"A blend of Vocal, Veena and Nagaswaram" : Violin Maestro M. Chandrasekaran

[Photo: Courtesy http://www.carnatic.com/people/cs-violin.html ]

"... he will always be 'Chandru' to me, as I affectionately used to call him... he first performed in "Parvathi" all the way back in 1965... since then he has performed so many times with all the Veterans for many of the festivals in the house..."

"...as you know, from birth he has always been physically challenged and it was a great comfort for me to see that he was always accompanied on his travels by either a disciple or family member...those were the days you had to change trains twice, from Madras to Bangalore and then from Bangalore to Mysore...now, once, to my great astonishment and shock 'Chandru' arrives all alone for a concert! When I worriedly questioned him he said coming to "Parvathi" was nothing new to him... and he says all of that in that beautiful innocent demeanor of his...I advised him never to venture out like that again...and I saw to it that he was safely escorted back all the way home..."

-K. Srikantiah's Recollections

On Dec. 15, 2009, the inaugural concert of the season at the Music Academy in Madras (Chennai) featured three Sangeetha Kalanidhis. Vidwan T.N. Seshagopalan was accompanied by two other greats, Vidwan M. Chandrasekaran and Vidwan Vellore Ramabhadran. They were the recipients of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi title in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the reverse order.

The Hindu, in a tribute on 1 Dec. 2005 to Sangeetha Kalanidhi designate M. Chandrasekaran, quoted Dr. Pinakapani, “Chandrasekaran's style of violin playing is a blend of vocal, veena and nagaswaram."

2009 also marked the sixtieth year of concert performances for the violin maestro M. Chandrasekaran. He had received his first award in the Music Academy in 1950, just a year after he started performing in public at the age of eleven. Vidwan Chandrasekaran has gone on record that he owes everything to his mother, who dealt with his visual impairment at the age of two and undaunted, taught him music, as well as Braille. He has founded a trust in her memory, the Charubala Mohan Trust, to encourage young artistes.

The art of violin accompaniment is like walking on the edge of a razor. Carnatic music, when amplified through the mike system, poses challenges to artistes and audiences alike. It is difficult to balance the instruments and yet preserve the fabric of the original music. In addition, the violinist has to keep up the accompaniment throughout the concert, getting a respite only during the tani avarathanam. After a marathon swara cycle, the main artiste often takes a break, but the violinist is impelled to respond. The main artiste has the advantage of planning the concert ahead, and playing in his zone of comfort. But the violinist has to deal with the unknown, preserve and embellish the manodharma of the main artiste, and improvise in his solo passages without excess or digress. The dialogue during alapana, neraval and swara passages has to be harmonious, eschewing one-upmanship. On many occasions, the main artiste may slacken a bit and lose his grip on the proceedings. Then the violinist has to raise the flagging tempo and rekindle the main artiste. All this is asking a lot. And without the important eye-contact, the challenge is all the greater.

We must remember these aspects when we listen to Vidwan Chandrasekaran. He has made hundreds of concerts unforgettable by his indefatigable artistry as an accompanist. Of course he is a great soloist, and noted as a composer and even vocalist. But he will always be remembered as the crown prince among accompanists.

The Parvathi concert series posted here bear ample testimony to Vidwan Chandrasekaran's talents. We have featured his recording in a double violin concert with T.N. Krishnan as well as in violin accompaniment for Balamuralikrishna, Madurai Somu, Doreswami Iyengar, Ramani, and M.D. Ramanathan already. In every concert, we can hear his frequent “Aahs” of spontaneous appreciation for the main artiste. When his turn comes, he has excelled in improvisation. In his solo passages, he has reminded us of the Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan. He has cooed the lovely sounds of rakti ragas with Ramani. He has embellished the majesty of the veena. In MDR's concert, when he plays to the words, “Veeram Dhanurbhanjane”, MDR is spurred by his forceful play to exclaim, “Oh, you're yourself armed with the bow!”

We feature a concert recording here from 1999, his fiftieth performing year. It is a violin duet with his daughter Smt. G. Bharathi, who we are informed has an active musical career in the USA.

Concert
'Parvathi' March 30, 1999

[Photo: Courtesy http://www.hindu.com/ms/2005/12/01/stories/2005120100120200.htm ]

M. Chandrasekharan & G.Bharathi (Violin Duet)
T.A.S.Mani ----(Mridangam)
M.A.Krishnamurthy ---(Ghatam)

[ 1. Naa Jeevaadhaara – Bilahari- Thyagaraja (partial) 2. Durmargachara- Ranjani – Thyagaraja 3. Nannu vidachi – Reetigowla – Thyagaraja (vocal) 4. Manavyalakinchara – Nalinakanti – Thyagaraja 5. Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Simhendra madhyamam (& Ragamalika) 6. Baro Krishnayya – Ragamalika ( Maand, Misra Piloo, Jaunpuri) – Kanaka Dasa 7. Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma – Madhyamavati – Purandara Dasa ]

"Samaja Varagamana" : Vidwan M.D. Ramanathan

April 13, 1971

Vidwans: M.D. Ramanathan, Trichy Sankaran, M. Chandrasekharan, M.S. Manjunath

Vidwan M.D. Ramanathan, known as MDR to all music lovers, is a rare star in the Carnatic firmament. His creativity and unique interpretations always earned Oohs and Aahs from the knowledgeable.

Jon Higgins, who shone briefly and impactfully in Carnatic music, was once asked why he, as a westerner, had not chosen western music for a career. His answer was insightful and, paraphrased, stated that in Carnatic music, your musical idea is more important than your voice. In western classical music, if you don't have the right kind of voice, you will not succeed as a vocalist. This is not true in Carnatic music.

But what if one were endowed with a baritone voice that would be the envy of a Pavarotti or a Bocelli? And were also blessed with a delightful musical sensibility and the creative instincts of a composer? And inherited the lineage of Thyagaraja-Patnam-Poocchi-Tiger? That was MDR. The first and foremost alumnus of the Kalakshetra Shiromani course, he was anointed by Tiger Varadachar as his successor and was a favourite of Rukmini Devi. He taught for many years in Kalakshetra, and came across to his students and others as a high soul who dwelt in the far orbits of musical creativity and shunned pettiness. He was a scholar and composer of delightful, nuanced kritis like “Thyagarajagurum Ashraye” in Kedaram.

This chronicler ( R. Sachi and click to see companion post on MDR ) first heard MDR in Mysore's famed venue Bidaram Krishnappa Ramamandiram in the mid-sixties. A childlike personality, MDR bowed down before the Pattabhi Rama picture, touching his ears with crossed hands (as one does traditionally in front of Ganesha), tucked the “Sevanthige” flower into his tuft, and got ready to serve a great feast of music in the company of Lalgudi and TVG. MDR fans always found ample humour in his concerts, what with his mannerisms, his surprisingly deep voice, and his tendency to toy with musical ideas creatively.

MDR invariably attracted “class” accompaniment. His low sruti was a challenge much like inclement weather to the violin and mridangam, but accompanists delighted in his truly rich sruti-aligned idiom and the measured gait of his music. The apt words to describe his magnificent laya would be “Samaja Varagamana”- words Thyagaraja uses to describe how Krishna (Thyagaraja has composed VERY few songs on deities other than Rama) walked with the dignity of a caparisoned elephant.


SRI SRIKANTIAH's RECOLLECTIONS

"..Sri M.D.Ramanathan was of course a fond disciple of Tiger Varadachar,and he followed the tradition set by his guru... always keeping his sruti low... his style of singing always had a great fan following..."

"... during MDR's visits to 'Parvathi', I would drive him on a few occasions to the Chamundi Hills, for Goddess Chamundeshwari's darshana in the mornings...One morning... in Parvathi... MDR decided to just sing informally, with no accompaniment... 'Mukhari' Raga and 'Ksheenamai' kriti... this informal rendering was simply an unforgettable experience for me...his rendering of Kharaharapriya ( which is featured in the posted concert ) is indeed excellent..."

"...It appears Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam and others contacted Sri Yesudas for his benefit concert for MDR when MDR was unwell... but before it could happen, MDR passed away..."

" now, I am thinking about Trichy Sankaran, too, who has accompanied MDR, here...he has made his great mark in mridangam playing... carrying on the excellent and soft mridangam playing style of his guru Sri Palani Subrahmanya Pillai. He had started to accompany quite a few senior artistes at Parvathi during the Ramanavami music festivals in the 70's ... but he decided to depart for Canada and settle down there as a distinguished Professor of Indian music... in this context, I must also tell you of a very touching thing about Sankaran's guru Sri Palani Subrahmanya Pillai...during one of his informal visits to Parvathi, he expressed his desire to take rest in Mysore for a month, and wanted to stay in the adjoining guest house of Parvathi... but it was not meant to be...as we were trying to make arrangements ... he just passed away...very very sadly..."


A SIDE NOTE

In many a picture of "Parvathi" posted on our blog (including the one above), one may have likely seen a familiar figure, ever wearing a white turban and found generally seated in the front row of a concert. To the uninitiated and at a cursory glance the person would appear as a self-effacing individual, at best a hard core Rasika. But not to those who knew of him. As the popular news paper The Hindu remembered him in an obituary "He was one of the greatest minds in Indian Philosophy and Sanskrit Literary traditions". He is none other than Mysore's famous Sanskrit scholar Prof.G.N.Chakravarthi, a recipient of the Sediyapu Award, Veda Rathna Award, a national award instituted by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and Kannada Rajyotsava Award. Ever a fixture in "Parvathi", including being friend and teacher to many of its members, he was always affectionately referred to in his lifetime as 'Meshtre' (the quintessential teacher!).


THE CONCERT

[ 01. Vanajakshi – Atatala varnam – Pallavi Gopala Iyer 02. Rama nipai – Kedara – Thyagaraja 03. Angarakam ashrayamyaham – Suruti – Muthuswami Dikshitar 04. Samaja Varagamana – Hindola – Thyagaraja 05. Lekana ninnu – Asaveri – Thyagaraja 06. Tatwameruga tarama- Garudadhwani – Thyagaraja 07. Pakkala nilabadi – Kharaharapriya – Thyagaraja 08. Sringaram Kshitinandini – Navarasa Sloka Ragamalika/Kadaikan-Begada 09. Paripalaya paripalaya – Reetigowla – Thyagaraja 10. Rama Rama – Nilambari – Thyagaraja 11. Jojo Sri Rama (utsava sampradaya) – Reetigowla – Thyagaraja 12. Mamava Pattabhi Rama – Manirangu – Muthuswami Dikshitar 13. Nati mata – Devakriya – Thyagaraja 14. Tillana – Hindustani Kapi – M.D. Ramanathan 15. Mangalam – Sowrashtra- Thyagaraja ]

"Ingeetham should come before Sangeetham” : Vidwan Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy

Those who have been following the annals of Parvathi would have asked in their minds, “What about KVN ? Did he not perform at Parvathi ?”

Well, as we delight our listeners with more and more fascinating concerts, we now come to KVN, as Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy is universally known.

April 23, 1970, "Parvathi", Mysore

Vidwans: KV Narayanaswamy (Vocal)- T.N. Krishnan (Violin)- Umayalpuram Sivaraman(Mridangam)- K.S. Manjunath (Ghatam)- H.P.Ramachar (Kanjira)

CHRONICLE OF TEAM MEMBER R.SACHI

Who doesn't know KVN among the Carnatic music aficionados? Just three coordinates will do.

1. KVN is universally acclaimed to be the inheritor of the Ariyakudi legacy. Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar was hailed as the crest jewel in Carnatic music (Sangeetha Shikhamani).

2. KVN enjoyed the admiration of many musical greats – let us just mention Pandit Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menuhin and of course KVN's own guru Palghat Mani Iyer.

3. Rasikas who have a penchant for specific composers all claim that KVN's renditions are truest to their tradition... and most notable for this are the Travancore royal family and KVN's mastery over the compositions of Swati Tirunal.

KVN was born in 1923 into a musical family in Palghat. This chronicler knew him closely in the '80s. He heard directly from the master how he would be bribed with four annas just to practise music as a young boy. The same boy later would have great teachers: C. S. Krishna Iyer, Palghat Mani Iyer, Papa Venkataramiah, and Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar. It was Palghat Mani Iyer who taught KVN how to actually “sing”- be it alapana, compositions, and swaras – the actual intonations, and the embellishments, without the rough edges and idiosyncrasies one normally finds in any busy performer. That is why you will find in KVN a perfect balance of everything, and no quirks like nasal twangs or too much gimmickry. He always remembered the words of Ariyakudi, that one should have immense understanding and common sense before musical sense. He would quote Thyagaraja, “Ingitham should come before Sangitham”. That is why all rasikas found in KVN the true expression of “mot juste”.

KVN was reverence personified when speaking of Ariyakudi, whom he called “Gurnathar”. In many interviews, he has spoken in a hushed awe about his Guru. It is a bit like Swami Vivekananda's relationship with Sri Ramakrishna. Once, when Swamiji was asked to speak about his master in America, with tears in his eyes he said that he could not do justice to the topic at all.

KVN used to sing a song in memory of his Guru, composed by T.S. Balakrishna Shastrigal. On the suggestion of the famous critic Subbudu, KVN had set it to a languid tala scale and a lovely ragamalika. He would pause with awe when he came to the words, “Nija-guru-pada-sevitha- shishya-vrindam”.

KVN spent time in Mysore with Ariyakudi, who was the guest of the Mysore Palace. This chronicler believes that was the time when Ariyakudi would sit on a swing in a veranda and enjoy the salubrious hospitality of the princely city. He would begin to compose the music for one of the songs in Andal Thiruppavai. KVN the scribe would write it down. And it would be finally polished into shape. Everyone follows the Ariyakudi tradition for singing Thiruppavai and you hear these lovely songs not only in concerts but also during the Margazhi season on AIR.

Once KVN sang a delightful composition in raga Ranjani. This chronicler asked him later whose composition it was. He said it was that of Mysore Ganapathi Sacchidananda Swamiji and KVN himself had set it to music.

KVN taught many university students in India and USA. He was for many years a professor at the Music Teacher's Training College in Madras. He also had many stints at the Wesleyan University in California.

Someone once mused, “what if KVN had a powerful resonant voice?” This chronicler replied that KVN's musical armamentarium is like a BMW or Mercedes engine. So much power would not suit a ceremonial golden chariot, known more for its glitter than as a conveyance. The chariot would hardly cope with performance of a BMW or Mercedes engine. That somewhat explains how KVN had honed his vocal equipment to produce perfect Carnatic music aligned to the resonance of a tambura. And consequently was the supreme vocalist in Carnatic music for many generations of rasikas. And both God and the gifted composers of Carnatic music listened to KVN in thrall.
Sri K. SRIKANTIAH RECOLLECTS

An Assembly of the Giants in Tiruvayyaru![ Annaswamy Bhagavatar- Kumbhakonam Rajamanickam Pillai - Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar - Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer - Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar ]

“… you know I had such a lot of respect for KVN …. he performed so many times in our house “Parvathi”…sometimes with Lalgudi, sometimes with Parur (Gopalakrishnan) … sometimes with T.N.Krishnan … with Shivaraman … Ramabhadran …with Raghu … very, very chaste concerts … always a crowd favorite…”
“… but whenever his name comes up …somehow, immediately, Sri Ariyakudi’s (Ramanuja Iyengar ) name also crops up in me …you know when my father Shri K.Puttu Rao died in 1959, Shri Ramanuja Iyengar came all the way to “Parvathi” to extend his personal condolences … during one of my visits to Tiruvayyaru for the Thyagaraja Utsavam, I attended a concert of Dhanammal sitting next to Ariyakudi, and Ariyakudi was so very happy about it”
“... you know there is also that time in 1963 …when a public function was arranged in Rajaji Hall in Madras to honor Sri Ariyakudi as architect of our modern Carnatic music … now in this connection, one fine morning, KV Narayanaswamy shows up in “Parvathi”… and guess who he has brought along with him? Sriyuts Madurai Krishnan and Rajam Iyer … now they all want His Highness Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar to preside … so they wanted my help … how could I say “No” ?... I arranged for an interview through the Durbar Bakshi of the Palace … and they were all very happy when the Maharajah gladly agreed … I remember the commemoration committee was chaired by Justice P.V. Rajamannar ... they also included my name in their committee … overall it was a very grand function… the Maharaja had earlier conferred the honorific 'Gayaka Shikhamani' on Shri Ariyakudi ..."
'PARVATHI' CONCERT
K. V. Narayanaswamy -----Vocal
T.N Krishnan ------- Violin
Umayalpuram Sivaraman ------Mridangam
K.S.Manjunath -----Ghatam
Performed on 26-3-1972

[ 1. Era napai–Todi varnam–Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer 2.Evarani–Devamrutavarshini-Thyagaraja 3.Ninne nera nammi naanu raa-Pantuvarali–Thyagaraja 4.Enta rani–Hari kambhoji–Thyagaraja 5.Ora jupu–Kannada Gowla–Thyagaraja 6. Manasu Swadhina–Shankarabharana–Thyagaraja 7. Brochevarevarura–Khamach–Mysore Vasudevachar 8. Janaati Rama–Shloka Ragamalika–Traditional 9. Thiruppavai–Sindhu Bhairavi–Andal 10. Tillana–Paras–Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar 11. Mangalam ]

If you have difficulty in accessing the audio, please click here.

The Master Flautist: Vidwan Dr. N. Ramani

"Parvathi", the hallowed musical conclave in Mysore that hosted many a maestro year after year, was a wellspring of inspiration for the artistes as much as it was a haven for the rasikas. The famed flautist Dr. N. Ramani ( b. 1934) was one of those who came and performed many times in Mysore.

The mantle of the leading flautist in Carnatic music fell on his shoulders quickly after his own guru 'Mali' (T.R. Mahalingam) reduced his concert appearances. Ramani not only stepped into the role readily, he also gave a wholesome dimension to the flute concert, enriched with a great vocal technique of his own and a fine repertoire. His mastery over the instrument as well as his gayaki manodharma ooze out from the word go in every concert. He exults in collaborating with top-notch accompanists and his concerts always leave the listener satiated.

RECOLLECTIONS BY VETERAN MR. SRIKANTIAH

" ... you know how I've spoken to you many times about our traditions in Parvathi ... it was the same way when Ramani performed (so many times) ... after the concert, the performing artistes, we, the inmates of Parvathi and a few close friends would all have a leisurely 'Kannada Oota (meals)' together .... this would go on till about midnight, what with the anecdotes, jokes, mimicry, discussions and recollections on music and other musicians ...

... after this particular concert of N. Ramani (re-played below) ... dinner was ready and everyone was waiting for Ramani to join us ... but he didn't show up? ... I went in search of him ... and guess where I found him?... you know that stone bench in the front garden of Parvathi... next to that 'champaka' tree... I found him in the subdued garden light there, all by himself, lost in his own contemplation. The superb music of the evening ... his own rendering had so mesmerised him ... he was rewinding it in his own mind and enjoying the ethereal waves that had come out of his own flute in the past few hours.... I tell you, such is the power of his music! ... and what a noble personality too ... perfect gentleman ...very few words ... "

Ramani was born the city of Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu (the birthplace of the Carnatic trinity). In a city blessed with rich musical traditions, the young Ramani was exposed to almost every corner of Carnatic music. Ramani's grandfather, Sri Aazhiyur Narayanaswami Iyer, was his first guru and was a well known flute artiste and singer himself. Well aware of young Ramani's keen interest in the Carnatic flute, Ramani's initiation to Carnatic music began at the age of five.

[The following excerpts are from the Hindu -Friday Review, Hyderabad Jun. 23, 2006]

As on his flute, he is soft, restrained and gentle. We caught up with N. Ramani, renowned flautist and disciple of the legendary T.R. Mahalingam, who spoke about what makes for great music. Ramani began learning from his grandfather, more as an informal routine than a strict regimen. And it was all vocal lessons than on the flute — but this helped familiarise Ramani with sahitya. "The vocal exercise is an important facet that strengthens the foundation for any musician," says Ramani. "Today, unfortunately, several instrumentalists don't concentrate on lyrics. They focus only on swaras, which is bereft of sahitya bhava."

"A good teacher should be open to learning from his students too," avers Ramani. "Mali learnt Aahiri raga from me, which I had learnt from T. Vishwanathan, Balasaraswathi's brother," recollects the artiste.

Actually, Ramani was amongst the earliest Carnatic artistes to attempt jugalbandis. He also took South Indian classical music to the West. This not only fetched recognition for his own self, but also to the art. "Jugalbandis with Hariprasad Chaurasia gave me valuable insights into the Hindustani style, with Lalgudi Jayaraman, it was music education."

Mali would constantly throw challenges at his students says the flautist which would help uncover a student's potential. "Mali would demand an extempore pallavi. Or ask me to play Bhairavi varnam in thrishra nadai. Tough, but I would manage!"

Ramani also learnt from Mali his famed techniques of cross-fingering. He himself is renowned for producing fast gamakas on the flute. "The Indian bamboo flute can produce superior gamakas compared to the western or metallic flutes," he says. He strongly commends yoga for playing the flute, which packs power over one's breath — a vital requirement for flautists.

He stresses that technique is undoubtedly important but equally vital is the sangeeta gyaana or scholarship which distinguishes the outstanding musician from the average one. "Technique is something the teacher gives you." After that, it is up to the student to gather gyaana (developing the discipline of listening to more number of artistes more and more) and benefit from the experience and wisdom of vidwans by asking them for their insights/advice. Studying music-theory and constantly welcoming a feedback are but the last features of a good classroom revision," opines Ramani.

Many recall with delight the Venu-Vina-Violin trio of Ramani and Venkataraman with Lalgudi.

LISTENER'S PLEASURE

We reproduce the April 17, 1973 "Parvathi" Concert of Dr. N. Ramani (Flute) with Vidwan M. Chandrasekharan (Violin); Vidwan Vellore Ramabhadran (Mridangam); Vidwan K.S Manjunath (Ghatam)

[ 1. Viriboni-Bhairavi Varnam-Pacchimiriyam Adiyappayya 2. Vallabha Nayakasya-Bebade-Muthuswami Dikshitar 3. Saamaja Varagamana-Hindola-Thyagaraja 4. Paridaana Micchite-Bilahari-Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer 5. Gaanamoorte-Ganamoorti-Thyagaraja 6. Vaasudevayani-Kalyani-Thyagaraja 7. Sarasa Saama Daana- Kaapi Narayani-Thyagaraja 8. Mokshamu Galada-Saaramati-Thyagaraja 9. Ragam Tanam Pallavi-Keeravani-Ragamalika Swaras 10.Krishna Nee Begane-Yaman Kalyani-Vyasaraya 11.Magudi ***12. Tillana-Sindhu Bhairavi-Lalgudi Jayaraman 13. Mangalam. ]

[Post Script: In the context of our Flute music, we would also encourage listeners after they listen to the genius of Ramani to go to our 'Mali' posting of January 20, 2010 and listen to the Abheri piece towards the end, which, too, would afford a simultaneous testimony to the brilliance of the Guru ]

The Jewel in the Mysore Crown - Ashthana Vidwan before 16 ? - Mysuru’s legendary Veena Maestro : V. Doreswamy Iyengar

Galaxy of artists honor the memory of T. Chowdiah on his birth Centenary in 'Parvathi' 1994

[ L to R: Vidwan S.Mahadevappa (Violinist, and father of Mysore Nagaraj and Mysore Manjunath); Vidwan U.Srinivas (Mandolin); Vidwan V. Deshikachar (Flutist, and younger brother of V. Doreswamy Iyengar); Vidwan Titte Krishna Iyengar (Vocalist); Host K. Srikantiah; Ambarish (Actor and grandson of T.Chowdiah); Vishnuvardhan (Actor); Vidwan V. Doreswamy Iyengar (Veena artiste); Vidwan T.K. Murthy (Mridangam); Vidwan R. Chandrasekhariah (Vocalist ---of Mysore Brothers); Prof. R. N. Doreswamy (Veena artiste); Vidwan M. A. Narasimhachar (Vocalist); Vidwan Prof V. Ramaratnam (Vocalist, Senior disciple of T.Chowdiah)]

OUR CHRONICLE

Those fortunate to be called Mysoreans hear all their life, wherever they live, about the lovely associations that the word “Mysore” resonates with among the cognoscenti. Things that can be readily listed are the flavoursome Mysore rasam, the fragrance of Mysore jasmine flowers, the refinement of Mysore silk, and the sweetness of the Mysore Veena.

More than anyone else in the 20th century, it was Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar who symbolised the sweetness of Mysore Veena. He was also a dear and admired friend of the leading Carnatic and Hindustani musicians of that era.

When Doreswamy Iyengar performed at the Madras Music Academy after receiving the Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1984, a proud Mysorean eye-witness (this chronicler) recalls how the hall was filled with music’s Who’s Who with the legendary MSS and Semmangudi sitting in the first row. He also recalls the brilliant Begada and Behag that he played that day.

Foregoing one's veena for the mike?

V. Doreswamy Iyengar speaks of Chowdiah

Flanked by Vidushi M.L. Vasanthakumari and K. Srikantiah

RECOLLECTIONS OF Shri R.K. NARAYAN

[ courtesy: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1423/14231000.htm ]

“… Some time after this, a music festival was conducted in Mysore at the Bidaram Krishnappa Hall. The concerts were by senior musicians like Ariyakudi (Ramanuja Iyengar), Chembai (Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar) and Semmangudi (Srinivasa Iyer). I was surprised to see a 14-year-old featured among these giants. Somewhat irked by this choice, I decided to leave the hall when it was his turn. Anyway it was close to eight and dinner time. But the boy began to play with such confidence that I was taken aback. He did so well that I sat through the performance, convinced of his genuine talent. "

“Do you know that the Maharaja made him the youngest asthana vidwan in Mysore state?”

“No ego, no self-importance. He wore them lightly, and remained simple, sweet-natured and uncomplicated all his life. He had no bad habits.”

“…He could give up food, but not music...”

“…Doreswamy had sweetness and melodiousness. Many people don't know how to play the veena. They bang on it as if it were a harmonium and end up producing noise. Venkatagiriappa was a good man. He allowed his disciple to develop in his own way, doing what came naturally to him…”

“…Doreswamy belonged to a family that had an essential nobility and humility in temperament….’

RECOLLECTIONS OF Shri K. SRIKANTIAH

"...now if you ever find yourself in Doreswamy Iyengar's house you will see an old photograph...it is that of my father (K. Puttu Rao) honoring Doreswamy's Guru, Veena Vidwan Venkatagiriyappa in our home "Parvathi"... both Doreswamy and I were so young...like with Lalgudi our friendship started as teenagers...you see us seated on the 'jhamkhana'(floor spread) there..."

"... ours was all brotherhood ... friendship ... whatever you may want to call it ... during the early '50s and '60s we all used to meet together... myself, V.Doreswamy Iyengar, M.Cheluvarayaswamy...we used to go to this 'Galli (by-lane) Hotel' in K.R.Mohalla... we all loved this 'set' dosa' [ note: a specialised Mysore delicacy of the popular Dosa, stacked up like pancakes, served with mouthfuls of distinct soft white buttermilk butter called 'benne' with a bowl of 'sambar' to dip into ] ... after this meal we would proceed to R.K. Narayan's house in Lakshmipuram for a long chat about music and musicians... sometimes Thitte Krishna Iyengar and M. A. Narasimhachar would join us. R.K. Narayan would play his spool tape recordings of Karaikudi brothers' veena recital and other such recordings of the old veterans...these meetings would go on till about 2 pm"

"... the same friendship continued even in the recent years (the '90s) when I took up partial residence in Bangalore...V. Doreswamy Iyengar would regularly take walks from his Malleswaram residence to the Indian Institute Of Science. On his way back, he would sometimes drop in at our house in Sadashivanagar. After breakfast and a long hearty chat, I would drop him back to Malleshwaram....sometimes I myself would drop in at his 18th cross residence. During these meetings we would have long, relaxed chats about Music, Musicians, T. Chowdiah, his dynamism and would recollect many anecdotes..."

OTHER REMINISCENCES

[ Courtesy: Gowri Ramnarayan with Ravi Sharma in http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1423/14230990.htm ]

“Doreswamy Iyengar revered his forebears in the tradition so much that he painstakingly gathered the compositions of Veena Seshanna and popularised them. He attributed his good fortune to his guru's blessings and, as his guru lay bedridden before death, he played Bhairavi day after day at Venkatagiriappa's command."

“He was uncompromising in his principles. He refused to play at weddings because they were venues of noise and distraction inimical to music. He was even against amplification because it robbed music of its nuances and often distorted the tone. He eschewed an aggressive style and strident fingering techniques, which made for easy popularity. And though connoisseurs found that with its preponderance of meettus (plucking), the Mysore style lacked fine-shaded gamakas and contouring anuswaras, they accepted Doreswamy Iyengar's music as smooth, sweet and satisfactory. He had the gentle touch of a cultured mind. His modesty and charm won friends for him everywhere. "

As we hinted in some of our earlier postings, we have come to love vintage things for now. So, we leave you once again with a very vintage concert from April 17, 1978 in "Parvathi" by the great maestro; sweet sounds, no contact mike as the Vidwan refused to wear one, Philip spool clarity as it was then ! Also performing, are Vidwan M. Chandrasekharan on Violin; Vidwan Erode Gururajan on Mridangam and Vidwan Manjunath on Ghatam.

[01-Shivashiva-Pantuvarali-Thyagaraja 02-Marivere-Ananda Bhairavi - Shyama Shastry 03-Inta Kannanandamemi-Bilahari- Thyagaraja 04-Brochevarevarura-Khamach-Vasudevachar 05-RTP-Kambhoji & Ragamalika 06-Vishweshwara-Sindhu bhairavi Bhajan- Swati Tirunal ]

A TANGENTIAL STORY ON A MYSORE VEENA

As we poured through “Parvati” photographs looking for things connected with Vidwan Shri. Doreswamy Iyengar, we espied a photograph of K. Puttu Rao’s only daughter, Smt. Lakshmi Murthy ( nee Subbulakshmi ), playing a Veena in the center of an orchestra. The photograph (reproduced below) was supposed to be that from many decades ago, shot in a river valley project in Bihar, a place signified as a source of pride for Nehru as he strove to usher India into a modern era with the help of American engineers from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

While she did not make it into any professional rank, K. Puttu Rao's daughter chose to remember her Guru (Doreswamy Iyengar) in the only way she could, through self practice of the things he had taught her. As time tends to hang heavily in such lonely river valley projects, Smt. Subbalakshmi strove to fill in her time by collecting any lady with any fragmentary knowledge of music to weave musical patterns together from a Thyagaraja or Dikshitar composition, not withstanding the hybrid nature of such a process. There was supposedly an American player too in their group, a Ms. Mary Lou Williams, who would bring in her accordian for occasional lessons in Carnatic notes ( we couldn't find a picture for Ms. Mary Lou, so we are just sending a shout out to her in any corner of the world by mentioning her name )

We soon arrived at an interesting sequel connected to Puttu Rao's daughter and a Veena ( somewhat sad in the end ) . When a newly arrived engineer called Chidambaram moved into the river valley project from Madras, he came with a passionate weakness in wanting to one day see his young daughter shine as brilliantly as a Saraswati through the Veena. Coming to realize that there was a local person with somewhat of a connection to the great Vidwan Doreswamy Iyengar, he approached the lady in question and expressed his intense yearning for owning a Mysore Veena for his daughter. The lady, not sure what made her accede, did however consent and found herself executing the job very personally, hand carrying the best Veena she could buy in Mysore and protecting it like a baby all the way from Mysore to Bihar, all through the tedium of a long train journey through a scorching Indian summer and presenting it as a free gift to the man, accepting nothing in return. Needless to say, she made a certain father delirious in his joy.

Time, however, moved on; the happy man called Mr. Chidambaram found himself soon transferred to Calcutta. It was then that Smt. Subbalakshmi’s only daughter, still a child of seven, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The local doctors made a definite pronouncement. The child under any circumstances, had to be removed to Vellore hospital immediately, to be operated by none other than the brain specialist of the day, Dr. Chandy. This caused the young parents to panic. It was one thing to have so sick a child on your hands. It was another to procure reservations so suddenly on such a long journey? You had to first change trains in Calcutta which might include ( when you are in a hurry ), waiting out entire days for a reservation in the busiest train station in the world. Where would they stay in Calcutta? With nothing to hope for but to just chance it out at the railway station, waiting out time within a waiting room or maybe even spreading it out on the floor of a filthy platform , they left for Calcutta pinning their hopes on the one above to show them the way.

It was when they arrived at Howrah, that a very eventful situation transpired. As their train pulled into the city, a man had simultaneously arrived to confirm train reservations for his family’s return from Chennai. As the lady Subbalakshmi,a sick child and her husband wended their way, not sure where and what they would be doing, they happened to bump into the person who had just come in. As each lifted their face to apologize, there was a brief pause and then a mutual gasp of recognition. The man proved to be none other than the Mr. Chidambaram of earlier times. Pleasantries aside, each came to recognize the reason for the other being there. Mr. Chidambaram acknowledged mentally the presence of a sick child and the predicament of a family uncertain of where they would spend their night. Hadn’t Saraswati once sent this same lady as a succor when he needed a Veena? That was sufficient reason for him to hear no more. They were going to honor him by staying in his house and he was going to make sure that their onward journey would be a very safe one!

A few months later found the erstwhile Mrs. Subbalakshmi and her husband back in the same place on their return leg, but this time without the child who had succumbed to the hands of fate.

Harikathe by Shri Arunkumar (''Gururajulu Naidu'')

Another famous exponent of Harikathe was Shri Arunkumar. Trained by his father, this versatile and dynamic artiste made a mark for himself all over South India as a Harikatha exponent. Interestingly, he was equally at home in the cinema world and he acted in many Kannada movies.

As he mentions in this Harikathe, he also had served in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Shri Arunkumar came and performed in Parvathi when he was much sought after all over Karnataka. His reputation was for his fast-paced, interesting and humorous style which was quite different from that of the other more traditional exponents. He had a prolific repertoire and recorded many Harikathes on cassettes. He knew several languages other than Kannada, viz. Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, English and so on. He performed Harikathes through the length and breadth of Karnataka and also in the neighbouring states.

Mr, Srikantiah recalls that this artiste had a busy schedule and travelled extensively. Many times, he had multiple Harikathe assignments in a single day. He would not disappoint his fans.

Shri Arunkumar was at the peak of his popularity when he passed away .We learn that his daughters and students have carried forward his legacy.

Mr. Srikantiah recalls that this artiste had a lot of affection and respect for him and Mr. K. K. Murthy. When Arunkumar fell ill, it seems he had expressed to Mr Srikantiah's assistant a desire to meet Mr. Srikantiah and his brother Mr. K.K. Murthy. But before either of them could do so, Shri Arunkumar had left for his heavenly abode.

In this Harikathe, at many points, Shri Arunkumar expounds the philosophy of Vairagya, and the theme of reaching life's true goal before being felled by the stroke of death. He quotes the metaphor of a mouse riding a cat... the mouse symbolizing our momentary life and the cat signifying Death.

We pay tribute to this great artiste by featuring his wonderful Harikathe, Seethaparithyaga (Kusha Lava Charitre).

A friendship strong as diamond

January 22nd, 2010
Two veterans, Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman and Sri K. Srikantiah
greet each other in the Maestro's house in Chennai!

It was circa 1948.

The Bidaram Krishnappa Prasanna Seetharama Mandiram of Mysore was featuring the redoubtable GNB in the annual Ramanavami festival. The organizers had also invited a young violinist from Madras to accompany the star. This youngster, sporting the traditional tuft (kudumi), was still in his teens, and yet was already making waves with his prowess on the violin. But that day, he wasn’t destined to go on stage in the GNB concert. The reason? GNB had brought along his own set of accompanists from Madras, including another violinist. It was indeed a disappointment for the young lad named Jayaraman.

But Jayaraman surprised everyone with his decision to stay back, and he sat through the concert as a member of the audience. He happened to sit next to another teenager, the son of Mr. K. Puttu Rao who was then the President of the Rama Mandiram. The youngsters broke the ice and exchanged notes, and soon were friends. Thus was born a friendship between Advocate K. Srikantiah and Vidwan Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. It grew decade after decade like a huge Parijatha tree, being a friendship built on mutual affection and respect for each other’s qualities of excellence. This bond of friendship between an epochal musical genius and a musical connoisseur and patron is now past its diamond jubilee, i.e. more than 60 years.

One can paraphrase Shakespeare while describing this association between K. Srikantiah and Vidwan Lalgudi G. Jayaraman; “age cannot wither nor custom stale its infinite variety”. And after that initial occasion when Jayaraman was sitting in the audience, there would be countless occasions when GNB would ask for the violin accompaniment of Lalgudi Jayaraman and the rasikas would be treated to a double delight.

January 22nd, 2010
Another picture of the Srikantiahs together with the Jayaramans!

During the marriage ceremony of Mr. Srikantiah, Vidwan Lalgudi G. Jayaraman accompanied Vidwan T.K. Rangachari in the concert featured at Parvathi. A photograph taken in this concert has been included in the documentary film on Vidwan Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. Recently, a commemorative volume has been brought out titled “Lalgudi 80”. That book also features this photograph.

Mr. Srikantiah recalls that Vidwan Jayaraman’s wedding was held in Salem in the same period and he would have loved to attend the function, but could not do so on account of some family preoccupations. Mr Srikantiah recalls that a veena concert of Vidwan S. Balachander had been arranged during Lalgudi’s marriage ceremony.

Lalgudi has come and played in Parvathi year after year as a soloist as well as accompanist. He has given solo violin concerts and also violin duet with his son G.J.R. Krishnan and later with his daughter Vijayalakshmi. He has also accompanied stalwarts like GNB, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, T.K.Rangachari, K.V. Narayanaswamy, Madurai Somasundaram, Balamuralikrishna, Maharajapuram Santhanam, and others.

In 1986, a grand function was organized in Krishna Gana Sabha to celebrate the 50th solo concert appearance of Vidwan Lalgudi G. Jayaraman at that Sabha. The function was attended by the glitterati of the musical world and fine arts. Lata Mangeshkar, a close friend of the violin maestro, represented Bombay. The doyens Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and M. S. Subbulakshmi represented Tamil Nadu. The Travancore Ilayaraja represented Kerala. Dr. K. Pinakapani represented Andhra. Mr. Srikantiah, whose family were invited and hosted graciously by the organizers, represented Karnataka.

In later years, a musical archive project was undertaken by the Indian Foundation for Performing Arts to commemorate Lalgudi Jayaraman’s achievement. Mr. Jayaraman himself suggested to the Managing Director of the project, Ms. Padmasani, that Mr.Srikantiah be interviewed in that regard. We share below a letter from Ms. Padmasani to Mr. Srikantiah thanking him for the contribution to this project through his sharing the memories of his association with the violin maestro.

Mr. Srikantiah recalls he has been in frequent touch over all these years with the maestro and they have always had something to share with each other. Once he heard over the radio how Vidwan Lalgudi Jayaraman had won the Best Violinist award in some European City music festival and immediately phoned the maestro. The maestro himself had not received the news yet and was delighted to get the good news from such a close friend.

We also add some more spontaneous comments from Mr. Srikantiah on Padma Vibushan Lalgudi Jayaraman

"...I tell you Lalgudi’s violin is really something else…the melody that he produces is simply out of this world…he will take that raaga’s Jiva and squeeze it completely of it’s rasa…I will really play some concerts for you to hear what I am saying …"

"... a truly great man…no bad habits…I used to see him when he used to live in Saidapet having moved from Lalgudi…his father Shri Gopala Iyer used to be in that house before they moved to T’Nagar and I used to go there to pay my respects …. "

We are also delighted to share with listeners some excerpts from a solo concert in Parvathi (distinct solo pieces from the concert on April 13, 1984 with Vellore Ramabhadran and H.P. Ramachar (kanjira) )

[ 1-Enduku Peddala-Shankarabharanam -Thyagaraja; 2-Ragamalika Pallavi; 3-Bageshri Bhajan and Misra Shivaranjani Tilllana ]

and a full-fledged scintillating 1975 “Parvathi”concert with the “Pithamaha” Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

[ 01-Devadeva-Mayamalavagowla-Swati Tirunal; 02-Dwaithamu-Reetigowla-Thyagaraja; 03-Pahimam-Janaranjani-Mahavaidyanatha Sivan; 04-Kamakshi-Bhairavi swarajati-Shyama Shastri; 05-Biranabrova-Kalyani-Tarangampadi Panchanada Iyer; 06-Teliyaleru-Dhenuka-Thyagaraja; 07-Kshinamai-Mukhari-Thyagaraja; 08-Srimathrubhotham-Raga Kannada-Muthuswami Dikshitar; 09-Ramaneesamana-Kharaharapriya-Thyagaraja; 10-RTP-Todi; 11-Ramajogi-Kamas- Bhadrachala Ramdas; 12-Mangalam ]

Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer-Lalgudi Jayaraman-Vellore Ramabhadran-V.R.Krishnan

SMALL ADDENDUM TO THIS CONCERT:

“… you know for years whenever Semmangudi came … he would usually stay in our house when he would come for AIR auditions and he would come with the office bearer of the Music Academy Subbarao … I would drive him all around Mysore … This started when I was hardly eighteen with no driver’s license also. We would sleep in the corner room … and then every time at 5 o’clock in the morning he would wake me up …’ Srikantiah get up … get up ... I am going to sing now … and I want you to listen’ … this was the atmosphere … how could I escape this personality and his music? ... ”

[All text in this posting is excerpted from R.Sachi’s "Recorded Conversations with Kunigal Srikantiah" (a private collection) ]