Pallavi - A blog on Carnatic Music

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!