R Vedavalli - V Sumitra - M A Krishnaswamy - K Arun Prakash

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 25 May 2009, 07:48

R Vedavalli-V Sumitra-M A Krishnaswamy-K Arun Prakash

Guru Vandana for Calcutta Sri K S Krishnamurthy
Organised by Carnatica in Raga Sudha Hall on 24 May 2009

sarasUDa (varNam) - sAvEri - Adi (sketch, S)
kula birudunu - dEvamanOhari - rUpakam - T
peN koDuttadArayya? - kuntaLa varALi - Adi - KSK
kanugonu saukhyamu - nAyaki - rUpakam (R) - T
nAdOpAsana - bEgaDa - dEshAdi (R) - T
nenaruncinAnu - mALavi - Adi - T
EkAmrEsha nAyaki - cAmaram / Shanmukhapriya - Adi-2 (RNST) - MD?
nI mATalE - pUrvi kalyANi - Adi
pavamAna sutuDu - saurAShTram - Adi - T followed by shlokam in madhyamAvati

The sheer seriousness with which sAvEri was sung was so moving. sAvEri just is made for seriousness! Before the kuntaLa varALi piece, Vidushi Vedavalli said that after learning the piece, for a long time, she'd been asking around for who'd composed it, until finally she asked the same thing of KSK.

She also said that like her, he also devoted himself to preserving the traditional pAThAntarams of songs, and made a mention of having heard the varALi pancaratnam in the older pAThAntaram she also sings in Calcutta by his students.

nAyaki was wonderfully explored. This was the first nAyaki for me ever, but I could tell it was nAyaki because I'd heard about it. What a ragam! What a song! (Surely now someone is going to point me to an MD composition in nAyaki.)

There was less Parur brigha from MAK today, except traces in the cAmara AlApanai and the varNam's caraNam line where swarams were exchanged.

The supporting vocalist indeed played a great role in the concert. She sang neravals and swarams and parts of the bEgaDa and cAmara AlApanais very aptly, taking from where Vidushi Vedavalli left for her.

MAK gaves good replies to the sAvEri and cAmara swaras and played a good bEgaDa too.

KAP played with superb anticipation for kalpita and manOdharma parts, and played such a nice tani that Vidushi Vedavalli herself broke into a few words in appreciation for it.

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 25 May 2009, 08:16

peN koDuttadArayya? - kuntaLa varALi - Adi - KSK

This piece must be a recent discovery. According to forward in the book published by the Carnatica Archival Centre, ShrI KSK composed about 15 compositions and this one is not listed.

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 25 May 2009, 08:25

The swarakalpana portions in the sAveri varnam were awesome! Her accompanying vocalist was also of equal caliber. Both of them made the audience sit up with that superb swarakalpana section.
"kanugonu sowkhyamu" was indeed heavenly. She explored nAyaki very judiciously. This showed her expertise and vidhwath.
The bEgada alapana was really excellent. One of the best, as far as I have heard! In the previous kutcheri, Carnatica Brothers also sang this same song elaborately. But, mami's rendition was obviously better!
The kunthalavarAli song of Sri KSK was really a good pick. KunthalavarAli was handled very differently. The song was a refreshing addition.
chAmaram was the highlight of the concert. She sang this raga(including alapana, song, neraval and swaram) for about an hour. But, I didn't know how time was flying! When I looked at the clock after hearing the thani, it was almost 9!!
"EkAmrEsha nAyaki" is indeed a masterpiece of Dikshithar. His handling of chAmaram is unique and exemplary. Vedavalli mami's rendition captured the fine nuances incorporated by Dikshithar. It was as good as Dikshithar himself singing the song! Neraval at "kAnchi nagara" was one of the best explorations of the rAga. I was happy to find mami singing neraval and swaram in right proportion. Many singers just flabbergast you with the neraval and just touch a few swarams and stop. But, mami sang a wonderful neraval followed by an equally amazing swarakalpana session. The pattAbhirAmayya jhavali, nI matalE, was rendered in a fine manner. Once again glad to see mAmi rendering a jhAvali which was really refreshing. I liked even the mangalam!!
I thought I could ask mAmi to render her traditional "nagu mOmu" in Abheri with the sudhdha dhaivatham. But, I was a bit hesitant. So, I thought I could ask her in her next concert! Overall, it was a heavenly experience being in her concert, as usual! I feel really lucky to stay in Chennai and go to all these stalwarts' concerts! Vedavalli mami was, as usual, bubbling with humor. There can be no human like mami with so much of vidhwath and a humble personality! =D

The violinist's returns were as masterful as mami's. He was indeed a amicable accompanist. As for Sri Arun Prakash, I have no words to say! How beautiful, his accompanying was! Just warm and correct. No loud banging and thrashing. He played the mridangam as it should be played in a concert like this. His presence was acknowledged silently but powerfully. His thani was unparalleled. Arun Prakash is indeed a mridangam player who is most sought after. His presence adds special touches to the concert and boosts the performance. This is how an accompanying artiste should be like and even Vedavalli mami agreed! Who else has the authority?? =)

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 25 May 2009, 08:35

Yes, kanugonu saukhyamu was heavenly! That's the word! I would like to listen to ArO ivar yArO in sAvEri, though.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 25 May 2009, 08:56

The supporting vocalist must have been Smt. Vedavalli's senior disciple Smt. V. Sumitra.

Seems like it was a fantastic concert!

srinivasrgvn · Post by **srinivasrgvn** » 25 May 2009, 09:15

prashant wrote:The supporting vocalist must have been Smt. Vedavalli's senior disciple Smt. V. Sumitra.

Seems like it was a fantastic concert!

Yes! Indeed! I am in cloud nine. The concert is still ringing in my ears! This was an unforgettable day.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 May 2009, 09:35

Prashant,
Do you know the kuntaLa varALi song? Hope Lakshman has the lyrics. Another concert I wish I had listened to.
Arun Prakash as an accompanist: unobtrusive but supportive, minimalist with a purpose. Above all, a mrudangam player who simply does not know how to make noise and I bless him for that.
MAK is the only member of the Parur clan that I have listened to just once, years ago. Hope I get a chance soon to listen to him.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 25 May 2009, 09:36

EkAmrEsha nAyaki - cAmaram / Shanmukhapriya - Adi-2 (RNST) - MD? is one of Smt Vedavalli's favourite main. I have myself heard atleast 4 to 5 renditions of the same.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 25 May 2009, 10:28

arasi wrote:Prashant,
Do you know the kuntaLa varALi song?

arasi - No I don't - not yet

ganeshkant · Post by **ganeshkant** » 25 May 2009, 13:30

It was a great concert.I was mesmerised by the command the artist had throughout the concert.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 26 May 2009, 22:44

Srikant,
Apart from a nice review, I like the way you have given the names of the accompanists on the title line. Makes it easy to locate the thread later and also showcases the accompanists. This may not be possible all the time, I suppose.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 01 Jun 2009, 17:15

Alas, it is a long way to travel to a concert when one has left for UK just a few days previously --- but I will be back soon, and have resolved not to miss Smt Vedavalli's concerts in future.

I'm hoping also for more solo performances from Smt V Sumitra.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 01 Jun 2009, 18:42

@nick H

Nice to see you back on the forum!

You just missed a solo of Sumitra's this Sunday!

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 01 Jun 2009, 19:43

Arasi: I am sorry I don't have the lyrics for the kuntalavarALi song. I have the same 15 songs mentioned by kmrasika in post #2.
Perhaps Prashant can get them from smt. Vedavalli.

gn.sn42 · Post by **gn.sn42** » 01 Jun 2009, 22:41

kmrasika wrote:According to forward in the book published by the Carnatica Archival Centre, ShrI KSK composed about 15 compositions and this one is not listed.

I don't see this book listed on the Carnatica web site - do you know where I could buy a copy?

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 02 Jun 2009, 08:06

Btw the Mambalam Sisters might also know the song. Vedavalli mami said that she'd asked them for the lyrics, since she was singing it after so many years.

vijisubra · Post by **vijisubra** » 02 Jun 2009, 09:29

I interviewd KSK mama during the course of my Ph D and he said he has not composed any songs in Tamil. So I'm a little confused if Mama himself has said this is his.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 02 Jun 2009, 09:44

When did you do your PhD?

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 02 Jun 2009, 09:47

gn.sn42 wrote:
kmrasika wrote:According to forward in the book published by the Carnatica Archival Centre, ShrI KSK composed about 15 compositions and this one is not listed.
I don't see this book listed on the Carnatica web site - do you know where I could buy a copy?

The book was published as a non-commercial initiative by the Carnatica Archival Centre as part of its initiatives to notate modern composer's compositions. You would have to ask ShrI Sasikiran or Smt Sowmya if any copies are available.

prashant · Post by **prashant** » 02 Jun 2009, 10:10

I just ascertained that Smt. Vedavalli had learnt this song long ago [it is a composition in the nindAstuti style]. On this occasion of Sri KSK's memorial day, she decided to render this song.

As she was unable to trace some the words. She referred to the direct disciples of Sri KSK, Smt Uma & Smt. Geetha, and ascertained the words from them. I will post the lyrics when I have a chance to transcribe them from Vedavalli Amma.

gn.sn42 · Post by **gn.sn42** » 02 Jun 2009, 10:41

Thanks, kmrasika.

As a random internet poster, I do not have that kind of access! But if someone at Carnatica is reading this, could you make the KSK book available, either for sale to the public, or posted online for all?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 07 Jun 2009, 13:01

srikant1987 wrote:@nick H

Nice to see you back on the forum!

You just missed a solo of Sumitra's this Sunday!

Thank you

Don't worry... I'll be back soon. Travelling away from Chennai just now --- and sad to miss Smt Sumitra's concert.