A melodious ensemble
Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet, founded by Narayanaswamy Rao, is celebrating its platinum jubilee. As usual, a number of programmes by celebrities and young artistes, is slated to be held till May 16.
To celebrate in a unique manner, the Mandali presented a special veena ensemble of 75 veenas, 'Nada Ranjini' on Wednesday. Dr Suma Sudhindra, internationally acclaimed musician, and Anuradha Madhusudhan, senior veena player, directed the ensemble, which was really a challenge!
Veena players from different schools were trained for 100 days - first in small batches and gradually, with full strength. Each veena has at least seven strings - 75 veenas meant 525 strings to be tuned and maintained! Not a easy task and demands concentrated attention! Another challenge is teaching all with a common script (chitte) and to see all of them play in unison.
Concert planning or selection of compositions and ragas was another important stage. A large gathering assembled to listen to divine music, at the special pandal at the Fort High School in Chamarajpet.
The Navaragamalika Varna gave the ensemble a bright start. They saluted to invocatory God through the composition 'Mahaganpathim' of Dikshitar in the raga Naata. It was decorated with a brief swara, and Kalyana Vasantha was pleasing. Audience expect Kadana Kutuhala (Raghuvamsha) in any veena concert!
Here, the artistes chose 'Manavyala' (Nalinakanti), a welcome change. Hamsanada, the well known raga was pleasing for its melodic flourishes. When the group started swara individually, it was a different experience. Then swaraprasthara with different permutations and combinations, was quite interesting and all joined, in the end.
The percussionists led by Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma (ghata, tabla, khanjari, rhythm pad and morching) playing one after the other, joined in the end to reach a crescendo. There was a surprise for everybody: 'Priya Tarangini' a special instrumental composition for the occasion by Dr Suma Sudhindra was presented in the ragas Kharaharapriya, Ratipatipriya, Gayakapriya, etc. It was evocative with lilting melody. A number of devotionals followed in the concluding session.
Encouraging youngsters
When most organisers go behind popular artistes, here was an organisation which provided the main slot in the Rama Navami Festival to young students. Thirty-six students of Vani Kala Kendra aged 10 and 15 years sang in Karnatic style, compositions of Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasaru, Thanjavur Shankara Iyer were presented. 'Ranjani Mala' is a favourite of connoisseurs.
Comparatively Ramakali is an infrequent raga. But youngsters sang with assurance. It was followed by a Keerthana on Lord Rama. 'Rama Ninne' of Tyagaraja was composed in raga Mohana. The Kannada devaranama 'Ide Samaya Hariye' was in raga Arabhi and 'Enthava Nenthavane' was in folk style.
Charulatha Ramanujan accompanied on violin and a band of youngsters supported on different percussion instruments, under the direction of Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma. It was the result of hard work - direction of Vidushi M S Vidya and these young students have a bright future, with continued training and practice.
Dance feature
A group of 25 young students performed a dance feature on Ramayana, under the directions of B Bhanumathi, a senior danseuse.
They opened the programme with a Pushpanjali, customarily. 'Sriman Narayana' the favourite devaranama was followed by 'Rara Rajeeva Lochana', the piece de resistance of the evening. Young dancers changing their role in quick succession performed with gay abandon and colourful costumes, episodes of Ramayana, like Seetha Kalyana, Mareecha, Seethapaharana, etc., were presented.
With sustained effort and training they must improve their foot work (Thala Laya) and pep up their abhinaya.
Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet, founded by Narayanaswamy Rao, is celebrating its platinum jubilee. As usual, a number of programmes by celebrities and young artistes, is slated to be held till May 16.
To celebrate in a unique manner, the Mandali presented a special veena ensemble of 75 veenas, 'Nada Ranjini' on Wednesday. Dr Suma Sudhindra, internationally acclaimed musician, and Anuradha Madhusudhan, senior veena player, directed the ensemble, which was really a challenge!
Veena players from different schools were trained for 100 days - first in small batches and gradually, with full strength. Each veena has at least seven strings - 75 veenas meant 525 strings to be tuned and maintained! Not a easy task and demands concentrated attention! Another challenge is teaching all with a common script (chitte) and to see all of them play in unison.
Concert planning or selection of compositions and ragas was another important stage. A large gathering assembled to listen to divine music, at the special pandal at the Fort High School in Chamarajpet.
The Navaragamalika Varna gave the ensemble a bright start. They saluted to invocatory God through the composition 'Mahaganpathim' of Dikshitar in the raga Naata. It was decorated with a brief swara, and Kalyana Vasantha was pleasing. Audience expect Kadana Kutuhala (Raghuvamsha) in any veena concert!
Here, the artistes chose 'Manavyala' (Nalinakanti), a welcome change. Hamsanada, the well known raga was pleasing for its melodic flourishes. When the group started swara individually, it was a different experience. Then swaraprasthara with different permutations and combinations, was quite interesting and all joined, in the end.
The percussionists led by Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma (ghata, tabla, khanjari, rhythm pad and morching) playing one after the other, joined in the end to reach a crescendo. There was a surprise for everybody: 'Priya Tarangini' a special instrumental composition for the occasion by Dr Suma Sudhindra was presented in the ragas Kharaharapriya, Ratipatipriya, Gayakapriya, etc. It was evocative with lilting melody. A number of devotionals followed in the concluding session.
Encouraging youngsters
When most organisers go behind popular artistes, here was an organisation which provided the main slot in the Rama Navami Festival to young students. Thirty-six students of Vani Kala Kendra aged 10 and 15 years sang in Karnatic style, compositions of Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasaru, Thanjavur Shankara Iyer were presented. 'Ranjani Mala' is a favourite of connoisseurs.
Comparatively Ramakali is an infrequent raga. But youngsters sang with assurance. It was followed by a Keerthana on Lord Rama. 'Rama Ninne' of Tyagaraja was composed in raga Mohana. The Kannada devaranama 'Ide Samaya Hariye' was in raga Arabhi and 'Enthava Nenthavane' was in folk style.
Charulatha Ramanujan accompanied on violin and a band of youngsters supported on different percussion instruments, under the direction of Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma. It was the result of hard work - direction of Vidushi M S Vidya and these young students have a bright future, with continued training and practice.
Dance feature
A group of 25 young students performed a dance feature on Ramayana, under the directions of B Bhanumathi, a senior danseuse.
They opened the programme with a Pushpanjali, customarily. 'Sriman Narayana' the favourite devaranama was followed by 'Rara Rajeeva Lochana', the piece de resistance of the evening. Young dancers changing their role in quick succession performed with gay abandon and colourful costumes, episodes of Ramayana, like Seetha Kalyana, Mareecha, Seethapaharana, etc., were presented.
With sustained effort and training they must improve their foot work (Thala Laya) and pep up their abhinaya.