It was a musical treat unique in many ways.
Unique in the sense that the Vaggeyakara Thanjavur Sankara Iyer, who is normally disinclined to sing his own compositions was successfully persuaded to render them . And an occasion when he displayed the musical impulses that had prompted him to compose and the musical settings in which they could bepresented . Certainly a great gift and guide to posterity .
Unique in that the event was hosted by Naada Inbam whose founder Sri S V Krishnan had been an ardent admirer of Sankara Iyer’s music and probably the only one who presented his music with consistent regularity. ---a tradition that is being ably carried forward by his daughter Jaya. Probably this was the reason for his acceptance. And there could not have been a better venue than Raga Sudha Hall replete with its vibrations of serene classical carnatic music.
His voice was in fine trim and the articulation of the words came through clearly, thanks to the excellent mike arrangement and audio amplification. His manodharma was on its wings and the music came through in an unending stream. The lyrics, in chaste Tamil had an endearing and evocative simplicity. The clarity was such that one could easily follow it word by word and even write it down. All the songs were prefaced with exquisite raga alapanas developed with loving care to bring out the raga swaroopa in all its classical beauty.The swaraprastharas were a display of the mastery in meshing it with the mood and the sahitya.
Padma Shankar made use of the opportunity to learn vocally all these songs from Sankara Iyer. Naturally endowed with a refined aesthetic sensibility, her violin accompaniment on this occasion rose tovery great heights and on many occasions replicated the vocal music matching the originality of the manodharma sangeetham
.
B Sivaraman on the mridangam exhibited almost the same level of understanding that had characterised the accompaniment by his Guru T K Murthy a life long friend of Sankara Iyer..
Opening the musical presentation with the matchless Viriboni Varnam, he offeredthe following compositions:
1. Sakthi Ganapathi Gowlai Adi
2. Saravana Bhava Sahana Adi
3. Dasan En Mel Poorvi Kalyani Rupakam
4. Sri Rama Dhutha Thodi Misra Chapu
5. Thaye Dhayai Puri Lalitha Rupakam
6. Aadidum Paadham Kedara Gowlai Adi
Ondri Irundhu Ninaimingal (Appar Thevaram) prefacing
7. Santhi Alithidum Senchurutti Adi
8 Manamalar Alithe Surutti Adi
A Most Memorable and Significant Event.
Vaggeyakara Thanjavur Sankara Iyer @ Naada Inbam 30/3/2008
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rshankar
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