"...Ananda Sagara in Raga Garudadhwani a favourite of my grandfather...The swara patterns he weaves with Garudadhwani is simply simply superb..."
- D.B. Ashvin ( Carnatic Vocalist and grandson of Kalaimamani T. K. Rangachari )
- D.B. Ashvin ( Carnatic Vocalist and grandson of Kalaimamani T. K. Rangachari )
[Text by Sri R. Sachi ]
Just after that delectable fare from 'Chandru' ( previous post ), we feature another concert, by a doyen and teacher, Vidwan T. K. Rangachari.
Regrettably, we have not much biographical detail about this master. We are informed that Vidwan T.K.Rangachari (1912-1979) learnt music initially from Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar and later trained under K.Subbiah Bhagavatar. He was a student in Annamalai University where he earned a Sangita Bhushanam diploma. Later he was a lecturer at the same university and also taught at the Central College of Music in Chennai.
Vidwan Rangachari was a frequent and popular performer in Mysore. In fact he performed in the company of Lalgudi Jayaraman at the wedding concert of Mr. K. Srikantiah. And later too in many festivals. In this 1969 Ganesha Chaturthi festival, he is brilliantly supported by M. Chandrasekaran and Vellore Ramabhadran.
After the Bhairavi Varnam, Vidwan Rangachari presents the arangetram of his own musical composition in Mandari of the Ganesha Pancharatnam of Adi Shankara. This shloka, with a pronounced Trishra rhythm in the words, was composed by Adi Sankara perhaps to be recited in a celebratory mood by all. The very first stanza emphasizes how Ganesha enjoys the 'kadubu' treat, and wears the crescent moon as adornment in his crest. He protects all those who delight in the beautiful aspects of God's creation. No wonder the debut of this song occurred auspiciously in Parvathi – a place where rasikas enjoyed listening to great music for many decades.
The third song is surely a rare one in Narayani- by Thyagaraja. The next item is also a rare one- Brovamma in the raga Manji. This raga has a unique flavour and distinguishes itself from Bhairavi by some lovely, languorous off-beat movements.
Vidwan Rangachari has fulsome praise for Chandru, and even holds him responsible for choosing Evari Mata in Kambhoji!
Vidwan Rangachari seems inspired by the mridangam to sing Sogasuga. He then takes up a shloka from Mukundamala, a lovely ragamalika which will linger long in our hearts.
The Vidwan reveals his earnestness when he apologises for any likely mispronunciations in Kannada when he sings Jagadoddharana.
All in all a concert that should be described as 'rare and refined'.
Regrettably, we have not much biographical detail about this master. We are informed that Vidwan T.K.Rangachari (1912-1979) learnt music initially from Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar and later trained under K.Subbiah Bhagavatar. He was a student in Annamalai University where he earned a Sangita Bhushanam diploma. Later he was a lecturer at the same university and also taught at the Central College of Music in Chennai.
Vidwan Rangachari was a frequent and popular performer in Mysore. In fact he performed in the company of Lalgudi Jayaraman at the wedding concert of Mr. K. Srikantiah. And later too in many festivals. In this 1969 Ganesha Chaturthi festival, he is brilliantly supported by M. Chandrasekaran and Vellore Ramabhadran.
After the Bhairavi Varnam, Vidwan Rangachari presents the arangetram of his own musical composition in Mandari of the Ganesha Pancharatnam of Adi Shankara. This shloka, with a pronounced Trishra rhythm in the words, was composed by Adi Sankara perhaps to be recited in a celebratory mood by all. The very first stanza emphasizes how Ganesha enjoys the 'kadubu' treat, and wears the crescent moon as adornment in his crest. He protects all those who delight in the beautiful aspects of God's creation. No wonder the debut of this song occurred auspiciously in Parvathi – a place where rasikas enjoyed listening to great music for many decades.
The third song is surely a rare one in Narayani- by Thyagaraja. The next item is also a rare one- Brovamma in the raga Manji. This raga has a unique flavour and distinguishes itself from Bhairavi by some lovely, languorous off-beat movements.
Vidwan Rangachari has fulsome praise for Chandru, and even holds him responsible for choosing Evari Mata in Kambhoji!
Vidwan Rangachari seems inspired by the mridangam to sing Sogasuga. He then takes up a shloka from Mukundamala, a lovely ragamalika which will linger long in our hearts.
The Vidwan reveals his earnestness when he apologises for any likely mispronunciations in Kannada when he sings Jagadoddharana.
All in all a concert that should be described as 'rare and refined'.
CONCERT in "Parvathi" on September 19, 1969l
T.K.Rangachari-----Vocal
M.Chandrasekharan-----Violin
Vellore Ramabhadran------Mridangam
H.P.Ramachar------------Khanjira
[ 1. Viriboni – Bhairavi Ata Tala varnam – Pachimiriyam Adiyappa 2. Ganesha Pancharatnam- Adi Sankara (Raga Mandari, set by T.K. Rangachari) 3. Bhajanaseyu Margamu – Narayani – Thyagaraja 4. Brovamma – Manji – Shyama Shastri (partial) 5. Evari Mata – Kambhoji – Thyagaraja 6. Sogasuga Mridanga Talamu - Sriranjani-Thyagaraja 7. Mukundamala Shloka - Raga Malika - Kulashekhara Alwar 8. Jagaddodharana - Hindustani Kapi - Purandara Dasa 9. Tillana - Tilang ]
