Madras and Music

Living in Madras can be a tough for every music connoisseur as there is so much choice wrt music and Sivarathri season doesn't make it any easy. Unable to make up my mind, I finally settled for the felicitation of Mridhangist Thanjavur S. Subramaniam by Charubala Mohan Trust (Sangita Kalanidhi M. Chandrasekar, Violinist) at Raga Sudha Hall. Mr. Subramaniam has accompanied Bombay Sisters for over 35 years among other vocalists. 

During the felicitation Mr. KS. Kalidas a senior Mridhangist shared some rare insights into the origin (brought to Tamilnadu by Maharastrians who moved to Thanjavur) and some playing techniques (for ex: Kumki) rarely heard today. Post felicitation, there was a performance by Dr. R. Ganesh.

Dr. R. Ganesh is one of the few male musicians who is naturally blessed with a soothing voice devoid of nasal tone. Moreover, he is able to comfortably travel across the three octaves. Importantly, he is a torch bearer of Maharajapuram school known for sowkyam in rendition and devoid of unwanted brigas and other gimmicks.

1. Begada Varnam - Intha Thamasama Mela - Lalgudi Jayaraman
2. Sri Mahaganapathe - Abhogi - Kalapanaswarams. Rendition reminded of his guru Maharajapuram Santhanam
3. Pariyachakama - Vanaspathi - Thyagaraja in this krithi gives examples of Sharanagathi by Draupadi and Prahlada. Though the raga is Vanaspathi (trade name for Dalda) Ganesh's rendition was agmark cow ghee, so pure and soulful. 

4. Khamas - Sanatanagopala - Dikshithar. An apt krithi given today is Ekadesi. 
5. Virutham - Sanguadai Yaan - Vachaspati followed by Paraathpara composed by Papanasam Sivan. Another apt krithi given Mahasivarathri is just two days always and obeisance to Papanasam Sivan, who lived in Mylapore and was insepreable from Kapali and Karpagam. Neraval at Hari Ayanum Kaana followed by multiple rounds of kalapanaswarams in Madhyama and Dhuritha kaalam that brought out the team work on stage.

6.  Kaanamal Vinile - Neelambari - Muthuthandavar that reminded us of Chidambarm and the blissful rendition of DKP (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b4lHwxuEyPs) 
7. Keeravani - Sri Chandrasekaram Aashraye - V. Raghavan. A composition on Kanchi Mahaswami. Swaram at Kamakoti Peetacharyam also raga mudhra appears in Pallavi (Keeravanipriyam). Here is a YouTube link of MS rendition - http://youtu.be/7u1h-sK2r2M
8. Misra Sivaranjani Thillana - Maharajapuram Santhanam

Ganesh being a medical professional dispensed music me like medicine, which is both therapeutic and curative. A special mention to violinist Madurai Balasubramaniam (student of Dr. M. Chandrasekar) whose bow dripped of honey and B. Guru Raghavendra who played respectfully in hall filled with more than 300 years of professional musical experience. 

Though Madras air has music all round the year, but there is definitely a difference between the music that you hear during the season and at other times. One usually hears musicians on stage constantly sabashing (praising) their co-artist, and bashing them afterwards, but today one could see the connoisseurs in musicians who had gathered sabashing the team on stage.