VEENAVAADHINI STUDENTS PERFOMANCES

The students of Veenavaadhini have been delivering concerts from time to time and the whole fraternity can take pride in their achievements. Veena Venkataramani gave two veena concerts in Delhi last year, the first being at the IILM campus, as a part of the ‘Festival of Young Talent’, organised by Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti. The other was organised by the Delhi Tamil Sangam and a part of ‘Delhi 2010’, with former president and eminent scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as the chief guest. On New Year’s
Day 2011, she performed at Rani Seethai Hall, organised by Kalarasa. She was accompanied on the mridangam by Manohar Balatchandirane for all three concerts.

Kamakshi and Meenakshi Ramamurthy gave vocal concerts at Virugambakkam Putra School in January 2010, Sai Baba Temple, Nagthammal temple in February 2011, Alwarpet Hanuman Temple in April 2011, Mylapore in January 2011 and Mantralayam in March 2011. They also performed twice in March 2011 for the Dasara Sahitya celebrations and Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva at Astana Mandapam, and the concerts were aired live on television.

Jayash and Manash Ramanathan had their arangetram in July 2011 at Tattvaloka Auditorium in T Nagar. They rendered all-time favourites such as Vatapi Ganapatim, Maanasa Guruguha and Annapoorne Visalakshi. This was followed by an excellent speech by chief guest and respected musician Sri Neyveli Santanagopalan. They were accompanied on the mridangam by Sri Neyveli Narayanan and on the Ghatam by Sri Trichy Krishnan.

One hopes these young stars will go far in their musical careers and enthral many listeners with their scintillating music.

REPORT BY APARNA SHANKAR

WORKSHOP ON DIKSHITAR'S NOTTUSWARAMS

Veenavaadhini conducted its annual summer workshop from May 27-29, 2011 in Chennai. The topic covered was Nottuswara Sahityams of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. All the 37 nottuswarams hitherto known were taught to about 15 enthusiastic participants. Smt Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan conducted the course. Local newspapers Mylapore Times and The Hindu covered the event.

YATRA TO SRI PARTHASARATHY TEMPLE

Last month, on March 27th, a warm early-summer day, the students of Veenavadhini and their families, led by Sri Jeyaraaj and Smt Jaysri, gathered at 7am in the temple of Sri Parthasarathi Swamy, in Tiruvallikeni(which has become Triplicane in the British rule) , Chennai. Our intent was to sing the Kriti on this lord composed by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar, at the shrine, continuing the Dikshitar Yatra.

Sri Parthasarathi Swamy, also known as Sri VenkataKrishnan, is unique in many ways. He is surrounded by a huge family and not only the goddess Sri Rukmini but his son Pradyumna, his grandson Aniruddha and brothers Balarama and Satyaki share the Sanctum with him. In effect, the shrine is rather packed. He is unique in two other ways too – sporting a moustache in keeping with his role in the Mahabharata war as charioteer(Sarathy) to Arjuna(Partha). For the same reason, he holds only a conch and no Chakram – he had vowed to not use any weapon during the war. Near the
main shrine are the ones of Sri Rama and Sri Ranganatha.

This lord has been glorified in the Suddha Dhanyasi kriti of Dikshitar “Sri Paarthasaarathinaa paalitosmyaham” and this is the piece we had the privilege of singing in the main Sannidhi . Since this temple is an important one on the tourist circuit, it is generally very crowded. Despite reaching there early in the morning, there was a waiting time for the Darshan and we had only standing room during our musical offering. Yet, it was a gratifying experience.

The name of the goddess (Thayar) is Sri Vedavalli and she was born in lily flower in the lily pond (alli-keni) near the temple. At her Sannidhi we sat down and sang “Hariyuvati” in Hemavathi. Upon the request of the Bhattar, who was evidently enjoying the music, we also sang “Hiranmayim” in Lalita. After this, we visited all the shrines in the temple – Varadaraja, Narasimha, Andal and concluded our Yatra. Like all other previous times that we have been on Veenavaadhini‘s Pilgrimage with Dikshitar, this too felt like a blessing, and it was a privilege to sing in the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Parthasarathy.

Report by Rajani Arjun Shankar.

A SATISFYING EXPERIENCE

Veenavaadhini recently hosted a fabulous chamber concert by Veena Vidwan Sri P Vasanth Kumar, accompanied by Sri Umayalpuram Mali on the mridangam. The first word that came to mind after listening to that concert was “soukhyam”, for lack of an appropriate word in the English language that could perhaps convey the same meaning. A spellbound audience was treated with two-and-a-half hours of very high quality carnatic classical music.

Beginning with a varnam in raga Hindolam composed by the great GNB, Vasanth Kumar went on to present Gajavadana Paliso of Vittala Dasa, preceded by a brief but chaste Begada raga alapana. This was followed by a Sourashtram ragam assay which gave proof of the sincerity with which the vidwan approaches his music. Suryamurthe created an atmosphere of serenity. Umayalpuram Mali’s accompaniment here was particularly noteworthy for his soft beats. Atana alapana came next with all its classical phrases as a prelude to Sakalagraha Balanine of Purandaradasa.

The detailed exposition of Kharaharapriya was madi sangeetham at its best, eschewing the Salakabhairavi pidis. The popular Samanam Evaru was played with both expertise and gnanam, where the sangatis flowed perfectly, neraval was executed with adherence to sahitya, and the swara appendages were played with enough mathematical calculations.

The main item of the concert was a very enjoyable Ragam Thanam Pallavi in the raga Hamsadhwani. The ragam delineation was elaborate, step by step grafting of a classically structured alapana, presenting an expansive picture of the raga. The thanam was methodically played. The way in which the Pallavi was executed and the ragamalika swaras in ragas Hamsanadam and Hamsanandi (carrying the prefix “Hamsa”) was demonstrative of the artist’s musical intelligence.

Umayalpuram Mali’s thani not only exhibited his laya vidwath, it carried all the ingredients of the traditional structure of a thani avarthanam.

Even the post main items were steeped in classical fervor, and included Dikshitar kritis like Sri Varalakshmi (Sri ragam) . All in all, the concert reiterated the fact that vidwath and depth of understanding of classicism per se, which comes with years of learning and listening experience is an essential prerequisite to make it a satisfying musical experience for both the connoisseur and the layman.