Veena Recitals of Jayash and Manash

Veenavaadhini students Jayash and Manash learn veena and vocal over the Internet. They were in Chennai this summer for one-to-one classes. They, along with their brother Ashwin Ramanathan (a violin student of Shri HN Bhaskar), performed in various places in and around Chennai, notable among them being the one under the auspices of Fifty-Fifty Club on August 7, 2009. They also presented a musical ensemble in Mysore on August 14th at the Veena Seshanna Bhavan.

Their programmes were very well received by the live audience as well as the press. Vadapalani Times, Sakshi (Telugu Newspaper, called it "Vadyatraya Sunaadam Sumadhuram") and Star of Mysore carried favourable reports on these young performers. Given below are links to some of the press reports.

Click here for review in Vadapalani Times

Click here for review in Sakshi, Telugu Daily

Veenavaadhini Vadya Diwas

Young students of Veenavaadhini got together on August 9th to present an evening of instrumental music. Platform was made available for them to render the music taught to them on the veena, under public gaze. Contact mike was provided to the participants which definitely enhanced the sound brought out. All the participants did their best and captivated the audience with the variety presented. The programme started with three children, Harini, Dwaraknath and Aparna, whose hands could hardly cover the entire length of the veena dandi! Yet they impressed, rendering amongst them Gajananya Namaste (Varnam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar), Ninnukkori (Mohana Varnam), Mahaganapathe (Natanarayani-Dikshitar), Gurumurthe(Shankarabharanam-Dikhitar). This was followed by Banu Gopal's recital, a student senior in age, who played Thulasidala (Mayamalavagoulai-Thyagarajaswamy). She was full of enthusiasm and energy while pulling the strings.

It was then left to the students learning veena over skype, namely Radha Madhuri, and twin sisters Jayash and Manash Ramanathan, all from USA. Radha presented Brochevarevare (Sriranjani-Thyagarajaswamy) and Srichakraraja was played adroitly by the sisters. Music coming the Veena of these students was quite absorbing and we could see the confidence and maturity they have acquired.

Kum. Meenakshi, senior student of Veenavaadhini, was the last in the series to play veena. She took up Saveri varnam in two speeds and then Bhairavi raga deliniation. Dikshitar's Balagopala was played in true sampradaya style.

Violin players came in next, and those who participated were Kum Akshaya student of Smt Syamala Rajan and Sri Ashwin Ramanthan, a student of Sri HN Bhaskar. Kum Akshaya played Hamsadhwani varnam. Ashwin, elder brother of sisters Jayash and Manash, essayed a very pleasant Madhyamavathi raga alapana and followed it up with Ramakathasudha (Thyagarajaswamy).

The instrumental recitals were followed by an interesting and educative lecture-demonstration by Sri Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Smt Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan, who also took the help of Sri S Sundar, a mridangam exponent to introduce the subject of "Listening to music" to enhance one's knowledge (kelvi gnanam). They elaborated on how listening is essential in the development of music knowledge both for the practitioner and the listening public. Laptop was used to bring out the taped music of the great vocalist Tanjavur Kalyanaraman, to drive the point home as to how the three moderators have benefited by such exposure. They recommended to the parents of the students present to arrange for a friendly music environment so that music occupies an important place for the wholesome development of an individual. The discussion brought out many questions of interest from the active audience and appropriate answers were made available to them. The programme was well attended and all in all it was a very fulfilling evening for all those present.

Reported by J Thyagarajan

Thai Pushyam Day

February 8, 2009 was Thai Pushyam and we at Veenavaadhini celebrated the event with a musical offering to Lord Muruga. The programme commenced with a group rendering of some of Muthuswamy Dikshitar's krithis, namely Sri Mahaganapathi (Gowlai), Srinathadi (Mayamalavagoulai), Balasubramanyam Bhajeham (Suruti), Manasaguruguha (Anandabhairavi). Since it was a Sunday, Suryamurthe Namosthuthe (Saurashtram) was also sung. The group rendering concluded with Brahmasri Ananthakrishna Iyer's composition "Valli Devasenapathe" in Kamas and the Mangala Krithi of Dikshitar "Sri Abhayamba". This was followed by Sangitanjali by Veenavaadhini students who enthralled the audience with various songs ranging from Sri Guruguha to Varasikhi Vahana to Darisittalavil Muktiperalam, etc.

This musical presentation by students was followed by a grand Lecdem by Shri B Karthikeyan of Kolkata who had the audience at the edge of their seats with a spellbinding and educative lecture on the sthala Tiruvarur. He gave an elaborate account of the association of Tiruvarur with Muthuswamy Dikshitar and how so many of his compositions are extolling the deities enshrined in Tiruvarur. In fact some of his major group kritis like the Kamalamba Navavarana Krithis, Nilotpalamba Vibhakti Krithis and Thyagaraja vibhakti Kritis are all about the respective deities in Tiruvarur.

After this pleasant and enlightening musical evening, sakkarapongal and sundal prasadam was distributed.

Veenavaadhini Students Performances

On the 27th and 28th of December, 2008, the Gayatri Fine Arts, Rohini, New Delhi, organized a Talent Promotion Concert Series. On the 28th was a solo Veenai recital by Veena Venkatramani. The songs played were Kedaragowlai varnam, Vathapi Ganapathim, Shobillu Saptaswara, Ananda Amritavarshini, Mamavatu Shree Saraswati, Devi Neeye Tunai, Desh Thillana, English Note and Vaishanava Janato.

ON January 1, 2009, Kamakshi and Meenakshi sang a vocal concert at the Kalikamba Temple in Parrys, Chennai. The songlist comprised mostly of those in praise of Devi, including a rare composition of Muthaiah Bhagavathar, "Kalarathri Swarupini" in the raga Urmika.

PILGRIMAGE TO TIRUVANNAMALAI AND VIRINCHIPURAM

On December 5th we embarked on a trip to Thiruvannamalai and Virinchipuram as part of our Pilgrimage with Dikshitar. It was a truly unforgettable experience! We are immensely grateful to Sri Chandrasekara Sastrigal, who arranged the darshan, the group singing sitting in front of the shrine of Arunachaleshwarar, and took wonderful care of us, despite it being very crowded, the time coinciding with the Brahmotsavam period of Karthigai Deepam. We sang Arunachalanatham Smarami, Dishitar's composition in Saranga, sitting just a couple of feet away from the shrine. The temple authorities then requested us to sing a song in front of Amman as well. Since Dikshitar has not composed any kriti on Abheetakuchambal, we sang Kamalambam Bhajare in Kalyani in the Amman sannidhi. Thereafter we proceeded to listen to Veda Parayanam, and Vastradanam was made to the priests (shawls were presented). We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Smt and Sri K. Balasubramanian, Smt and Sri H.P Ramamurthy and Smt and Sri Arjun Shankar for their contributions towards the Vastradanam made by the Veenavaadhini group in Thiruvannamalai.

After lunch we proceeded to the Margabandheeshwarar temple in Virinchipuram, which is about 13 km from Vellore on the Gudiyatham route. What a magnificient temple! We were completely overwhelmed by the architecture and the serene peaceful surroundings. We soaked in the atmosphere to our heart's content. When we entered the Margabandhu shrine, there was no electricity. It was about 5:30 PM and we witnessed the beautiful sight of the abhishekam being performed on the lingam in the light of the lamps lit there. Oh! What a sight! We sang Margasahayeshwaram Bhajeham in the raga Kasiramakriya as well as Parvathikumaram Bhavaye in Nattakurinji while the abhishekam was being performed. After partaking the abhisheka theertham, we proceeded to the Maragathavalli Amman Sannidhi. The idol was beautiful. It is interesting to note that from this Sannadhi there is a tunnel (surangapadhai) which goes right up to the Vellore Fort. This, we gathered, was for the royal family to use in case of an emergency. We sang Maragathavalli Manasa Smarami in the raga Kambhoji in the Amman Sannadhi. There was a feeling of contentment, which is difficult to describe in words.

We did take some pictures which are uploaded here. Also is a slide show on Virinchipuram which we found on the web, in an album created by Mr. Achyutha RN. Unfortunately he has not indicated his email id, whereby we would have acknowledged to him in writing. We hope he chances upon this post and writes to us, and we can profusely thank him for his beautiful pictures.



Virinchipuram Temple of Lord Shiva.

PILGRIMAGE TO ADIPURISHWARAR TEMPLE

As part of our "Pilgrimage With Dikshitar" endeavour, a group of us went to the Vadivudaiamman Temple in Tiruvottriyur, Chennai. The Moolavar here is Adipurishwarar on whom Dikshitar has composed "Adipurishwaram Sada Bhajeham" in the Raga Arabhi. We sang the songs Adipurishwaram and Tripurasundari (Raga Sama) sitting in front of the Sannadhi of Adipurishwarar. The lingam is described in the song as "Naga Kavacha Dhara Saikata Lingam." It was a wonderful experience to see the golden nagakavacham on the Lingam, and correlate the same with the words in the song as we sung. The rendition is uploaded in Veenavaadhini's podcast (the pink box on the right in this site). For more on the temple please visit the temple website www.vadivudaiamman.org

VEENA NAVARATHRI

The Veena Foundation and Indira Gandhi National Council for the Arts came together once again this year to celebrate the Veena Navarathri in Chennai with a series of Veena concerts for nine consecutive days. Shri Raghurama Ayyar is the person behind this veena movement so to speak, and his enthusiasm is driven by his passion for the instrument. Karthik Fine Arts, Narada Gana Sabha and Parthasarathy Swami Sabha supported this endeavour. The theme of the festival was Guru-Shishya Parampara and gave us the opportunity to showcase our disciples.

Veena Venkatramani, student of Veenavaadhini, performed at the Veena Navarathri. This picture of hers that appeared in The Hindu Friday Review edition of Chennai and copy of the report is given below:

"The finale to the series came with young Veena Venkataramani playing to the percussion of Ramkumar another youngster. “Ekathandam” in Bilahari, “Kanja dalaya dakshi” in Kamalamanohari and “Saraswathi vidhiyuvathi” in Hindolam were her selections."