Gayathri Girish for ‘Parampara’ : 26 March 2017

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Gayatri Girish-vocal
B U Ganesh Prasad-Violin
R Sankaranarayanan-Mridangam
Trichy Murali-Ghatam

Concert for 'Parampara'
Ragasudha Hall, Mylapore, Chennai
6.00– 8.30 p.m.

‘Parampara’, headed by Vedant Ramanujam has been striving to uphold the glory of cherished values in classical arts, especially Carnatic music. Gayatri Girish had modelled the concert quite appropriately as ‘Vaaggeyakaara parampara’ by rendering select kritis of the Trinity and a couple of post-trinity composers in a well planned module.

Dikshitar
1. Ramaswami Dikshitar: Hindola vasantam – Varnam
2. Muthuswami Dikshitar : Paras- Chintaye Mahalingamurthim
3. Tanajore Ponniah Pillai:Atana-Ambayaninney

Shyama Sastri
4. Shyama sastri :Kedaragoula-Paraakelanannu
5. Subbaraya sastri :Reetigoula-Janani ninuvina

Tyagaraja
6. Tyagaraja:Pantuvarali-Siva siva siva ena
7. Patnam Subramania Iyer: Sarasangi-Manavichekonavaiya

Papanasam Sivan:
8. P Sivan:Kambodhi-Kaanakkankodi vendum
9. Rukmani Ramani:Sumanesaranjani-Parthasarathi naan paartha sarathy


Ramanathapuram Sankarasivam
10. Sankarasivam:Khamas-Padam-Sundari en soppanatthil
11. T N Seshagopalan-Niroshta-Tillana


• Each kriti was preceded by a brief aalapana, the duration depending upon the nature of the composition. The selection of kritis was indicative of the distinct feature of the Parampara and offered contrasting ragas and talas. The Varnam as well as the Ponniah Pillai kriti were quite ‘rare’ obviously requiring lot of home work to internalise.

• Swaraprastara first appeared in the concert for Paraakelananu (Kedaragoula) wherein the singer presented rounds in second kaalam first and included keezhkala passages before winding up. But I felt that the time tested Chittaswaram could have been sung instead of swaraprastara. Perhaps laid back kritis like Tulasi bilwa) would support kalpanaswars. The violinist too was ‘not very much at home’ with the raga that day!

For Janani ninuvina (Reetigoula) the charana beginning with Varadayaki gaada was rendered.


• Neraval for pantuvarali (siva siva siva ena) was rendered at ‘Aagamamula’. Sarasaangi was a good selection for a Patnam kriti. (Incidentally the raga was discussed actively in the thread ‘samvada-face to face with Prince Rama varma’ in rasikas forum. Our forumite CRama had made special mention of the kriti Manavichekonavaiya. Gayatri’s aalapana of Sarasangi for the kriti had absolutely no traces of Charukesi.

But the main kriti had a 'surprise neraval' @ the Pallavi (Kaanakkankodi vendum Kapaliyin bavani). I felt it could have been for Maanickam vairam itself as the same has been handled ‘parampara paramparayaa’ and would have better suited the theme! Kambodhi aalaapna had all the required details to match this ‘evergreen main’. Ganesh Prasad accompanied with poise. Rukmani Ramani's kriti in Sumanesaranjani had sahitya passages with attractive usage of words.

• Tani by Sankaranarayanan and Murali was marked by Tisra patterns and the duo did well. The ‘H kattai’ sruti alignment of Ghatam was perfect- Kudos to Murali!

• During the initial parts of the the concert, Sankaranarayanan appeared to be fond of melkaala prayogas which, to me, did not go well with kritis like Chintaye Mahalingamurthim or Janani ninuvina though they are in vilambakaala.

• The Khamas padam was quite unique and was a revelation of sorts of the prowess of the great Guru Sankarasivam. TNS’s Tillana was a surprise to me (I was hearing for the first time) It conformed to the Niroshta norms for every syllable (see, even the word ‘Harikesa dasa’ keeps your lips apart!). I expected Gayatri would read out the sahitya of the charana for the benefit of listeners to illustrate the genius of the composer. Am sure she will do that in the next opportunity.

Eppadi paadinaro was a listener’s request and came in as a tribute to D K Pattammal whose birthday is on 28 March.

The Sunday evening concert drew a good audience though it started thinning out from 8 p.m.
The only rasikas forumite I could spot at the concert was Nick H- totally immersed in listening to the music. A resident of Alwarpet, he is a regular at Ragasudha.

[Nick H]

The only rasikas forumite I could spot at the concert was Nick H- totally immersed in listening to the music. A resident of Alwarpet, he is a regular at Ragasudha.

SureshVV was there too. I wish I could live in Alwarpet or close by, but actually, am now in Palavakkam. But it is just 8km to travel to take my place among what I call the Ragasudha Regulars

At first, I was having trouble with the sound balance, which was not at all doing justice to Gayathri's voice. There were one or two moments when I found that quite painful. I hate it when I can't enjoy someone who I know has a great voice! It is no fault of the singer.

Anyway, either Sekar adjusted, or my ears did, and I was able to appreciate and enjoy the rest of the concert.

Sri Ramanujan is now presenting another series of ten concerts, for Rama Navami, began on 27th March, in Manadaveli. Gayathris K and Girish are both performing. Smt K.G this evening. Sri Ramanujan is becoming the single-handed force of music these days --- and how happy we can be!

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Nick H,
I stand corrected.
I believe you were an Alwarpettan till a few years ago. Am I right?
Now, Palavakkam makes you a dearer rasika!

[rshankar]

Thank you Sri Sivaramakrishnan for that lovely report!
I did not know that sundari en soppanatil was a composition of Sri Sankara Sivan, but should have guessed, as I've heard it only from Neyveli Sri Santanagopalan and his daughter before.

[CRama]

Thank you for that lovely review Sivaramakrishnan. It was a bad miss for me as also Deekshitar Akhandam as I had to go out of station.
Hindola vasantham varnam- Gayathri girish sang in another concert some time back.
Parakela nannu- I have heard with and without chittaswarams.
Sundari en soppanathil- it was popularised by TNS only in many concerts.

[Nick H]

I believe you were an Alwarpettan till a few years ago. Am I right?

Actually Abhiramapuram, but you were not far off. Until about 2007, I think.

[HarishankarK]

Lalgudi Gopala Iyer and Lalgudi Jayaraman can also be included

[sureshvv]

I was fortunate to be able to attend the concert. Enjoyed the concept and selection of kritis.The sound system in the hall which is usually consistent played truant - loud in the first half hour and then went south thereafter.

All the alapanas were very well done (Paras, Reethigowla, Pantuvarali, Kambodhi). Had to wait until #4 for swaras which seemed like a long wait (especially when #2 and #3 provide tremendous scope). The neraval for pantuvarali really showed off both her felicity and facility in handling of lyrics. Something very few artistes have mastered.

This is really a rich theme that can span several concerts. Was wondering if she would sing an original mangalam to round off the Paramapara

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Actually Abhiramapuram, but you were not far off. Until about 2007, I think.

Nick,
I think it's time I must speak up the truth! I am ever a resident of suburban Chromepet more than 20 km. away from the Carnatic hub.
Come on, any other contestants?!

[shankarank]

Was wondering if she would sing an original mangalam to round off the Paramapara

If song list is in order, Niroshta mangalam would mean - never meet again

[sureshvv]

song list missing

12. Pavamana, sowrashtram, Thyagaraja

[rshankar]

You can't have a mangaLam in nirOshTha with labial sounds, right?

[sureshvv]

depends on how far u want to take it. Think it is a disservice to the raga to not be able to sing a mangalam (or keep ma & pa out of the lyrics).

[rajeshnat]

For a change one can also end with mangalam ganapathy composition as a mangalam