I thought that it may be useful to rasikas to know that every day there is a concert of nearly 1.5 hrs on TTD TV channel at around 6.15 PM, called Naada Neerajanam. All leading artists perform here. Take a look. Today's is TVS.

Announcement : Kindly watch Naada Nerajanam - TTD Channel on the 8th of April , 2010 , at 6.15 p.m. for a concert by :

Sangita Kalanidhi Smt.R.Vedavalli - Vocal
Sri.Pakkala Ramadas - Violin
Sri.B.Ganapathiraman- Mridangam
Sri. Trichy.K.Murali - Ghatam

These concerts are telecast live from Tirumala.

wow , thanks for that . Hoping to come home early on 8th . Nick , have you read this post ?

9-04-2010 at 6.30 to 7.30

Vid. Shri.K.V.Ramanujam Flute
Vid. Shri.M.A.Sundareswaran-Violing
Mannarkoil J.Balaji - Mridhangam
Vid. Trichy Murali-Ghatam
Vid.A.S.Krishnan-Morsing

Mannarkoil J Balaji

Balaji,
Good to hear that you are playing. Wish I were in India to watch the program too! You seem to be very busy with all your concerts.

Arasi ji .. i hv already played one for Neyveli Santanagopalan alongwith Pakala Ramadass and Srirangam Kannan Morsing earlier in March. This is my second chance. Lord Balaji is very graceful to bestow his blessings ....

J.Balaji

Balaji Blessing balaji!

It will benefit people living overseas if these concerts are available on you tube or such sites. I have seen quite a few of the TTD TV programmes on youtube. So hoping to catch these too by the grace of Lord Venkateshwara

Yesterday 6th April- Tuesday, I listened to the TTD concert. It was one Sri. Trichy S Ganesan. Never heard (of) him before. Hardly any kacheri in Bangalore for him, for sure. Middle aged man. But surprisingly very good. The voice throw is equal to any senior male vocalist. Should really thank the TV channel for popularising such genuine good talent. A brief review:

Started with Mayamalavagowla - ThuLasi DhaLa. Good neraval and swaraprasthara.
A brief Suruti Dikthithar kriti Sri Venkata Girisham. No elaboration.
Excellent raga alapana of Subhapantuvarali. He has very good creativity and imagination in the presentation. Very impressive indeed. It was followed by Purandaradasara krithi Enna Rakshiso ?, with neraval and swaras. This was an excellent piece which other artists can also use, if not as a main piece, at least as a good thukkada, instead of always harping on Rama Mantrava Japiso !!
Next was a brief Atana raga (sumaar) followed by Thyagaraja kriti Chate bhuti maanura. Just OK.
Next came Thodi alapana, which was not very elaborate, I guess due to want of time, and a Annamacharya kriti- only swaram.
Ended with a good behag piece.

Overall a very satisfactory experience. I would like to visit his concert whenever it happens in Bangalore.

Violin was really mediocre (Sorry to say that). Mridangam and Khanjira were good. Missed the names.

Today -7.4.2010- it is Sri.M.Chandrasekaran violin with his daughter.

Today, 13th April, I understand it is Sri.R.K.Srikantan. IF possible do not miss it. He has completed 90 years a few months back. He continuously gives full 3 hr concerts at many places. I listened to one recently. Amazingly perfect sruthi. Supported by his son Ramakanth. Leaves the area above higher GA to him. Clear sangathis, sharp pronunciation of sahitya. Although not a good idea to compare senior artists, I am tempted to say, he is much better than the great Semmangudi in his eighties, esp with regard to flawless singing. Enjoy.

Wow.. Thanks for the update .. Hoping to catch that ..

Sangita Kalanidhi Dr.RK Srikantan- Vocal
Sri. Ramakanth- Support
Sri.B.U.Ganesh Prasad- Violin
Sri. Cheluvaraju- Mridangam

1. Deva Deva Kalayamithe- Mayamalavagowla- Swati- Swaram
2. Nenendu Bethakudura,Hari- Karnataka Behag- Thyagaraja
3. Mari Vere Dik Evaru- Lathangi- Patnam with N, S @ Manasara Ninusara
4. Thani
5.Saroja Naabha- Chakravaham- Swati- Brief Raga
6. Venkatesa Daya Mado- Ananda Bhairavi- Purandaradasa
7. Sri Hari Vallabe- Suddha Dhanyasi- Mysore Vasudevachar
8. Tirupathi Venkata Ramana- Sindhu Bhairavi- P Dasa
9. Mangalam- Madhyamavathi.

As usual, perfect sruti alignment. He positioned his singing fully realising his voice limitation due to age (90). His voice during the latter half from Ananda Bhairavi was very good. His dedication to music, by travelling all the way to Tirumala for this recording, is an inspiration to all youngsters.

A few comments about the arrangements: RKS just wants a chair to sit and sing as he is unable to sit on the floor. But he was provided a low stool / bench without backrest. The bench was piled up with a huge jamakkaLam in the form of a large moottai (bundle). Also, this venue always has swarms of flies disturbing and distracting the artists. Fumigation is essential before concert. ( May be the flies find the music to be sweeter than the laddoos of Tirumala?!!)

Today 15th April, Smt.Gayathri Girish is giving a concert at Tirupati. I dont get the TV channels here. Looking forward to reading her review. Thanks.

Yesterday 14th there was one Smt.Mathangi Sathyamurthy. It seems that she comes from Kottayam. Very powerful flawless rendition with fantastic manodharmam. Excellent Mohanam. Wonder why she is not very popular, at least as far as I know. Should thank TTD channel for projecting these good artists to a wider audience.

A nice series this indeed ! Sadly though, we don't seem to get the channel. Many of the clips are getting uploaded on YouTube apparently though. Was watching quite a few recitals in this series on YouTube. Came across this short clip by the Parur school - Era Napai - the Thodi Adi Tala Varnam - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr0zyRyl3xg. It is amazing to see the veteran MSA in action! What is very striking is the way MSA effortlessly plays upto the higher Sa and sometimes even beyond on the A string, at this age. Visible better in close up shots. Quite a difficult thing to do, maintaining flawless Shruthi and sound quality. It is usual for the Parur school to do this, but its all the more amazing to see MSA's dexterity at his age ! Quite a touching video indeed !

Sathej

Sathej - Thanks for the link.

Special Thanks to the people who have posted several of the concerts

Wow! Sri .R.K. Srikanthan !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/shreedarsha ... pyvBYzGtjI

Smt Gayathri Venkataraghavan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3F3j8sz ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz3bCeCn ... re=related

Smt.Gayathri Girish has updated her blog www.gayathrigirish.blogspot.com on her concert at Tirupati.

Sikkil Gurucharan on 23 Apr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97CDTWjBBUI
http://www.youtube.com/user/vkailasam#p ... w5BNJvpYn0

Today 27th April is Maharajapuram Ramachandran.

Enjoy

There are two more music related programmes on SVBC (TTD TV Channel)

* Nadopasana - Tuesdays, 9.30pm - Carnatic music lessons by Nedunuri Krishnamurthy with Malladi Brothers
* Endaro Mahanubavulu - Thursdays, 10.30pm, - Introduce music artists, E. Gayathri will be interviewed on 29th April.

14-5-2010

Dr.Nirmala Sundararajan - Vocal
Poorna Vaidyanathan-violin
Mannarkoil J Balaji - Mridhangam
Madipakkam Murali - Ghatam

J.B

Yesterday I listened to Madurai Sri.G.S.Mani's concert in this TV slot. I have so far never attended his concert. One reason may be that he hardly even performs in Bangalore.

I enjoyed the programme very much. Easy flowing style. Easy listening too. No twisting of body and face into knots. Elderly gentleman who enjoys his music as much as he wants us to enjoy it. There are no 100 sangatis, high speed racing in swaras. Sowkyamaana kacheri. I will give the song list shortly- I do not want to give from memory, which is not the very best!

How true!
I have been lucky in catching at least one concert of his every season. He loves his music, has no airs about him and sings his heart out. A composer too and sings in any language with ease.

Today was Amutha Venkatesh- Vocal; Rahul- Violin; Arjun Ramesh- Mrudangam.

1.Started with Raghunayaka in Hamsadwani with a short string of swaras.
2. Goverdhana Gireesam in Hindolam- MD
3. Lathangi ragam- Venkataramana of Papanasam Sivan- Neraval + swaram (sub-main)
4. Bhogeendra saayinam- Kuntalavarali- Swati- Brisk pace.
5. Saveri ragam- Barayya Venkataramanaa- Saveri- slow wonderful bhavamful rendition- good swaram
6. Naarayanane Namo namo- Behag- Annamayya- Deliberate pleasant HM touches.
7. Vara leela gaana lola- Thyagaraja's western note based "march past" tune. S'Bharanam. What a genius Saint T had been- what variety! Amazing.

In just over 1 hr. Amrutha could give a very satisfactory concert. Moving away from her regular super vilamba kaala kutcheris and presenting a good mix of compositions with interesting variation in speed, ragas selected, composers, etc., was a welcome development. Her deep and full voice always makes an impression. I felt that initially she had a bit of throat restriction and breath problem which soon disappeared as the programme progressed.( This may just be my feeling). She was introduced as Prince Rama Varma's disciple and that was news. She must be all of 21/22 years and definitely a talent to watch in the years to come. I have a slight pride and (favourable) prejudice as she is from Bangalore!

Mention must be made about the accurate following and good individual performance of the young violinist Rahul. Wonder whose disciple he is. Very impressive.

#6 - nArAyaNa tE namO namO?