It was but only fitting that the brothers K. Srikantiah (as the President of the Chowdiah Rama Seva Samthi, Mysore) and K.K. Murthy (as President, Academy of Music, Bangalore) should have considered honoring the living legend Lalgudi Jayaraman in the name and memory of a past legend, Chowdiah. Though differing somewhat in age, both violinists shared memorable years in each other's company, occupied many of the same platforms in the exalted music venues, accompanied the stellar vocalists and other percussion greats of their times, had been their own stars in solo performances and generally regarded by the consensus as the all time greats of their music.
Of course in Lalgudi's case, he was a seasoned world traveller and had won accolades from whichever corner of the world his accomplishments took him.
As this initial story about Lalgudi narrates
"It was not long before even his senior contemporaries in the violin field recognised his genius and talent and were unstinting in their praise and appreciation of his skills as a violinist par excellence. Sample some of these showers of praises from his contemporary senior violinists of those days: Chowdiah remarked: "All of us must stop playing now that this boy has appeared."
Attending Lalgudi's marriage, Chowdiah again said: "He was born Raman; he took up the bow and became Kothandaraman; with his marriage he has become Kalyanaraman; since he triumphs everywhere we can call him Jayaraman."
[http://www.carnaticsangeetham.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&p=69]
K. Srikantiah honoring Lalgudi in "Parvathi" Mysore in 1980
Karnataka Chief Minister Gundu Rao and K.K. Murthy hold the plaque honoring the maestro in Bengaluru with The First Chowdaiah Memorial National-Level award in 1982.
Padma Bhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman was a long time performer in 'Parvathi' leaving behind his remembrances in 1958, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1990. In the latter years he would combine for duets with his equally famous children Lalgudi Vijaylakshmi and/or Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and sometimes the children would either go solo or combine with themselves.
We produce for your listening pleasure an audio stream of a full Lalgudi Violin concert held in "Parvathi", Mysore in 1973 with Palghat Raghu (mridangam) and Vinayakram (ghatam). The musical pieces rendered are:
01-Sadinchane-Arabhi; 02-Janakiramana-Shudhaseemanthini; 03-Brovabaramma-Bahudari; 04-Ramanee-Kharaharapriya; 05-Marugelara-Jayanthasree; 06-SukhiEvaro-Kanada; 07-Rararajeevalochana-Mohanam; 08-Hachariga-Yedukulakambodi; 09-RTP-Shanmukhapriya; 10-Thillana-Dhanshree; 11-Krishnanee-YamanKalyani; 12-Shivaranjani; 13-Ragamalika; 14-Mangalam.
(Note: We are unable to correct the track names in archive.org for lack of password. Apologies!)
