Gaana Varidhi
M A Narasimhachar (1924-2004) was not only a great vocalist but also an able teacher. In his memory an award is instituted (Gaana Varidhi) by "M A Narasimhachar Music Foundation". This year it was conferred on Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh, renowned Veena player.
Saketharaman, is one of the few Carnatic music vocalists who can carry a concert through and his programme in the Foundation was in a class by itself.
For instance his pallavi - a chatur raga pallavi in Saaramathi, Rasika Priya, Bhairavi and Bageshri. The intricately woven pallavi was a refreshing experience and he lent dignity and weight to the pallavi and the effect was heightened by swara prasthara. Earlier, Shivapantuvarali took on a majestic gait and grandeur for Dikshitar's masterpiece "Sri Satyanarayanam Upasmahe" and the nerval also received appealing airing.
'Anathuduna' in raga Jingla was a quickie and he revelled in the alap for "Irangavadenaiah." In between devaranamas like - Rama Rama Enniro and Kande Na Govindana - were also impressive and concluded with a thillana of Lalgudi Jayaraman. Mysore Srikanth, Neyveli Narayanan and G Guru Prasanna supported admirably on violin, mridanga and khanjari, respectively.
Natya Bharathi
Natya Bharathi conducts one music programme every month, at its own premises (Nritya Sabha Rasadhare) at Malleswaram. Bharathi Venugopal who sang here last week, is a first rank holder in the postgraduate class and a disciple of Neela Ramgopal and a popular vocalist in the dance programmes also.
Bharathi Venugopal sang the invocatory song through Dikshitar's 'Ganapathe', followed by another classic krithi "Mamava Pattabhi Rama" and "Shobillu Sptaswara" with chitteswara was also attractive. Bhairavi was the high spot with alapana and thana. The pallavi (Devi Sri Thripura Sundari) set to Adi thala, was simple but pleasing. In the post Thani, she presented a number of popular devotionals. Dr Nataraja Murthy on violin and V R Chandrasekhar on Mridanga accompanied the vocalist.
Soulful veena
The Bangalore Lalithakala Parishat had invited Dr Jaishree Prasad on last Friday to give a Veena recital. Dr Jaishri is a post graduate and a recipient of PhD for her doctoral thesis. For the last few years she is a resident of Chicago and has performed in many places.
Her current concert was packed with a few familiar melodies, and was accompanied on Mridanga by A Renuka Prasad and on Ghata by Dayananda Mohithe.
The Kamala Manohari Varna provided a pleasant start and the familiar invocatory piece 'Vathapi' - is a favourite of musicians. At that stage she chose a majestic devaranama 'Indu Enage Govinda'. It was followed by a brief raga of Hindola and the 'Samajavaragamana' - all too familiar keerthana. Hamsanada was the main stay in her Veena recital and the popular krithi "Bantureethi Kolu" glowed with sweet phrases.
It was buttressed by well knit thana also. A number of tiny pieces followed - Jagadoddarana, Krishna Nee Begane Baro, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma. Interestingly, she presented a thillana in the raga Kalyani, of Veena Seshanna. Without over doing anything Jaisri Prasad's Veena was tuneful and soulful too.
Keerthana Saptaha
Akhila Karnataka Keertana Kala Parishat in collaboration with Sri Kashi Mutt, conducted a 'Keertana Saptah' in memory of Bhadragiri Achuta Das, veteran Harikatha vidwan who passed away recently.
A few Harikatha vidwans were felicitated on the occasion and there was a vocal recital also. Dattatreya Velankar, disciple of Pandith Vinayak Toravi gave a fine vocal concert accompanied by Aditya Udupa on harmonium and by Sumith Nayak on tabala. Velankar chose a number of compositions of Bhadragiri Achutha Das, which suited the occasion very well. 'Baro Baro Guna Sadana' in Yaman and 'Kaamarupi Kamakshee' in Malkauns caught the attention. Rag Thilang was matching the beautiful lyrics of 'Rama Bhajane Sukhavu'.
The "Raghava Pada Kamala Brunga" (Puriya Dhanasri) was effusive with enlivening pharases adorning the rendition. He also presented a few compositions of Keshava Das in the ragas Durga (Vyasa Raghupathe) and Mand (Vittalanendare Saku) and a Abhang (Heechi Thara Bhakthi) of Santha Tukarm. It was a heart warming treat as a finale to the saptaha.
M A Narasimhachar (1924-2004) was not only a great vocalist but also an able teacher. In his memory an award is instituted (Gaana Varidhi) by "M A Narasimhachar Music Foundation". This year it was conferred on Dr Jayanthi Kumaresh, renowned Veena player.
Saketharaman, is one of the few Carnatic music vocalists who can carry a concert through and his programme in the Foundation was in a class by itself.
For instance his pallavi - a chatur raga pallavi in Saaramathi, Rasika Priya, Bhairavi and Bageshri. The intricately woven pallavi was a refreshing experience and he lent dignity and weight to the pallavi and the effect was heightened by swara prasthara. Earlier, Shivapantuvarali took on a majestic gait and grandeur for Dikshitar's masterpiece "Sri Satyanarayanam Upasmahe" and the nerval also received appealing airing.
'Anathuduna' in raga Jingla was a quickie and he revelled in the alap for "Irangavadenaiah." In between devaranamas like - Rama Rama Enniro and Kande Na Govindana - were also impressive and concluded with a thillana of Lalgudi Jayaraman. Mysore Srikanth, Neyveli Narayanan and G Guru Prasanna supported admirably on violin, mridanga and khanjari, respectively.
Natya Bharathi
Natya Bharathi conducts one music programme every month, at its own premises (Nritya Sabha Rasadhare) at Malleswaram. Bharathi Venugopal who sang here last week, is a first rank holder in the postgraduate class and a disciple of Neela Ramgopal and a popular vocalist in the dance programmes also.
Bharathi Venugopal sang the invocatory song through Dikshitar's 'Ganapathe', followed by another classic krithi "Mamava Pattabhi Rama" and "Shobillu Sptaswara" with chitteswara was also attractive. Bhairavi was the high spot with alapana and thana. The pallavi (Devi Sri Thripura Sundari) set to Adi thala, was simple but pleasing. In the post Thani, she presented a number of popular devotionals. Dr Nataraja Murthy on violin and V R Chandrasekhar on Mridanga accompanied the vocalist.
Soulful veena
The Bangalore Lalithakala Parishat had invited Dr Jaishree Prasad on last Friday to give a Veena recital. Dr Jaishri is a post graduate and a recipient of PhD for her doctoral thesis. For the last few years she is a resident of Chicago and has performed in many places.
Her current concert was packed with a few familiar melodies, and was accompanied on Mridanga by A Renuka Prasad and on Ghata by Dayananda Mohithe.
The Kamala Manohari Varna provided a pleasant start and the familiar invocatory piece 'Vathapi' - is a favourite of musicians. At that stage she chose a majestic devaranama 'Indu Enage Govinda'. It was followed by a brief raga of Hindola and the 'Samajavaragamana' - all too familiar keerthana. Hamsanada was the main stay in her Veena recital and the popular krithi "Bantureethi Kolu" glowed with sweet phrases.
It was buttressed by well knit thana also. A number of tiny pieces followed - Jagadoddarana, Krishna Nee Begane Baro, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma. Interestingly, she presented a thillana in the raga Kalyani, of Veena Seshanna. Without over doing anything Jaisri Prasad's Veena was tuneful and soulful too.
Keerthana Saptaha
Akhila Karnataka Keertana Kala Parishat in collaboration with Sri Kashi Mutt, conducted a 'Keertana Saptah' in memory of Bhadragiri Achuta Das, veteran Harikatha vidwan who passed away recently.
A few Harikatha vidwans were felicitated on the occasion and there was a vocal recital also. Dattatreya Velankar, disciple of Pandith Vinayak Toravi gave a fine vocal concert accompanied by Aditya Udupa on harmonium and by Sumith Nayak on tabala. Velankar chose a number of compositions of Bhadragiri Achutha Das, which suited the occasion very well. 'Baro Baro Guna Sadana' in Yaman and 'Kaamarupi Kamakshee' in Malkauns caught the attention. Rag Thilang was matching the beautiful lyrics of 'Rama Bhajane Sukhavu'.
The "Raghava Pada Kamala Brunga" (Puriya Dhanasri) was effusive with enlivening pharases adorning the rendition. He also presented a few compositions of Keshava Das in the ragas Durga (Vyasa Raghupathe) and Mand (Vittalanendare Saku) and a Abhang (Heechi Thara Bhakthi) of Santha Tukarm. It was a heart warming treat as a finale to the saptaha.