Music Workshop at Thennangur - 1/2/2014

Naadasangamam (Narada Gana Sabha Trust, Chennai) conducted a 2-day Music workshop at Thennangur on the 1st and 2nd of February, 2014.

It was a great experience teaching students two Kritis of Sri.Margadarshi Seshayyangar. There were around 27 participants who had enrolled in this workshop. They were all music students of high calibre and a few of them are regular performing artists too.

The two kritis that I handled were pAhi sEshashaila nAyakA(Anandabhairavi) and sArasadaLa nayanA(surutti).

The other resource persons in this workshop were:

Dr.R.S.Jayalakshmi (session on tAnam singing):

Sri.K.Arunprakash (session on maths, music and mridangam):

Smt.Shyamala Venkateshwaran (session on rare kritis):

Dr.R.Vedavalli (session on nuances of kalpanaswarA singing ):

The students also had a yoga session and other interesting, interactive sessions.

The sessions took place in a hall within the premises of the beautiful Panduranga temple at Thennangur.

(Seen in the picture alongwith me are Smt.Ranjani Sivakumar Siddareddy and Smt.Chitra Srikanth- both are musicians who had enrolled in this workshop.)

Dr.R.S.Jayalakshmi was the convenor of the workshop. Smt.Sumati Krishnan and Smt.Mala Mohan were the co-ordinators.

I would have loved to have been there for the entire duration of the workshop, but had to return after my session due to other commitments. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable experience !

Myriad Forms of Lord Siva (Episode 11) - 26/1/14

Session 11 of "Myriad Forms of Lord Siva" :

It was a great honor to have the legend and maestro Dr.Balamuralikrishna as the Chief Guest for this session despite his indifferent health. I felt elated that he appreciated my efforts and wished me well. What was awe-inspiring was the fact that the entire audience stood as he left the auditorium. That was a true example of the respect he automatically commanded. My heartfelt thanks and pranams to him.

Guest of Honor was Sri.N.V.Subramaniam, Managing Trustee, Saraswathi Vaggeyakara Trust.

Co-artists:

V.V.S.Murari - Violin
Jayalakshmi Sekhar - Veena
B.Sivaraman - Mridangam

Sections of the audience:

Final Episode of "Myriad Forms of Lord Siva" will be on the 8th of March (Saturday), 2014 at Tattvaloka at 5 p.m.

Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha - 22/1/14

Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha conducted Tyagaraja Aradhana concerts as part of their 28th Anniversary Celebrations from the 18th to 22nd January, 2014. My concert was on the last day of the series.

Co-artists were:
V.V.S.Murari - Violin
R.Sankaranarayanan - Mridangam
Nerkunam Sankar - Kanjira

We presented Utsava Sampradaya Kritis and Divyanama Kirtanas of Saint Tyagaraja.

Song List:
 1.   churNika - nAtai, gowLai, Arabhi, varALi, srI
 2.  endarO mahAnubhAvulu - sri - Adi    
 3.  dasaratha nandana - asAveri - Adi (S)
 4.  parama pAvana - pantuvarALi - misra cApu (R,N,S)
 5.  badalika deera - rItigowLa - Adi
 6.  rAma rAma rAma - mOhanam - misra cApu (S)
 7.  rakshabettarE - bhairavi - Adi (R,N,S,T)
 8.  rAma pAhi - kApI -misra cApu
 9.  karuNajaladhE - nAdanAmakriyA - Adi
10. patikihAratI - surutti - Adi
11. mangaLam