Professor K. Venkitaramanan for BGS Trust 27.12.2013

[Sivaramakrishnan]

Professor Trivandrum K. Venkitaramanan : vocal for Brahma Gana sabha trust
Sri S R Mahadeva Sarma: violin
Sri K V Prasad: Mridangam
Sri R. Ramanathan (vocal support)
27.12.2013 10 a.m. to 12.15 noon: Sruti 1 kattai ( C )
Prof. Trivandrum K. Venitaramanan’s concert under the ‘Vintage morning‘ sessions for Brahma Gana Sabha Trust at the Arkay Convention Centre, Luz on 27.12.2013 was notable for classical values.
Professor Venkitaramanan (80) who retired from the Sri Swati Tirunal college of music, Trivandrum is a grand disciple of Dr.Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar. An alumni of the same institution, he had received lessons from the yesteryear stalwarts like Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He was with Sri NellaI T V Krishnamoorthy (direct disciple of Muthiah Bhagavatar and who retired as Principal of the college).
1. Sahaana- Daruvarnam –Aadi- HMB
2. Bhanuchandrika (Imagine Hindolam without M in the aarohana) -Bhajare re bhaja maansa – Roopka-HMB
3. Sarangamalhar (Imagine sankarabharanam without G) -Sri mahabalagirinivasini-Aadi-HMB
4. Amritavarshini-Ahahanaiva jaaney- -roopaka- Swati tirunal(Kuchelopakhyaanam)
5. Suddhavasanta-Somasundarewswaram bhajeham-MD-Aadi
6. Dharmavati-Durgadevi-Mysore Maharaja-Aadi (eduppu kaalidam)(MAIN item of the concert)
7. Kannadagoula-sogasujooda taramaa-tyagaraja-Roopaka
8. Maund-Baaro namamanage Gopaala-Purandaradasa
9. Lavangi- Another kriti from Swati’s Kuchelopaakhyaanam)
10. Ragamalika (Vanakkumaran Enakkum Taarai) from Vallitirumanam ( Pallavi in Hamir kalyani)
11. Brindavanasaaranga- Venkuzhaloothum kannaa
12. Meera bhajan
13. English note :HMB (unheard so far)
14. Vasanta- mangalam (on Sri Chamundeeswari by HMB)
Though not thematic, the concert included many compositions of Muthiah bhagavatar – true to his lineage. The audience though limited in number were in for a virtual peep into vintage music. The veteran laced the rendering with appropriate information on the background of the compositions. He sang with ease and involvement.
The Daruvarnam in sahaana was notable for its rarity and uniqueness (the other popular one is in khamas : Mathey malayadhwaja). The kriti in Bhanuchandrika is on Vinayaka. Sarangamalhar can be well chosen for concert circuit by the youngsters of today. The main piece in Dharmavati was another rare piece. As is well known, Muthiah Bhagavatar has composed many songs on Chamundeeswari. (The mangalam was also unique).

The Vidwan showed his openness to innovation by adopting M Balamuralikrishna’s Lavangi raga to tune a kriri from Kuchelopaakhyaana. T
An unheard English note added to the novelty.
He was ably supported by his disciple Ramanathan. Mahadeva Sarma’s violin was very good and his return of amritavarshini was exuberant. K V Prasad on Mridangam played with restraint and soukhyam.

The audience consisting of a few music students and scholars felt that the professor must be visiting Chennai frequently and were grateful to Prince Rama Varma (who was also present at the concert) for introducing the veteran to the Chennai audience. It was during 2012 that the professor performed in the city at the Sastri hall after a gap of several decades. It was at the same venue that he had received the All India I prize in AIR competitions during the fifties!

He is also giving a concert at the Swati Sangeethotsavam in Trivandrum in January (next month).
Sri Venkitaramanan’s rendering is spontaneous and within the limits of Sampradaayam. He is generous to lace the presentation wth relevant information on the background of the compositions/meaning etc.
The Brahma Gana sabha Trust deserves accolades in presenting veteran musicians in their exclusive programme during the Isai Vizha.

[rshankar]

Wow!
The piece from vaLLitirumaNam, was that composed by Sri HKMB?

[rajeshnat]

There are lots of unknown artist especially from kerala, will keep a watch to hear him next time.Tx sivaramakrishnan for your review

[harimau]

There are lots of unknown artist especially from kerala, will keep a watch to hear him next time.Tx sivaramakrishnan for your review

After listening to concerts by Manda Sudharani and Pantula Rama, I remarked to a friend that good music has moved away to Andhra. He responded by saying, "Also to Kerala".

What a sad state of affairs that Chennai is now home to clapular (classical-popular) music. Or may be it is popsical (popular-classical) music.

[cacm]

It has ALWAYS been the case that artists from Andhra, Kerala, & Karnataka have stuck to the FUNDAMENTALS & GRAMMAR FAR BETTER than the STARS from MADRAS. GREATS LIKE LGJ recognised this & accompanied them to make them popular in Madras. The Madras Syndrome is to use all kinds of extraneuos factors to downplay them & try to get ahead in the process.....VKV

[Sivaramakrishnan]

rshankar,
The piece from Vallithirumananm seems to be a traditional composition and not HMB's.

[rshankar]

Thank you for checking that out. I had asked, because from what I have heard, Sri HKMB did compose 'traditional' kRtis for his kathAkAlakshEpam.

[vasanthakokilam]

Ravi, what I have seen in song lists is, if it is marked 'traditional', that means it is a 'vazhi vanda pADal' and that the origin/composer is not known. We will see if that is what sivaramakrishnan meant here as well.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

vasanthakokilam, you are absolutely right.