Lec Dem @ Sri Parhtasarathy Swami Sabha

[thanjavooran]

Lec Dem on 20 12 2016 10 30 hrs
Sub: How to Bridge the Gap between Learning and Performance ?
Interactive session by
Vid Sudharaghunathan intereacats with Vid Aishwary Vidya Raghunath,Vid Anahitha and Apoorva Ravindran, Dr Sudha Raja's Sargam Choir Students


The program started at 10 40 hrs.
Some of the interesting points noted are given below
Welcome speech by Sasi Kiran
This is only only an interactive session and definitely not a Lec Dem

Sudha Raghunathan

Learning directly from Guru is important rather than Internet, skype and recordings.
MLV did not teach her keeping her before. She was made to listen to her music whenever she sings.
Only guru can correct the mistakes during learning.
Guru should be identified before starting to which style one prefers viz ARI, GNB, DKP etc
A student's liking of the Art should not be interfered either Instrumental or vocal
Parents interference should not be their during sadhagam or learning.
Observation is important.
Kanya kumari and herself were advised by MLV to learn Muruganin maru peyar azhagu and Karpooram narumo kritis from different vidwans.
MLV will only indicate the kritis to be handled for the next day's concert. Over night she will search for the kriti and notations and other parameters and practice to come ready for the next day's performance.
She has to sing along with her guru playing tambura. She has to closely follow and continue in the same fashion whenever guru stops. A nerve testing feat. Even a slight flaw will spoil the mood of the show.
One should listen to all vidwans music and grasp the sweet sangathis and pidis etc.

Anahitha and Apoorva

Guru will perform in his instrument and they have reproduce the same vocally
10 yrs of rigorous practice like this, made them fit for performance.
Guru will insist on Mathematics and Gamakams.
Demo of Thodi kriti a line "Yar poai solluvar"
Sudha referred a particular line of SS's Thodi swarajathi Kamakshi and demonstrated the similarity.
His guru often used to mention one should not beat around the bush [ madu meikka koodadhu/ pul meyakoodadhu ] raghas should be crisp suiting manodharma. Only after subtle karvai should go up for further delineation.

Aishwarya Raghunath

Her Guru Vegavauhini Vijayaraghavan.
Demo of Suruti padam, Poorvikalyani Ninnuvina thik evaru a line only.

Here Sudha mentioned that brughas should be sung making it possible to convert in to respective swaras.

Ravi kiran

Three phases of learning are Through Guru, Listening and On line.
Parents can sit with students to closely monitor but should not comment or interfere with their learning. This analogy suits going to a Dr for consultation.
One should not learn music only for competition or for Arangetram.

Sudha mentioned in Rishi valley she learnt Ata thala Kalyani Varnam overnight and was asked by MLV to sing before PMI. After listening to it he mentioned that she has to practice 100 times this varnam to get fullness.
MLV has not listened to her concert.
Rasikas put various questions to which Sudha answered quoting references.

My observation

This was only a lecture session in English with very minimum demo. Sudha's students were made to interact by putting questions regarding effective learning. Uhira , Deepika , Pratiksha were few names I could recollect. The hall was full. I would have definitely omitted some important points and request for corrections.

Thanjavooran
20 12 2016

[Vocalist]

Thanks very much for the detailed write up thanjavooran!

[thanjavooran]

Lec Demo on Thursday 22 13 2016 08 30 hrs

Importance of Sahithyam for Niraval singing
Malladi Brothers Vid Sriramprasad & Vid Ravi kumar

The program started exactly at 08 30 hrs. Some of the interesting points are listed below.

MD kritis worshipping God
SS Dialogue between baktha and Ishta deivam
StT Wide range of kritis his closeness and message to Lord Rama.
While rendering any kriti, style and structure of the composition should be maintained
For niraval meaningful sentence should be selected
Demo Rama bana in Saveri
Hari kombodhi Undedhi Ramudu Thasadi is the right place for niraval
Manasa yedulo Malayamarutham Dhinakara kula bushana is the apt and convenient place for NIraval and swara kalpana
Karakarapriya Rama nee samana the regular place is paluku paluku but a very long sentence.
For RTP the first sentence itself is complete, appealing and meaningful.
For chakkini raja kriti katiki the usual place is very apt
In Sankarabarnam Enthuku pethala Veda Sastra line is fine
Voleti garu used to sing for himself for Atma ranjakthvam. The other is Sabha ranjakthavam
Even while travelling in train he used to get up by 4 am and practice covering the body with shawl closing the face and hum the kriti [ Ganam singing pattern]
Kambodhi Maa janaki Raja raja is the apt place. In the line Vanimata will be jarring and should not select this line for Niraval.
DKP, MSS amma engaged Telugu Pundits for learning.
Initially Namasankeertanam was in practice and later additions are Alapana, Niraval and swara kalpana
In Evari mata Baktha para is the correct place though it is long with two sentences.
Must listen to Stalwarts concerts viz ARI, GNB, SSI etc and their style of handling the Niraval.
Sankarabaranam Sarojathala netri the usual Samagana can be changed and tried other places too. During Niraval practice the Raga will be chiseled to give fineness to enhance the beauty.
Akshaya linga vibo the sahithya bhavam should be kept in mind.
Dr Pinakapani in an audition committee for A grade in AIR along with a Great Musicologist did not agree with the other as he was very particular about the place of Niraval.
Veena Dhanam used to take up Rajasekaruni in Kovur panha ratnam kriti.
In chakravakam kriti Edula patti is not the correct place and the first line of kriti itself will be very apt.
For getting claps and roaring appreciation one conveniently sing Niravathi or Manavyala
Siva siva enaradha the correct place is Kamathula
Sambo Magadeva Naryana nama is the right place.
Demo of Thodi, Koluvamaragatha Thambura sekoni is the apt place
Rama nannu brovara this line is perfect. Not Vepppulkai
In Byravi kriti Kapata is not the correct place.
In Anna poornewsar Pranesam Sri viswanathambaje . all places are fit for Niraval.
Mangalam

My observation
An excellent presentation for 1 30 hrs. Full of Demos of all ragas and kritis mentioned above in chaste Tamil and whenever not comfortable, in English. Really quite enjoyable. For a Rasika's question on ' How to practice Niraval singing ' he advised to chant Sahasranamam/ Ashtothram in different ragas duly changing the Ragas at suitable intervals. He thanked the audience in particular Vidwans and Vidushis who were present. This is first time I enjoyed such Lec Dem session in Tamil. Appreciate a non Tamilian to perform Demo in chaste Tamil. Both brothers in turn participated in Demo with pleasant and interesting anecdotes. I would have omitted some important points and corrections are invited.

Thanjavooran
22 12 2016

[kvchellappa]

Thanjavuran, sir, you are covering the neglected sector admirably.

[Rajani]

Thanks a lot Sir, immensely informative and educative .

[thanjavooran]

Lec Dem on Saturday 24 12 2016 08 30 hrs

Changing Trends in Carnatic Music - The two key success is in Content packaging or Artistic Expression An Open House

Vid Aruna Sai Ram [ Moderator ] Feturing Vid Nyveli Santhanagopalan, Sri veeysvee[VSV] , Dr Radha Bhaskar, Vina Exponent Nirmala Rajasekhar and Vid Ananya Ashok

The discussion started at 08 40 hrs. As usual some of the interesting points are listed below.

Sasikiran welcomed the participants listing their credentials.

Aruna Sai Ram

Brinda amma used to mention if knowedge and efforts are 60 % ONLY 30 % will be seen on the output. A concert fully depends on wave length of pakkavadhyam artistes, presence of Critiques and Vidwans and with the mood of Rasikas.

NSG

The discussions of this subject itself is a changing trend. In food too the conventional menu of Vathal kulambu sutta appalam changed to Pizza , chat etc. Any thing you sing a divine touch should be there. Come what may the attire of Musicians did not change.He quoted a verse from Kalidass ' As it is puranam it can not be accepted straight. A quote of Kannadasan which tells Matram enbadhu Maanidathvam.
Aruna Sai is performing with new format.
Thanjavur Sankara Iyer even at this age is searching for new change.
Any Change is better but not at the cost of damage to the originality.

Radha Bhaskar

Music is a profession like any other discipline.
Packaging is important since musicians are supposed to deliver to money's worth within the duration without sacrificing the tradition. Few artistes venturing in changing the package just for experiment sake. This is not a welcoming decision. The Divine art has become commercial nowadays.

Veeyesvee

Long hair , sporting beard and mustache is a changing trend nowadays. Popular ragas are to be handled for attracting Rasikas initially. It should be the aim. No new Ragas or kritis till establishing identity.

Nirmala Rajasekhar

For instrumental performance lot of adjustments are to be made.
She is following the tradition of Karur Swaminathan and prof TRS.
Face book is presently used for making publicity of the programs.
She performed in a US theatre recently with 40 % of Indians and 60 % of non Indians. In a pancha thanthram show for portaying monkey Mohana ragam and for the movement of crocodile Sarasangi were chosen. Every body enjoyed the show.
Opportunity for instrumental programs is very less but feels proud to be a Vainika. In sabhas crowd is very less.
She is trying to utilize the 4th chord in Veena [ anumanthasthayee] which is not very much used. She is experimenting to get the best acoustic touch on this.

Ananya Ashok

Her mother is a Dancer and father is a Musician and multilingual. Could not make out any of her views because of accent as she is US based.

Sasikiran

Singing Abhang is a new trend.

Aruna Sai Ram.

In Swiss when she sang Othukadu Gambira Nattai thillana for which the Mirudhanga Vidwan did not agree to play and she sang with out percussion

My observation

The 1 30 discussion was interesting. Aruna Sairam , NSG and VSV were expressing their views in Tamil. As a moderator Aruna did her job well and passed comments jocularly. Partially Sasikiran took over as a Moderator.
Would have missed some important points request for correction.

Thanjavooran
24 12 2016