Chitravina N Ravikiran - Vocal Concert, 6th November @ KGS

[hamsaa]

Chitravina Shri Ravikiran presented a special vocal concert for Krishna Gana Sabha as part of the “Sadguru Rasanubhavam” series on Nov 6th, 2011.

Chitravina N Ravikiran - Vocal
Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi - Violin
Neyveli Narayanan - Mrdangam
S Karthick - Ghatam

The concert was a very enlightening experience for rasikas as Shri Ravikiran talked about various facets of Saint Tyagaraja’s compositions. He also analysed different perspectives on how to approach these extraordinary contributions of the divine composer.
The core-focus of the concert was more on the compositions and Shri Ravikiran did good justice to that by doing minimal improvisations.

1. Teliyaleru Rama – Dhenuka
2. Dinamani Vamsha – Harikambodhi
3. Deva Rama – Sowrashtra
4. Ela nee dayaradu – Athana
5. Dehi tava pada - Shahana
6. Evvare Ramaiyya – Gangeyabhooshani
7. Shree Rama padama – Amrtavahini
8. Buddhi Radu - Shankarabharanam
9. Emani Vegintune - Huseni
10. Challare Rama – Ahiri
11. Ramachandra nee daya – Surati

Some of the perspectives that were shared by Shri Ravikiran were :
1. The social values and people's ignorance in understanding the spiritualistic against the ritualistic, that were critiqued by the Saint in his compositions like Teliyaleru rama and Yagnyadulu and his lack of fear in questioning several values followed by the people of his times including his contemporary musicians.
2. The pure Sanskrit compositions that he has composed which include Jagadananda karaka, janaki ramana, Nada tanumanisham and others and the Sanskritised-telugu compositions such as Ela nee dayaradu which almost sound like Sanskrit compositions except for one or two lines in telugu
3. Word play that has been brilliantly used in compositions such as Deva Rama where the word ‘Shankara’ has been used in the charanam with different prefixes/suffixes to bring out different meanings. Another example of this is the 2nd charanam in Ela nee dayaradu where he has played with the word “raja”
4. The intelligent use of Vivadi notes in many ragas that were used by him, where the Saint has cleverly used it as part of either the ascending or descending scale only. This makes these ragas such as Chayanata, Ganavaridhi, Veera vasantam more pleasing to hear
5. Tyagaraja’s personalized approach and relationship with Lord Rama and his direct interaction with the Lord through his compositions lent a different colour and flavour to it compared to Dikshitar’s compositions, which are more impersonal and descriptive.
6. The language and dialect used by Tyagaraja in some of his operas to represent the character more closely.
Lastly, Shri Ravikiran made a very wonderful point about common issue of identifying these divine composers as “Godly” humanbeings as against looking at them as “Gods” which takes away a lot of credit from what they have contributed as extra-ordinary humanbeings !

The scholarly presentation showed Shri Ravikiran’s equal prowess and knowledge on Tyagaraja’s compositions as much as his knowledge on Venkata Kavi’s compositions and his rare vocal concert was a special treat.

The accompanists, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Neyveli Narayanan and Dr Karthick were exemplary in their support. Vocal support was provided by his disciples, Anahita and Apoorva.

[PUNARVASU]

A very educative and enlightening concert from Shri Ravikiran. Thanks for the detailed report.

[arasi]

I suppose folks like me who come to Chennai just for the season miss such one of a kind concerts. Ravikiran's brilliance in his art goes hand in hand with his scholarship--not forgetting his insight into compositions--a vaggeyakara himself.
What he speaks about is reflected in all his musical expressions.
A pity, he's hardly performing this season. I do hope many go to see his Ramayana presentations at KGS. I enjoyed them thoroughly when they were streamed live from Cleveland. The Jaya TV programs would have been abridged versions (I do not know how many programs were aired and for how long).

[Nick H]

Actually, it is one of a series ... so you do have a chance!

Not of Ravikiran again, of course, but I have caught two of these programs so far, presented by Smt Vedavalli and Smt Suguna P.

Ravikiran's vocal concerts are all too rare. One gets a feeling of the foundation of his music by hearing him sing. It is great.

I missed this one, even though I knew it would be unique. No excuses. :$

[ganeshkant]

I couldn't attend this concert since I was running a temperature and I really missed it.There was an exclusive vocal concert of Sanskrit compositions of Tyagaraja by this artist a few years back in Gokhale sastri hall that I attended which was educative and entertaining.One more vocal concert of RK that I atteneded was in 2002 in a small hall in VaLasarawakkam.My mother had also come for that concert.So,that way it was sort of special for me.

[varsha]

Did he sing . Or talk ?
That cordless mike which the singers pick and talk between songs is one of the lousiest things to happen on concert stages , these days .
BTW Most of us look upto Tyagaraja or A God . Looking at a God is quite presumptous , one must say .

[Nick H]

There is a certain 'lec-dem' content to the series, so no doubt he talked. That is, in this case, simply as advertised.

[mahavishnu]

Varsha, that is a very short sighted and uninformed post.

I have heard a private recording of this concert and it is one of the most educational concerts that I have heard in recent times. First, as Nick says, the concert is part of a lecture series and this is what the people who attended the concert looked forward to.

Secondly, Sri Ravikiran's views of Sri Tyagaraja are as reverential as they come. So, I don't see the point of your discontent.

[doyoucare]

Did he sing . Or talk ?

He talked. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Neyveli Narayanan, and Dr.Karthick provided accompaniment. And his disciples provided "vocal" support

Are you so 'distraught' (for whatever reason) that he actually gave a vocal concert that you couldn't even READ the post properly?

[varsha]

I was not clear after reading the first post . The review was for a Vocal Concert and hence my question about his singing . I get it now that it was a Lecture Dem from advertisements that some have read or private recordings others have heard .
And Yes I am Re Reading Points 1- 6 and am excited as all of you about the points dealt with .Cheers.

[srikant1987]

doyoucare,

Chitravina N Ravikiran - Vocal Concert, 6th November @ KGS
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Chitravina N Ravikiran - Vocal

How could you possibly blame varsha for being confused as to whether Ravi Kiran sang or "talked" (seeing as some perspectives he "shared" are also mentioned)?