Venkateswaran Somasundram India Concert June 2024
07 July 2024
Dear Indian Classical Music Lovers: CARNATIC MUSIC CONCERT
I performed a carnatic vocal music concert on Thursday, 13 June 2024 at 5.00 p.m. at Anandam Senior Citizens Home, Ambattur, Chennai, India.
The co-artistes were Carva Rajasekar on the violin, Vaidyarajasekar Vaidya on the Mridangam, Madippakkam Murali on the ghatam and Madipakkam Gopalakrishnan on the kanjira.
The concert commenced with the krithi “Sharanu Siddhi Vinayaka” in praise of Lord Vinayaka, in Raga Sowrashtram, Tala Misra Chapu, composed by Purandaradasa.
The krithi “Evarani” in Raga Devamruthavarshini, Tala Adi, composed by Thyagarajaswamy, followed.
The sub-main item that ensued was the Navagraha Krithi “Mahasuram Ketum Agam” in Raga Chamaram (Shanmugapriya), Tala Rupakam, composed by Muthuswamy Dikshitar. Kalpana swaras were rendered at “Guruguha Chamara Bharanam.” This is in compliance with the instructions of my revered Guruji, Violin Maestro Padma Shri Dr. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, that a Navagraha Krithi should be rendered in every concert.
Carva Rajasekar played a beautiful alapana of Raga Anandha Bhairavi, with apt inclusions of the anniya swaras of the Raga, i.e. andhara gandharam (G3), suddha dhaivatham (D1) and kakali nishadham (N3).
This was followed by the krithi “Paradevi Thiruparkadal” in Tala Rupakam, composed by Neelakanta Sivan.
The main item of the concert was the Raga Rathipathipriya. The Raga Alapana was delivered in three octaves alternating with one another: manthra sthayee (baritone or lower octave), adhara sthayee (mid-range or middle octave) and dhara sthayee (soprano or upper octave). It was followed by the krithi “Jaga Janani” in Tala Adi, composed by Ghanam Krishna Iyer. V. Rajasekar, Madipakkam Murali and Madipakkam Gopalakrishnan played a beautiful percussion solo (Thani Avarthanam), with emphasis on the thisra nadai (multiples of three rhythm measures or aksharas) and kanda nadai (multiples of five rhythm measures or aksharas) with the commencement/landing point (eduppu) set at two time measures (aksharas) after zero base (samam).
The climax session of the percussion solo had the audiences clapping and joining in the mood.
The popular krithi “Amba Manam Kanindhu” in Raga Panthuvarali, Tala Adi, composed by Papanasam Sivan, which ensued was first performed by the great music maestro M.K. Thiagaraja Bhagavathar in the film “Sivakavi.”
The last item of the two-hour concert was the krithi “Radha Sametha Krishna” in Raga Yamun Kalyani (Misra Yaman), Tala Adi, composed by G.N. Balasubramaniam, followed by mangalam (valediction).
I am pleased to enclose the videos of this concert (9 Parts):
(1) https://youtu.be/Guxv2K1-iQ4?si=xyLg8axWVrNc-qFg ,
(2) https://youtu.be/TSxjTsMg3Sk?si=CVEm-Jy0RCEk0TO6 , (3) https://youtu.be/Pa7VKK-52MI?si=kjpwzW3LPunmbPvh , (4) https://youtu.be/HdllokEr2A8?si=AwmgWBTw_uaeSOwn , (5) https://youtu.be/q2ZTPsXY75k?si=Gj1DxKy2PAY04NiM , (6) https://youtu.be/-13Ij4-i9j8?si=Hx3o1oSLDV_00s8G , (7) https://youtu.be/HsJCndjHVXw?si=591297Hjcp1uYVx- , (8) https://youtu.be/kiXqMdVSKWo?si=SoBL2fdf2ebYekDt , (9)
https://youtu.be/gn5Xm5bq3Ao?si=RbbgMgD-M77lkONj
(Please use good headphones for better listening experience).
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Anandam Senior Citizens Home for hosting this concert, to all volunteers, particularly to Shri K. Narayanan, for helping to manage the sound system and for delivering the vote of thanks.
A big thank you to Srimathi N. Padma and to Srimathi Bhageerathy Ramamoorthy for facilitating this wonderful musical event.
Shri Gurubhyo Namaha.
