VIJAYA SIVA AT BSU-11/11/16

[CRama]

Accompanists. S.Varadarajan-Violin
K.Arun Prakash-Mridangam. List of songs.
• Sada baala roopadi-Slokam from Subramanya Bhujangam
• Sankha chakra gadaa paanim-Poornachandrika-MD
• Maamava satatam- Jaganmohini- T (N,S)
• Ini melaayinum undan karunai kann paaramma
En kavalayai teeramma- Durbar- (Ramaswamy Sivan) R
• Annamalayaan adi kamalam- Simmendramadhyamam-Tiruvembavai (R,N,S)
• Nannu brochutaku-Todi- Subbaraya Sastri
• Majanaki-Kambodi- T (R,N,S)
• Tani
• Slokam- Samadbhuthaam baalakam Ambujekshanam-
Dhanyasi, Behag, Kapi.
• Jagadhodhaarana-PD
• Muddugaare yasoda-Kurinji (A)
• Iyal isayil- Huseni- Tirupugazh

Amidst the razz ma tazz of the jugalbandis and weird combinations this BSU offered, there were a few pure Carnatic music concerts also. The organisers deserve our gratitude for the same not in any small measure. Vijaya Siva’s concert was one such pure Carnatic music concert which you can always expect from the great vidwan. Vijaya Siva is a stickler to tradition and provides wholesome unadulterated music inherited from his Gurus DKJ and DKP in abundant measure. His sruti aligned bell like voice, open throated singing, authentic patantharam, right kalapramanam, measured presentation of gamakas and brighas , stage manners, all make his music as the Gold Standard for chaste carnatic music in the current music scenario.

The Deekshitar composition Shankha Chakra in a medium tempo provided the fitting start to a great concert that was to follow. Next came Mamava satatam in Jaganmohini, which was popularised by DKP and also sung by R.Vedavalli in the recent history. Neraval at the lines Sreemati Naanvaya and the succeeding swarams in two kalams brought the necessary verve to the concert. Next came an unadulterated alapana of Durbar. The speciality of this school being clarity of approach from the start itself, without meandering on territories and perplexing the listeners. The raga contours were shown clearly and Nayaki did not peep into the Durbar. The kriti of Ramaswamy Sivan is new to me and the bhavam portrayed by the composer was faithfully presented. Next was an elaborate alapana of Simmendramadhyamam. This one ragam was rarely handled by DKP/DKJ and I have never heard this ragam in any of their live concerts. Vijaya Siva’s alapana showcased the life of the ragam in the first few strokes and it was a wholesome experience - at times serene and introspective, at others, intense and exhilarating. This Tiruvembavai also is new to me. Elaborate neraval at the lines Kannaar amudamumay ninraan kazhal paadi and swarams in two kalams were lauded by the huge audience that enjoyed each and every phrase of the neraval and swarams.

Before taking up the main song, VS presented Nannu brochutaku in Todi- the magnum opus of Subbaraya Sastri with characteristic swara shityam of Syama Sastri school. A quick glance at the concert list can tell you that there were no lightweight pieces in the place of fillers. Ragam Kambodi was taken up for a very detailed alapana. The ten minutes step by step alapana showed the myriad hues of the ragam presenting the choicest phrases of the ragam in a very elegant manner. His voice in fine mettle he traversed upto mel dha in the alapana and it was an enjoyable sojourn for the rasikas as well. The kriti and the neraval at Raaja raajavara Raajeevakshavinu and the second kala swarams that followed were connoisseur’s delight and the rasikas responded by applauding at key junctures. The tani was brief- only five minutes. All the tail enders were rendered with necessary bhavam and polish.

One speciality of Vijaya Siva is that I didn't see him pause in between songs to wonder what to sing next. I didn't see any notes. I didn't see any drop in intensity or focus. There was no slippage of time. Everything had its place. No misplaced sangatis, no unnecessary phrases, no excessive vocalizations. The concert was carried on the weight of the kritis presented, kalapramanam and bhavam that is the core of Vijay's music.
S.Varadarajan- I am seeing him first time with Vijaya Siva. Splendid as usual. An asset for any vocalist. Varadharajan matched VS well in the kalpana and kalpita segments, with the same leisure and therapeutic style of VS. Arun Praksh- today I saw a different Arun Praksh. He eschewed his caressing style of playing Mridangam. He had the most appropriate nadam and volume for the Mridangam. He provided excellent support and complemented Vijaya Siva well. His anticipation, filling of gaps, energy, embellished the concert to a great extent.

An excellent concert for two hours.

[gardabha_gana]

As a huge fan of VS extremely disappointed that MA hasn't featured him again this year. His music is for the heart and the soul! Haven't heard Varadarajan accompany him before or for that matter KAP.

[gardabha_gana]

As a huge fan of VS extremely disappointed that MA hasn't featured him again this year. His music is for the heart and the soul! Haven't heard Varadarajan accompany him before or for that matter KAP.

[Vocalist]

Another wonderful review by CRama capturing the essence of a kutcheri and delivering it to rasikas who could not make it. Thank you!

Yes the organisers certainly deserve gratitude for providing a fulsome offering to cater for all tastes and fans. The event certainly seems to have grown (I say this after looking at the number of concerts and artists which were showcased this year). My only gripe is that they did not arrange for a telecast of the full concerts within 24 hours like in the preceding two years. I hope they will reconsider returning to that model from next year as it made the music accessible to rasikas all over the world. But I digress....

Next was an elaborate alapana of Simmendramadhyamam. This one ragam was rarely handled by DKP/DKJ and I have never heard this ragam in any of their live concerts.

Extremely rare I would say. There are only two occasions I know of in terms of live concerts. I only heard the raga handled during one DKP & DKJ concert - in the form of RTP! Interestingly, only DKP presented the alapana, tanam, pallavi/nereval, and swarams - DKJ only joined in at the conclusion of the RTP to sing the pallavi line for the final time. The other concert was DKP "solo" when she briefly handled the raga during a ragamalika viruttham. [Those aside, there is also a commercial recording of DKP singing another RTP in the same raga which was released by AIR but I am not convinced that is from a "live concert".]

[CRama]

I think that there was no live webcast to ensure good attendance in the concert hall. Now I fervently hope that they upload all the concerts in you tube so that non attendees can also enjoy the concerts. Shashikiran, please.

[kvchellappa]

The uploading requires the consent of the artist. Normally, VS is averse to it.

[sankark]

The uploading requires the consent of the artist. Normally, VS is averse to it.

And to us, a great loss.

[CRama]

Wherever permissions are available, those concerts can be uploaded.

[rajeshnat]

His sruti aligned bell like voice, open throated singing, authentic patantharam, right kalapramanam, measured presentation of gamakas and brighas , stage manners, all make his music as the Gold Standard for chaste carnatic music in the current music scenario.

Crama
Lovely review , just curious not for just this review in general even in your past reviews of Vijay siva, i felt like writing . I am not sure we can characterize Vijay siva voice has bell like voice , in general i asssociate that voice with more gAthram that term . Certainly shruthi aligned and open throated but his voice being Bell Like is work in progress and he is still not there.

[rajeshnat]

• Annamalayaan adi kamalam- Simmendramadhyamam-Tiruvembavai (R,N,S)

This Tiruvembavai also is new to me. Elaborate neraval at the lines Kannaar amudamumay ninraan kazhal paadi and swarams in two kalams were lauded by the huge audience that enjoyed each and every phrase of the neraval and swarams.

I have never heard this at all . May be Vijay or RKSK tuned that or did jambhavans like TMT or DKJ/DKP tuned and sang this before.

[sureshvv]

One of the best concerts of the festival. Great "ganeer" kambodhi.

Post main was a slight let down because of choice of kritis (too commonplace). May be he was making up for the rarefied atmosphere in the first portion of the concert. I would have been thrilled if he had kept that up.

[CRama]

Reg Annamalayan adi kamalam in Simmendramadhyamam. I just heard the full Tiruvempavai LPs released by MLV to see if she has sung this in SM. She has sung this Tiruvempavai in Sama. So somebody else has tuned this in SM. Thanks to whoever is the tunesmith.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

It's said MDR's music had/has that element of 'BRAHMALAYAM' - laya would follow the rendering so innately(unlike many who struggle to follow the Taala).
I have seen this in Vijaya Siva's recital too.

[MaheshS]

Good news people, I've found this concert in YouTube, fill your boots before someone takes it down. Brilliant brilliant concert! DO NOT MISS!!

Sri. Vijay Siva l Sampradaaya Kutcheri l Bharat Sangeet Utsav 2016 l NGS

What a way to start my weekend!!

[sankark]

Good news people, I've found this concert in YouTube, fill your boots before someone takes it down. Brilliant brilliant concert! DO NOT MISS!!

Sri. Vijay Siva l Sampradaaya Kutcheri l Bharat Sangeet Utsav 2016 l NGS

What a way to start my weekend!!

Thanks Mahesh!

He is scheduled for NaadaInbam in RagaSudha hall on 16/Apr/2017 6:15 pm.

[sureshvv]

And at Kapaleeswarar temple tomorrow 13/04

[ram1999]

Good news people, I've found this concert in YouTube, fill your boots before someone takes it down. Brilliant brilliant concert! DO NOT MISS!!

Sri. Vijay Siva l Sampradaaya Kutcheri l Bharat Sangeet Utsav 2016 l NGS
What a way to start my weekend!!

What a beautiful concert this is ! each kriti, ragam, nerawal a gem. The simmendramadhyam piece is simply outstanding.
Amazing stage presence. A superb team effort !

thanks Mahesh for pointing this in the forum.

[ram1999]

Accompanists. S.Varadarajan-Violin

Before taking up the main song, VS presented Nannu brochutaku in Todi- the magnum opus of Subbaraya Sastri with characteristic swara shityam of Syama Sastri school. A quick glance at the concert list can tell you that there were no lightweight pieces in the place of fillers. Ragam Kambodi was taken up for a very detailed alapana.
An excellent concert for two hours.

I have heard VS mentioning " to master thodi one has to master singing this kriti of Subbaraya Sastry, one of the finest kriti in thodi". A beautiful rendition replete with the trademark DKJ sangathis.