< Sikkil Gurucharan, May 17 2009

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Sikkil Gurucharan, May 17 2009

Ps 115, Glen Oaks


Song List

1. Varnam: Valachi Vacchi, Navaragamalika, Patnam Subramanya Iyer
2. Sree Mahaa Ganapathe, Abhogi, N.S.Ramachandran
3. Raghuvara nannu, Panthuvarali, Thyagaraja
4. Naadaloludai, Kalyanavasantham, Thyagaraja
5. Brovavamma Bangarubomma, Neelambari, Shyamasastry
6. Sreekrishnam bhaja, Todi, Muthuswamy Dikshitar
7. Sogasu chooda tharama, Kannada Gowla, Thyagaraja
8. Ragam Tanam Pallavi, Suddh Sarang Pallavi: SAmagAna mridanga nAdha priye, veena venu sangeetha
9. Vanchatonunaa, Karnaranjani, Harikeshanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
10. Dikkuteriyaada Kattil, Ragamalika, Subrahmanya Bharati
11. Niraimadi mugamenum (Thiruppugazh), Hamsanandi, Arunagirinathar
12. Maitrim Bhajata Ragamalika, Chandrasekhara Saraswathi
13. Pavamana suthudu, Mangalam

Rasikas of Shruti Laya were treated to an impassioned three plus hour recital by Sri. Sikkil Gurucharan on Sunday, May 17. Accompanied by Sri. Nagai Sriram on the violin, and Sri. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan on the mridangam, the program kept viewers glued to their seats.

Beginning with the Navaragamalika Varnam, Sri.Gurucharan launched into a brisk Sree Mahaa Ganapathe with lively swaras right in the first piece of the concert. The pace was maintained by a fast rendition of Raghuvara (Panthuvarali, Thyagaraja). This was followed by an elaborate alapana of Kalyanavasantham for the krithi Nadaloludai. An utterly beautiful Brovavamma (Neelambari, Shyama Sastry) served as a palate cleanser for the main course that followed.

Sri.Gurucharan then took up Todi as the main ragam for the evening, with an elaborate and exquisite Alapana. Sri.Nagai Sriram took his time to give a masterly response. The kriti rendered was Sree Krishnam Bhaja (Muthuswamy Dikshitar). The thani that followed was another explosive masterpiece. This main piece alone lasted over an hour!

After another short piece (Sogasujuda, Kannada Gowla, Thyagaraja), Sri.Gurucharan chose the Hindustani Suddh Saarang for the RTP. The pallavi was "SAmagAna mridanga nAdha priye, veena venu sangeetha". Both Sri.Gurucharan and Sri.Sriram had fun with the pallavi, pausing at "mridanga" to let the mridangam fill in the word!

This was followed by a few short pieces to bring the concert to the mangalam. The audience expressed their satisfaction by giving a full minute long standing ovation to the artists.

Smt. Sharada Chityala, Director of Shruti Laya, introduced the artists to begin the concert. Sri. Sreenadh Jonnavithula, Director of Shruti Laya, thanked the artists for this wonderful concert. Following Shruti Laya tradition, a member of the audience, Smt. Sumathi Haran was invited to give a musical appreciation. Sri.Sridhar Chityala and Smt. Ranganayaki Srinivasan honored Sri.Gurucharan and Sri.Sriram with shawls. Chi. Senthooran, a mridangam student, presented the shawl to Sri.Vaidyanathan, and received his blessings.

Shruti Laya would like to thank State Bank of India, whose generous sponsorship helped us stage this program. We also thank our tireless volunteers Subu Garikapati, Mani Sundaram and Krishna Polavarapu for help with setting up the hall, and Sanjay and Saipriya for manning the front desk. And of course, we thank our members and rasikas, whose support and encouragement made Shruti Laya possible.






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