Pallavi - A blog on Carnatic Music

Based on the frequency of my repeated listenings I have chosen to provide links to three beautiful Ilayaraja compositions, which IMHO rank among the finest of his output.

1. Keeravani from Paadum Paravaigal -- A beautiful composition in the Keeravani scale -- wonderful mix of guitar and violin -- what an amazing start --- plus SPB singing in a fine bass voice. (SPB's amazing sense of Thalam is very evident here -- look how Janaki struggles in the last lines of the charanam "kanavugal pala valarthen...")

http://merlin.cs.uic.edu/download/tamil-film/Keeravani.mp3

2. Dheem Dheeranana from Enakkul Oruvan - A beautiful "thillana-like" dance composition in the Suddha Dhanyasi Ragam -- again some fine orchestration here -- wish the people who do orchestration for carnatic songs take a lesson or two from Ilayaraja!

http://merlin.cs.uic.edu/download/tamil-film/Dheem-Dhiranana.mp3

3. Madura Marikozhundhu -- from Enga Ooru Paatukaaran - in Mayamayava Gowla scale -- note that similar to the compositions above, there is splendid western orchestration -- but then the song itself has a very "folk" flavor -- a beautiful mix of some fine poetry and chorus singing! Listen to the charam lines ("pottunna..") -- each long line spans two beat cycles and set to a beautiful pace -- tops the list!

http://merlin.cs.uic.edu/download/tamil-film/Madhura.mp3

Enjoy,
--venkat

I attended a peace vigil organized by a local church in Port Jefferson last weekend. There was some very nice choir singing, and was followed by readings from various religious texts.

While walking back home, I was reminded of Santhi Nilava Vendum -- a pleasant song and did some research on that song over the weekend.

The song was written by Suddhanandha Bharati (the "eppadi paadinaro" song), who was an ardent fan of Bharatiyaar -- and a close associate of Kalki Krishnamurti and Ramalinga adigal -- and was an activist for Tamizh Isai.

His songs has been set to music by other musicians -- Calcutta Krishnamurti -- and this song was set to tune by Sethu Madhava Rao.

About the song itself -- it is sent to Tilang ragam -- and was a favorite of DK Pattamaal and MS Subbulakshmi. The song was composed right after Gandhi's death -- the last charanam actually is a dedication --! All the way underscoring the need for greater understanding of all
people!

URL: is -- here

Rendered very nicely by Sudha Raghunathan.

Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam!
--venkat

In a rare moment of inspiration after my music lesson, my teacher launched on to a spontaneous alapana of Kiravani -- and I got the sense to push the record button on the walkman a few seconds later! The alapana is chopped in the beginning (my slow start). It certainly isnt very polished as concert presentations are -- but has the surprise
sparks all over -- It was certainly a privilege to sit close and listen!

my music site -- in raga improvisations -- teacher-kiravani-alapana.mp3

Link: Click here to listen.

Her name is Lalita, and is 60 years old. She is not singing at her natural sruthi (this was just after the class, and the tampura was still on -- and she started off there --!

I kept listening to Martin Simpson singing "The running kind", today. The pleasant singing and the nice guitar (Simpson himself) and banjo playing (David Hidalgo), and above all the lyrics with a touch of sadness, kept pushing me to the depths of the poetry and music further and further on repeated listening.

Here is the song:

The Running Kind

The lyrics of the song:


The Running Kind
----------------

I was born the running kind, leaving always on my mind
Home was never home to me at anytime
Every front door found me open I would find the back door open
There just had to be a lesson for the running kind

Within me there's a prison, surrounding me alone
As real as any dungeon with a wall of stone
I know running's not the answer, but running's been my nature
And a part of me that keeps me moving on

I was born the running kind, leaving always on my mind
Home was never home to me at anytime
Every front door found me open I would find the back door open
There just had to be a lesson for the running kind
-- Merle Haggard


The fine violin in the background (adding the carnatic touch) is Viji Krishnan (TNK's daughter) and P Srinivasan is on Mridangam. Album is from Waterlily acoustics.

Love and Peace!

With the job search over, I'm getting to spend more time alone, and with music and hope to do this more regularly. Today's music is a rare find. A rendition of a bhajan (by Swati Tirunal) in Brindavana Saranga on the flute by KS Gopalakrishnan. A short piece --- played with great sensitivity.

KSG is a great player, unfortunately has been given a poor treatment by the Madras Carnatic circle. (He is from Kerala).

Click here to listen to the bhajan.

I went to sleep last night listening to this on my cd player, and it was great to be alone -- away from the rush of regular life -- listening to this!

Off late - I have been increasingly attracted to M.S Subbulakshmi's neraval singing. It probably does not have the variety of KVN or the flamboyance of some the younger artists -- However, it has certain simple qualities that make it very appealing. First the use of simple sangathis* -- involved in the repeated singing of a line -- the variations of sangathis is almost minimal, for a casual listener. However, a deeper listening reveals small gems that are studded all along the way -- very minor variations -- that are rewarding! The second one is about the control of voice -- a trademark in her singing -- amazing control and precision at an amazing tempo in the higher octave. Finally, the climaxes invariably are crescendos -- unlike most musicians -- very impactful!

Listen to this rare piece in the raga Pushpalatika -- "Ikanaina" -- by Muttuswami Dikshitar (From her Carnegie hall concert in the 70s)

The neraval starts around 1'40 "akaranka neeve"(?) -- and goes on for several minutes (until 5'29 precisely) -- The violin playing is very nice (Kandadevi Azhagirisamy) !!

Click (requires username password) this link for the clip.


PS: 1. http://www.flonnet.com/fl1619/16190970.htm a nice article by CVN on MSS

2. I spoke to my mom yesterday, and i am told that MSS is very sick and has been admitted in a private hospital!


*sangathis -- musical phrases

With extensive discussions on KVN music, I would like to add this song too in the discussion. In my music directory, file titled

KVN Bageshree


Sagara Sayana vibho, in raga Bageshree, sung in a relaxed, trademark KVN style with a lot of sowkhyam.

The other interesting thing about this song is that it was composed by MD Ramanathan. It is said that MDR never listened to Hindustani music, and as principal of Kalakshetra he also used to remark, "Oru Sankarabharanam, Todi pola varuma". And then he went and listened to a Hindustani concert by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, who sang a elaborate thumri in Bageshri, and MDR was so moved, that went back and composed a song in the same raga.

Very nice song! Enjoy!