Lalgudi Shri Krishnan and Smt Vijayalakshmi

[Sam Swaminathan]

A scintillating concert of Lalgudi siblings took place at Auckland on 26 March 2011 under the auspices of NZ Carnatic Music Society. Shri Mannargudi Easwaran was on the Mridangam. A comprehensive song list is given below:


1. Varnam - Hamsavinodini - Lalgudi Jayaraman - Adi
2. Janaki Ramanna - Sudha Seemandini - St. Thiagraja - Adi
3. Rangapuravihara - B.Saranga - Dikshithar - R and S
4. Mayamma - Ahiri - Syama Sastry - R
5. Parama Paavana - Ranjani - M Krishnaiyer - R and S
6. Sri Rama - Amrutha Vahini - St. Thiagaraja - R
7. Ka Guha - Kosalam - Kotteswara Iyer - R
8. Thiruvadi Charanam - Kambodhi - R,N,S and Tani
9. RTP - Keeravani - Kanda gathi Kanda Tirupudai
Velava unden mel avaa konden alla va thiruchendur vadi vela
Raga maligai swarams in- Bindumalini,Sama,Danyasi,Varali, Nattai Kurinchi, Vandana Dharini, Narayani, Atana, Maduvanti, Karna Ranjini and Desh
10. Srinivasa - Hamsanandhi - P. Sivan
11. Baro Krishnaiya - Dasa
12. Brahma - Mukari - Annamayya
13. Jagado - Dasa
14. Thamadam Thagadaiya - Mohana Kalyani - Lalgudi Gopala Iyer
15. Thillana - Mishra Maand - Lalgudi
16. Thillana - Sindubhairavi - Lalgudi
17. Mangalam

The concert went on for some delightful 3.5 hours with not a soul stirring from their place. Both the extended ragas, Kambodhi and Keeravani were absolutely pure and traditional that took the rasikas to another world. The multiple ragas shared by the siblings in the RTP were excellent, the enthusiasm exhibited by them touched the spirits of scores of youngsters who attended the concert.

Mannargudi Easwaran's accompaniment was a lesson in itself that shadowed the artists so closely making one rasika to remark "is he also singing with them"! Yet in the tani and RTP he showed his brilliance by his calculating, rhythemic and structured performance.

The artists commented on the emergence of youngsters in the audience and the keen interest shown by them and congratulated the efforts of the society in promoting the art in this far off land.

[mahavishnu]

Sam, Thanks for your coverage. Sounds like another wonderful event for the New Zealanders this week.
I just love Sri Easwaran's accompaniment for violin kutcheris. The nadam at the 3 kattai sruti is wonderful.

They did ragamalika swarams in Vandana Dharini? I'm not sure if it more impressive that they played it or that you identified from a brief ragamalika swaram. I can only think of one composition in that raga.

GJR is very fond of vivadi ragams like Kosalam. You can tell that it is a very "intellectual" song list (well, atleast till the thukkadas).
BTW, tAmadam tagAdaiyyA is by Lalgudi Gopala Iyer (although he is a Lalgudi too!). And did you mean Parama pAvana in ranjani by Meesu Krishnaiyer?

[Sam Swaminathan]

Mahavishnu Sir....thank you for pointing out the corrections. I have effected the changes. There was no way I could have identified Vandana Dharini...I was thinking that it was Saraswathi, but had this uncomfortable feeling that there were some "anya" swarams there but could not put a finger on the correct raga name. So, after the concert cornered Viji and she, very kindly, clarified it for me. Yes, Kosalam was played at my request...I wanted GJR to play Chalanattai (Edaiya Gathi), but he preferred Kosalam.

The mridangam Sri Easwaran played was a new one (fibre glass body) and the nadham was really wonderful. Even though the size and every thing is very much like any "thaggu" vadyam, it is very light and the sound is soothing to the ears. As you have said, he played softly embellishing the concert.

Being my own brother, I should not be writing so positively myself, but could not help it as I myself got lost at the professional level of the concert by all the artists.

The siblings are so wonderful, dexterous and true to the music. I wish there are more and more artists of such calibre.

[mohan]

Thanks for the review. Looking forward to the same team's concert in Sydney next weekend (3 April). Any one interested in attending can see see www.pallavi.org

[bilahari]

The Lalgudis always present very "intellectual" fare, mahavishnu! Nice list. I like the kAmbOji-kIravANi combination; have a wonderful concert by KVN detailing both. Nice to see rangapura vihAra, too!

[rajeshnat]

Sam
I have heard them only once , their rotation in rAgamalika swaras was awesome then. In addition they always start with their dad's composition of varnam and thillAnA too,which adds a special muse. Has ME played the fibre glass mridangam due to logistics reason at Auckland , if possible few clips of your brother's fibre tani would be very appreciated , just to hear the nAdham.

[rshankar]

Sam - kudos to you for bringing pristine CM to the shores of Auckland!
A lovely list, with a nereval to boot...I am jealous. I have not heard the sibs play a nereval before.
And a nice progression of tributes in the tukkaDa section - their grandfather's composition, followed by their dad's tillAnAs!

[mahavishnu]

Rajesh, interesting question. I am curious about the fibre glass mridangam sound also.
Sam, Is the "saadham" made of synthetic materials too? I went to a lec-dem by UKS during the Dec season, where he mentioned difficulities with carrying a traditional mridangam to Aus/NZ. He is now researching alternative materials with scientists at CLRI. Is it actually difficult to get an "organic" mridangam into Australia/NZ?

Talking about LGJ thillanas, the (relatively new) misra mand thillana is astonishingly superb. I heard Sri GJR play this is with Anil Srinivasan on a commercial release. It has some beautiful phrases reminiscent of Lalgudi's classic version of "kaLLAl mayanguvadu pOlE" in theeradha vilayAttu piLLai mixed with a couple of very delicately placed anya swarams.

Mohan, impressive list of performers you manage to get to Sydney!

[gardabha_gana]

Waiting for their concert in Bengaluru on April 13th!

[Sam Swaminathan]

Sam, Is the "saadham" made of synthetic materials too?

No, except the body of the mridangam, rest of the materials are all traditional.

Is it actually difficult to get an "organic" mridangam into Australia/NZ?

Yes, it is technically difficult....both Aus/NZ have very tender land conditions and the export crop is extremely important to the economy. For example, just the apple exports are over 2 Billion dollars a year. Way back some 10 years ago, some flies got into the country from South America and wiped out the whole of the pit fruit produce. They had to restart the whole thing again from ground level. As recently as 2010, NZ apples were banned in Aus ! Such is the situation that border control measures are extremely strict. Previously, they used to seize the mridangams and fumigate them themselves. But nowadays there are certified fumigating people in Chennai and the border control accepts their certificate. As for Aus, they require import certificates for any thing like Mridangam or Tabla and it is always ensured that these units are taken back and not left behind in Aus. Having said that, the authorities are extremely nice and understanding and very very polite.

Rajesh, I have made the video of the Tani only and I will upload it in Youtube with Easwaran's permission.

Thank you all for the kind words of support for the NZ efforts in keeping the fires going. We owe a lot to the organisers in Aus like, Sri Sridhar Chari of Melbourne, Sri Mahendran and Mohan of Sydney and others who always help us in "piggy backing" the concerts for the benefit of rasikas in NZ. With costs spiralling out of control, this is only way we can do it to sustain ourselves.

We would value all your support in this as well. Kind regards to every one.

[mahavishnu]

Sam avl, thanks for the detailed reply about the Aus/NZ customs situation re: mridangams. I am glad that they are polite, courteous and business-like about it. I was just talking with Sri Trichy Sankaran here in Toronto yesterday about the additional difficulties of traveling with and maintaining a delicate, "living" instrument like a mridangam.

Look forward to hearing the tani on youtube (if Sri Easwaran would permit it).

[VRV]

They did ragamalika swarams in Vandana Dharini? I'm not sure if it more impressive that they played it or that you identified from a brief ragamalika swaram. I can only think of one composition in that raga.

Ramesh,

Prof SRJ. has composed a varnam "Bhuloka Narada" in ragam Vandhana Dharini set to Ghanda Jathi Triputa talam. Which composition were you referring to.

Vinod Venkataraman

[mahavishnu]

Vinod, thanks for bringing Sri SRJ's varnam to my attention. Is there a recording anywhere?
I was referring to GNB's composition called sudhA mAdhuryabhAshini. Here is the first recording that google could find http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkuFVFrfFrE

I have heard MLV/Sudha and other GNB descendants sing it. The song has been getting a bit more air play in the last year due to a proliferation of GNB-themed concerts commemorating his centenary.

[VRV]

Vinod, thanks for bringing Sri SRJ's varnam to my attention. Is there a recording anywhere?

I may have a recording of SRJ teaching Aishu and me this varnam. I will check and post a link on Youtube. Vandhana Dharini is prathi madhyama to Suddha Saveri ragam if I am not mistaken.

Vinod

[mahavishnu]

Vandhana Dharini is prathi madhyama to Suddha Saveri ragam

Or Saraswati without Nishadam on the descent?

[Sam Swaminathan]

Could some one please help me with an upload in Youtube ? I am trying to load the Tani - the file is a mpg and the size is 600mb - running time is 8.00 mts. When I try to upload I get the following message

Mannargudi Easwaran - Thani Aavarthanam(610.75M)
The upload failed due to an unknown error.

What am I doing wrong? I have tried it about 3 times with the same result....cheers

[appu]

Sam,

Try saving the video as a .mov instead of a .mpg using Imovie or some other software. That may resolve your problem

[PUNARVASU]

IIRC, there is a composition of M.M.Dandapani Desikar in the ragam vandanadharini.

[Sam Swaminathan]

Here is a photograph of Sri Easwaran's Guru Sri Kuniseri Krishnamani Iyer in a concert in Bangalore long long ago. The violinist is Bangalore Sri Seshagiri Rao and the singer is either Papa choodamani or alternatively Smt DK Pattammal , because the person sitting behind the vocalist looks like Sri D K Jayaraman.

People in the know can perhaps correct me as for the vocalist.

Thanks

[MV]

Yes, it was a great concert. The KS for Janaki Ramana and Rangapuravihara were very Lalgudiesque! The sister played a haunting Ranjani ragam and many crisp phrases in various KS passages throughout the concert. GJR was amazing-many passages in the raga alapana of Kosalam and Kambhoji if you shut your eyes, you could hear the father. I've never heard the two together and always remember GJR as the young lad under the watchful eyes of his dad. They have certainly come a long way. Most of the thukadas were on request hence the Damadam in Mohanakalyani at the fag end of the concert. Great stuff

[CRama]

The vocalist in the picture is undoubtedly Smt DKP only. Sri Palghat (Kunissery) Krishnamani was a stock Mridangam Player in the concert circle in 1950-60s mostly for the women artistes. I have heard his concerts for DKP, MLV, Radha Jayalakshmi etc. There was another Mridangist of that time Palghat Kunjumani who has accompanied MSS in that period. I do not know whether they are brothers.

[mohan]

Here's a quick update from the team's last concert in the down under tour at Sydney. It was an outstanding concert that featured detailed essays of Bhairavi (Smt Viji) and Kambhoji (Sri Krishnan). The Kambhoji was absolute gold! Their style is so classical and full of grace. The mrudangam of Sri Easwaran was soukyam personified! Despite a late night (watching the World Cup Final), they played for four hours and concluded with a couple of pieces in recognitions of India's cricket win!

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan & Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi – violin
Mannargudi A. Easwaran – mrudangam

Concert organised by Pallavi, Sydney
3 April 2011
4pm to 8pm (no interval)

1. varnam, amrutavarshini, adi, lalgudi jayaraman
2. aparadhamula, rasali, adi, thyagaraja (s)
3. kapali, mohanam, adi, papansam sivan (rs)
4. nannu brova, lalitha, misra chapu, shyama sastri (r)
5. enati nomu, bhairavi, adi, thyagaraja (rns)
6. kalangade maname, ragavardhini (32nd melakartha), adi, koteeswara iyer (r)
7. ambaparadevate, rudrapriya, khanda chapu, krishnaswami ayya (s)
8. sri subramanyaya, kambhoji, rupaka, muthuswamy dikshitar (rst)
9. ragam tanam pallavi, shanmughapriya, sama, anandabhairavi, chatusra jathi ata
‘shanmukhapriya janani, samagana vinodhini, sadhananda bhairavi’
10. jayati jayati bharata mata, khamas, adi-tisram, mayavaram vishwanatha sastri
11. ramachandra prabho, sindhubhairavi, adi, swati tirunal
12. chinnanchiru kiliye, kapi, tisram, subramania bharati
13. baro krishnayya, mand, adi, purandaradasa
14. tillana, desh, adi, lalgudi jayaraman
15. ni nama rupamulaku (mangalam), sourastra, adi, thyagaraja

[mahavishnu]

mohan, thanks for posting this. Excellent selections all.
rasAli, ragavardhini and rudrapriyA! It is very impressive that they can have so much popular appeal while presenting such weighty pieces.

[MV]

Mohan, thanks for the list. They said no recording in NZ. Were you able to record at all?

[mohan]

MV ... unfortunately not

[Sam Swaminathan]

CRama...you enquired....."I do not know whether they are brothers."

I can confirm they were not. Having said that, I must say that when we shifted our family from Katpadi to Chennai, Palaghat Kunjumani Sir taught anna for some time, before Kuniseri Sir took over once again. Later on due to family committment, Kuniseri Sir could not travel from B'lore as often as he could (he was an AIR aritist there), and hence on his advice, Anna took up tuition from Sri Guruvayoor Dorai Sir. Dorai Sir was an enthusiastic teacher and he was extremely knowledgeable, talented and more importantly very friendly with both Anna and especially to me, even though I was not learning mridangam!

[mahavishnu]

CRama...you enquired....."I do not know whether they are brothers."

I can confirm they were not. Having said that, I must say that when we shifted our family from Katpadi to Chennai, Palaghat Kunjumani Sir taught anna for some time, before Kuniseri Sir took over once again. Later on due to family committment, Kuniseri Sir could not travel from B'lore as often as he could (he was an AIR aritist there), and hence on his advice, Anna took up tuition from Sri Guruvayoor Dorai Sir. Dorai Sir was an enthusiastic teacher and he was extremely knowledgeable, talented and more importantly very friendly with both Anna and especially to me, even though I was not learning mridangam!

Sam, your last post seems to have disappeared. But it reappeared when I hit the reply function [mods, not sure what is doing on].
So, I have quoted the message here.

[Sam Swaminathan]

Yes, Mahavishnu....my posting has indeed disappeared. I can confirm I did NOT delete it....mods can please look into this..thanks

[vasanthakokilam]

Thanks Mahavishnu and Sam.
It looks to be a forum software problem. It has happened a few times to a few other people. In fact one other time it happened, it popped up when Mahavishnu hit the reply button. I will alert the admin.. but I am not sure if there is a quick fix for this. Until this problem is figured out and fixed, my advice would be to keep a copy of any long posts members write, so you do not lose it in case it happens again.

[easwaranmridangam]

My Dear c Rama I want to meet you