Purandara uthsava
Every year music schools compete with each other to celebrate both Purandara Dasa and Tayagaraja's compositions in Pushya Maasa. But on such occasions, emphasis would be given to Tyagaraja's compositions. Though concerts exclusively of Purandara Dasa's Devaranamas are not very rare, connoisseurs dont frequently get an opportunity to attend such concerts. It is Purandara Dasa who framed the primary lessons and laid a strong foundation for Karnatic Music and brought classical music closer to common man. He has composed not only Devaranamas but also Suladi, Ugabhoga Vrithanaama, Thripadi, Tatwasuvvali, Kanda etc. in music. In his compositions, 'Sangeetha' and 'Sahitya' vie for supremacy.
Thus Purandara Dasa is called "Sangeetha Pitamaha" and has earned a highly respectable place in the Indian music world. There are still a few organisations that celebrate Purandara Dasa's compositions through exclusive music concerts of Haridasa's compositions.
One such organisation, Sri Raghavendra Seva Samithi, conducted the festival with not only music concerts, but also Bhajan and discourses at its premises in Sudhindra Nagar.
Rayachur Seshagiri Das hails from a great Haridasa Lineage of Abigihal Govinda Dasaru of "Vijaya Dasara Parampare". He is well known for his Devaranama singing in Hindustani style and has bagged several title and honours.
He presented a full concert of Haridasa Padas. He began with an invocatory, "Sathatha Gananatha", and selected "Dasaraya Purandara Dasaraya". "Thunga Theera Viharam" is a favourite of devotees and presented "Madhwa Raya" in Raga Gorak Kalyan.
"Palisamma Muddu Sharade" was on Saraswathi and "Bhagyada Lakshmi" on Maha Lakshmi, while "Kusanu Kandeera" was on Krishna. Sripad Das on Harmonium, Gopal Gudi Bande on Thabala and Sudhanva on Thaala accompanied the vocalist. Good voice, diction and rendering with good feeling made the large gathering happy.
Happy harmony
Dr Sukanya Prabhakar, who sang in the Purandara Utsava on Thursday, is a 'A - Top' grade vocalist, an able teacher and an author. Sukanya opened her concert with "Dangurava Saarirayya" in the Raga Vasantha. She presented a number of compositions of different Haridasas of Karnataka; "Sri Ranganathana Noduva Banni" in Aarabhi was pleasing. The speed of the song is usually suggested by the composition itself. But though "Sarideno Ninna Venkataramanna" was a good choice, listeners felt it was too slow (Vilamba). After the "Ninna Maganene Gopi" in Pharz she highlighted Hamsanandi and convincingly sang "Yenendu Kondadi Stuthisalo Deva" with Nerval and Swara. With her rich voice, it was a happy harmony of music and verse. Senior instrumentalists B. Raghuram and N. Vasudeva gave good support on Violin and Mridanga, respectively.
Young artiste
The other musician who sang in the Purandara Utsava is Maruthi Prasad. He is a blind vocalist, key board player and a teacher and also a recipient of several prizes from reputed organisations. Violinist Achutha and Mridanga player S N Swamy supported him well. "Sree Pathiyu Namage" in Sriraga, gave Maruthi Prasad a bright start. "Guruvina Gulamanaguva Thanaka" - is a meaningful devaranama and he sang "Kaavudemmanu" of Vadiraja in Aarabhi. Instead of the traditional raga, he sang "Yeke Brindavanadi" in Rangamalika. With good voice, pronunciation and good selection, Maruthi Prasad delighted the audience.
Every year music schools compete with each other to celebrate both Purandara Dasa and Tayagaraja's compositions in Pushya Maasa. But on such occasions, emphasis would be given to Tyagaraja's compositions. Though concerts exclusively of Purandara Dasa's Devaranamas are not very rare, connoisseurs dont frequently get an opportunity to attend such concerts. It is Purandara Dasa who framed the primary lessons and laid a strong foundation for Karnatic Music and brought classical music closer to common man. He has composed not only Devaranamas but also Suladi, Ugabhoga Vrithanaama, Thripadi, Tatwasuvvali, Kanda etc. in music. In his compositions, 'Sangeetha' and 'Sahitya' vie for supremacy.
Thus Purandara Dasa is called "Sangeetha Pitamaha" and has earned a highly respectable place in the Indian music world. There are still a few organisations that celebrate Purandara Dasa's compositions through exclusive music concerts of Haridasa's compositions.
One such organisation, Sri Raghavendra Seva Samithi, conducted the festival with not only music concerts, but also Bhajan and discourses at its premises in Sudhindra Nagar.
Rayachur Seshagiri Das hails from a great Haridasa Lineage of Abigihal Govinda Dasaru of "Vijaya Dasara Parampare". He is well known for his Devaranama singing in Hindustani style and has bagged several title and honours.
He presented a full concert of Haridasa Padas. He began with an invocatory, "Sathatha Gananatha", and selected "Dasaraya Purandara Dasaraya". "Thunga Theera Viharam" is a favourite of devotees and presented "Madhwa Raya" in Raga Gorak Kalyan.
"Palisamma Muddu Sharade" was on Saraswathi and "Bhagyada Lakshmi" on Maha Lakshmi, while "Kusanu Kandeera" was on Krishna. Sripad Das on Harmonium, Gopal Gudi Bande on Thabala and Sudhanva on Thaala accompanied the vocalist. Good voice, diction and rendering with good feeling made the large gathering happy.
Happy harmony
Dr Sukanya Prabhakar, who sang in the Purandara Utsava on Thursday, is a 'A - Top' grade vocalist, an able teacher and an author. Sukanya opened her concert with "Dangurava Saarirayya" in the Raga Vasantha. She presented a number of compositions of different Haridasas of Karnataka; "Sri Ranganathana Noduva Banni" in Aarabhi was pleasing. The speed of the song is usually suggested by the composition itself. But though "Sarideno Ninna Venkataramanna" was a good choice, listeners felt it was too slow (Vilamba). After the "Ninna Maganene Gopi" in Pharz she highlighted Hamsanandi and convincingly sang "Yenendu Kondadi Stuthisalo Deva" with Nerval and Swara. With her rich voice, it was a happy harmony of music and verse. Senior instrumentalists B. Raghuram and N. Vasudeva gave good support on Violin and Mridanga, respectively.
Young artiste
The other musician who sang in the Purandara Utsava is Maruthi Prasad. He is a blind vocalist, key board player and a teacher and also a recipient of several prizes from reputed organisations. Violinist Achutha and Mridanga player S N Swamy supported him well. "Sree Pathiyu Namage" in Sriraga, gave Maruthi Prasad a bright start. "Guruvina Gulamanaguva Thanaka" - is a meaningful devaranama and he sang "Kaavudemmanu" of Vadiraja in Aarabhi. Instead of the traditional raga, he sang "Yeke Brindavanadi" in Rangamalika. With good voice, pronunciation and good selection, Maruthi Prasad delighted the audience.