Sangeetha Sevaka felicitated

The Smrithy and Canara Union jointly felicitated C G Anantha Swamy last week. Speakers recalled Anantha Swamy's yeoman services as a Harmonium player, organiser and a selfless guide of Hindustani Music organisations.

After the felicitation function a vocal concert was held in memory of Pandith Rama Rao Nayak and Khadim Hussain Khan (Sajanpiya), which was sponsored by Jayavanth Rao and Lalith J Rao.

Pandith Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi's concert was a proportioned presentation of choice melodies. There was customary abandon when he began with the rag Shyamkalyan. He gave a majestic portrayal of the raga.Comparatively “Durge Matha Bhavani” was brief, but lent a convincing imagery of the melody.

Charukauns, the infrequently heard raga glorying in its measured development revealed his brilliance. He concluded with a popular devotional — “Ram Ram Kahe.”  He was supported spiritedly by Ravindra Yavagal on Tabla and Vyasamurthy Katti on Harmonium.

Carnatic music  in Angklung

The Suswaralaya College of Music held a music festival in connection with its eighth anniversary. The “Swaralaya Shringa” title was conferred on Rudrapattana Brothers (R N Tyagarajan and R. N. Tharanathan) and four music CD's were released. Six Thambura players (G A Sripada Rao, K S Gopalakrishna, B G Nanjappa, V N Gopinatha Rao, Hulikal Prasad and V Jaganatha Rao) wee honoured on the occasion, which was appreciated by one and all.

The inaugural function was followed by an instrumental concert. No, it was not the usual familiar musical instrument ! The 'Angklung' — that too with the 'Ghata Tarang'! Angklung is a Indonesian instrument, but also  used in many south east Asian countries.

It is made of Bamboo, a horizontal tube - two octave tubes with two tongues on each tube. Anasuya Kulakarni has not only mastered it but also plays Carnatic Music in it ! Anasuya opened the concert with a Varna (Mohana), customarily. Then it was followed by a invocatory piece "VaraGanapathe" of T. Chowdaiah and "Jalandhara" is a familiar composition.

The raga (Mohana), Thana and Pallavi (Aadi Thala) though evocative, not wholesome ! Sukanya Ramgopal performed "Shiva Shambho" in her Ghata Tarang and together with Anasuya also played few pieces. With some more rehearsels and homework Angklung may synchronise well with Ghata Tarang, for a better impact. Jyothsna Manjunath, Ranjani Venkatesh, Bhagyalakshmi Krishna accompanied on Violin, Mridanga and Morching respectively.

Gaana Sudha Academy

The Gaana Sudha Sugama Sangeetha Academy is serving the music field from last 50 years and has trained hundreds of students, under the direction of S Somasundaram. A day long function with a number of sessions, was organised on last Sunday. A book (Gaana Sudha Bhavadhare) with 101 Kannada lyrics with notation was also released, on the occasion.

Students of the academy sang in unison "Jai anni" of Markandapuram Srinivas. Padmasri and Purnasri chose "Kshana Kshanaku Nanna" of Dr G S Shivarudrappa. While the young trio (Sukanya Ravi, Jayashri Kamath and Anuradha Hrishikeshavan) selected a poem (Jaya Jaya Kannada Rajeshwari) of Dr N S Lakshmi Narayan Bhat.

The 'Natanavadidal' of Dr D V Gundappa was presented by Suvarna Narayan and K Srinivasa Murthy sang another poem of Dr N S L Bhatta. There was an interesting session on "Kavana Vaachana and Gayana". The poetess read their poems and young musicians sang them, which helped in better understanding of the poems.

Shashikala Veeraiah Swamy's 'Ananthanantha' was sung by Akanksha Badami and Ananda Madalagere. H Phalguna chose a poem of M R Bhagawathi and Savitha Kuppasada's choice was a lyric of Hemapattana Setty. K Shariffs Kannada lyric was sung by the quartet—Revathy, Anusha, prateeksha and Varna.

Ashwini Somasundraram and Sameer Bharadwaj took a lyric of Dr. Poornima, while Kavya Rao chose Roopa's poem. The session was concluded with a duet - by Padmashree Ramesh and Purnashree Ramesh, whose choice was the lyrics of B. T. Lalitha Nayak. The artistes sang well and deserve encouragement.

Yuva Sourabha

The Directorate of Kannada and Culture had organised a vocal duet in the "Yuva Sourabha" serial, on Wednesday at the Nayana Auditorium. Both the artistes—G. M. Soumya and B. Charita—are B.Com students,  also learning music. The young vocalists presented lyrics of great Kannada poets. D. R. Bendre's "Chumuchumu Nasukinali" was rendered with lilting melody. A very popular composition "Shravana Bhanthu Kaadige" was  also sung. 

Other well known lyrics sung were "Kurudu Kanchana" and "Ghama Ghamadisthava Mallige". "Thumbu Thingallina" of Dr. K. S. Narasimha Swamy was sung with good feeling. But the folk song was not free from slips ! They concluded with another fine song "Elegallu Nuraru" of H. S. Venkatesha Murthy. With some more higher training and stage experience, Soumya and Charita can reach great heights. Shivanand Jois and Phaneendra accompanied on keyboard and Tabla.