This was my first (live) music season - December 2007. It all began on 23/12/07. The first concert I went to was of Ms.S.M. Vilasini. She sang a major piece in kharagarapriya and then Idhi thano tilay in sindu bairavi.
Next was a jugalbandi of my gurus - the Carnatica brothers and Shri Ramesh Narayan – a hindustani singer. The brothers sang Natai and he sang Aberi. There was an alapana contest between the brothers and him and one of my gurus, Chitravina Ganesh touched the upper “Sa” of the melastayi. Then the brothers sang Hamsanandi and he sang Sohini.
Next there was a concert of Sri Sanjay subramanium. He sang the marvelous piece Kanukontini in Bilahari. He also sang an ashtapati in sindu bairavi. He also sang a beautiful piece, Pranathali Hari in Several ragas.
On 24/12/07 we first went to a violin concert of Mrs. Lalgudi Srimati and Mrs. Anuradha Sridar. They played a ragamalika of Varali, Suddha Saveri, Kamas etc. and the famous Sutum vidi chudarai.
There was a concert of Ms.Nisha Rajagopal. She sang Sita pate na manasuna in Kamas and Pankaja lochana in Kalyani. I learnt that now she has quit her job and fully into music! This will be Carnatic Music's gain.
Next there was a concert of Shri. T.M. Krishna at Krishna Gana Sabha. He sang the famous Kalaharana in Suddha Saveri. He sang the famous ragamalika pallavi “Sankarabarananai azhai Thodi vadi Kalyani Darbarukku” for RTP. I really did not like the settings and audio at the Krishna Gana Sabha. I think it is miles away from the Music Academy's systems!
Last we zipped through Chennai Traffic like crazy to Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha - to the concert of Mrs.Gayatri Venkataragavan. She sang Bavayami gopala balam in Madyamavati and a thilana. Her rendering of the "Vitala" Abhang really made several people cry and sent a wave through the hall!
On 25/12/07 I went to a Hindolam speech by Guru, Shri Janakiraman. We learnt the 36 Hindolam varieties:
Raga name--Family
Indrapriya---Kanakangi
Alaru---Salagam
Swayamvaram---Ratnangi
Aditya---Jalarnavam
Svirini---Ganamurti
Varunatmaja---Jalavarali
Sarthalangi---Vanaspati
Ranga---Navaneetam
Saravanti---Manavati
Nivaram---Pavani
Vipani---Tanaroopi
Alava---Ragupriya
Anguru---Senavati
Kavarthan---Gavambodi
Hindolam---Hanumatodi
Karmuru---Bavapriya
Kadaram---Denuka
Thita---Subhapantuvarali
Varam---Natakapriya
Nili---Sadvidamargini
Kamalaa---Gokilapriya
Asathi---Suarnangi
Ashti---Rupavati
Kamala---Divyamni
Kanaka---Gayakapriya
Talpem---Davalambari
Sallabam---Vakulabaranam
Sadhvee---Namanarayani
Tharavam---Mayamalavagaula
Niharam---Kamavardini
Nila---Chakravagam
Viba---Ramapriya
Daka---Suryakantam
Sumalavimodini---Gamanasrama
Kamalini---Hatakambari
Chandrika---vishvambari
From this speech I learnt how to do good aalapanai and make my own pallavi. Before this speech I thought there was only one Hindolam variety.
Next we went to a concert of Abishek Raghuram in the Academy. He sang the famous Vatapi ganapatim bhaje in Hamsadwani. He also sang KaaVaaVaa in Varali.
Finally on 29th evening, we went to my gurus - Carnatica Brothers' concert at the PSBB School in KK Nagar. They sang the famous Viriboni in Bhairavi and Seetamma mayama in Vasanta. On 30th December morning we went to a concert of my other gurus Rudrapatnam brothers in the Great Academy Auditorium. The best pieces were Saminine in Sri and Narasimha mamava in Bilahari and an RTP in SriRanjani with swaras in Sri, Ranjani, Mega Ranjani and Jana Ranjani. They also sang a very rare raga – Tivra Vahini!
One word about the Music Academy hall and the audio systems - No wonder people say that every seat is a good seat in the Academy!
This was my first season so I did a lot of 'Sabha hopping'. I learnt many things this season. I learnt to do alapanai for some ragas, how the thani avarthanam ends in a concert, to give gamakas in a song etc. Overall this was a great experience for me and I already look forward for the next season 2008!
