Music season is here again
'Ramothsava,' the music season, has arrived again and it's raining music all over the City. Musicians and music connoisseurs are participating in different Ramanavami pandals, spread all over the City. Among them, the most popular one, 'Sree Rama Seva Mandali,' is celebrating the music festival for the 77th year at the old Fort High School in Chamarajpet.
Bombay Jayashree Ramanath gave the inaugural concert here on Saturday and the large gathering was proof of her popularity. Jayashree was in fine fettle as she started with the familiar invocatory piece "Vatapi." She presented a few choice compositions selected from the treasure chest of Saint Thyagaraja. She first chose "Teliya Leru Rama Bhakti Margamunu," in which, Tyagaraja says "Men get up at dawn and get busy working out the strategy for making money by hook or by crook. They only roam about in tension all over without being aware of the path of devotion." When Jayashree sang this composition, its steady pace and sonority paved the way for a cozy feeling.
Another two krithies "Vandanamu" (Shahana) and "Mokshamugalada" - were also well received. She crowned the concert with a beautiful pallavi (Seetha Ramana Raghu Ramam), the ragamalike rising the emotional fervour to a trance. Few devotionals like "Rama Rama Enniro" followed. Another interesting thing was accompaniment of three young artistes, with good anticipation, though mridanga was a bit louder at times. Dileep on violin, Sairam on mridanga and Anirud on khanjari - made their presence felt.
Delightful vocal
Some of the Mandalies celebrate Ramothsava from Yugadi itself, which is the old tradition, known as "Garbha Navami". One such organisation, the "Vyalikaval Extension Association," is conducting the 49th Ramotsava celebrations at its own Sree Rama Temple. The association has organised music (vocal, violin solo, mandolin) and dance programmes, which will continue till April 4.
Bellary M Raghavendra, who gave a vocal recital in the Vyalikaval Association, hails from a musicians' family and is employed at the All India Radio, Mysuru, as a staff artiste. Raghavendra's concert took off on a bright note. After few initial compositions, he sprang a surprise by presenting an infrequent raga.
Yagapriya is the 31st mela, which was earlier known as Kalahamsa and Kalavati and Kotiswara Iyer's composition in this raga, is quite popular. But Raghavendra chose a composition of Bellari Seshagiri Achar, called "Rama Rama Eni Chinthimparuda" and rendered neatly. Then, he reeled of compositions of Dikshitar, Tyagaraja, Purandara Dasa and Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar, which audience enjoyed throughout.
After "Ramanatham Bhajeham" with a nerval and brief swara, the well known devaranama "Alli Nodalu Rama" was delectable. Kanthamani and Reetigowla ragas were sung with good feeling and the "Parama Pavana Rama" glowed with good 'Raga bhava'.
Young B K Raghu (violin) along with veteran T AS Mani (mridanga), gave good support, while Raghavendra Prakash was in charge of ghata.
Meaningful devotionals
Sri Rama Bhaktha Sabha, founded by Compounder Subba Rao in 1906, is celebrating Ramothsava with discourses, bhajans, harikatha, dance, yakshagana, apart from music concerts. Dr Vidyabhushana, the sought after musician, is also a recipient of "Sangeetha Vidyanidhi" title from J S S Sangeetha Sabha and attracts a large gathering wherever he sings. In the current concert at the Sabha, he was well supported by three seasoned instrumentalists- M S Govindaswamy on violin and double mridanga by Sri Mushnam Raja Rao and H S Sudhindra.
Dr Vidyabhushana sang a number of compositions on Lord Rama. "Rama Namamu Janma Rakshaka Mantra" of Saint Thyagaraja, has been a popular kruthi. He chose a number of Devaranamas of different Haridasas, which brought variety. But the Keerthane "Nija dasa Varada" put the concert in a solid mould. The alap itself was well proportioned and the krithi acquired a delightful presence with the brief swara. "Neenu Upekshaya Maadi" of Kanakadasa was rendered with devotion and "Hoova Tharuvara Manege" was meaningful. "Jaya Jaya Hanumantha" of Prasanna Venkatadasa and "Rama Nama Emba Eradakshara" - were also enlivening with meaningful lyrics.
'Ramothsava,' the music season, has arrived again and it's raining music all over the City. Musicians and music connoisseurs are participating in different Ramanavami pandals, spread all over the City. Among them, the most popular one, 'Sree Rama Seva Mandali,' is celebrating the music festival for the 77th year at the old Fort High School in Chamarajpet.
Bombay Jayashree Ramanath gave the inaugural concert here on Saturday and the large gathering was proof of her popularity. Jayashree was in fine fettle as she started with the familiar invocatory piece "Vatapi." She presented a few choice compositions selected from the treasure chest of Saint Thyagaraja. She first chose "Teliya Leru Rama Bhakti Margamunu," in which, Tyagaraja says "Men get up at dawn and get busy working out the strategy for making money by hook or by crook. They only roam about in tension all over without being aware of the path of devotion." When Jayashree sang this composition, its steady pace and sonority paved the way for a cozy feeling.
Another two krithies "Vandanamu" (Shahana) and "Mokshamugalada" - were also well received. She crowned the concert with a beautiful pallavi (Seetha Ramana Raghu Ramam), the ragamalike rising the emotional fervour to a trance. Few devotionals like "Rama Rama Enniro" followed. Another interesting thing was accompaniment of three young artistes, with good anticipation, though mridanga was a bit louder at times. Dileep on violin, Sairam on mridanga and Anirud on khanjari - made their presence felt.
Delightful vocal
Some of the Mandalies celebrate Ramothsava from Yugadi itself, which is the old tradition, known as "Garbha Navami". One such organisation, the "Vyalikaval Extension Association," is conducting the 49th Ramotsava celebrations at its own Sree Rama Temple. The association has organised music (vocal, violin solo, mandolin) and dance programmes, which will continue till April 4.
Bellary M Raghavendra, who gave a vocal recital in the Vyalikaval Association, hails from a musicians' family and is employed at the All India Radio, Mysuru, as a staff artiste. Raghavendra's concert took off on a bright note. After few initial compositions, he sprang a surprise by presenting an infrequent raga.
Yagapriya is the 31st mela, which was earlier known as Kalahamsa and Kalavati and Kotiswara Iyer's composition in this raga, is quite popular. But Raghavendra chose a composition of Bellari Seshagiri Achar, called "Rama Rama Eni Chinthimparuda" and rendered neatly. Then, he reeled of compositions of Dikshitar, Tyagaraja, Purandara Dasa and Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar, which audience enjoyed throughout.
After "Ramanatham Bhajeham" with a nerval and brief swara, the well known devaranama "Alli Nodalu Rama" was delectable. Kanthamani and Reetigowla ragas were sung with good feeling and the "Parama Pavana Rama" glowed with good 'Raga bhava'.
Young B K Raghu (violin) along with veteran T AS Mani (mridanga), gave good support, while Raghavendra Prakash was in charge of ghata.
Meaningful devotionals
Sri Rama Bhaktha Sabha, founded by Compounder Subba Rao in 1906, is celebrating Ramothsava with discourses, bhajans, harikatha, dance, yakshagana, apart from music concerts. Dr Vidyabhushana, the sought after musician, is also a recipient of "Sangeetha Vidyanidhi" title from J S S Sangeetha Sabha and attracts a large gathering wherever he sings. In the current concert at the Sabha, he was well supported by three seasoned instrumentalists- M S Govindaswamy on violin and double mridanga by Sri Mushnam Raja Rao and H S Sudhindra.
Dr Vidyabhushana sang a number of compositions on Lord Rama. "Rama Namamu Janma Rakshaka Mantra" of Saint Thyagaraja, has been a popular kruthi. He chose a number of Devaranamas of different Haridasas, which brought variety. But the Keerthane "Nija dasa Varada" put the concert in a solid mould. The alap itself was well proportioned and the krithi acquired a delightful presence with the brief swara. "Neenu Upekshaya Maadi" of Kanakadasa was rendered with devotion and "Hoova Tharuvara Manege" was meaningful. "Jaya Jaya Hanumantha" of Prasanna Venkatadasa and "Rama Nama Emba Eradakshara" - were also enlivening with meaningful lyrics.