Celebrating a true understanding of our music

Vid. Trichur V. Ramachandran – 1997 Concert Excerpts from 'Parvathi'

An R. Sachi Review

We are very happy to share this time some excerpts from a Ramanavami Concert held in Mysore by the home of 'Parvathi' in 1997. Sangeetha Kalanidhi Trichur V. Ramachandran sings beautifully in this concert held 21 years ago. The accompaniment is very good too. The result is a rich concert experience.

The vidwans who play in this concert come from a tradition of excellence. They have pursued a true understanding of our music. Nowadays it is fashionable to say that our music is not this, not that, and so on. Some are even arguing that we should give up this "nonsense called Bhakthi". On the other hand, some critics jokingly say that practitioners of Carnatic music have progressively deleted time-honoured elements in our music, like Sruthi, Soukhyam, Bhaava, and so on.

What did the great composer Saint Thygaraja have to say on this in his composition Vidulaku Mrokkeda, sung so well in this concert?

Like all rasikas all over the world, we feel blessed whenever we listen to good music. Come, let us enjoy this concert, although we are able to retrieve only some excerpts.

Concert Details:

V.Ramachandran --------------- Vocal
S.V.Narayan ---------------------- Violin
Arjun Kumar ----------------------- Mridangam
M.A.Krishnamurthy ------------ Ghatam
on 25-4-97 during Sri Ramanavami Music Festival at 'Parvathi'.

Song List:

01 Maha Ganapatim- Nata – Muthuswami Dikshitar *** 02. Vidulaku mrokkeda –Mayamalavagowla- Thyagaraja *** 03 -Mundu venuka-Durbar – Thyagaraja ***04 Seetamma mayamma-Vasantha- Thyagaraja *** 05 Illi nodalu Rama-Mohanakalyani – Purandara Dasa ***

Satyam Shivam Sundaram

Vid. Trichur V. Ramachandran - Vocal, 'Parvathi' Ramanavami 1994

Perceptions on Noble Qualities by R. Sachi

We present, on the occasion of Ramanavami 2016, this beautiful concert full of melodious gems from Sangeetha Kalanidhi V. Ramachandran, with lovely accompaniment provided by Vid. Mysore Nagaraj, Vid. K.V. Prasad and Vid. Bangalore Venkatram.

The verve and musicality of the concert is heightened by the great sahitya of Saint Thyagaraja and others, emphasizing the divine triumvirate of Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Lord Rama embodies these three qualities and they can be perceived at least in part by every creature and being. Even Mareecha and Shurpanakha saw the Sundaram in Rama. All the virtuous denizens of the forest as well as the citizens of Ayodhya, Mithila, Kishkindha and Lanka could see Rama's auspiciousness or Shivam. But it was given only to a few to perceive the Satyam in him, like Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman and Vibhishana.

Come, let us enjoy the concert from 22 years ago!

Concert Details

V.Ramachandran ---------- Vocal
Mysore Nagaraj ---------- Violin
K.V.Prasad _----------- Mridangam
Bangalore Venkataram --- Ghatam

concert held in Mysore 'Parvathi' on 24-4-94 during Ramanavami.

Song List

01 Vandisuvudadiyali -Nata- Purandaradasa *** 02 Sugunamule -Chakravaka- Thyagaraja *** 03 Sundaratara deham-Pantuvarali- Thyagaraja *** 04 Paramatmudu velige -Vagadheeshwari - Thyagaraja *** 05 Mohana Raga *** 06 Nannu palimpa-Thyagaraja *** 07 Narayana ninna - Suddha dhanyasi - Purandaradasa *** 08 Ninyako ninna hangyako- Jaunpuri - Purandaradasa *** 09 Yetavuna nerchitivo- Yadukula kambhoji - Thyagaraja *** 10 Muralidhara gopala -Mand - Periyasamy Thooran *** 11 Sloka-Janati Rama -Ragamalika *** 12 Teerth Vitthala-Abhang- Ahir Bhairav *** 13 Karuniso Ranga- Jogiya*** 14 Mangalam ***

Music is Man’s Ultimate Response to Creation - 2012 Sangeeta Kalanidhi Designate Trichur V. Ramachandran

Mr. K. Srikantiah and the Parvathi family express great happiness and offer felicitations and best wishes to this year’s Sangeetha Kalanidhi designate Vidwan Trichur V. Ramachandran.

The Masters weave their magic - 1972!

L to R: Palghat Raghu, Vikku Vinayakaram,
Trichur V. Ramachandran, Parur M.S. Gopalakrishnan

We have already featured a much-appreciated concert of Vid. Ramachandran held in Parvathi during the 1974 festival.

We now have pleasure in featuring a 1972 concert of his, in the company of two other Sangeetha Kalanidhis, Vid. M. S. Gopalakrishnan and Vid. Palghat R. Raghu. This concert again shows the mesmeric attraction that the GNB bani has, with its verve, tempo and highly colourful repertoire. As if in response to audience requests, Sri TVR has sung in this concert all the GNB trademark compositions, including Ragasudharasa, Darini, Radhasametha Krishna. The accompaniment of Vid. MSG, Vid. Raghu and Vid. Vinayakram make this concert truly special.

Mr. Srikantiah recalls meeting Sri TVR first in Vidushi MLV’s house, whom she introduced as training under her with the national scholarship. Sri TVR later came and performed a few times in Parvathi in various festivals.

Mr. Srikantiah turns meditative as he recalls how five generations of musicians have come and sung in this home. To name some: Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, Mysore Vasudevachar, Chowdiah, Ariyakudi, Musiri, TR Mahalingam, GNB, Alathur Bros., Madurai Mani Iyer, Semmangudi, MSS, DKP, MLV, KVN, MDR, TKR, Sathur, Somu, TVS, TVR, TRS, TSK, Lalgudi, TNS, MSG, TNK, Ramani, Doreswamy Iyengar, Emani, Chittibabu, MC, Mani Iyer, Palani, Raghu, Sivaraman, Ramabhadran, Upendran, Radha Jayalakshmi, Sikkil Sisters, Bombay Sisters, and many current stars like U Shrinivas, Mysore Nagaraj and Manjunath…the list is almost endless.

When we consider these great artistes, and the impact they had on the rasikas, we cannot but recall the famous words of India's Poet Laureate and 1974 Padmabhushan,"DVG"(D.V. Gundappa), in his 1943 opus Mankuthimmana Kagga, describing how music evokes feelings in us as our ultimate response to the wonderful creation around us:

Tune, scale and song; dance and dramatic fine art- all
Awaken from mind's slumber many moods
Expressing our innermost nature. Art is man's commentary
On the Supreme Spirit, oh Mankuthimma!

So again, our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Vidwan Trichur Ramachandran!

CONCERT DETAILS

Ramanavami Concert March 29, 1972

Vocal: Trichur V. Ramachandran
Violin: M. S. Gopalakrishnan
Mridangam: Palghat R. Raghu
Ghatam : T. H. Vinayakram

Song List

01.Neranammithi – Kanada Varnam – Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar *** 02. Vinayaka Vghnanashaka-Vegavahini-Muthuswami Dikshitar ***03. Paraloka Sadhaname – Purvikalyani-Thyagaraja ***04. Ragasudharasa-Andolika-Thyagaraja ***05. Sada Palaya – Mohana – GNB *** 06. Teliyaleru Rama – Dhenuka – Thyagaraja *** 07. Darini Telisukonti – Suddha Saveri – Thyagaraja *** 08. Ananda Natesha – Todi- Ramaswamy Sivan *** 09. Paramukha melara – Suruti – Thyagaraja (also ascribed to Mannargudi Rajagopala Iyer) *** 10. Shankarabharana raga *** 11.Enduku Peddala-Shankarabharana-Thyagaraja *** 12. Himagiri Tanaye- Shuddha Dhanyasi – Muthiah Bhagavathar ***13. Sarasa sama dana – Kapi Narayani – Thyagaraja *** 14. Shloka – Hamsanandi, Dhanyasi, Begada, Kapi*** 15. Radha Mukha Kamala – Kapi – Papanasam Sivan *** 16. Radha Sametha Krishna – Mishra Yaman – Traditional *** 17. Sitakalyana Vaibhogame – Kurinji- Thyagaraja *** 18. Dhanashri Tillana – Swathi Thirunal *** 19. Mangalam ***

Simply Scintillating – Vidwan Trichur V. Ramachandran

Did you recognize him?
This is a picture posted earlier from Lakshmi Shankar's concert in 1970.
The beaming Maestro is seated front row extreme left (in a dark shirt)

We have written in many places, in our earlier postings, about the heady attraction that GNB's persona and music held for Mr. K. Srikantiah. The latter not only had many flourishing meetings with the superstar, but he was a host as well as a part of GNB's entourage in several concerts in India. Most regrettably the precious recordings of GNB's concerts in "Parvathi" have been lost over the years.

The year 1974 also seems significant. We have already featured several splendid concerts held at Parvathi in 1974. Now we give you another brilliant concert – this time in the GNB school- from Vidwan Trichur V. Ramachandran.

After the passing of GNB, many were missing his fast-paced, colourful briga-laden music from a rich male voice that evoked the same feeling. Then came his disciple Trichur Ramachandran. He had the bright personality, rich voice, a typical GNB-style of singing, and treated audiences to rich fare. The Parvathi concert from 1974 was no exception. He was accompanied by none other than Vidwan M. Chandrasekaran and Vidwan Vellore Ramabhadran. Vidwan H.P. Ramachar was on the khanjira. The concert we feature here has a brisk tempo, is extremely pleasing and keeps you on your toes as it were... rapid brigas, excellent repartees, inspired mridangam play, and at several points a feast of dialogue between the vocalist and the violinist. In a way this concert typifies the treat that rasikas came to associate with Parvathi concerts.

A few years ago, Vidwan Ramachandran was honoured in Chennai for completing fifty years of service to music. From the words he spoke that day. his humility oozes out. We quote from The Hindu [http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/01/stories/2006120113660600.htm]:

Mr. Ramachandran said it was important that those who wanted to learn Carnatic music should listen as many concerts of veteran musicians as possible. This was what he learnt from his master, GNB. Describing the period of 1945-60 as the golden period of Carnatic music, he said the exposure, which he got by attending music concerts of stalwarts during the period, laid a strong basis for him to develop himself as a musician.

[ Courtesy: The Hindu ]

The Parvathi Concert

Trichur V Ramachandran---Vocal
M. Chandrasekharan -----Violin
Vellore Ramabhadran ----Mridangam
H.P Ramachar -----Khanjira
at Parvathi on 6-4-1974

01. Nera nammi-Kaanada Ata Tala Varna – Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar *** 02. Pranamamyaham – Gowla – Mysore Vasudevachar *** 03. Rama nannu borvara – Hari Kambhoji – Thyagaraja *** 04. Manasa etulo – Malaya marutha – Thyagaraja *** 05. Baageaayenayya - Chandrajyothi- Thyagaraja *** 06. Paridana Micchite -Bilahari – Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer *** 07.Marugelara-Jayantashri – Thyagaraja*** 08. Ramakatha sudha – Madhyamavathi-Thyagaraja *** 09. Sarasa sama dana-Kapi narayani -Thyagaraja*** 10. Kambhoji Ragam Tanam Pallavi*** 11. Sonnadai Saidida—Ragamalika – Mayuram Vishwanatha Sastri *** 12. Janathi Rama Shloka – Saveri, Shahana,Aananda Bharavi, Saama,, Ninnu pogada tarama – GNB *** 13. Yadava nee baa -Mand- Purandaradasa *** 14.Radha sameta Krishna – Mishra Yaman - traditional *** 15.Dhanashree Tillana – Swathi Thirunal *** 16. Pavamana – Sourashtra – Thyagaraja Mangalam