Trivandrum Seethalakshmi, Philadelphia, May 25

[gajamukhu]

Trivandrum G. Seethalakshmi (vocal), V S Vinay (violin), Mahalingam Santanakrishnan (mridangam). Lansdale (Philadelphia area), PA, May 25. This was a chamber concert organized by Kiranavali Vidyasankar.

1. ?
2. shrI rAghavEndra -- vasantA -- jagannAtha viTThala? (r)
3. gAngEya vasanAdhara -- hamIrkalyANI -- svAtI tiruNAL (R)
4. tappaganE vachchi -- shuddha bangALa -- tyAgarAja
5. bhavatI vishvAsO mE -- mukhAri -- svAtI tiruNAL (R, S)
6. nIdu mUrtini -- nATakkuranji -- pallavi gOpAla ayyar
7. sarOruhAsana jAyE -- pantuvarALi -- svAtI tiruNAL (R, N, S, T)
8. ayI muraLi (shlOka) -- kAmbhOjI, ShaNmukhapriyA, sahAna, hamsAnandI, sindhubhairavI, followed by a sindhubhairavI piece
9. smara sundarAnguni -- pharaj -- dharmapurI subbarAyar
10. ninnu jUchi (padam) -- punnAgavarALi -- kShEtrajna
11. tillAnA -- janjhUTi -- vINA shEshaNNa
12. udhO suniyE (bhajan) -- jOgiyA? -- svAtI tiruNAL
13. bhujaga shAyinO (mangaLam) -- yadukulakAmbhOjI, followed by madhyamAvatI -- svAtI tiruNAL

(I may have missed one or two pieces.)

This was an awesome concert. After reading rave reviews of Smt. Seethalakshmi's music on this forum, I went with high hopes, and the concert exceeded my expectations. As others have pointed out, Smt. Seethalakshmi's singing is very pure (can't find a different word for it!) and very energetic. For me, the high points of the concert were the pantuvArAli rAgam and the ShaNmukhapriyA part of the shlOkam. The concert was followed by an informal question-answer session during which the artiste regaled the audience with memories of classes with Semmangudi and her interactions with musicians of that time.

--Ganesh

[Lakshman]

If item #2 is shrI rAghavEndra bArO it is by Jagannathadasa.
The rAgA for udhO suniyE is listed as pUrvi (hindustani) in the book.

[rasaali]

Gajamukhu,

Thanks a lot for writing about Vid. Seethalakshmi mami's wonderful singing.

#1 was "Ganathanai" by Lakshmanan Pillai
#8 the composition was "Kinkini Natham" by Prof. Srinivasan.

L-ji,

Mami did announce the ragam as Jogiya (though she pronounced it as "jojiya")

Gajamukhu's description of Mami's singing is very apt. As a sideman, I found her involvement are inspiring and infectious. And her sense of humor in the Q&A was irresistible! I feel fortunate for having had the opportunity to accompany her. I want to add my share of kudos to Kiranavali & Vidyasankar for opening up their heart and home to such music, giving rasikas like us a chance to experience the music of hidden treasures like mami.

BTW, The delectable padam and javali were sung at the spl request of Vid. Kiranavali.

KVS Vinay

[gajamukhu]

Vinay: Thanks for adding the items I missed.

Lakshman: udhO suniyE is indeed listed as pUrvI here: http://www.swathithirunal.in/htmlfile/361.htm. In fact, this page in fact contains a rendition of this piece by Smt. Seethalakshmi (click http://www.swathithirunal.in/MUSICS/361.mp3 if it does not play). However, it doesn't sound like Hindustani pUrvI to me -- can someone else please confirm? I haven't heard jOgiyA much, so I cannot tell if the tune matches up to Hindustani jOgiyA. Anyways, Smt. Seethalakshmi herself mentioned something to the effect: "don't pay attention to the lakshaNam of this song; just look at the melody".

Ganesh

[rajeshnat]

Rasaali
Good to see you writing reviews . Dont call your self as side man. Perhaps vocalist is center forward and you are left flank. Continue writing more about your concerts. The number bhavathi viswasO is such a lovely number , this number is only sung mostly by ssi parampara musicians that too more with those who have kerala origin. I have heard a recording of parassala golden girl and very recently by sreevalsan menon. It must have been fantastic . Also the pantuvarAli sarOruhAsana jAyE main. Hope I get a chance to hear this vidushi.

[bkishore]

any audio link