Kshetra Sangeetham - Episode 14 - e-Invite

[HR]

Kshetra Sangeetham Episode 14 will be on the temple town - TANJORE . Dr. Chithra Madhavan would talk on the temple town and the musical significance of the Kshetra. This will be followed by a music concert by Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam and party. She will be accompanied by Sri. M.R.Gopinath on the violin , Erode Sri Nagaraj on the Mridangam and Trichy Sri Murali on the Ghatam. Given below is the invite - The event is on Saturday , Nov 3rd, at 6 PM , at the Narada Gana Sabha mini hall. All are welcome

[hamirkalyani123]

Thanks HR. As always, I am sure can expect interesting reviews of this great series by Smt. VS

[HR]

The facebook page for the Kshetra Sang ... l date.

[hamirkalyani123]

Thanks for the FB page on this great series by VS, HR. Would appreciate if someone can post a concert review with all the list of songs. Thanks.

[HR]

Talk on THANJAVUR Kshetra - by Dr. Chithra Madhavan
Concert -
Vocal - Dr. Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam
Violin - Sri M R Gopinath
Mridangam - Erode Sri Nagaraj
Ghatam - Trichy Sri Murali


· The Powerful, fact-driven, yet subtly delivered talk by Dr.Chithra Madhavan highlighting the multiple old and famous temples in Thanjavur, and the musical significance in each of these temples. One very interesting highlight from her talk was that – this kshetra houses a Divyadesam (a combination of three Perumal temples together making one DivyaDesam, in contrast to other places where a Divyadesam typically constitutes one temple) which has been sung by the Alwars as early as the 5th / 6th Century, while today, the place Thanjavur is almost synonymous only with the Big Temple, which was built later – in the 10th / 11th century. The talk also had an outline of the history and architectural highlights of the Brihadeeshwara temple, the Chola Empire, as well as the Bangaru Kamakshi temples. The power point presentation aiding the talk was a visual treat – showing so many rare, unique photographs of the temples. The talk took the rasikas on a virtual tour of the Thanjavur Kshetra, and set the perfect stage for the concert to follow.

The Song list for the evening was by itself a treat! Such a grand combination of composers , ragams, temples , deities and hymns

• · Varnam - Naataikurinji - Misra Chapu - Ponniah pillai
  · Pamara Jana Palini—Simhendra Madhyamam – Rupakam—M. Dikshitar – N , S
  · Brihadeeshwara Mahadeva - Kaanada - Rupakam - Dr. M.Balamuralikrishna - R
  · Pasuram - followed by - Mararatipriyam - Ratipriya - Adi – M. Dikshitar
  · Amba Neelambari - Adi - Neelambari - Ponniah Pillai
  · Prasanna venkateshwaram - Vaati Vasantabhairavi - Adi – M. Dikshitar
  · Kamakshi - Varali - Misra Chapu - Syama Sastri – R , N , S , T
  · Javali - Dani Bodana - Surati – Adi - Tanjore Quartet
  · Tiruppugazh - Arunagirinathar
  · Tillana –Sankarabharanam—Adi (Tisram) —Tanjore Quartet
  · Karunajoodu - Sri - Adi - Syama Sastri

· The Tanjore Quartet were Nattuvanars at the Royal court of Maratta King Serfoji, in the nineteenth century and they played an important role in the promotion of classical dance and music, As is evident, the song list comprised a few compositions of the Quartet, and the concert started off with a beautiful rendition of a rare varnam in Naataikurinji . It is not often that we hear a varnam in Misra Chapu talam, and this was the first among many unique and beautiful highlights at the concert.

· Pamara Jana Palini – The Niraval was sung at the madyamakala sahityam – Komala Hrudaya Nivasini. The Kalapramaanam for the Niraval was handled effortlessly, and swaraksharas were sung beautifully in the kalpanaswaras at Nivasini --- Ni-Mathi Prakasini and Sa – Da – (SadA) Komala Hrudaya. There was a musical conversation happening between the artistes during the Kalpanaswarams with all of them responding perfectly and enhancing the presentation.

· Next was the composition of the contemporary composer – Dr.Balamuralikrishna , in Kaanada

· Ratipriya was elaborated in detail during the rendition of the Pasuram (Thirumangai Alwar), and this was followed by the song Mararatipriyam on the deity at the Govindarajaperumal temple

· Following the Neelambari kriti on Brihannayaki , it was Prasanna Venkateshwaram (kriti not often heard) on the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple

· Main song for the evening - A grand Varali Raga alapana, responded to by a beautiful alapana by the Violinist. Kamakshi by Syama Sastri, on the Bangaru Kamakshi temple . Niraval and Swarams in the line – Sukha Syamale SivaShankari, and the main piece being made complete by an energetic Thaniavartanam

· Interesting Variety in the Tukkada - A Javali in Surati , Tiruppugazh in Ragam Tilang. There are a few Tillanas in Sankarabharanam – ofcourse the one sung in this concert was on Brihadeeswara , by the Tanjore Quartet. The grand concert, and one that truly took the rasika to Tanjore, concluded with the Syama Sastri Kriti in Sriragam – Karunajooduvamma - which is considered and generally sung as a Mangala Kriti.

[hamirkalyani123]

Thanks for the HR for the detailed review.

[erode14]

nice review. Episode14 looks like Erode14

[Sundarnrao]

Spectacular article and fantabulous coverage, HR. It was a great experience to get a deep insight of tanjore kshetram followed by the concert. Dr. CM brought out light of many vital informations about tanjore and sequenced it so very well with her data, statistics, information, architectural importance, locational prominence along with the detaions on cultural modifications that happened due to change in rules. Hats off to her skill, knowledge, research and passion that manifested her speech effortlessly. In that same velocity, Dr.VS was also in her usual form and relayed the musical glory of tanjore khetram remarkably well.

Varali elaboration was fantastic. Albeit being a tough raga to handle, Her mastery on varali was so exceptional that it looked simple and soothing for rasikas to enjoy. She was at her creative best in every possible aspect of improvisation there -- be it alaap or sargam or behlawas etc. The varieties demonstraed in the sangathis were also captivating.

Neelambari was also delivered marvellously. The characteristics of the raga was painted sparklingly and it served as a terrific prelude to a detailed varali. Naattakurunji varnam was also a strong highlight in KS-14 and as i gather, it is seldom performed these days.

The assortment of ragas and diversification on compositions were so heart-warming for all the rasikas. Dr. VS also took care of shifting the gears majestically and ensured that rasikas didnt loose their soul during the raga transitions on the presentation lists.

Accompaniment players were also fully vibrant and gave best support to Dr.VS. Shri. Erode Nagaraj was full of energy and he was beautifully balanced by Shri. Trichy Murali. Shri.MR Gopinath was also demonstrating a strong melodic layering to Dr.VS besides stroking creative juices during his improvisational space.

[MaheshS]

HR - What Tirupugazh was it?

Nice list, but I expected a bit more Tamil composition[s] in the first half of the concert.