Sandeep Narayanan for Vasantha memorial trust - live blog

[sureshvv]

just finished a terrific extended alapana of vasantha overflowing with both energy and melody. Sometime since this raga has been elaborated at such length drawing spontaneous applause from the audience in the middle of the alapana for some exhilarating sancharas

[sureshvv]

Started out with a power packed vathapi ganapathim which included neraval and swaras at different places in the kriti and lasted for about a half hour

[sureshvv]

Vasantha kriti is "harihara putram shastharam sada bhajeham maya karyam thyajeham" with some lovely lilting prayogas around "maya".

[sureshvv]

"sri kanchi nayike sruta jana phala dayike" in asaveri, rupakam followed vatapi ganapathim.

Looks like it is all dikshitar fare so far.

[sureshvv]

breaking into a slow single avarthana swaraprasthara at the pallavi line

[sureshvv]

up shifting into faster mel kala swarams now and some brisk accompaniment from rahul on the violin gets him a round of bale's from the audience

[sureshvv]

7.30 and the 1st round of exodus out of the fully packed mini hall (micro may be more apt) brings some welcome relief.

Syama sastry's magnificient aahiri piece is next.

[sureshvv]

Patnam's marivere dikkevaraiyya rama in shanmukhapriya now sung as fast filler.

[sureshvv]

high speed neraval @ sannutanga sri venkatesa neevu followed by rapid fire swaras

[sureshvv]

Kambodhi starting off most majestically...

[sureshvv]

lots of brigha laden sangatis and extended aakaraas which showcase breath control and vocal prowess in the tara sthayi but melody and sowkyam temporarily relegated to back burner... Now back to madhya sthayi and the melody occupying center stage...

[sureshvv]

rahul's kambodhi comprehensive but tonal quality sounded a bit wanting. Not sure if audio system could be exacerbating the problem.

Kriti chosen is "koniyadina napai". Different new sangatis.

Good choice!

[sureshvv]

the chittaswaras that popularized the song from sampoorna ramayanam were sung twice and made way to the
nice thani without neraval or kalpana swaras for the main piece. While the choice of the kriti is commendable, Sandeep will do well to internalize the lyrics and not rely on the paper so he can engage with the audience more while delivering the song.

[sureshvv]

meera bhajan "paaga ghungroo baandh meera nachee rey" in yamuna kalyani

[sureshvv]

"shyam sundara kamala vadhana" in tillang

[mahesh3]

Superrr....thanks for the review!

[mahavishnu]

thanks, Suresh. Who played the mridangam?

[arasi]

Suresh,
Great commentary! Wish there are going to be more like this from you. Good to see you writing about concerts again!

Deepsand,
Way to go! A few of my favorite songs there...

paga ghungrUrE.

[sureshvv]

thanks, Suresh. Who played the mridangam?

I found out from one of the organizers after the event that his name is Venkatasubramanian. Don't remember having seen him on stage before his.

[rshankar]

Deepsand,
Way to go! A few of my favorite songs there...paga ghungrUrE.

Arasi - could not resist this part from the bhajan..'mein tO apnE nArayan kI hO gayi Ap hi dAsI rE'...