RADHASHTAMI - 23rd September, 2023

RADHA MUKHA KAMALA - PAPANASAM SIVAN - KAPI - ADI

HAPPY VINAYAKA CHAVITHI!!

 

Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shashaankasekhara Praana Vallabhaayai Namo Namaha.......

          HANDWRITTEN BY SMT. KOORMANAYAKI

(Mobile recording at home, Chennai on 11th February, 2023)

This ghazal-style-romantic devotional song is penned by Sri. Basavaraju Apparao.

Music is by the legendary Sri. Voleti Venkateswarulu and originally sung by melody queen Smt. Vedavathi Prabhakar and broadcast by All India Radio, Vijayawada in the 60s.

This haunting melody tempted me to me to try it out on Veena (impromptu) during my practice which I casually recorded on my mobile phone. The melody brought visions of love between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in Sri. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava.

Kumarasambhavam-

Upaathavarne Charithe Pinaakinaha Savaashpakanthaskhalithaihi

Aneykashaha Kinnararaajakanyaka Vanaanthasangeethasakheerarodayath.

Meaning- Parvathi was going to the woods for learning music with Kinnara maidens who are famous for their sweet voices and knowledge of music. There they all used to sing in praise of the heroic deeds of Shiva. The songs used to make a powerful impression on Parvathi, that she often wept and could utter only faltering words, her voice being choked with tears. The princesses of Kinnara, sympathising with the lovelorn Parvathi wept along with her.

VEENA UNPLUGGED

DANCE LITTLE LADY DANCE.                                                                          Karaoke for my granddaughters Shreeya and Shreeja (song features them in the video). (PLEASE USE PHONES)

NIDHICHAALA SUKHAMA (Triple fusion of Western, Hindusthani and Carnatic Music)

SONG-NIDHICHAALA SUKHAMA

SITAR-USTAD SHAHID PARVEZ

VEENA-MYSELF

TABLA- SRI. VIJAYA GHATE

MRIDANGAM- SRI. R.RAMESH

Teaming with western music and Hindusthani music played outstandingly by Ustad Shahid Parvez on sitar and Sri. Vijay Ghate on tabla, Nidhichaala Sukhama is presented in the form of modern art on the canvas of Carnatic music.

Sri. R.Ramesh, one of the most formidable mridangam vidwans in the field of Carnatic music was my dynamic support.

Mahaganapathim, Himagirithanaye (Triple Fusion of Western, Hindusthani and Carnatic music)

SONGS-MAHAGANAPATHIM, HIMAGIRITHANAYE

SITAR-USTAD SHAHID PARVEZ

VEENA-MYSELF

TABLA-SRI.VIJAY GHATE

MRIDANGAM-SRI.R.RAMESH

The krithis Mahaganapathim in Natta and Himagirithanaye in Suddhadhanyasi projected in an abstract form by combining Hindusthani and Western music.

Recorded in late 90s, this recording was absolutely engrossing and inspiring. I cherish the memory of teaming with experts like Shahidji, Vijay Ghateji and Sri. R.Ramesh.

RETROMAGIC - ACOUSTIC VEENA (MEDLEY OF FILM SONGS)

EXCERPTS FROM A CONCERT FOR A 
PRIVATE FUNCTION IN CHENNAI IN 2012. (Please listen with phones for clarity).

1) KAATRU VELIYIDAI KANNAMMA

2) KALYANA THEN NILA

3) ROJAPOO ADI VANTHATHU

4) KALYANA MALAI

5) ROJAVAI THAALATTUM

6) MOUNAMANA NERAM

7) NAAN THEDUM SEVVANTHI POO

Karana Shareeram in Karachi

 

 Saint composer, Sri Sadasiva Brahmendram.(Sthoola Shareera samadhi in Nerur, Tamilnadu and Karana Shareera samadhi in Karachi, Pakistan). (Kreedathi Vanamali, Sindhubhairavi, composed by saint composer Sri Sadasiva Brahmendram. A practice session recording on mobile on 15th February, Hyderabad).

SAPTA SWARA- (dd telecast-1989)

ALAMELU MANGA NEE ABHINAVA ROOPAMU (RAGAM- BHAIRAVI, COMPOSED BY SRI TALLAPAKA ANNAMACHARYA).

LOCATION- SRI KAMAKSHI TEMPLE AND SRI VARADARAJA SWAMI TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM.

COURTESY-PLAN B PRESENTATION YouTube Channel. Episodes of vocal and instrumental stalwarts can be viewed here.

ANDHRA FOLK SONG

 

Andhra and Telangana are famous for my favorites like aavakaya, gongura pachchadi, pootharekulu, chinthachiguru pappu, kanda attu, gutthi vankaya koora, dibba rotte, poornam boorelu... (to name a few) and FOLK SONGS  (Janapada Geethalu)!! My mother taught me "Appanna Kondaki" (song in the video above) many years ago. She sent me her handwritten sahithyam of my favorite folk song and signed off as "Gayathri's mother"! 

(ACCOMPANIED ON THE MRIDANGAM BY SRI SRIMUSHNAM RAJARAO, ON THE GHATAM BY SRI.E.M.SUBRAMANIAM)

TEMPO AND STRUCTURING.....

The three gems in the first video and the Hindolam Thillana in the next video are structured by Sri.TMT in his unique style. He used to be very particular about the gradual and striking improvisation of the structure of compositions and raga/thanam/kalpana swaram/neraval essays.

In my days of learning from Sri.TM Thyagarjan legendary musicians used to drop by for his guidance in structuring krithis, varnams, etc. TMT "padantharam" lies in his formidable discipline in maintaining the tempo and structure of presentation.

With TMT Sir after my learning session (90s)

KADAMBAVANAVASINI-BHOOPALAM

SARASWATI POOJA-14th, OCTOBER, 2021

"KADAMBAVANAVAASINEEM KANAKAVALLAKEE DHAARINEEM

MAHAARHAMANIHAARINEEM MUKHASAMULLASADWAARUNEEM

DAYAAVIBHAVAKAARINEEM VISHADAROCHANAA CHAARINEEM

TRILOCHANAKUTUMBINEEM THRIPURASUNDAREEM AASHRAYE!!!"

(Extract from Tripurasundari Ashtakam, indicating Goddess Tripurasundari as a form of Goddess Saraswati)

"O Goddess Tripurasundari, residing in the woods of Kadamba trees and holding a golden Veena, who is adorned with beautiful jewelry studded with precious gems and whose face shines with ambrosia!

The compassionate Goddess who bestows abundance, the One with large eyes and whose sight is all encompassing, pervading the Universe and the Divine Consort of the three-eyed One, I seek refuge in Thee."

Dil Mein Tujhe Bithakar- A VEENA/VOICE PROJECT (Voyage Of Inspiration-Lata Mangeshkar hits on Veena produced by Music World in the 90s)

SRI RAMA NAVAMI

             

 

Selfless Dedication

SUBBALAKSHMI WITH HER GRANDSON 
Smt. Subbalakshmi Satyanand, well known as Meduri Subbalakshmi (child prodigy in Veena of the 70s) in one of her prayer-like Veena sessions in her residence. This most sattvik artiste who plays the acoustic Saraswati Veena is my cherished childhood friend right from early 70s. Precious as she is, her strict practice routine at home is charged by the power of Time. She maintains certain practice hours and never changes her timings. Such time-bound practice yields divine inner strength and ultimate tranquility. Smt. Subbalakshmi Satyanand exudes qualities imbibed through  her meditative Veena practice. 

TRISHAKTHI

 1) HAMIRKALYANI THILLANA, 2) MANIKKA VEENAI ENDHUM, 3) CHANDRAKAUNS THILLANA 

WISH FULFILLMENT!

HIRANMAYEEM LAKSHMEEM- RAGAM-LALITHA, THALAM-RUPAKAM, COMPOSER-SRI.MUTHUSWAMY DIKSHITHAR.

Playing this on Veena along with sahithyam (lyrics) for 40 days without break will yield unexpected abundance, fortune and wish-fulfillment.

GURU VANDHANAM

My Guru, late Sri.T.M.Thiagarajan was an expert composer of krithis, varnams, pallavis and structuring krithis. His compositions of chittaswarams were admired by musicians and scholars. Many seasoned musicians perform his chittaswarams and compositions in thier concerts.

Above is a very humble offering of his chittaswarams through my album VEENA VANDHANAM for Geethanjali Audio (recorded in the 90s). Mridangam- Sri.R.Ramesh, Ghatam- Sri. Ghatam Karthick

Gems of Swathi Thirunal

 

FUSION ALBUM IN COLD STORAGE- 1) PARIPALAYAMAM-REETHIGOWLA, RUPAKAM. 2) PAHI JAGATJANANI, HAMSANANDHI, ADI.

This album containing 15 numbers with jazz orchestra was recorded more than 2 decades ago but never found its light. Above are 2 numbers from the unreleased album.

P.S- This is a raw product, as you can make out that the sound and pitch levels have not been balanced. The final mixing of the product has never happened so far.

My Veena was recorded alone to the metronome beat. The body of orchestra was added later on to the skeleton of my Veena. I was told that the lead guitar solos were played by Keith Peters.

Kindly pardon uneven pitches and sound levels- E.Gayathri

LAUNG LAACHI-SANDLI SANDLI

 Music- GURMEET SINGH, Audio&Video mixing-JAGAN G (Please use phones)