Isai Mazhai in Miami

[maduraimini]

Sunday, September q4, 2014

The Shiva Vishnu Temple of Miami hosted the concert of Dr.Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam. She was accompanied on the violin by Sri V.V.Murari and Sri Trivandrum V.Balaji on the Mridangam. I heard they were a little late arriving in Miami from wherever they were coming from. While the sound sysyem was being tweaked, the artists arrived and sat in the front row for a few seconds. I took this opportunity to ask thenartist if she can sing any song in Todi or Bairavi and a Kabir bhajan. She was gracious enough to say. She'll try.

Here is the list of the songs:

1. Todi varnam 'Era Napai'.

2. Sri Guruguha Tarayasu mam in Devakriya. This Dikshitar song was sung in a fast pace and picked up a tempo for the concert.

3. Then it was an old Tamil song- 'Mutthu kumarayyane' in ragam Sankarabharanam. This is a beautiful song and I have heard Sanjay sing this once.

4. She started a very elaborate raga alapana in Bahudari. I have not heard Bahudari taken to so many dimensions. It was beautiful. When I was expecting her to start singing ' Brova Barama' she sang ' Dundhubhi Vadya Prie', a song I have never heard. The alapana was soul stirring and she had beautiful swarams to match. I don't know who the composer is and I tried googling with no answer.

5. A leisurely Varali raga alapana followed. The alapana showed all the nuances of the ragam, which was followed by Dikshitar's magnum opus ' Meenakshi me mudam'.
Her diction was good and this grand composition was shining like a diamond in her melodious voice. She did Niraval and embellished it with swarams. Murari was a good match for her and answered her back on his violin.

6. Another long lost song of yester year, 'Kalai Tooki Ninru' in Yadukula Kamboji came after the Varali. This song by Marimutha Pillai was popular in the '40s because of M.S.

7. Next came a lilting Vasantha ragam. This is another song I have not heard. Annammacharya's ' Vade Venkatadri'. It was fast and alluring.

8. A slow Mohanam alapana followed, which was the Main that day. For me, Mohanam is take it or leave it unless I hear Nannu Palimpa or Mohana Rama. Here she brought out the essence of this raga . You can call it Mohanaman Mohana ragam. She traversed all pitches and went up and down easily. She sang Thyagaraja's ' Mohana Rama'.
From her song, you can imagine Sri Rama in person, the way Thyagaraja describes him. This was wonderful and made it worth my coming the 150 miles to hear this. There were niraval, swarams and the violinist gave us a beautiful Mohana ragam to listen to. Sri Balaji's Thani that followed was very nice. It was very soft and soothing. Nowadays it is always deafening and has lost the variations. Sri Balaji played very well and nobody left the Hall during the Thani!

9. A beautiful Javali in Behag by Swathi Tirunal, 'Saramaina matalenta' brought us back from the thrills of Mohanam.

10. She sang 'Jagaddhodharana' in Kapi, another one of my favorite ragas. This Purandara Dasa kriti is a favorite of mine. Her mellifluous voice brought out the pathos of this beautiful raga. if Mohana Rama made my Day, this song was the icing on the cake.

11. Next was a lovely Kabir bhajan, ' Rama Govinda Hare' in Basant raga.

12. A fast Tillana in Dwijavanthi was enjoyable. This Tillana is by Sri Balamuralikrishna, the Musician/ composer.

13. Mangalam.

On the whole, the Rasikas of Miami were given a feast for their ears. Usually, it rains here in this season, but there was no rain outside, but only Isai Mazshai' inside the
Auditorium. There was not a big crowd but those who were there loved Music and enjoyed the concert. The artist is pleasing to the ears and eyes. She was kind enough to ask if I was happy that she sang my requests. She does not make all kinds of gestures with her hands and convujlsions of her face. It was a pleasure to watch. The accompanying artist did a fine job and worked with her. You can feel it when there is a good rapport with the artists.

I have one request for all the artists who sing. It would be good for the listeners, if the Artist announces the raga and composer of the song before singing the song. It would be very helpful for most of the people and they can enjoy more.
Thanks.

[rshankar]

Thank you for that review! the varALi kRti must be mAmava mInAkshI, right?

[arasi]

Maduraimini,

Good to hear from you and to get a detailed review too Obviously, you and your friends enjoyed the concert. Yes, Vijayalakshmi's sweet voice and her stage presence make it so. More than that, her repertoire! You may know that she is S. Rajam's disciple. You should have asked for a Koteeswara Iyer kruti too. She would have obliged, and it would have been a hat trick for you!

It's always pleasing when musicians sing/play our favorite rAgAs or songs. Especially when they go out of their way to do so (particularly when the requests are from seniors and children).

I am certain Vijayalakshmi would have been just as pleased with her audience who were very receptive in Miami. I am sure listeners like you traveling so many miles to listen to good music inspires them too.

She had good accompanists too. TVM Balaji's playing is like that. I have heard him play several times and have heard only mellow sounds.

[maduraimini]

Yes, Shankar-
It was Mamava Meenakshi. I am sorry for the error. I have too many senior moments these days! Thanks for the correction. Arasi, thanks for your note. I did not know she studied with Sri S.Rajam. Yes. I could have asked for a Koteeswara Iyer kriti also. When vidwans and vidushis respect the rasikas- elderly and young ones, that shows their modesty. It is not just learning Music, but also respect for the Rasikas. That was a great trait of M.S. She always treated the Rasikas with respect. She never showed arrogance that she was a Top Musician. Like the Tamil saying ' Nirai kudam talumbadu'- The full pot doesn't spill water. Those who are good in their own studies, never try to show off.

[Pasupathy]

Here's Vijayalakshmi S. singing Kantamani of Koteeswara Iyer !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABwohk9 ... on&index=2

[arasi]

Thank you, Pasupathy. I haven't heard her sing this one before.

[Lakshman]

I found out that the bahudAri song is by Neyveli Parthasarathy and tuned by Anayampatti Ganeshan.

[Sundara Rajan]

It appears that I missed an opportunity to attend this wonderful concert. However I doubt , even if I had known about the program, I could have driven 200+ miles all the way to Miami. V.S. is an artist I never miss to listen to, whenever I go to Chennai.

Maduraimini: Most of the less knowledgeable rasikas like me may prefer the challenge to identify the raga and would wait for the announcement of the raga and composer at the end of the song rather than at the start.

[maduraimini]

Thanks Sri Paupathy for the beautiful song by Dr.Vijayalakshmi. Thanks Lakshmanji for the name of the composer of Dhundubi Vadya priye. Appreciate your prompt reply.
Sri Sundararajan, you are right. Sometimes I like to find the Raga name by myself, before they announce it.

[HarishankarK]

Could be she sang Sriranjani raga alapana (which you could have mistook for Bahudari) and then took up the song Shri Dum Durge from Anupallavi which goes like Dundubhi Veena Vaadya priye ??

[arasi]

Harishankar,
Please see Lakshman's post.

[HarishankarK]

sorry missed to read it. Clear now. Thanks,