Mys Nagaraj-Mys Manjunath-Ganesh-Kumaresh: Visesha Fine Arts

[vanamali]

Four Violin: Mysore Nagaraj - Mysore Manjunath - Ganesh - Kumaresh
Double Mridangam - Patri Satishkumar - Anand Anantha Krishnan

Venue: Vishesha Fine Arts, Brigade MLR Centre, JP Nagar 7th Phase, Bangalore.
Date: 10 Feb 2013.
Duration: 2.5 hours.

01. Elaborate ragam in Dhenuka, followed by Teliyaleru Rama (Played by Nagaraj and Ganesh)
02. On the spot created ragam followed by a composition also created on the spot. (Played by Manjunath and Kumaresh) Rupaka Thalam.
03. Ragam Thanam Pallavi in Lathangi. Pallavi in Khanda Triputa 2 kalai. Ragamalika in Neelambari, Hindolam, Desh..(Played by all the four of them)
04. Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma in Madhyamavathi. (Played by all 4 of them)

This was an interesting combination that drove me to attend it, something that i had never heard before. I think they played once earlier in Gayana Samaja, which i missed, so didnt want to miss this opportunity of listening to two of the top violin duos perform together on one stage.

the auditorium was closed for mic arrangements for 45 mins prior to the concert, which led to huge queues outside the hall, all waiting to get in. The concert finally started at 6:30 and went on till 9:00 PM.

First only the elder brothers Nagaraj and Ganesh walked in, and played an elaborate dhenuka ragam followed by Teliyaleru Rama, followed by swarams.

Then the younger brothers walked on stage (after the elder brothers left after the first song). They then had an on-stage discussion on what to play and decided that they will create a ragam on the stage with swarams chosen by them and the audience. then they came up with a ragam with SGMDN, and started playing the ragam. this was followed by a composition they spontaneously created while playing. This was in rupaka talam.

The next was the main piece where all four of them played on stage. they all took turns playing the ragam and then the thanam. then came the pallavi in Khanda triputa talam. this was followed by an excellent thani by Satish Kumar and Anand.

They concluded with a bhagyada lakshmi baramma in madhyamavathi.

I think the way they all played together was simply excellent, and showed why they are top class violinists of today. In spite of their styles being very different, they were able to seamlessly blend their music together. Before the concert began i was afraid it would be a speed match, but fortunately it was not so, though there were times when they did reach speeds, it didnt sound odd at all.

[mohan]

Sounds like a very interesting unique concert! 'Visesha' indeed. The combination of four outstanding violinists and two stunning mrudangam artistes would have been a rare treat

[Rsachi]

Amazing combo of four fiddlers in their prime. Huge raw power+polished talent on the stage. Plus perhaps the best two contemporary generation mridangam stars.
They should perform more together. I wrote about their BGS concert before.