. Lalgudi Jayaraman
2. Sadananda Tandavam_Bahudari_Adi [S]. Achuta Dasar
3. Arunachalanatham_Saranga_Rupaka [Short A - Krishnan]. Dikshitar
4. Sarasiruhanana_Mukhari_Adi [A - Krishnan, S]. Thyagaraja
5. Tappulanniyu_Bowli_Rupaka. Muthaiah Bhagavathar
6. Deva Shri Tapastirthapura [Lalgudi Pacharatna]_Madhyamavathi_M/Chapu
[A - Vijayalakshmi, S]. Thyagaraja
7. Parithapamula_Kannada_Adi. Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar
8. Dasukovalana_Thodi_M/Jampa [A - Krishnan, N, S]. Thyagaraja
Thani
9. Sarasa Sama Dhana_Kapinarayani_Adi. Thyagaraja
10. RTP - Shanmukhapriya. Pallavi: senthil nagaradEva kandha vadivElane shanmugane
guhane. Tisra Nadai Ata Tala. Kalpana swara ragamalika - Patdeep, Gopriya,
Huseni, Sahana and Kalyanavasantha
11. Theeradha Vilayattu Pillai_Ragamalika_Eka. Subramania Bharathi
12. Rama Rama Rama enniro_Tilang_Rupaka. Purandaradasa
13. Eppo Varuvaro_Jonpuri_Adi. Gopalakrishna Bharathi
14. Tillana_Mishra Mand. Lalgudi Jayaraman
15. Tillana_Bhimpalas. Lalgudi Jayaraman
16. Pavamana

I apologize that I could not get this on the rasikas’ forum earlier. There used to be a TV commercial in the US for a product that said the quality goes in before the name goes on. In my humble opinion, that about sums up the situation with a Lalgudi name. The rest are mere details. The first glide of the bow on the violin strings, last Sunday, was a harbinger of an afternoon of music that melded classicism and quality to regale the eagerly awaiting audience. It was a four hour long melody-soaked concert that fleeted by ever so quickly.

As is to be expected, the concert started with a Lalgudi Jayaraman varnam and concluded with two tillanas by their guru. The brother-sister communication, resulting from years of growing and training together, as is known to all of us, produces a unified music structure that oscillates between one and many harmonious voices. Sunday also happened to be their Guru’s birth star and hence the personal nature of this concert cannot be lost on the audience or the reader of this report.


This is purely a personal feeling, but the Lalgudi Mandari varnam that I heard on Sunday was livelier (in musical spirit) than the more ‘somber one’ (my feeling again) composed by Mysore Vasudevachar. The Mukhari kriti of Thyagaraja was distinguished, among other facets of its rendering, by the joyous swarakalpana between LGJRK and LV. I had not heard the Bowli composition of Muthaiah Bhagavathar in a long time and it was a delight to be treated to it so unexpectedly.

Vijayalakshmi’s Madhyamavathi alapana, the prelude to the Lalgudi pancharatna, can only described as brilliant, with broad strokes of the bow, and no sacrifice in many subtle raga sancharas. The swarkalpana was a lively dialogue between the two musicians.

I am not sure I heard the announcement of item #7 correctly. I think it was a Poochi composition. The alapana by Krishnan, prior to Dasukovalana of Thyagaraja in Thodi, appeared to this listener to be a little faster than my concept of this raga. This might be purely perceptual and not real. It was finely shaped and rendered with great feeling. I was just waiting for the swarakalpana section to enjoy the lively exchanges between Krishnan and Viji. I was not disappointed.

The RTP in Shanmukhapriya was a little short, as Krishnan himself noted (10th piece in the program). It was short in duration, but not on the excellence of the treatment. Krishnan’s alapana was very evocative. He even included a grahabeda that I missed (I am slow, as you can see). Some interesting ragas in the ragamalika part are to be noted. Theeradha villayattu resulted from a rasika’s request. Two tillanas at the end were the right dessert for a sumptuous musical feast. The tradition and the excellence of the Lalgudi lineage continue!

A few words on the percussionists. Both Satish Kumar and Radhakrishnan are such seasoned artists. Their manodharma display during the lovely thani was robust and incredibly enjoyable. But, it is to be noted that, during the accompanying part of the concert, their gentle percussion support did not drown out the sound of the violins. I am sure the audience appreciated this.

A great musical soiree.

Ramaprasad

[rajeshnat]

ramaprasad
Great review, I am assuming NJ with lots of indians in turn gives 4 hour magic concerts, RTP in shanmughapriyA is possibly defining RTP of shri lalgudi jayaraman . I have not heard this madhyamavati at all.

[mahavishnu]

Thanks, Ramaprasad for a very nice review.

Rajesh, "Devasri" in madhyamavati is the 5th of the Lalgudi Pancharatnams. It is a specialty of the Lalgudi school.
There is a great recording of LGJ and his disciples singing this (including Sanjay Subrahmanyan who learned the Lalgudi pancharatnams from him). You should definitely listen to it when you get a chance. It was released by AVM in the late 80s.

[Ramaprasad]

Thanks, Mahavishnu. I have heard the Lalgudi Pancharatnams (the same version that you refer to). Yes, it is a great listening experience.

Ramaprasad