JOIN USVocal, veena, violin concerts
The Karnataka College of Percussion is a internationally known organisation. It is a well-known percussion training centre and also a very reputed participant in jazz and fusion music world.
Directors T A S Mani and R A Ramamani are reputed conductors and composers and their CDs are on sale in several countries.
Apart from training in vocal and percussion instruments, the college conducts music festival and workshops every year. The 48th Music Festival was held last week with vocal, veena and violin solo concerts.
Padmabhushan Dr R K Srikantan, the nonagenarian musician, selected choice compositions and presented it in a grand manner.
He sang “Vara Siddivinayakam” with brief swara, which was lively. He rendered “Ranganayakam,” highlighting the ragabhava. He prefaced “Sri Raghukula” with a short and evocative alap and swara.
His son, R S Ramakantha, brought out curvaceous texture of “Saveri,” revealing his grasp over the classical medium. After “Inthakante”, the popular devaranama “Harikathashravana Mado” were also enjoyable.
S Seshagiri Rao on violin, N Vasudeva on mridanga and B N Chandramouli on khanjari – lent excellent support.
A promising vocalist
Anjali Sriram, disciple of M S Sheela, a popular vocalist, has won prizes in few competitions and has already performed in some Sabha and Sammelanas.
Her choice of the composition of Mysore Sadashiva Rao was well appreciated by the audience. The “Saraswathi Bhagawathy” was also a good choice. The delineation of Madhyamavati for “Palinchu Kamakshee” was followed by “Swaraprasthara.” It could have been much more impactful with a detailed alapana and nerval.
But Anjali possess sweet voice and exhibited good taste in both selection and presentation. With some more higher training and concert experience Anjali Sriram can reach great heights. She was accompanied on violin by Mysore Satish, on mridanga by Anirudh Bhat and on morching by Amrit Kumar.
Impactful Nadaswara recital
On the valedictory of the Shankara Jayanthi Music Festival, a pleasant surprise awaited the music lovers. Comparatively, a less known musician N Anjaneyalu of Bagepalli, gave an impactful Nadaswara recital and was patted by the music lovers.
He opened his concert with a “Varna” (Sumanesha, Ranjini), which gave him a steady start.
It was followed by – “Siddi Vinayakam,” “Seethamma Mayamma” and “Chethana” – evocatively. He crowned his effort with a “Pallavi” (Kokilapriya) set to Khanda Triputa taala. It was lovely and went straight to the hearts of the audience.
G N Lakshminarasappa caught the attention as a co-player. R Raj Kumar and Punpalli P M Subramani – on dhol duet kept pace with the main artiste ably.
All these concerts were held under the aegis of Sri Tyagaraja Gana Sabha Trust. A book called “Karnataka Sangeetha in last 100 years and future” by B K Anatharam, was also released by Dr S C Sharma, Vice-Chairman, Higher Education Council and Dr A H Rama Rao was the chief guest.
Sunaada Vadya Vaibhava
The Laya Milana troupe of Sri Mookambika Thalavadya Sangeetha Kalashala presented a percussion ensemble called “Sunaada Vadya Vaibhava.”
A dozen percussion instruments like – mridanga, ghatta, khanjari, morching, tabla, dhol, konakol – were along with flute (L V Mukund) and violin (J K Sridhar), performed with gay abandon. The “Viriboni” varna in two speeds gave them a rollicking start.
The percussion instrument led by B K Chandramouli accompanied by turn for the “Swara Prasthara for the keerthane “Vinayaka.”
But the finale came in the form of an “Swarakshara Pallavi.” They presented the Pallavi (Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma) in adi taala and neatly performed in three kaala and chatusra, khanda, thishra, mishra – were lively and entertaining. Percussionists vying with each other combined effectively and was enjoyed by the large gathering.