Rama Varma - Seattle June 12, 2010

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 17 Jun 2010, 05:17

Vocal : Rama Varma
Violin : S. Varadarajan
Mridangam: Patri Satish Kumar

vAtApi gaNapatiM bhajEham- hamsadhvani-Adi- dIkShitar (RS)
SObillu saptaswara-janganmOhini- rUpaka- tyAgarAjA
jananI ninuvinA- rItigaula-miSra Capu-SubbarAya Sastry
sarOruhAsanajAyE- kAmavardhini-Ad- mahArAja svAti tirunAl (RST)
nArAyanatE namO namO- bEhAg- ADi-annamAchArya (R)
varalIla gAna lOla- ShankarAbharam tyAgarAjA
tillAnA-kadanakutUhalam- BMK

Hereâ€™s my impression of Rama Varmaâ€™s Concert.

It was a warm Saturday here and I was looking forward for a cool evening of Carnatic Music from our visiting artists. While I heard SV and Patri before, was eager to listen to RV for the first time.
The concert started with a short hamsadhvani sketch and followed by a long-time-back-beaten-to-death vAtApi gaNapatiM. RV sang it well with few new embellishment s and embarked into a scintillating kalpanaswarams. I was hoping this piece will end soon and will get to hear more of not-so-often heard/never heard sVati tirunAl, MDR or BMK kritis. But it was half an hour before the next piece started.

There was a quick SObillu saptaswara with extended swarams after the cittaswaram. It was marked by few gimmicks especially with alternating high-low octave notes. This was indeed a characteristic style of RV in all the pieces.
By now I was in mood for an elaborate alapana but had to waitâ€¦ one more to go... RVâ€™s mellow voice brought out the beauty of the SS kriti. He sang the pallavi with lot of emphasis on trilOka jananI and the wonders of rItigaula were mesmerizing.

The highlight of the concert was kAmavardhini. Recently, I was wondering why I havenâ€™t heard this raga being elaborated enough. People often choose pUrvikalyANi over the beautiful kAmavardhini. I was glad to hear it in this concert. It was well done by RV but fell short. Just when I thought it was going great and he will delve into deeper aspects of the raga, he starting playing around with high/low notes, and going into mandara stAyi and ended abruptly. This was compensated though by SV who played a magical kAmavardhini. This was well received by the audience, as well as RV himself. It had a little mix of pUriya dhanaSri, as even RV commented that this raga has 34.5 % similarity to its Hindustani counterpart prompting laughter from the audience.
There was an excellent rendition of sarOruhAsanajAyE with solkattus in caranams. I was hearing it for the first time and enjoyed it very much. What a beautiful kriit! Kalpana swarams in kAmavardhini was followed by mOhanam, bAgeSri and dES. The swarams were simple to follow as far as laya was concerned and was an elegant expression of each of the ragas taken. Yes, it indeed followed somewhat an MMI style. We also had SV and PSK repeating some phrases in a sequence on Violin and mridangam resp. which was pleasing.

Tani Avartanam was fastâ€“paced and superb. No matter how hard I tried to keep my talam I was falling behind by one beat even within one avartanam- that too, sitting in the first row â€“ too bad! It seemed like there were two korvais. Not sure if that is unusual.
The tillAnA presentation was as if BMK was singing it. And there was no mangaLam.

The list presented here was short. I am envious of others who got to listen more alapanas and kritis in their place. In the time it took for the very long introduction (reading from the pamphlet by the organizer with all mispronunciations) of the three artists we could have had a short Ragam Tanam Pallavi

.

What I like about the concert was- a fine voice, great audience connection, and a very elegant presentation of the kritis. I really liked his humble appreciation for the accompanying artist with his characteristic nods. In fact he told us that his accompanying artists are always better than him.

The second picture posted above has an American (?) lady in black dress, seen in the reflection on the window that RV introduced as Amy Walker. He mentioned her in the context of each artist coming from different regions in India and speaking the same language of music. I looked up in the YouTube about her- it is amazing how she can speak in so many different accents.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Jun 2010, 06:56

Thanks Suji for the nice review. Be prepared for the absence of a Tamil or Kannada Kriti discussion

Thanks for the picture; it is always a pleasure to look at the benign face of RV. In the second one I thought the spirit of Svati was visiting him

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Jun 2010, 07:10

>>Be prepared for the absence of a Tamil or Kannada Kriti discussion <<
I am not going to fall into this trap. This instigation is akin to "kuzhandaiyaiyum kiLLi viTTu toTTilaiyum ATTuvadu" (pinch the baby and rock the cradle)--a cANakyan strategy of which only cmlover is capable.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Jun 2010, 07:38

Suji,
What a nice review! You sound just like yourself and that's what makes a good rasikA's review. That's why it is fun to read reviews here at RasikAs. Bharath, Bilahari, Kedharam, Keerthi, Nick, Pattamma, Rajesh, Ravi, Rishi, Sappri, Veeyens and a host of others do the same. I tried to go alphabetically but am afraid I haven't remembered to include all the others who write good reviews too. All write about their own personal experiences of a concert and that is something you cannot find in newspapers. Our reviews are like listening to our friends when they return from a concert and share their experiences with us.
Rama Varma's music was well received by rasikAs in North America. He seems like a gentleman (royalty apart). He is a fine-tuned rasikA and an elegant performer.
Wonder if he is back in India already. Congratulations to him and to his excellent accompanists on a successful tour of our continent!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 17 Jun 2010, 16:49

Suji - lovely review - thanks! Now you're a photographer too!

ShrutiLaya · Post by **ShrutiLaya** » 17 Jun 2010, 18:22

Suji Ram wrote:
kalpanaswarams. I was hoping this piece will end soon and will get to hear more of not-so-often heard/never heard sVati tirunAl, MDR or BMK kritis. But it was half an hour before the next piece started.

....

The list presented here was short. I am envious of others who got to listen more alapanas and kritis in their place. In the time it took for the very long introduction (reading from the pamphlet by the organizer with all mispronunciations) of the three artists we could have had a short Ragam Tanam Pallavi .

I too feel somewhat cheated when the first or second piece in a concert turns out to be very long, with elaborate swaras etc., The audience (and the audio person!) is still in the "settling down" mode, and not yet sufficiently relaxed to enjoy the program ..

Nice dig at the long introduction

How long was the entire concert?

- Sreenadh

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Jun 2010, 19:43

mahakavi wrote:>>Be prepared for the absence of a Tamil or Kannada Kriti discussion <<
I am not going to fall into this trap. This instigation is akin to "kuzhandaiyaiyum kiLLi viTTu toTTilaiyum ATTuvadu" (pinch the baby and rock the cradle)--a cANakyan strategy of which only cmlover is capable.

Dear Sub
certainly not a trap! Such discussions are legitimate and are feedback to the artiste especially to one who is also a Forumite. We are all entitled to our own opinions (decently expressed here) since a concert is intended for all audience. RV is a seasoned artiste, even a future SK and hence he has to heed to Rasika feelings! If hhis repertoire is limited to only Telugu kritis (which I am sure is not) then he will be at a serious handicap!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Jun 2010, 21:50

If RV sings more of telugu songs, it may be due to his guru connection. If he sings several of Swati songs, it's his family connection. If he misses out on tamizh songs, It's definitely not because he is anti-tamizh! He is much too broad-minded for that.
Again, he is a performer. Take any performer's song lists (not of a particularly narrow-minded one, of course) and see how they vary--depending on the venue, the condition of their voice, on their mood, choice of rAgams and so on. An artiste leaning towards tamizh songs may end up singing a lot of telugu songs, all of T too, in one concert and an admixture of different songs in different languages in another. As much as I love tamizh songs (my mother tongue), I also like other languages and songs in them which are musically rich too.
Yes, we do like to listen to a satisfying, well-balanced concert, however different the choices of songs happen to be.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 17 Jun 2010, 22:09

Three important criteria in song selections:
Balance, balance, balance! (be it composers or languages)

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Jun 2010, 23:11

There goes our Royal Majesty who is indeed a mltilinguist!
So let us resign to the motto
emmozhiyum nam mozhiyE
(all languages are ours (in the CM context))

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 18 Jun 2010, 00:31

Is a very long vatapi ganapatim a BMK trademark by any chance?

I ask because I recall being amazed at hearing him sing it for 40-plus minutes on a recording.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 18 Jun 2010, 02:10

Hmm...
Neither while in concert nor while writing the views about the concert did I think about which languages were covered. Now thinking about it I feel -yes, a malayalam kriti from RV would have been great! I will look for the day when- for eg- a telugu speaking person will say I wish there was tamizh kriti in the concert.(you can substitute this with any combination of languages you like). ]

And, BTW I don't speak malayalam

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 18 Jun 2010, 02:32

Suji,

Now we have to think of Nick. He could claim tamizh to be the language he speaks, I suppose. Even the so called english notes in CM do not contain any english words

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:56

Has this turned into a "holy thread"?

Poor Rama Varma has been forgotten!

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 18 Jun 2010, 23:03

Sorry Nick! Apologies to RV!!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 18 Jun 2010, 23:37

Nick H wrote:Has this turned into a "holy thread"?

Good one.
Perhaps the last few posts on the holy thread belong here: http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13415
Can the admins 'do the needful'.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 19 Jun 2010, 06:01

Thanks R-T
done..

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 19 Jun 2010, 15:57

Thanks for the interesting review, Suji.
You would probably not have had a short RTP even if the organisers had spared you because RV feels the same way about pallavis as he does about neravals! Oh, and I too thought Patri played two kOrvais in his thani in SD - it was unusual and I was wondering why the violinist wasn't picking up his violin, and then felt very stupid when the kOrvai came to an end and he continued playing sedate patterns before embarking on the final kOrvai...

Sreenadh, I beg to disagree. I personally like elaborate opening pieces (maybe not a full half hour, though!) because they set the scene - so to speak - for the rest of the concert. I feel bored with 2-3 short opening pieces with hardly any substantial manOdharma.

maduraimini · Post by **maduraimini** » 20 Jun 2010, 00:08

Prince Rama Varma did sing a beautiful Tamil Song at his Miami concert in April. I am glad he chose some nice songs of Sri Swathi Tirunal, his ancestor.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 20 Jun 2010, 01:22

yes bilahari,
I too felt only appetizer was served- or High tea.
Without neraval or RTP it is never a complete concert for me.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Jun 2010, 03:34

I'm surprised to see that absence. I don't think of neraval is being an optional part of a concert!

thenpaanan · Post by **thenpaanan** » 24 Jun 2010, 22:53

ShrutiLaya wrote: I too feel somewhat cheated when the first or second piece in a concert turns out to be very long, with elaborate swaras etc., The audience (and the audio person!) is still in the "settling down" mode, and not yet sufficiently relaxed to enjoy the program ..
- Sreenadh

I wonder if this is "pazhakka dOsham" (fault of habit). HMusicians don't use short pieces to start their concerts and their audiences seem to be able to settle down. Variously I have heard short pieces in the beginning of a concert (varnam, a fast-paced kriti, etc) justified as needed by the artists to settle down but never as justification for the audience to settle down.

The "short pieces up front" has been used and abused by artists (and perhaps some organizers who rush the artists in) as a "throat check" on stage, which I personally find unprofessional. I feel that singers should properly warm up before the concert -- it is better for their voices too. So my kudos to Ravi Varma for making a break from that custom.

-Then Paanan

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 24 Jun 2010, 22:59

HMusicians don't use short pieces to start their concerts and their audiences seem to be able to settle down.

That's what they use tuning for!

... and then (more seriously), the first alap is begun almost before we realise, and, oh so slowly picks up the bits and pieces of us that arrived in the hall, tuning us in, as it develops.

I miss that experience, sometimes!

ragam-talam · Post by **ragam-talam** » 25 Jun 2010, 01:55

Nick H wrote:I'm surprised to see that absence. I don't think of neraval is being an optional part of a concert!

This may have something to do with the fact that his guru also doesn't include neravals in his concerts!
See here: http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/01/29/stor ... 390800.htm
"The only aspect missing in the concert was niraval."

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 25 Jun 2010, 10:35

Thanks for the nice review. I have not had an opportunity to listen to his concert. A number of reviews from this US tour of his, has drawn my attention to him. Also got an idea as to what to expect and what not to expect!!

"It was marked by few gimmicks especially with alternating high-low octave notes. "

Just a small comment on your write up. On two occasions you have used the word "few". "Few gimmicks" actually means "no gimmicks". "A few gimmicks" means what you want to convey. As on both occasions I misunderstood you initially, I thought that you may not mind my mentioning it. Also, there is a possibility that in American language, this usage for the word few may be an accepted one.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 25 Jun 2010, 21:42

Please continue your discussion on the use of "few" at
http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=13544
Thanks for your cooperation...

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 25 Jun 2010, 21:47

kssr wrote: Also got an idea as to what to expect and what not to expect!!

"It was marked by few gimmicks especially with alternating high-low octave notes. "

Just a small comment on your write up. On two occasions you have used the word "few". "Few gimmicks" actually means "no gimmicks". "A few gimmicks" means what you want to convey. As on both occasions I misunderstood you initially, I thought that you may not mind my mentioning it. Also, there is a possibility that in American language, this usage for the word few may be an accepted one.

Thanks.
I should have written "a few gimmicks".

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 25 Jun 2010, 21:53

Please let us continue RV discussion here...

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 25 Jun 2010, 22:11

Any idea if RV has returned to India or still in the US? You may also send his email id,if available, to my email. Thanks.

Suji Ram · Post by **Suji Ram** » 25 Jun 2010, 23:02

his last concert in US was on June 13 in San Jose. So should be back

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 26 Jun 2010, 11:04

Suji Ram wrote:his last concert in US was on June 13 in San Jose. So should be back

I got his email id as well. I thank both of you.

Hurrah! This is my 200th mail. I am shaping up well as a GREAT RASIKA !! A'int it

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 26 Jun 2010, 19:41

Sure enough but vis-a-vis your post #25 you should have said 'ain't I'

(No! I am snot starting another grammar war

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 26 Jun 2010, 20:18

OH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Provocative man.

A'int it (true)? or Am I not?

I can see swords being pulled out by other forumites. I hereby resolve not to respond to any further provocation, even if it is constructive. Cheers

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 26 Jun 2010, 20:18

Henry Higgins, the proverbial phoneticist, would have none of it.
He would insist that you say "Am I not?"

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 26 Jun 2010, 20:22

Forumites are fond of Rama Varma. That is why they drag him through the linguistic discussions.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 Jun 2010, 20:40

Ain't it true that a friendly cuppa tea or a piece of super belgian chocky is the proper thing to think of when Rama Varma is spoken about?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Jun 2010, 22:56

A demanding musician, but an easy-going man, Rama Varma would not mind some fun.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Jun 2010, 03:52

If he is back he may even participate in the fun. He is a good sport!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 27 Jun 2010, 04:24

Until someone makes a bad 'sport' of him

We did like his posts very much when he participated.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 27 Jun 2010, 04:58

Nobody can make a "bad sport" of somebody else. Somebody else can say something that could induce the person to "become a bad sport" Don't fault the other person. You can choose not to become a bad sport or become a bad sport. It comes from within.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 27 Jun 2010, 06:51

The same applies to being a good sport--that is, we can choose to be one and act that way to express our choice. Of course, being a good sport can be part of one's nature, just as it can be in the case of spoil-sports

Anyway, on the forum, it seems like a good idea to be a good sport, even if one does not choose to be so in one's own life. However, those who cannot survive without--lounge topics to the rescue--alarm level chili-laced dishes and pickles might find humor and goodwill utterly boring and useless. Chacun a son gout...

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 27 Jun 2010, 07:56

Too much uric acid in the diet can cause gout. But there is Rx available for that.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Jun 2010, 13:44

What's this about a son having gout?

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 27 Jun 2010, 18:51

It means: De gustibus non est disputandum
To put in in plain language:
If the father in his middle age had gout, the son is also likely to get it when he reaches middle age

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Jun 2010, 19:12

I thought it was about Chennai public transport! There is no glass in the windows so we cannot dispute that the bus is windy

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 27 Jun 2010, 19:16

Of course, the gusty bus (in Chennai or any other city) cannot be a subject of dispute

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Jun 2010, 20:28

My my! Our multilingual Queen is diplaying her polyglot talents

Chacun a son gout... in french means 'Everyone has their own taste ...'
Nothing to do with the gout bothering your toes

Of course mahakavi got the drift and is displaying his mastery of Latin

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 27 Jun 2010, 20:40

CML,
Mahakavi was happy to hit 'two mangoes with one stone' (literal translation from tamizh), though he wasn't good at mango-aiming in his childhood, as he confesses elsewhere. The other was aimed at my reference to too many chillies and salt-ridden pickles kind of existence which I meant figuratively to mean non-sAtvik

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 27 Jun 2010, 21:14

Now Rama Varma must be laughing his head off! He is providing a lot of staple in this thread for humor.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 Jun 2010, 21:47

Chacun a son gout... in french means 'Everyone has their own taste ...'

Goodness... I would never have guessed that. You should hear me trying to pronounce street names in Pondicherry! Mind you, it is must be the only city in Southern India where even my wife finds it hard to tell auto drivers the destination!

Rama Varma, by the way, loves the French language, and is proud of his fluency in it. This is a taste (is that the chacon bit? or the gout bit?) that I don't share.