Indian National Orchestra

[Rsachi]

Today, Jayanthi Kumaresh with her Indian National Orchestra is performing at SRKL Gayana Samaja. Although some think it is a maiden attempt at Indian classical orchestration, I do know many others from the past, led by Allaudin Khan, Emani, MY Kama Shastry etc. Here is a fine tribute in today's The Hindu, to the Master from Maihar (a quaint town with a lovely Devi temple on a hill between Jabalpur & Chitrakoot):


My best wishes to Jayanthi in her new foray. Look forward to attending her program today.

[Rsachi]

The Hindu wrote about today's event here:
Ranjani Govind on Jayanthi's Ensemble

[rasaali]

Rsachi,

Thanks for posting this. It's great to see that artistes like Vid. Jayanti have taken up the cause of reviving orchestration of Indian Music, a topic close to my heart.

All the musicians you mention in your post have composed for AIR Vadya Vrinda which was a very well known entity from the 50' all the way until fairly recently. It was co-founded by Pt. Ravishankar and Sangeeta Kalanidhi T.K. Jayarama Iyer.

The latter is widely regarding as being the first to substantially explore Carnatic music within this genre of presentation (Full disclosure: I am the grandson of Sri TKJ). Vidwans like Sri S. Goplakrishnan, Sri MY Kama Sastri, Sri Emani Sanakara Sastry were all subsequent carnatic directors of the vadya vrinda.

I am told that the Vadya Vrinda CDs being released Baba's 150th anniversary at NCPA today contain compositions of all the above mentioned vidwans.

This release is a culmination of years of effort by Dr. K. Vageesh of Prasar Bharati. It has been in the works almost a decade. When Dr. Vageesh called our family to inform us of the release, our joy knew no bounds for the fact the Vadya Vrinda was finally getting its due! In a way it was probably a concept ahead of its time. That Vid. Jayanthi and her eminent colleagues are now starting to build up this form again and expand its boundaries is a very happy development!

Given the originality of Sri TK Jayarama Iyer's his contribution, I was a tad disappointed that Ms. Ranjani Govind's article missed out on mentioning him, especially since he, like Vid. Jayanthi, was a Carnatic musician .

FYI Sri TKJ has been discussed on this very forum at this link:

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... arama+iyer


KVS Vinay

[Rsachi]

Vinay,
Yes, I have heard and enjoyed Sri Jayarama Iyer's orchestral works.

I got long back to copy Emani's Adarsha Shikhararohanam and Indu works directly from his tape recorder thanks to his graciousness! He also told me how he led his orchestra to render the Pancha Ratnas at Tiruvaiyyaru.

Jayanthi's program on 14/10 has been since reviewed in the Hindu and also referred by me in another post.

By the way, Vageesh and I went to the same high school in Mysore and were 'chaddi dosts'.
I share your enthusiasm for the forthcoming release! Kudos to Vageesh!

[varsha]

AnandaShankars works were quite popular in the 70s and 80s . Atleast on the Indian Airlines flights.

[Rsachi]

yes, Varsha!
I recall his music, it had a lounge music quality. found some tracks here:
http://gaana.com/#!/albums/a-musical-di ... da-shankar

by the way, read that he died in 1999 of heart failure. he features in the 'mile sur mera' original DD song, getting out of Kolkata metro along with other bhadra lok. the same tune is used by Jayanthi in her finale.
so many musical personalities all link back to Alladiya Khan!

[varsha]

No No ! Not Alladiya Khan. It must be Allauddin Khan .
Agra is 500kms away from Maihar ( I know it must be a typo :tmi: )

[Rsachi]

Of course, typo, sorry. Allauddin Khan, featured in my first post, of Maihar.