SIFA, Sunnivale, CA Spring Concerts

[thanjavooran]

Double Header Concerts.
Anil Narasimhan Vocal
Ajay Narasimhan Violin
Karthik Gopalaratnam Mirudhangam

Thodi Varnam
Begada Thyagarajaya Namaste RPS
Pantuvarali Vadera RPNS
Ananda Bhyravi Marivere RP
Ethukula kambodhi Yarenru Ragavanai P
Garudathwani Thathvameruga P S
Dhanyasi Dhyaname R P N S T
Neelambari Ennaga P
Ahiri pani mathi mukha pale R P
Raga Malika slokam in Amir Kalyani, Mayamalava gowla , Kapi
Kapi Jagadhdho dharana
Thillana
Mangalam

The concert was excellent with good selection of songs. Anil has very high potential and can come up to top level with constant practice. His singing resembled KVN with open throat . This was mentioned by SMt Jayalakshmi Santhanam in her speech at the end. Violinist also played well getting applause at appropriate places. Mirudhangam thani avardhanam was very nice and all were sitting tight on their seat without moving out. This is the very first concert in 2011 commemorating spring concerts. Wishing the youngsters every success in the years to come.

Thanjavooran 14 03 2011

[thanjavooran]

Concert 2
At 15 30 hrs on 13 03 2011 Venue: Indian community center , Milpitas, CA

Carnatica Bros Vocal
V V S Murari Vioin
Thanjavoor Muruga boopathi Mirudhangam

Kambodhi Sarasi Varnam
Nattai Jaya jaya janaki P
Dhenuka Theliya lethu Rama R P
Kumudha kriya Ardha Nareeswaram R P N S
Kapi Narayani Sarasa samadhana P
Thodi Gajavadhana Ekendra P
Vasantha Rama Rama P
Devamanohari
Narayana Gowla
Devagandhari
Brindhavani
Hamsanandhi Ragamalika R T P T
Observations
The concert list is not a planned one, as totally it was left to the choice of the audience. He wanted audience to choose the raga for RTP stating that he had already received a request for Poorvikalyani. One suggested Kumudhakriya and immediately he sang RT and again he wanted choice for ragamalika and the above ragas were sung. As usual Murari's playing was good and especially his delineation of Kumudhakriya was excellent. Murugaboopathi's thani was nice. In my opinion he is playing on fibre glass mirudhangam since steel belt was visible instead of leather and could not find out since he never adjusted the tension for sruthi alignment. The introduction of the Artistes is time consuming bringing out all his sannad, honours, guruparampara and sishayaparampara etc. This can be avoided. Kudos to the organisers. Could not stay back till the end since dependent on youngsters to drop us back.

Thanjavooran 14 03 2011

[arasi]

Thanjavooran,
Good to get a review from you--a double header one at that! I guess you are visiting the US now. As Rajesh says, reviews aren't pouring in at the moment even though CM spring festivals are happening everywhere in the world. Many Chennai concerts go unreviewed as well, though most of us are keen on reading lots of reviews.
Good to know the youngsters did very well. As for the Carnatica Bros, you have to give it to them for being so sportive about their craft. They fulfill listeners requests to the max! Would love to hear their kumudakriya.

[ramakriya]

The concerts were held in Milpitas

I reached sort of late into Anil's concert, and enjoyed every bit of it. Native bay area talent!

The Devamanohari pallavi had swaras (quite predictably) in Gouri Manohari, Kamalamanohari and Saraswathi Manohari. I was expecting Madhava Manohari too, but that wasn't included.

Post pallavi, they sang Parulanna Mata (jAvaLi in kApi), Madurai Somu's composition in Basant (on Muruga, looks like a well known one, but I don't remember the starting line) and Ragi tandeera when I had to leave since I had another engagement.

[arasi]

Ramakriya,
Good to hear from you!

[rajeshnat]

thanjoovaran
You have mentioned P in almost every songlist , what is that??, like for eg Begada Thyagarajaya Namaste RPS

[Layadhwani83]

I really enjoyed both the concerts I attended yesterday. Anil has a soulful voice and Dhanyasi totally complemented it. His brother gave him able accompaniment on the violin and Karthik's Tani was enjoyable. It felt nice to see a young team of musicians from Bay Area.
The Carnatica Brothers presented a great account of their musical mastery. Their concert was one of a kind, where the audience was also involved in the concert. A great experience, indeed. However, I guess Thanjavooran has given some wrong details in the song list for Carnatica Brothers. They did not sing a Pallavi in Kumudhakriya but in Devamanohari. I do not understand what P means, but my guess is P stands for 'Paatu' in Tamil. I disagree that the brothers had just gone totally on audience request. They mentioned in the beginning that they would be presenting compositions that are requested by the audience, along with compositions of their choice. In contrast, I found the artistes interacting with the audience, to keep them involved. In fact, they composed the Devamanohari pallavi on the spot on an audience request, which I felt was a great feat. I liked the anulomam vilomam part in the Pallavi, which is rarely performed.

Regarding announcements, I guess Thanjavooran has not attended SIFA concerts in the last few years. I am glad to see that the announcements have been cut short to a great extent. I believe it is important to know the Guru Parampara of an artiste. I did not know who Tanjavur Murugaboopathy's guru was, and that information was useful.

I wish Anil and Ajay Narasimha, and the Carnatica Brothers great success in their musical careers! SIFA is a highly established organization and has continued to present quality concerts like this in the Bay Area. Kudos to the organization.

[gardabha_gana]

Thanks for the review... makes me nostalgic being a regular attendee/sponsor between 94-2007

[arasi]

Now in good old Bengaluru!

[thanjavooran]

Any review on the concert of Ganesh and Kumaresh violin, last weekend? Was there any ' Neyar viruppam ' here too?

Thanjavooran 17 04 2011

[shripathi_g]

They gave us a choice of Ranjani, Nasikabhooshani and Shanmukhapriya. Initially, he just gave the first two and I believe most people wanted Ranjani and some wanted N'bhooshani. Someone remarked about the third choice and he came up with S'priya and then everyone wanted Shanmukhapriya. The Shanmukhapriya and the mallari in Gambheernattai earlier (not the one Sanjay sings) were very good. I wasn't too impressed with their ragapravahams in Reethigowla and Saveri. Thodi (Sri Krishnam Bhaja) was good in patches. There was a lot of technical virtuosity and not a lot of soulful music but that's just my opinion.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Forumites:I am currently in Palo Alto visiting my son and family. Would like to meet/talk to forumites in the Bay Area. Attended RKS's concert Friday==delightful sukham and sowkhyam.Plan to attend Sudha R's concert on the Apr 29th.
Would love to meet forumites.

My contact# 718-775-5256.

[ramakriya]

Concert list - Padmabhushana R K Srikanthan & R S Ramakanth; Accompanied by Hemmige Srivatsan on the violin and Ramesh Srinivasan on Mrdanga.

I missed the initial part - probably the first song or two. Following list is after I went in, and I may have forgotten a song or two.

1) Saraswathi vidhi yuvati - Hindola - rUpaka- MD - R, S , N
2) Parama pAvana rAma - Purvi kalyAni - R S
3) lAvaNya rAma kanulAra - pUrNa shaDja - Tyagaraja
4) rAma ikanannu brOvarAda - shahAna - Patnam Subramanya Iyer- R S N T
5) karuNiso ranga - mOhana - PurandaradAsa
6) nOduvude kaNNu - abhEri - PurandaradAsa
7) nArAyaNa ninna - Shuddha dhanyasi - Purandara dAsa
8 ) tillAna in kApi - Ponnayya Pille?

Corrections welcome.

-Ramakriya

[chetants]

Ramakriya,
RKS Sir got off to a flying start with the popular Kedaragaulai varnam of Tiruvottriyur Tyagayyar. Then he sang gajAnanayutaM gaNEshvaraM - vEgavAhini/Chakravaakam with brief swaras. I think nOduvude kaNNu was also in Shuddha dhanyasi though initially, I too thought it was Abheri during the initial phases of the raga alapana.

For the benefit of rasikas who could not attend, the nonagenarian's voice, enthusiasm and sruthi suddham had to be heard to be believed! Sri. Ramakanth supported him very well as always. Even though he does not possess the same bhava-laden voice like RKS Sir, Ramakanth's voice has a nice tremor and one could hear his own stamp of individuality. Well supported by Srivatsan and Ramesh. A very crisp and nice start to the SIFA spring festival leaving the rasikas yearning for more!

[narayan]

rAma ikanannu is Patnam's.

[ramakriya]

Thanks for the correction, Narayan. I have edited my post.