Music season is here again
Ramotsava - the music season is back again. Though many sabhas begin the Ramotsava festival on the Navami day (April 8), a few mandalis start the celebration on the Ugadi day, following the old tradition customarily, which is known as "Garbha Navami."
One such organisation, "Sri Rama Bhaktha Sabha" is conducting the Ramotsava celebration for the 108th year! It was founded in the year 1906 by compounder Subba Rao and from the last few years it is being held at the Sri Srikanteswara Bhavana, Malleswara. Discourses, Harikatha, Yakshagana programmes, apart from music (vocal, flute, mukha venu, keyboard) concerts, will be held till Friday (April 11).
On Wednesday Pattabhirama Pandith gave a fine vocal concert here. Being a disciple of Palghat K V Narayanaswamy he is fast emerging as an important vocalist of the state and is a sought after musician, now. In the current programme, when Pattabhirama Pandith's concert reached the peak, he chose a pallavi, which suited the occasion very well. The raga chosen by him was "Simhendramadhyamam," the 57 mela.
Being a pleasing rakti raga, it became very popular during the post Tyagaraja period. In this raga, Pattabhirama Pandith gave evocative music in good classical tradition. His rendering of Alapana, brief tana and gripping kalpana swaras commanded the respect of the cognoscenti. Also swara prasthara for both the compositions - "Ramanannu Brovara" and "Odi Baraiah" - were not only brilliant but also pleasing.
The "Annapurne Vishalakshi" with several aesthetic passages delighted connoisseurs.
In the last part of the concert - a "thiruppagal," two devotionals ("Ramachandra Ra Ra" and "Yadava Nee Ba") and a thillana - were notable for its melodic content in his voice, which soared with ease in all the three octaves. Seasoned instrumentalists - Mathur Srinidhi on violin, H S Sudhindra on mridanga and B Rajasekhar on morsing accompanied with good understanding.
Soulful Veena concert
Well-known husband and wife duo, Jeyaraj Krishnan and Jaysri Krishnan played the veena for the Saptaswara Academy.
Being students of L Anantharama Iyer and A Champakavalli they belong to the direct "Shishya Parampara" of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. They have also been guided by Chengulpet Ranganathan, veteran musician and are "A-grade" artistes of AIR. They have also performed in many parts of the country and are recipients of a few titles.Jeyaraj and Jayasri chose "Raghuvara," the familiar composition in the first half of the concert for a detailed presentation. The swara was developed alternatively to make it wholesome. In between, "Thelasi Rama" and "Saarasamukhi" were performed in quick succession. They unfolded the ragabhava with chaste classical mode. Taana, the speciality of veena, in raga panchaka was sparkling.
"Prakala nilabadi," the stately krithi of Saint Tyagaraja, spread a serene atmosphere. With melodious naada, sans gimmicks, they played the veena in the grand "Gayaki" style and earned the appreciation of the audience. Seasoned percussionist C Cheluvaraj gave sustained support on mridanga while Gurumurthy was incharge of the ghata.
Homage to a violinist
T Chowdiah, the legendary violinist, was among the most popular accompanist and a dynamic soloist. He is also known as the inventor of the 7-stringed violin and is also a composer.
A rare collection from his personal recordings have been digitised and brought in the form of an album by Home Records, with the help of Sheela Boraiah, grand daughter of Chowdiah. After the launch of the CD there was a jugalbandi concert by Kumaresh (violin) and Ustad Shahid Parwez (sitar).
They opened the concert in "Vilamba Kaala," that too in "Mandra Sthayee." It helped create a serene atmosphere and gradually moved to middle octave.
It was like a breeze and it moved to good speed gradually, with silky soft and suddenly striking sounds. Whatever the phrases, chasing each other, they created a colourful and beautiful musical painting on a wide canvas.
The "Tani" - Anantakrishnan on mridanga and Ravindra Yavagal on tabala - was not overstretched but was rather pleasing. When connoisseurs were expecting some more items - ragas, the concert abruptly ended!
Ramotsava - the music season is back again. Though many sabhas begin the Ramotsava festival on the Navami day (April 8), a few mandalis start the celebration on the Ugadi day, following the old tradition customarily, which is known as "Garbha Navami."
One such organisation, "Sri Rama Bhaktha Sabha" is conducting the Ramotsava celebration for the 108th year! It was founded in the year 1906 by compounder Subba Rao and from the last few years it is being held at the Sri Srikanteswara Bhavana, Malleswara. Discourses, Harikatha, Yakshagana programmes, apart from music (vocal, flute, mukha venu, keyboard) concerts, will be held till Friday (April 11).
On Wednesday Pattabhirama Pandith gave a fine vocal concert here. Being a disciple of Palghat K V Narayanaswamy he is fast emerging as an important vocalist of the state and is a sought after musician, now. In the current programme, when Pattabhirama Pandith's concert reached the peak, he chose a pallavi, which suited the occasion very well. The raga chosen by him was "Simhendramadhyamam," the 57 mela.
Being a pleasing rakti raga, it became very popular during the post Tyagaraja period. In this raga, Pattabhirama Pandith gave evocative music in good classical tradition. His rendering of Alapana, brief tana and gripping kalpana swaras commanded the respect of the cognoscenti. Also swara prasthara for both the compositions - "Ramanannu Brovara" and "Odi Baraiah" - were not only brilliant but also pleasing.
The "Annapurne Vishalakshi" with several aesthetic passages delighted connoisseurs.
In the last part of the concert - a "thiruppagal," two devotionals ("Ramachandra Ra Ra" and "Yadava Nee Ba") and a thillana - were notable for its melodic content in his voice, which soared with ease in all the three octaves. Seasoned instrumentalists - Mathur Srinidhi on violin, H S Sudhindra on mridanga and B Rajasekhar on morsing accompanied with good understanding.
Soulful Veena concert
Well-known husband and wife duo, Jeyaraj Krishnan and Jaysri Krishnan played the veena for the Saptaswara Academy.
Being students of L Anantharama Iyer and A Champakavalli they belong to the direct "Shishya Parampara" of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. They have also been guided by Chengulpet Ranganathan, veteran musician and are "A-grade" artistes of AIR. They have also performed in many parts of the country and are recipients of a few titles.Jeyaraj and Jayasri chose "Raghuvara," the familiar composition in the first half of the concert for a detailed presentation. The swara was developed alternatively to make it wholesome. In between, "Thelasi Rama" and "Saarasamukhi" were performed in quick succession. They unfolded the ragabhava with chaste classical mode. Taana, the speciality of veena, in raga panchaka was sparkling.
"Prakala nilabadi," the stately krithi of Saint Tyagaraja, spread a serene atmosphere. With melodious naada, sans gimmicks, they played the veena in the grand "Gayaki" style and earned the appreciation of the audience. Seasoned percussionist C Cheluvaraj gave sustained support on mridanga while Gurumurthy was incharge of the ghata.
Homage to a violinist
T Chowdiah, the legendary violinist, was among the most popular accompanist and a dynamic soloist. He is also known as the inventor of the 7-stringed violin and is also a composer.
A rare collection from his personal recordings have been digitised and brought in the form of an album by Home Records, with the help of Sheela Boraiah, grand daughter of Chowdiah. After the launch of the CD there was a jugalbandi concert by Kumaresh (violin) and Ustad Shahid Parwez (sitar).
They opened the concert in "Vilamba Kaala," that too in "Mandra Sthayee." It helped create a serene atmosphere and gradually moved to middle octave.
It was like a breeze and it moved to good speed gradually, with silky soft and suddenly striking sounds. Whatever the phrases, chasing each other, they created a colourful and beautiful musical painting on a wide canvas.
The "Tani" - Anantakrishnan on mridanga and Ravindra Yavagal on tabala - was not overstretched but was rather pleasing. When connoisseurs were expecting some more items - ragas, the concert abruptly ended!