Music Matters
What's cooking?
Canteen culture is a vital part of the December music season. Often canteen menus direct the choice of venues. "Let's go to Aruna Sairam at the Music Academy, they have vattakuzhambu saadam and pavakkai chips today." Worthy citizens who never attend music concerts draw up schedules to savour canteen delicacies. Office-goers enjoy thengai sevai and thayir vadai at the Narada Gana Sabha, somewhat bewildered by the decor of Ganeshas playing musical instruments and the waiter singing bhajanai songs as they pass by. But munching popcorn during Vijay Siva's alapana in Kharaharapriya, or in perfect time with the talam in Manoj Siva's and B. S. Purushotthaman's tani is another thing altogether. Rani Seethai Hall sported a few crushed paper cones below the chairs. May we expect empty coke cans next year?
Multifaceted talent
The multifaceted talent of actor Y.G. Mahendra came to the fore when he played the tabla in the concert of V. Suryaprakash. It was with great ιlan that YGM produced the beats for the popular "Amba Manam kaninthu" (Pantuvarali)of Tyagaraja Bhagavatar. Suryaprakash's concert, incidentally, was completely based on the old film and stage songs of Dandapani Desikar, P. U. Chinnappa, K. B. Sundarambal, MKT , MSS, MLV, etc. grouped as ``Legendary Melodies."
`Suswaram' Ramjhi
Mrs. YGP, after enjoying some excellent music presented by Ramjhi's Isai Mazhalai group, commented: "Listening to these children, I think Ramjhi should hereafter be called `Suswaram' Ramjhi."
Birthday gift
The kutcheri was good but the afternoon slot, as usual, did not draw many listeners. The incessant rain did not help matters. The octogenarian organiser, who lamented the lack of an audience, took the mike at the end and thanked the musician for giving him a special gift — a brilliant concert — for his birthday.
Saint's speciality
Saint Tyagraja is special in many ways. The Sadguru has composed only one song in some ragas. These compositions nevertheless are immensely popular with the ragas lending themselves to imaginative handling. To name a few: Pantureethikolu (Hamsanadham) Manavyalakinchara (Nalinakanthi) Anuragumuleni (Saraswathi) Raga Sudharasa (Aandholika) Aaada Modi Galadhe (Charukesi) Paramathmudu (Vagadheeswari).
(Contributed by Gowri Ramnarayan, G. Swaminathan and S. Sivakumar)
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