Hyderabad brothers- Pomona temple -Newyork- October 17th, 20

swarakalpana · Post by **swarakalpana** » 18 Oct 2009, 23:47

Hyderabad Brothers - Sri.D.Sesha chary & Sri.D. Raghavachary- vocal Duet.

Sri.Nagai Sriram - Violin

Sri.J. Vaidyanadhan - Mridangam.

Pomona Temple, New York on 17th October, 2009.

Song list:

1.Navaragamaalika Varnam - Adi.-Patnam Subramanya iyer

2. Smarana Onde Saalade - Malayamarutham - Adi - Purandara Dasar .

3. Ranganadhude - Sourashtra - Rupakam - Ponnaiah Pillai.

4. Vida Jaaladuraa - Janaranjani - Adi - Tyagaraja.

5. Lavanya Rama - Purna Shadjam - Rupakam - Tyagaraja.

6. Shobhillu Sapthaswara - Jagan Mohini - Rupakam - Tyagaraja

7. Hiranmayim - Lalitha - Rupakam - Dikshitar.

8. Sri Narasimha - Phala Manjari - Adi - Tyagaraja.

9. Edi Samayamu Brovaradaa - Natakapriya - Rupakam - Mysore Vasudevacharya

10 Ethavunaraa - Kalyani - Adi - Thyagaraja.

11. RTP in Kokilapriya - Triputa Talam (Tisra gathi). `Nanu Brova radaa - Sri Rama ChandraÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢

12. Raga Malika slokam "Anna vayil puduvai" in Thodi, Bilahari & Sindhu Bhairavi followed by Baja Baja Manasa - Sindhu Bhairavi - Swathi Thirunal .

13. Naanoru Vilayattu bommaiya - Navarasa Kanada - Adi - Papanasam Sivan

14. Krishna Ne Begane Baaro - Yamuna Kalyani - Triputa - Purandara Dasa.

15. Mangalam.

This concert offered a good variety in terms of the kritis chosen. In sourashtram, most people seem to

opt for the more popular Sri Ganapathi ni or ninnu joochi but I have heard the brothers sing

Ranganadhude. Quite a few times. It was sung with great verve and gave a good start to the concert. I

really enjoyed the different sangathis for `antha ranganadhudeÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢. Shobillu is another I have enjoyed

listening to. They sang swara kalpana at Saptha swara. After these brisk kritis came a soulful Lalitha. Sri

Raghava chary sang a lengthy alapana, with neraval at Sangeetha vadya vinodini,and with the kalpana

swara it was a feast to the ears. A piece with repose and sowkhyam indeed, from Dikshithar. I think

phala manjari is one of their personal favourites. I first heard it during a season at Chennai when they

sang palukutache (and was puzzled as to what is this raga with only 4 swaras in arohana, without ri, pa

and ni) . Yet Tyagaraja has composed this wonderful Kriti, which was sung so well.

Sri Sesha chary did a raga alapana in Nataka priya which could only be described as extraordinary. A not

often heard mela raga. Kalyani was the main piece -TyagarajaÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s ethavunnara. Sri Seshachary did the

alapana and the niraval was sung at Sita Gowri vageeswari . The swara kalpana with kanakku proved

what I heard about Sri Sesha chary - that he is quite adept as a mridangist too!

The RTP in kokila priya( another not so popular mela , which is being revived these days by other artists

too, I noticed),was in tisra gathi triputa talam. The niraval, sung in ragamalika trend continued here too!

Dhanyasi, sahana and Revathi and the swara kalpana followed in reverse order and ended back in kokila

priya. J.Vaidyanathan played a skillful thani , a puristÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s delight.

A veritable feast on Diwali day!!!

aj · Post by aj » 24 Oct 2009, 02:05

Yes indeed. A wonderful concert.

The small distraction with the violinist getting upset and putting away his violin (apparently because the vocalists wouldn't give him a chance to shadow/follow along) during the alapana in the early part of the concert was unfortunate.

HeyNarayana · Post by **HeyNarayana** » 24 Oct 2009, 09:55

That is interesting. No excuses for that kind of behavior. He is a professional not a toddler to throw tantrum on stage. Violinist will get plenty of opportunity to show their talent during concert. No doubt Nagai Sri Ram is talented but unfortunately known for this kind of behavior. Needs some growing up I guess.

saianamika · Post by **saianamika** » 24 Oct 2009, 20:31

Why didnt they give him a chance to shadow/follow along? Dont all violinists do that?

aviyukth · Post by **aviyukth** » 25 Oct 2009, 00:20

may be not convenient of Sriram accompaniment
at the time of Raghava Chary's Shanmukhapriya Alapana.

aviyukth · Post by **aviyukth** » 25 Oct 2009, 00:22

Yes Sri Ram needs some growing up

s_hari · Post by **s_hari** » 25 Oct 2009, 06:34

If brothers are not comfortable, why have him as accompanist?

HeyNarayana · Post by **HeyNarayana** » 25 Oct 2009, 07:56

Isn't presumptuous to put the burden on the vocalists? How do we know the vocalists are not comfortable? When these artists travel on these long tours, I am sure they get along fine with each other.
Like I mentioned earlier, Nagai Sri Ram is talented, needs to learn on how to manage his emotions. That's all. Please don't add more to it.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Oct 2009, 08:20

Are we presuming things here?
Swarakalpana and aj were there to see it. Did he look upset? Putting the violin down is not always a defiant gesture, is it? Did his body language speak of this? If he did look angry or upset, it was not professional.
The lead singers too have to give the chance for the accompanists to play where appropriate. I have heard before that even between the brothers, one dominates and takes a lion's share when they sing on stage. Having a fertile imagination does not mean that one needs to neglect others who are also there to play their part in the concert.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 25 Oct 2009, 08:38

This is a Pandora's box about to be opened....Organisers can tell MANY horror stories that go on & off stage. If there is interest I can describe some of them which was a huge crisis when it happened but after x no. of years looks funny!...VKV

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Oct 2009, 10:02

VKV,
I bet you have many stories!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Oct 2009, 10:08

VKV,
You would have experienced prima donna behavior among a few artistes in all your years of orgnizing. It is best to hear about them decades on and time does make their antics seem funny (though impossible and problematic for the organizers at the time when they happened ).
Yet, when one is on stage, one is supposed to behave like a professional, not as a child throwing tantrums.
There could be off stage discords, but to make a display of it to the audience is different. We do not know if he is being short-changed in more than one way on this tour but the stage is not the place to make a stance.

appu · Post by **appu** » 25 Oct 2009, 12:26

VKV

Please enlighten us with some of you stories. I am sure it would be hilarious many years later.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 25 Oct 2009, 20:40

Of course without naming names and preferably in a different thread.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 25 Oct 2009, 22:21

Dear V,
Of course I WILL NOT name names as the persons involved are my heroes & Iam not interested in dragging any one to dirt!.....If you open an appropriate thread I can recall some interesting things that could make one look differently on what is happening on stage in real time as well as some in the background. VKV

swarakalpana · Post by **swarakalpana** » 26 Oct 2009, 17:59

arasi wrote;
Are we presuming things here?
Swarakalpana and aj were there to see it. Did he look upset? Putting the violin down is not always a defiant gesture, is it? Did his body language speak of this? If he did look angry or upset, it was not professional.

the violinist's gesture did appear defiant and unprofessional. He seemed very upset while one vocalist was following the other during the

alapana and put his violin in the box and did not play the alapana despite requests from the vocalists. The brothers exhibited maturity in their

behaviour which came in as a relief. I did not mention this incident earlier since such juvenile behavior, i thought, was best ignored.

Neeraja veni · Post by **Neeraja veni** » 26 Oct 2009, 22:41

MDR, one whom i much revere, during a Bombay concert recording that i have heard many times, after an unforgettable Bhairavi alapana,
talks briefly while the violinist plays his turn. He then,even jokes and laughs about the background whistle of a speeding train in zest .
(who,the violinist is, i unfortunately can not make out; Sri Palghat Raghu is the mridangist) He is obviously talking to someone other than the
violinist since the violinist goes on playing, undeterred, a very beautiful Bhairavi, that too. (Any lesser mortal would have incurred my wrath for this, but then it is MDR...Full `artistic license' granted to him.) A soul- quenching swara jathi follows and the the concert progresses in wondrous rapport between the vocalist and violinist till the end.

No temper tantrums, no defiance, no juvenile behavior, there!

A violinist has many oppurtunities and ways to prove his mettle during a performance . Placing the violin in its case during a concert is certainly not one of them!

for a `crime ' uncommitted!!

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 26 Oct 2009, 22:48

This happens all the time! Not jusy MDR but almost many others talk to some one esp. in Marriage concerts...Usually the concert audience will not hear it but depending on who records it it can be heard on "private" recordings. There are VARIOUS NUANCES...My wife has told me not to speak in Tamil when I go to Chennai as I have lost touch with the finer oints of truly greeting or insulting some one in just saying "Namaskaram""

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 27 Oct 2009, 08:00

I wonder why nAn oru viLaiyATTu bommaiyA is a popular tamizh song song among andhra vidvAns.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 27 Oct 2009, 08:43

nAn oRu viLaiyATTU bommaiyA - navarasa kannaDa(not kanada) is indeed the most popular no, I see that trend with many from nedunuri to mallAdi thru hyderabad

(Yes arasi you are spot on)

annamalai · Post by **annamalai** » 27 Oct 2009, 12:14

Nan Oru Vilayattu or Saravanabhava (shanmugapriya) have become "quota" tamil krithis in concerts. Similar to Krishna Nee Begane - a quota krithi in Kannada.

I wish musicians would not even sing one such song "just to put a tick mark". BTW, rasikas are upset if their quota is not met.

In my view, artists should sing krithis from their specialization - from Hyderabad Brothers' repertoire - Thyagaraja krithis or Kshtregna padams and Annamacharya krithis.

If you go for dinner to a Panjabi restaurant, it is better to have their specials Chole Batura ..., than insist that they must serve Idli/dosa since the Panjabi restaurant is based at Chennai.

sucharithra · Post by **sucharithra** » 27 Oct 2009, 23:00

I heard about these incidents before I viewed this thread, and I tend to agree with saianamika and s_hari. If the Hyderabad Brothers are not comfortable with him playing, why would they bring him as an accompanist? While Nagai Sriram's gesture was probably not well-appreciated, each person should be allowed to play their own part unless discussed beforehand off-stage, which doesn't seem to have happened. Furthermore, since similar emotions seem to have been conveyed in quite a few concerts on this tour so far, one would hope that the Hyderabad Brothers would have realized that their accompanist is not comfortable with this arrangement. So, while perhaps the violinist's behavior was not necessarily well-taken, I think that we, as the audience, should take the pains to understand the entire situation before making blanket comments about artists.

Nagai Sriram · Post by **Nagai Sriram** » 28 Oct 2009, 00:35

Dear rasikas,

This is Nagai Sriram.

As Sucharithra has alluded to, people who are throwing dirt on me, should do so upon having all the information. I am deeply saddened by the amount of dirt being thrown around. Usually I do not get dragged into such discussions and stay away from them. But my reputation is at stake here and thought I should make an exception and share my thoughts. When my professionalism is being questioned, I have to make a statement and respond.

Those who have made comments about my actions either do not have all the details of the exchange between the brothers and I, on stage, or chose to ignore that, to besmirch me. If you are hoping that I will stoop down to their level and throw more dirt the other way. You are thoroughly mistaken. I am just going to take high ground here and just say that as god as witness, there are two sides to a coin. There are two sides to a story. All that I request the rasikas that are posting in haste is to make sure you do so, with all facts on hand and pass judgement based on that. Not just hearsay. That is all that I am going to say about this.

Peace,
Nagai Sriram.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 28 Oct 2009, 03:08

Welcome to the forum Sri. Nagai Sriram.

As discussed in the Indianapolis concert review thread...

Request to members: Let us keep the focus of the reviews and discussions to the music related aspects. Thanks.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Oct 2009, 04:09

Amen.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 28 Oct 2009, 06:12

arasi wrote:I wonder why nAn oru viLaiyATTu bommaiyA is a popular tamizh song song among andhra vidvAns.

Dear A,
Let me give my crazy(?) theory. LGJ was the one who pretty much recognised & promoted Andhra Vocalists like Voletti & Nedanuri to grreatness in Chennai. He taught them originally songs like Choodi Kudutha Nachiyar etc profound in nature etc. Nedanuri first rendered it as SUTTU Kudutha Nachiyar in KGS that made even LGJ break into laughter......Then the hunt for suitable songs which are more innocuous songs like resulted in NaN ORU Vilayattu Bommaiyaa which is great musically as well as profound....Just My Theory! VKV

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 28 Oct 2009, 07:48

I find it quite amusing when artists respond to comments made here

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 28 Oct 2009, 08:07

vkv43034 wrote:SUTTU Kudutha Nachiyar in KGS that made even LGJ break into laughter

Served with vatta-kozumbu?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Oct 2009, 08:58

Ravi,
vaLLiyAnAl, SuTTuk koDutta vaLLik kizhangAga irunthirukkum!
Or, is it: sUTTik koDutta suDar koDi? Then the meaning remains the same

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 28 Oct 2009, 09:19

...wasn't it better than singing 'SUDu koDuttha nAchiyAr' (which can refer to YasOda who may have done it to bAla KriShna but the Azhvaars thought it was too cruel child abuse to report

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 28 Oct 2009, 09:26

rshankar wrote:
vkv43034 wrote:SUTTU Kudutha Nachiyar in KGS that made even LGJ break into laughter

Served with vatta-kozumbu?

SUTTU kudutha at least is a possibility as NIRAVAL- not VARUVAL!- but Vatha-Kozumbhu can only be introduced in another ragam in Vitutham.....VKV

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 30 Oct 2009, 06:34

arasi wrote:I wonder why nAn oru viLaiyATTu bommaiyA is a popular tamizh song song among andhra vidvAns.

Because there is a chance that there might be a Bommayya in the audience!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 30 Oct 2009, 07:27

pOMaiyyA! umakku ellAmE oru viLaiyATTu dAn!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 30 Oct 2009, 21:44