Sowmya at Music Academy 22 Dec 2009

knrh05 · Post by **knrh05** » 23 Dec 2009, 12:04

S. Sowmya (Vocal)
R.K. Shriramkumar (Violin)
Poongulam Subramanian (Mridangam)
Payyanur Govindaprasad (Moharsing)

Music Academy - 22 Dec 2009

Chalamela - Sankarabharana varnam (Ata)
Tulasidala - Mayamalavagaula (NS)
Kori Sevimparare - Karaharapriya (RNS)
Gnanasabhaiyil - Saranga
Angarakam - Surati (R)
Meevalla - Kapi
RTP - Vardhani (kanda jathi triputa) - 'pAhimAm sadA dharmasamvardhani paramAnanda vivardhani'
Ragamalika swarams in Kamavardhani, Ragavardhani, Vivardhani, Dhatuvardhani
Thani
Yar poi solluvar - Thodi padam
tiruvai panindu - Mand (Bharatiyar)

Kori sevimparare was rendered very well as was the Surati alapana. Cannot comment much on the RTP as it is the first time I am hearing this raga.

- updated song list - Thanks, Rupavati!!

ganeshkant · Post by **ganeshkant** » 23 Dec 2009, 12:14

An awesome concert.

Smt.Sowmya is a rare amalmagation of musician and musicologist is again prooved.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 23 Dec 2009, 16:20

vardhani pallavi line please?

rupavati · Post by **rupavati** » 23 Dec 2009, 18:25

* After kOrisEvimparAre, there was 'gnAna sabhayil tillai...' in sAranga.

* Pallavi line: 'pAhimAm sadA dharmasamvardhani paramAnanda vivardhani'

* Post-tani, there was a Tamil padam, 'yAr pOi solluvAr...' (tODi)

* The last piece in Tamil was Bharatiyar's 'tiruvai panindu'

Needless to say, an outstanding performance from this finest of artistes. Support was excellent from RKS, Poongulam & Govindaprasad. The Chemistry scholar's concert had a special front row attendee: 2009 Nobel Chemistry prize winner Dr. Ramakrishnan

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 23 Dec 2009, 18:44

rupavati wrote:* . The Chemistry scholar's concert had a special front row attendee: 2009 Nobel Chemistry prize winner Dr. Ramakrishnan

That was nice piece of information

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 23 Dec 2009, 20:00

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 23 Dec 2009, 20:15

this would have been wonderful to attend!!
CD please!

kartik · Post by **kartik** » 23 Dec 2009, 21:31

Just a question-how long was the vardhani ragam by sowmya roughly?

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 23 Dec 2009, 21:52

IIRC, Dwaram has played an RTP in vardhani. I found it a rather strange ragam.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 23 Dec 2009, 22:03

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 23 Dec 2009, 22:06

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 23 Dec 2009, 23:01

a good concert indeed. IMO though the first two items did not set the tempo right and appeared to be soggy. But from Karaharapriya onwards it was like Sehwag got rid of shackles and gone to the pitch with some vengeance. (p.s. not enough knowledge to comment on vardhani RTP, will leave it for knowledgable rasikas)

rupavati · Post by **rupavati** » 23 Dec 2009, 23:55

I find the reaction of folks here to the choice of Vardhani quite funny. I get the feeling that if such a choice was made by a Sanjay or a TMK, folks would have been ooh-ing and aah-ing about their extraordinary choice and out-of-the-box thinking (without all these disclaimers about limited knowledge that we see in this thread)

This was certainly a better choice than some exotically-named scale-oriented melakarta ragam!

I found this Vardhani alapana to be original, non-repetitive and gamaka-rich. Alapana itself was about 10-12 mins and the entire RTP about 45 mins. The pallavi was well-structured and executed. Hats off to her.

squims · Post by **squims** » 24 Dec 2009, 01:01

Thanks for the review!
I find Sowmya's music very appealing, but it is sad that I have never gotten to watch her live.
Wish we could get hold of a CD of this concert.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 24 Dec 2009, 01:43

srinivasrgvn wrote: Not rather strange. Very strange. IMHO, it is not a very good raga to choose for RTP. It may have scope but what about rasikas' satisfaction? Which is more important?

What about the musicians satisfaction? If they feel like exploring a new raaga (and have the capability to do so), why not go for it??

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 24 Dec 2009, 03:42

Here's Dwaram's ragam and thanam in vardhani:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dv2vlj

There are definitely some beautiful phrases from 3.30 onwards. But I still find it difficult to "pin" the melody of the raga down, though I suppose that problem is attributable to a relative paucity of popular compositions in the raga.

Is vardhani equivalent to the 32nd melakartha? S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N2 S'
The R3 (if it's even there) isn't very prominent in Dwaram's presentation.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 24 Dec 2009, 07:16

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 24 Dec 2009, 08:21

srinivasargvn - i believe she announced the raga and stated the scale for the raga as well. so from identifying sense the mystery was solved earlier on by the artist herself.

fuddyduddy - i second srinivasargvn. she can have immense personal satisfaction doing it in a chamber concert of connoiseurs rather than in a public performance? but this is not a cut and dried issue. there are many angles to it and there is no single correct answer.

fuddyduddy · Post by **fuddyduddy** » 24 Dec 2009, 09:21

Yes, there are many angles to it...
Every time I hear a new raaga, I feel like I learn something new, whether its an RTP or some krithi in rare raaga. True, that the first time you hear it, its hard to enjoy fully when you dont know details about the raaga. But it makes me research more about it and most often the artistes sing it again and the next time it sounds more divine..
For eg, Sanjay sang so many rare raaga RTPs in his recent US trip and the first time I heard it, it was good just to hear it and also just for the melody in it. Sometimes it so enjoyable to listen to something without thinking about the technicalities. At the same time hearing Mohanam for an hour is enjoyable because that is my easiest raagam and I can totally follow thru the whole hour of what an artiste is trying to do...
Also, its the confidence one has in an artist. I admire Sowmya and knowing how she sings her kambhoji and thodi and bhairavi, makes one believe that she would have done enuff research for the rare raaga, to bring its fullness. If I heard that she sang it in a chamber concert, it would only make me wonder why she dint sing it in a public concert

And this is totally up to ones taste, so I do agree that theres no correct answer..

Svaapana · Post by **Svaapana** » 24 Dec 2009, 09:55

"Very strange. IMHO, it is not a very good raga to choose for RTP. It may have scope but what about rasikas' satisfaction? Which is more important"

The oft cited DKP's RTP in jaganmohini had received rave reviews when she first sang that raga at the MA. I would think Soumya's RTP in vardhani (made famous by DVN) was also classy.

Jigyaasa · Post by **Jigyaasa** » 24 Dec 2009, 10:31

sankark wrote:she can have immense personal satisfaction doing it in a chamber concert of connoiseurs rather than in a public performance?

The Music Academy easily attracts the most "intellectual" rasikas. If there's any place where such a rAga can be taken up for elaboration, I believe it's the Academy.

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 24 Dec 2009, 10:43

Jigyaasa wrote:
sankark wrote:she can have immense personal satisfaction doing it in a chamber concert of connoiseurs rather than in a public performance?
The Music Academy easily attracts the most "intellectual" rasikas. If there's any place where such a rAga can be taken up for elaboration, I believe it's the Academy.

agree here a lot.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 24 Dec 2009, 10:47

srinivasrgvn

That was an inspiring review

grsastrigal · Post by **grsastrigal** » 24 Dec 2009, 10:52

I agree with Jigyaasa. Whatever RTPs I heard in MA, everyone gave their best. In fact, goign through the souvenir, the following RTPs we have in store.

TMK, SS and Bombay Jaishree have not given the list.

Kunnakudy Balamuralikrishna 29.11.09 7 PM Darbar
Dr.K.Omanakutty 30.12.09 4.15 Arabhi
Srivalson Menon 26.11.09 7 Hamir Kalyan
TNS Krishna 26.12.09 1.45 Subapantu varali
Satur Sisters 30.12.09 4.15

Rest you have 4 Nattakurnijis, 2 Suruttis, Hindolam, 2 Nalinakantis. (OH NO.....)

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 24 Dec 2009, 11:00

If it is the same raga as the song 'Manasa mana samarthya', I listen quite often to a fast paced version of this song by MLV. That sounds pretty nice. MLV does some amazing kalpanaswarams too.

Jigyaasa · Post by **Jigyaasa** » 24 Dec 2009, 11:05

I've been listening to Sri Dwaram's vivardhani and I personally find it charming and esoteric... Thanks a lot bilahari

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 24 Dec 2009, 11:27

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 24 Dec 2009, 11:33

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 24 Dec 2009, 11:36

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 24 Dec 2009, 14:31

srinivasrgvn wrote:
Svaapana wrote:The oft cited DKP's RTP in jaganmohini had received rave reviews when she first sang that raga at the MA. I would think Soumya's RTP in vardhani (made famous by DVN) was also classy.
Well, if you compare jaganmOhini and vardhani, there are a hundred reasons why jaganmOhini is hundred times better for RTP!

*Look at jaganmOhini's scale :

15 mAyamALava gowLa janya
Aa: S G3 M1 P N3 S
Av: S N3 P M1 G3 R1 S

The scale is simple and palpable. You can connect it with mAyAmAlavagowla any day! The parent raga is itself popular!

Look at vardhani's scale:

11 kOkilapriyA janya
Aa: S G2 M1 P M1 P D2 N3 S
Av: S N3 D2 P M1 G2 R1 S

The scale itself is confusing with ultra-tough prayOgAs! And the parent raga - kOkilapriyA(?) is not so familiar! Sowmya is a master to have chosen this raga!

*Look at the sheer number of compositions in jaganmOhini:
http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... ohini.html

To my knowledge(which is extremely limited!), I know only (and only) 'manasA manasAmarthyam'! Maybe some contemporary composers would have composed in this raga? To my knowledge, 'manasA' is an Eka rAga kriti!

* 'sObillu' and many other compositions are/were quite regularly featured in many singers' concerts. So DKP would not have prepared as painstakingly as Sowmya but DKP's pallavi was a success!

Any rare raga, my usual 2 questions are
Any south indian movie song in this raga?
Has Sanjay or MMI sung 'manasA manasAmarthyam'?

I remember Neelamani RTP, when i got it connected with 'nalam thana' later , I am sure atleast next time , I can enjoy better.

karthikbala · Post by **karthikbala** » 24 Dec 2009, 14:45

rajaglan wrote: Any south indian movie song in this raga?
Has Sanjay or MMI sung 'manasA manasAmarthyam'?

I remember Neelamani RTP, when it got connected with 'nalam thana' , atleast next time , I can enjoy better.

There is a recording by Chowdiah on the violin. I attended a concert this year at SGBS, Bangalore where Sanjay sang Neelamani RTP. It was very attractive.

girish_a · Post by **girish_a** » 24 Dec 2009, 15:32

srinivasrgvn wrote:No wonder our Nobel Laureate came to this concert. What fine taste he has!

It would be nice if he joined this forum.

Rasika911 · Post by **Rasika911** » 24 Dec 2009, 16:34

girish_a wrote:
srinivasrgvn wrote:No wonder our Nobel Laureate came to this concert. What fine taste he has!
It would be nice if he joined this forum.

Unlikely methinks

rajaglan · Post by **rajaglan** » 24 Dec 2009, 17:00

Our nobel laureate seems to get in to controversies in managing indian publics' eagerness.
Let us leave him in his own world, not pull him in to any controversy.