<p>Kala Mantapa <br /> <br /></p>.<p>Hamsadwani – the music organization under the direction of well known musician M S Sheela, started the youth wing (Kala Mantapa) last week. It is aimed at conducting a study circle and a music concert, alternatively, on the Second Sunday of every month, at the creative Chithrakuta Apartment, Thalakaveri Layout, Amrithahalli, Bangalore North.<br /><br />Kumari Srimatha, who gave a vocal concert, is the daughter of Geetha Ramanand, senior Veena player and a disciple of M S Sheela, reputed vocalist. She has passed proficiency examination with distinction and has won prizes in different competitions. She has also worked as a programme associate with India Foundation and Ananya. The celebrated Varna ‘Yeranapai’ in the raga Thodi, gave Srimatha a bright start. <br /><br />‘Vanajaksha nine namithi’ was also a fine choice. The alap and swara for “Sogasuga Mrudanga Thaallamu” was brief, but gave a soulful picture of the raga. ‘Yochana Kamala’, another familiar composition, was a quickie. Though “Bhajare Chitha Balambika” is an evocative composition, few slips could have been avoided. <br /><br />‘Brahmanda Valaye’ of Maharaja Jayachamrajendra Wodeyar is a pleasing composition in the raga Mand (Janya in the raga Shankarabharana), which also had few slips! Audience (gathered in small number), appreciated the young vocalist’s choice of raga – thana – pallavi; Varna and the Pallavi were rendered in the <br />same raga, which is old tradition. <br /><br />The Chatusra Roopaka Thala Pallavi (Neeraja dalanayana) could not make deep impact and though she has a good voice, a distinct imagery failed to emerge. Yene shukabhashiny (Anthapura Geethe – DVG), Narahari Chanchala (Prayee Das), Mannarukrishnage (Mangala) – were also different from the usual compositions. With some more higher training and stage experience Sreematha can reach great heights.<br />Achutha Rao on violin and Adamya Bhat on mridanga – gave good support.<br /><br />Lively concert <br /><br />Young vocalist G Ravikiran gave the final concert of the “Ugadi Utsava” on Sunday, under the auspices of the Ananya. He is establishing in the music field very fast with his talent and hard practice.<br /><br />Ravikiran presented a number of evocative compositions, in his current concert. For instance “Ninu Vinaga” of Shyama Sastry was decorated with a detailed Nerval and Swara. Ravikiran is tempted by the middle and fast tempo. ‘Ramachandrena Samrakshithoham’ was brief but a fine kruthi.<br /><br /> But one felt that a slightly slower tempo would have invested the “Himagiri Thanaye” with greater grandeur, as the lyrics appeared garbled by heavy vibration.<br /><br /> The climax came with a fine Bilahari and the Keerthane “Naa Jeevadhara” of Saint Tyagaraja. After singing the composition with good feeling, the swara with attractive permutation and combinations, was complementary to both the raga and the kruthi. A devotional (Rama Rama Rama Seetha), Jawadi and a thillana (Purnachandrike) – were the highlights of the last part of the concert.<br /><br />Charulatha Ramanujam (violin), Tanjore Praveen Kumar (mridanga) and M A Krishnamurthy (Ghata) – rose to great heights in their supporting roles.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Kala Mantapa <br /> <br /></p>.<p>Hamsadwani – the music organization under the direction of well known musician M S Sheela, started the youth wing (Kala Mantapa) last week. It is aimed at conducting a study circle and a music concert, alternatively, on the Second Sunday of every month, at the creative Chithrakuta Apartment, Thalakaveri Layout, Amrithahalli, Bangalore North.<br /><br />Kumari Srimatha, who gave a vocal concert, is the daughter of Geetha Ramanand, senior Veena player and a disciple of M S Sheela, reputed vocalist. She has passed proficiency examination with distinction and has won prizes in different competitions. She has also worked as a programme associate with India Foundation and Ananya. The celebrated Varna ‘Yeranapai’ in the raga Thodi, gave Srimatha a bright start. <br /><br />‘Vanajaksha nine namithi’ was also a fine choice. The alap and swara for “Sogasuga Mrudanga Thaallamu” was brief, but gave a soulful picture of the raga. ‘Yochana Kamala’, another familiar composition, was a quickie. Though “Bhajare Chitha Balambika” is an evocative composition, few slips could have been avoided. <br /><br />‘Brahmanda Valaye’ of Maharaja Jayachamrajendra Wodeyar is a pleasing composition in the raga Mand (Janya in the raga Shankarabharana), which also had few slips! Audience (gathered in small number), appreciated the young vocalist’s choice of raga – thana – pallavi; Varna and the Pallavi were rendered in the <br />same raga, which is old tradition. <br /><br />The Chatusra Roopaka Thala Pallavi (Neeraja dalanayana) could not make deep impact and though she has a good voice, a distinct imagery failed to emerge. Yene shukabhashiny (Anthapura Geethe – DVG), Narahari Chanchala (Prayee Das), Mannarukrishnage (Mangala) – were also different from the usual compositions. With some more higher training and stage experience Sreematha can reach great heights.<br />Achutha Rao on violin and Adamya Bhat on mridanga – gave good support.<br /><br />Lively concert <br /><br />Young vocalist G Ravikiran gave the final concert of the “Ugadi Utsava” on Sunday, under the auspices of the Ananya. He is establishing in the music field very fast with his talent and hard practice.<br /><br />Ravikiran presented a number of evocative compositions, in his current concert. For instance “Ninu Vinaga” of Shyama Sastry was decorated with a detailed Nerval and Swara. Ravikiran is tempted by the middle and fast tempo. ‘Ramachandrena Samrakshithoham’ was brief but a fine kruthi.<br /><br /> But one felt that a slightly slower tempo would have invested the “Himagiri Thanaye” with greater grandeur, as the lyrics appeared garbled by heavy vibration.<br /><br /> The climax came with a fine Bilahari and the Keerthane “Naa Jeevadhara” of Saint Tyagaraja. After singing the composition with good feeling, the swara with attractive permutation and combinations, was complementary to both the raga and the kruthi. A devotional (Rama Rama Rama Seetha), Jawadi and a thillana (Purnachandrike) – were the highlights of the last part of the concert.<br /><br />Charulatha Ramanujam (violin), Tanjore Praveen Kumar (mridanga) and M A Krishnamurthy (Ghata) – rose to great heights in their supporting roles.<br /><br /></p>
