Music reviews

Rising stars of Carnatic music

Ananya conducted the ‘Sangati – celebrating the music of youth’ with flute, veena and instrumental ensemble apart from vocal concerts, last week.Most of the artistes who performed in the youth festival are familiar names to music connoisseurs, who have proved their mettle from different platforms many a times.

For instance N. Rajkamal, who gave the inaugural concert has won ‘Best Performer’ prize from the Ganakala Parishat in the year 2000 itself and has played flute in the leading sabhas of the state.  Opening kruthi ‘Sri |Raghukula’ was a welcome change from the routine compositions, which gave a bright start to Rajkamal’s concert. Kamach, the evocative raga, was rendered delectably.

The keerthana ‘Sujana Jeevana’ of Tyagaraja was quiet popular in old Mysore during the middle of 20th century. Old timers recalled those old memories and ‘Idinyayama’ was presented in jet speed. Simhendra madhyama was chosen for a detailed delineation and the kruthi “Rama Rama Guna Seema” was methodically developed.

Rajkamal’s flute is melodious and the presentation is lively. But like other musicians of his age he is also tempered by the middle and fast tempo.  Paying attention to ‘Vilamba Kaala’ is equally important. Violinist B.K. Raghu played on a tuneful, sensitive note while the percussionists B.R. Srinivas (mridanga) and B.J. Kiran Kumar (morching) – accompanied with good understanding.

Speed mars the melody

Chandanbala Kalyan is  not a stranger to music lovers.She has performed in many Sabhas and was part of the cultural activities of the city and now (after marriage) has settled in Mumbai.

The unfailing kruthi ‘Lambodaraya’ gave her a good start. With a good prelude of ragalapana of Natakuranji the Kanakadasa’s devaranama “Kula Kulavendu” with Nerval (Siri Kaginele Aadi Keshava). But the swara was over stretched and the impact reduced.

“Seetha Manohara” of Saint Tyagaraja was sung with swara. Hindola alapana and Thana was followed by a Pallavi (Dasa Dasara Maneya Dasanu Dasa).
 No doubt “Shatkaala Pallavi” is challenging to any young artiste! But it appeared garbled by heavy vibration, in high speed!

She rendered swara in ragamalike too and also tried ‘Shruthibheda’! Chandanbala has a rich voice and is hard practitioner.

With some more concert experience, she will be able to use her discretion and proportion of different elements. Shankar Rajan on violin, B.S. Prashanth on mridanga and Bhargava Halambi on Khanjari – combined effectively.

Vocalist from Malaysia

Sampagodu Vighnaraja who gave a vocal recital on Friday in the ‘Sangathi’ serial hails from Shringeri and now settled in Malaysia.

He sprang a surprise in the opening piece itself. He sang the varna (yerana pai) in ‘Shatkaala’, which was proof of his hard practice.

The invocatory piece “Sree Shakthi Ganapathim” in Bhegade was the composition of his father Surya Narayan Bhat.

It was followed by a Purandaradasa devaranama ‘Rama Rama Rama Enniro’ with raga, nerval and swara. Though ‘Nenaruncinana’ is a popular keerthana a slightly slower tempo would have invested it with greater grandeur.

After ‘Jananee ninuvina’ the climax came with ‘Enduku nirdaya’.

Vighnaraja has good voice and the presentation is fairly good and he has a bright future in the years to come. H.M. Smitha, S. Ashok and Amrut Kumar gave good support on violin, mridanga and morching, respectively.