Thematic concert of Kiranavali Vidyashankar at CCMA 09/14/13

[usharaja]

The song list of the concert is as follows -
(pakkavadyam was by Jayashankar Balan, Vinod Seetharaman & Karthik Venkataraman)
1. Varnam - Kapi - Adi - Chitravina Ravikiran
2. Srijalandhara - Gambheeranattai - Adi - Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
3. Melaragamalika - Chakras 7 & 8 - Adi - Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer
4. Mamavasada janani - Kanada - Rupaka - Swati Tirunal
5. Anandanatana prakasham - Kedaram - Mishra Chapu - Dikshitar
6. Kalalanerchina - Deepakam - Adi - Tyagaraja
7. Amba Kamakshi - Bhairavi - Mishra Chapu - Shyama Shastri
8. Kannan varuhinra neram (Kavadi Chindu) - Tisra Gati - Utthukkadu Venkatasubbayyar
9. Upamugane (Padam) - Yadukulakambhoji - Mishra Jhampa - Sarangapani
10. Narayananinna - Shuddhadhanyasi - Khanda Chapu - Purandaradasa
11. Muddugare yashoda - Kurinji - Adi - Annamacharya
12. Tiruppugazh - Purvikalyani - Mishra Chapu + Khanda Chapu + Rupaka - Arunagirinathar
13. Malemanivanna (Tiruppavai) - Kuntalavarali - Adi - Andal
14. Tevaram - Anandabhairavi - Adi - Appar
15. Dashavatara Mangalam - Madhyamavati - Adi - Purandaradasa

I felt happy to attend the thematic concert of Kiranavali Vidyashankar, which took as back in time in terms of composers of Carnatic music. Enjoyed the whole evening (about three and a half hours) with no tempo sag and a power packed performance. I liked the way she presented each piece by talking briefly about the songs with focus on the composers.

My personal favorites were Mamavasada janani, Amba Kamakshi and Muddugare yashoda. I especially enjoyed the alapana and the niraval part for Amba Kamakshi in Bhairavi. Also, had a wonderful time putting tala for the Tiruppugazh with the three-tala combo of Mishra Chapu, Khanda Chapu and Rupakam!

Very thankful to Kiranavali for taking so much of effort for preparing and rendering the thematic concert. It was a great success :ymapplause: and I am sure it left the rasikas in awe.

[gardabha_gana]

What was the theme?

[mahavishnu]

What was the theme?

Yes, I was wondering about the same thing!

[arasi]

And where is CCMA?

[mahavishnu]

Good question, Arasi. Some googling revealed that they are based in Columbus, OH.
http://columbuscarnatic.org/ (nice website).

[usharaja]

The concert was called "A journey through the ages" and went back chronologically, from a contemporary composer all the way back to the Tevaram period.

Also as mahavishnu pointed out, CCMA is Columbus Carnatic Music Association located in OH.

[arasi]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense!
I thought, AnDAL,though chronologically properly placed in the list, is capable of sounding like a modern day composer. Also, Venkata kavi. How familiar we feel, with his expressions that we can relate to!

[mahavishnu]

Interesting theme. Hard to decipher, but makes sense now that you mention it.

Tiruppugazh - Purvikalyani - Mishra Chapu + Khanda Chapu + Rupaka

I am presuming this is marukkulAviya. How does it parse into the talam you mention? I can stretch/fold to get 27 counts, but it includes some timing variations.

I have heard this in chatusra rupakam (tisra gati) by the DKJ school or Suguna P sings it with dwitAla avadhAna in Kanda jAthi triputa and Tisra jhampai tisra gati. Either way it leads to 18 counts or a cycle that is ultimately divisible by 9.

So, I was just wondering how Smt KV presented it.

[usharaja]

@mahavishnu sir,

It was my first time putting a combo thalam of this kind. Can you please explain me how you got 27 counts? As far as I understand, the thalam that KV akka presented had 7+5+6 = 18 counts.

[mahavishnu]

Usharaja: There are 9 aksharams, so (in theory) any multiple of it can accommodate this.
I was just confused when trying to hum this to the talam combination you mentioned and it only seemed to converge at 27. But when I switched the first cycle to a viloma chapu (4+3), it seemed to work out at 18 counts.

Thanks for your report! Hope to hear more from Columbus.