Laya on a tight leash
Kalavardhanis - Carnatic - Azhagan Murugan - V. Sankara Narayanan Price - Rs.50/- REC 362 - Classical Vocal
V. SANKARA NARAYANAN, a disciple of Vaigal Gnanaskandan, begins his programme for Kalavardhini's audio album with "Prasiddha Gananatham", a pleasing composition of Alathoor Vijaya Kumar in Sanskrit, deifying Lord Ganesa. The song is set in the vivadi raga Preyasi, a melody credited to the composer himself. The rest of the agenda comprises kritis on Lord Muruga.
Balasubrahmanya in Bilahari has the regal patantaram of Semmangudi Srinivasa Aiyar, (Gnanaskandan is one of the senior sishyas of the great man) and the neraval and swaras for the lyrics "Apala Gopala" are sung with imagination keeping laya on a tight leash.
Kotiswara Aiyar was a composer par excellence whose songs in the 72 mela karta ragas are testimony of a shrewd, musical brain coupled with a fierce commitment. "Mohana Kara" in the 60th Mela, Neetimati, is a worthy version with the Shatsruti Dhaivatham absolutely in the groove. Another creation of Vijaya Kumar in Suddha Kalyani is a tuneful rendition. Varali one of the delicate ragas, the gandhara of which has to be handled with skill and sensitivity, has been elaborated upon with sustained karvais, pertinent prayogas and a measure of zestful phrases.
A slower kalapramanam and more pauses between each phrase would have enhanced the quality of the alapana — this attribute is bound to manifest with experience and maturity. Papanasam Sivan's "Kaa Vaa Vaa" is a work of art and the artiste has done justice to the devotional and musical appeal in the composition. The swaras with sarvalagu sequences and the final korvai are marked with precision. Neela Jayakumar, the violinist, performs creditably in her solo efforts, and Jayakumar on the mridangam is his competent self in his accompaniment and in his tani avartanam. "Nekkurugi" in Abhogi (Sivan) and "Kandhanai Kaana" (Swamimalai Janakiraman) in Bagesri are indicative of a bright musical future for Sankaranarayanan.
— S.P.
Melody with instruments
Geethanjali has released four CDs under Classical Instrumental, which are pleasant. Nadaswaram by Namagiripettai Krishnan has six gems. Vibrant Veena by E. Gaayathri contains a dozen compositions — an interesting miscellany. She has been accompanied by Srimushnam Rajarao (mridangam), E. M. Subramaniam (ghatam) and C.K. Shyamsundar (ganjira). Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan (violin) and Valayapatti Subramaniam (thavil) join to provide vibrant music for Nadalayam. U. Srinivas presents Mandolin Melodies, eight songs including a raagamalika. A. Kanyakumari plays the violin, Srimushnam Rajarao the mridangam and E. M. Subramaniam the ghatam.
All the CDs priced at Rs. 200 are produced and marketed by Super Audio Pvt. Ltd. (52140068/69.)
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
