The strings that resound in heaven - Vid. Chitti Babu - Veena Excerpts

Parvathi Finale

Vid. Chitti Babu - Sri Ramanavami at Parvathi - 1982 - Concert Excerpts

In heaven, there is said to be music always. Remember that the gods are blessed to listen to the greatest of musicians. If I imagine what music from here would hold even the gods in thrall, it would be the Veena music of Vid. Chitti Babu. Unlike the modern sounds of Veena, which mimic an electric guitar, his Veena resonated with a strange charm of pure, golden, metallic and acoustic vibrational soundscape. It was rich, melodious and invigorating. 

Yajnavalkya says,

वीणावादनतत्वज्ञः श्रुतिजातिविशारदः तालज्ञः अप्रयासेन मोक्षमार्गं नियच्छति

"The expert Vainika who knows ragas and talas well attain the path to liberation easily."

Vid. Chitti Babu arrived with his heavenly Veena music on the Mysore scene in the sixties. He enthralled audiences and even won the honour of getting the royal medallion. 

In this 1982 concert, he was accompanied by Vid. Palghat Raghu and Vid. Manjunath. Unfortunately, we could not retrieve the entire concert recording but only an excerpt of his Tanam and the Javali that followed. The Tanam is a bouquet of ragas which simply steal our hearts with their melody. The instrumental technique is something extraordinary by any standard. The purity of sound and the resonance of the plucking endorse the idea that Tanam was created only for the Veena!

The ragas are Shubhapantuvarali...

                                       Madhuvanti...

                                               Ranjani...

                                                      Revati...

                                                           Behag...

                                                                Kanada...

                                                                       Kapi...

Followed by the delectable Javali in Kapi, "Sarasamulade" by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar.

Then comes a Tillana in Tilang... 

While listening to all these ragas pouring out, one thought of Kalidasa's Shyamaladandakam. He begins by saying how the Devi holds the Manikya Veena tenderly. He mentions how she holds the Veena called Vallaki and thoroughly enjoys its music. This comes again and again. And finally, he says she is being regaled by the celestials-

श्रवणहरदक्षिणक्वीणया वीणया किन्नरैर्गीयासे "You are being praised by Kinnaras accompanied expertly on the Veena that steals ears and hearts"... Did Kalidasa hear Vid. Chitti Babu?

Concert Details

Chitti Babu - Veena

Palghat Raghu - Mridangam

Manjunath - Ghatam

Sri Ramanavami Festival, Parvathi, Mysore held on 4 April 1982.

Chitti Babu = Veena Palghat Raghu - Mridangam Manjunath - Ghatam Date 4 April 1982

The Festival of Inner Light

Vid. Veena Doreswamy Iyengar
1981 'Parvathi' Ramanavami Concert

A Deepavalli inspiration from R. Sachi

If one were to choose ten words to describe India and its culture, the word “Deepaavali“ would surely feature high in that list. What lights, sparkles, noises, food, gifts, and all-round cheer, does this one word bring to mind!

This year, everyone is telling everyone else that we should have less noise and pollution, and more prayer and goodwill toward one another. Is there a better way to bring this to everyone, than music!?

Featuring this time the famous vidwan from Mysore, Veena Doreswamy Iyengar, we offer you our Deepaavali greetings, and also some exquisite music.

He performed many times in Parvathi festivals, and was loved by the audiences for his sober and sweet music befitting the Mysore Veena Bani. This time he is accompanied by his son and successor, Sri D. Balakrishna, as well as the redoubtable percussion combo of Sri Palghat Raghu on the mridangam and Sri Manjunath on the ghatam.

The music offered spans a range of classical krithis, and noteworthy is the krithi of Saint Thyagaraja, “Nama Kusuma” in Sri Raga. In the Spiritual Heritage of Sri Thyagaraja, this is the translation offered:

“ Install the Lord on the golden throne of thought, seat Him on a music-bedecked seat, and worship Him with flowers of my chant of Rama and Shiva names, oh mind!”” The spirit of this Thyagaraja song closely follows Adi Shankara's composition, "Shiva Maanasa Puja".

Can there be a better definition of what is worship through music, and what is the festival of inner light, the true Deepaavali in our hearts!?

Details

Vid. V.Doreswamy Iyengar --------------Veena
Vid. D.Balakrishna -------------------- Veena accompaniment
Vid. Palghat Raghu -----------------------Mridangam
Vid. Manjunath -------------------------- Ghatam

Concert held on 15-4-1981 at PARVATHI during Ramanavami.

Song List

01. Shahana Varna –Tiruvottriyur Thyagayyar *** 02. Merusamana – Mayamalavagowla-Thygaraja *** 03. Sarasvathi Manohari-? *** 04. Ninne nera nammi-Pantuvarali-Thyagaraja *** 05. Nama Kusuma – Sriraga-Thyagaraja *** 05a. Evarani Vedanu? - Bilahari- Vasudevachar? 06. Nati Mata – Devakriya – Thyagaraja *** 07. Nidhi Chala – Kalyani-Thyagaraja *** 08. Brochevaru – Khamach- Vasudevacharya *** 09. Kanada Thillana – Vasudevacharya *** 10. Kalaye –Jinjhuti- Swathi Thirunal *** 11. Bhajare Yadunatham – Piloo-Sadashiva Brahmendra *** 12. Folk Song *** 13. Mangalam ***

Committed to Classicism

Vid. Pattabhirama Pandit, Putturao Memorial 2013

An Appreciation by R. Sachi

The many excellent young vocalists shining in Carnatic music today bring credit to a continuing tradition. One of the best examples is Vid. Pattabhirama Pandit. We quote from a 2014 review in the Hindu:

“Pattabhirama Pandit, trained under the extraordinary maestro K.V. Narayana Swamy, is undoubtedly a Carnatic vocalist who needs to be taken seriously. Having had his early lessons from Vallabham Kalyana Sundaram and S. Ramanathan, Pattabhirama Pandit’s music is backed by sound training, honed by talent and competence which makes him a musician of immense merit.”

Pandit is a well-placed technology professional as well as a busy musician. Such parallel careers can flourish only with a deep commitment to tradition and classicism. His guru, the great KVN, was also several times featured in Parvathi concerts over 3 decades. Sri K. Srikantiah, in his vote of thanks, handsomely compliments Pandit’s music with the KVN stamp and his take-off in Kharaharapriya, which incidentally is a favourite raga of Parvathi audiences!

The violin accompaniment in this concert is ably provided by the young Karthik, son of Vid. M. Nagaraj. The mridangam and ghatam accompaniment in this concert by Vid. Shivashankara Swamy and Vid. Manjunath are also commendable.

Concert Details:

Pattabhirama Pandit ------------------- Vocal
N.Karthik ---------------------------------- Violin
Shivashankara Swamy --------------- Mridangam
Manjunath ------------------------------- Ghatam
on 31-8- 2013 during K.Puttu Rao Music Festival.

Song List:

01.ChalamelaJesavayya-Natakuranji-Rangaswami *** 02. Sadinchane-Aarabhi-Thyagaraja *** 03. DinamaniVamsha-Harikamboji- Thyagaraja *** 04. Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam-AnandaBhairavi- Muthuswami Dikshitar *** 05. Deva Deva Jagadeeswara-Poorvi Kalyani- Swathi Thirunal *** 06. Rama Neeyeda-Kharaharapriya- Thyagaraja *** 07. Gopalaka PahiMam-Revagupti- Swathi Thirunal *** 08. Shloka & Hari Hara Ninnanu-Sindhubhairavi- Purandara Dasa ***