The family of Guru (Late) Vaigal Gnanaskandan observed his remembrance day with a concert of Gayathri Girish accompanied by V.V.Ravi on the violin, Neyveli Skandasubramanian on the Mridangam and Trichy Murali on the Ghatam. Before the concert, Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam, N.V.Subramaniam and Harisankar of Narada Gana Sabha Trust shared their experiences with the late Vidwan. As a result of delay in start of the proceedings, the concert started only at 7.15 P.M.
List of songs.
• Varnam- Saveri- Adi talam (S)
• Pariyachakama-Vanaspati- Rupakam- T (R)
• Sree Lakshmivaraham-Abhogi-Adi-MD
• Sanandam Kamalamanohari-Ragamalika-Adi- ST
• Phanipatisayi- Jhankaradhwani- Adi- T (R,S)
• Ardhanareeswaram- Kumudakriya- Rupakam- MD (R,S)
• Tirumagale Nalvaram Aruley Un sevadi tudi seyden- Thodi- Adi (R,N,S)
• Thani
• Ramajogi- Khamas-Adi- Bhadrachala Ramadas
• Petra thai tanai – Revati- Adi - Ramalinga swamigal.
• Mangalam
Before each song Gayathri Girish shared her experiences of learning under Guru Vaigal Gnanaskandan since her age of six. She and her mother used to learn separately from him. So Gayathri had the advantage of two learning sessions from him on any day. He was a very sincere teacher, who always wished that the student should progress well and attain great levels in music. He instilled confidence in the students and prepared them to ascend the stage at the right time. Learning from him at the age of six, Gayathri Girish debut concert was at the age of 13 in Sastri Hall. The Guru was seated in the front row and constantly encouraged her. She started the concert with Saveri varnam- the opening piece in her debut concert - and decked it with imaginative kalpana swarams.
Gnanaskandan had wide repertoire of songs and he could prepare his students for any competition or thematic programmes of any composer at the shortest notice. Gayathri Girish remembered that at the age of 15, she was equipped to present a RTP in ragam Reetigowla which is not a mean task. He has prepared her to present four kalai pallavis also at a very young age. In this concert Gayathri Girish chose to render the songs she had learnt from him.
Gayathri Girish rendered alapanas of rare ragams like Vanaspati, Jhankaradhwani and Kumudakriya in this concert besides the main ragam Thodi. Pariyachakama brought memories of Maharajapuram Santhanam who popularised it. Jhankaradhwani (Melakarta 19) was my request. I am thankful that Gayathri Girish rendered the kriti with due embellishment of ragam and swaram. First time I heard the alapana of this ragam. But in all these rare ragams, the raga bhavam revealed itself in the opening phrase itself. Sree Lakshmivaraham is very popular in Kerala, but not very frequent in Chennai concert circuits. Sanandam Kamalamanohari is a beautiful rarely heard Sanskrit ragamalika of Swati Tirunal in four ragams- Kamalamanohari, Hamsadhwani, Revagupti and Tarangini with chittaswarams in each ragam.
Gayathri Girish and her mother had provided vocal accompaniment to their Guru in some concerts. In the concerts, suddenly he would pause in Anupallavi or charanam and tell them now you sing. These posed heavy challenges and they had to be alert always. Gayathri Girish remembered an occasion when she was asked to sing the Anupallavi in Ardhanareeswaram.
The song in Thodi was the piece de resistance of the concert. The song was a composition of Mu Arunachalam Pillai and was tuned by Dandapani Desigar with the volley of adukku sangatis as we see in any Tyagaraja Kriti like Koluvamaragada or Chakkaniraja. The song with its emotive tamil sahithyam and leisurely setting in Adi talam 2 kalai was simply haunting. Crisp neraval at the pallavi and swaras were icing on the cake. On googling I found that the song had been sung by MM Dandapani Desigar and also played in Clarionet by AKC.
V.V.Ravi with his long experience of accompanying many stalwarts, provided very good support. His alapana of the rare ragams were concise and conformed to the grammer. Neyveli Skandasubramaniam embellished the concert with his deft strokes and Trichy Murali was a good support. The tani was much enjoyed by the discerning audience and received repeated applause.
The concert concluded at 9.10 P.M. Thanks to Smt Srividya – Forumite and daughter of Guru Gnanaskandan who has painstakingly organised the function. An excellent concert for less than two hours.