Venkatesh Kumar sings on feb 18th

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 13 Feb 2008, 21:24

HM rasikas in chennai.
please look up Thursdays THE HINDU MetroPlus section.
Venkatesh Kumar is scheduled to sing in Chennai on Feb 18th 6 30 pm.

Here is a lovely and rare shyam kalyan sung by him for AIR, twenty years ago

http://download.yousendit.com/9F3C13AC1E76131D

Hope to see you all there.
(Tickets are priced Rs 100-200-300)

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 13 Feb 2008, 21:28

It is a pity it is in a huge venue. Completely unsuitable, in my opinion, for Indian classical music.

But yes, I'll be joining you

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 13 Feb 2008, 21:36

The huge venue is for the crowd that zakir husain will bring in after the vocal concert.
Lucky Venkatesh Kumar !!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Feb 2008, 01:39

Ah, yes... though he is a tabla artist that I don't mind hearing

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 14 Feb 2008, 06:52

what, 'though,he is a tabla artist,i don't mind hearing him" . hear him, you will be transported to a world of eternal bliss. he will
produce all the sounds of ahuman voice in his tabla. you are fortunate to hear him. best wishes gobilalitha

raga · Post by **raga** » 20 Feb 2008, 00:01

Can anyone share their experiences about venkatesh kumar's concert?Surely everyone enjoyed that.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 20 Feb 2008, 05:09

It was a fine concert indeed.Nick dropped out , but Vijay and sbala made it.
The Concert started 20 minutes late and probably ate into Venkateskumar's time.
Satish Vyas, son of CR Vyas , who started the Gunidas Sammelans 30 years ago , gave a brief introduction to the ideas and ideals behind the series.
Sriram Parasuram introduced the artists
But one could be forgiven to assume that Artists know best how to conduct Concerts.
The Volume was loud(actually deafening).
And the organisers did everything to keep pushing Venkatesh Kumar to finish within time limits-as though everyone had a flight to catch.The pressure was obvious, with a star as starry as Zakir scheduled to perform next.
But then this has been Venkateshkumar's Year.
Into his 50s , he is being recognised all over the country .And for good reason.
The opener -Puriya Kalyan - was an elaborate essay .The development of the raga was silken smooth .The Cheez he chose has been a favourite of mine for decades- one can hear it here in a classic radio recording.
http://rapidshare.com/files/93027552/Ba ... yan_01.mp3
O Ban Lagee
Venkateshkumar does model himself on the style of Rajaguru and he was truly an inspired singer , this evening.
Even while being prodded to close with a bhajan - I caught his response on mike " Bhajanaeya , na na and he went on to sing a scintillating Sohini and abruptly ended the concert..
His gwalior gharana links peeked in through the delightful thumri in Misra Khamaj, which had a lot of sensitive movements.
Backstage I congratulated him and recalled his concerts next to my door at my home town.The timless natureof his concerts at our Omkar Matha.
He looked as innocent as a Child being cheated out of his time on stage.
Chand Ittenreee- Time agalaillrappa , bare avasara madthare....
I invited him to sing for a set of people who would love to hear an artist go on and on ...
Who knows ?
May be someday in the future , we will have his concert starting at 10 PM and finishing off early in the morning say 2 am !
Covering both Night ragas and early morning ragas.
I did not catch the names of the accompanists , but presume they were brought in from Mumbai.They too were top Class.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Feb 2008, 12:15

Nick spent the afternoon holding a post-operation cat, and the evening trying to prevent a very groggy cat hitting her head on the floor as she staggered and fell, and the night trying to keep calm a cat that was now desperate to visit the garden and the boyfriend who was meowing outside.

It was not a lot of fun. Especially with a migraine headache (glad I missed the excess volume).

gobilalitha: yes, I have to admit that I find tabla rather boring compared to mridangam, and usually get the felling that they just go on, and on, and on.... Possibly because I have less appreciation of what they play.

Zakir Hussein is an exception, and I also appreciate that he understands and complies with the carnatic thani format when playing with Carnatic musicians. Another, who I have seen give a solo concert, is Kishan Maharaj, to whom your comments could equally apply.

A Hindustani house concert would be great. Maybe even one without any amplification!

I'm glad you all enjoyed.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 20 Feb 2008, 13:31

Thanks to Kulkarniji for alerting me to the opportunity! A fine evening indeed despite the annoyances mentioned above. As the artiste commenced with notes in the mandra sthayi I grimaced at the thought of another Yaman but the moment the rishabh was sounded, I lit up! Coolji confirmed that it was indeed not Yaman but Puriya Kalyan - Gamanashrama of the Carnatic Melakaratha. A delightful rendition full of feeling with a detailed alaap and crystal clear taans. Although an elaborate sargam was missed and this songlist obsessed CM rasika found Sohni after Puriya Dhanashree a little odd, it was a wholesome experience completely devoid of gimmicks...

Unfortunately that was more than can be said of the performance that followed with Zakir working up all manner of artifices from roaring monsoon clouds to trains caeering along to the accompaniment of wolf whistles...it was an entertaining enough experience but only in the lowest sense of the term. I really wish the organizers had cut the tabla down to size and given more stage time to Shri Venkatesh Kumar...

It would be great if the artiste can be convinced to perform for our series!

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Feb 2008, 14:09

Perhaps ZH could cut the showmanship, at which he also excels, a bit, and give us more conventional classical music. However, he has a niche, now, and I guess this is what his audiences are expecting when he plays solo.

Was it a full house? Was everyone really waiting for ZH?

I do hate this VIP thing: nobody waves watches at speech-givers in carnatic concerts.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 20 Feb 2008, 15:28

Most of the people were clearly there for Zakir...crowd perceptibly increased for the 2nd concert...but it was not a full house strangely - 60-70% I'd say. Probably wasn't publicized well enough

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 20 Feb 2008, 19:49

trains caeering along

Vijay
That is a formal mode of presentation called the Railaa.
And Yes I missed talking about the lack of elaborate sargams .But whatever he sang ... That was Jackfruit dipped in honey.
Nick ! It was half Full.But the hall is quite a big one.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 20 Feb 2008, 19:54

Most of the people were clearly there for Zakir

and what was sickening was when the announcer introduced the first artist , the hall was quiet.And when he went on to announce the second artist, the claps started at the very mention of Zakir.It was so impolite.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 20 Feb 2008, 20:03

Coolji thanks for the clarification...yes, I do remember the Relaa from the tabla lessons I took for SUPW (Seriously Unproductive Work as it turned out to be given that I spent 7 years without getting the hang of even basic teental!) in school...but while my teacher was considerably less gifted that ZAkir Bhai, he did not feel the need to produce a hoot with the right in order to demonstrate the Relaa! Or, for that matter, the sound of Lord "Sheever's" conch to round off a Tihai...

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 20 Feb 2008, 20:07

True Coolji, of the many discourtesies meted out to Shri Venkatesh Kumar, that was one of the worst...and that too from a largely upper/upper middle class audience...

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 20 Feb 2008, 21:24

The New Indian Express has a page on ZH today --- with no mention of the first part.

Not ZH's fault of course. I did rather enjoy the bit about his reaction to badly behaved audiences.

matterwaves · Post by **matterwaves** » 24 Feb 2008, 18:41

I was a few days ago trying to attend basantotsav(failed to get in.. show sold out!). On a particular day, it was ghulam ali(ghazal singer) and kishori amonkar one after the other. On the next day, all newspapers quoted elaborately abt ghulam ali but hardly made a mention of kishori's recital

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Feb 2008, 00:04

Venkatesh Kumar faired better at the hands of The Hindu

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 25 Feb 2008, 06:31

let us abandon the thought that all newspapers reporters are heaven sent, we are our own judges.newspaper reporting requires all kinds of jugglery and priorities gobilalitha

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 25 Feb 2008, 11:08

And even what is written is then subject to the red pen of the sub-editor, then the editor.

Many a journalist can tell of how the entire meaning of their report has been changed because someone who didn't know what it was about had to reduce the word count.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Feb 2008, 12:23

very true, Nick. Been there before, eons ago:)

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 01 Mar 2008, 20:14

Although an elaborate sargam was missed

Vijay
Make it up with Bhimsen Joshi's effort at the Academy two decades ago.
I was on the dias , barely a few feet away from this phenomenon of a vocalist.
http://rapidshare.com/files/96183163/Bh ... Kalyan.mp3
It was such a memorable experience-Veins showing up at the throat , like those of a nadaswaram player.... An "Asura Sadhaka" indeed.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 02 Mar 2008, 21:46

Thank you sir!

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 08 Mar 2008, 07:16

Vijay
Sargams were not the only thing we missed that night.
Here are somevof those features -courtesy avichinnu - from a home concert in shimoga.
a juicy tharana in Durga
http://rapidshare.com/files/97871664/WS_10004.WMA

remember to realign these in your folders based on track numbers and you will have one of the finest recent home concert recordings of Venkateshkumar-
And you will get the pain in his statement ,backstage after the concert, to me.
Chhanda Ittenree- Taimu Sakaglillrappa - en avasara madtharappa.
But for the timebeing i will keep you guessing about the contents of this concert - except to say that it too starts with a major Puriya Kalyan.

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 08 Mar 2008, 09:29

Kji,
You talk of misses but I keep thinking about what I got that day. It was one of the most memorable concerts that I've attended. If not for the presence of distiguished personalities and connoisseurs like you and Vijay, I would have started dancing! On second thoughts, I don't know if I was well-behaved as I was completely under Venkateshji's spell.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 08 Mar 2008, 12:41

Thanks Coolji...have to wait until Monday for download though....

matterwaves · Post by **matterwaves** » 28 Mar 2008, 02:39

Youtube link of venkates kumar singing an awesome vachana in durga(composer allama prabhu)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aqcMtF5l1Ts&feature=related
you can listen to purya kalyan and a devaranama as well

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 28 Mar 2008, 05:43

wow !!!
May God Bless You ....matterwaves

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 28 Mar 2008, 08:38

http://rapidshare.com/files/97880507/WS_10009.WMA
http://rapidshare.com/files/97880506/WS_10008.WMA
http://rapidshare.com/files/97880505/WS_10007.WMA

few more snippets
continued from post 24

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 28 Mar 2008, 11:02

coolkarni, due to your numerous references and snippets, I have come to know about VK. I am not shy to admit that but for you I would not have known what a great singer he is. thanks. a rava kesari packet is sent b y jet flight from singapore.gobilalitha

matterwaves · Post by **matterwaves** » 29 Mar 2008, 01:22

thanks coolkarniyavare... i have much enjoyed reading your wrteups as much as your rapishare postings( esp KVNs).. i have heard venkates kumar sing a devaranama 'toredu jeevisabahude hari ninna charanagala' with such bhava that would turn an harderened atheist to a haribhakta. Could you please post it if you have?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 29 Mar 2008, 06:24

Gobilalitha
I remember the days when patronage for Hindusthani was so minimal even after I managed to convince Srkris for a separate section for HM.The first few months were so disappointing .
So it has always been my pleasure to put up these tracks.
matterwaves,,thats a commercial rendering so I wont take chances.Will see if I have a concert version.
Will upload A priceless track of vachanas sung by Basavraj rajaguru.I can bring in some more delightful stuff from the likes of Shivraj Gavai and Siddaram Jambaladinni-singing vachanas.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 29 Mar 2008, 07:09

http://rapidshare.com/files/103176461/B ... chanas.mp3

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 29 Mar 2008, 10:25

Magnificent durga by Pt VK in that youtube snippet Indeed. The aalap was missing as matterwaves mentioned.

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 29 Mar 2008, 10:29

The durga piece was rare for me to listen lot of lyrics in HM style. Not in lighter style any means. Strong HM flavour.
Does Pt VK visit and sing outside India?

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 29 Mar 2008, 10:32

Yes it is indeed great to see more activity n the Hindustani threads. Coolji thanks and do keep them coming in!

matterwaves · Post by **matterwaves** » 30 Mar 2008, 06:07

Hi suvarna,
The person who posted the youtube video kindly passed me the whole of the audio version of it. I have uploaded the same in the link below
http://www.sendspace.com/file/lz3ux6

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 30 Mar 2008, 09:05

matterwaves wrote:Hi suvarna,
The person who posted the youtube video kindly passed me the whole of the audio version of it. I have uploaded the same in the link below
http://www.sendspace.com/file/lz3ux6

So nice of you matterwaves. I am downloading with all the glee. Thank you very much.

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 30 Mar 2008, 09:09

vijay wrote:Yes it is indeed great to see more activity n the Hindustani threads. Coolji thanks and do keep them coming in!

Indeed. From Cool-ji's posts, I could get to know of two highly meritorious HM artists Pt VK and Pt Shivanand Patil.
Great singing. The singing of Pt VK reminds me of DV Paluskar. Is he also from Dharvad?
Why is'nt there a thing like Dhawad Gharana like gwalior or jaipur, with so many great artists from this land? or is it already there and I am ignorant of that?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 30 Mar 2008, 13:20

Dharwar is indeed one of the hubs of Kirana Gharana.the linkage goes like this
Abdul karim Khan -who came down to Mysore- his disciple Sawai gandharv who was from Kundagol - a place few Kilometres away from Hubli-Dharwar---> Bhimsen Joshi , Gangubai Hangal ....
Venkateshkumar is more remniscent of Basavraj Rajaguru and yes you were spot on in comparing his voice to Paluskars.
VK teaches at the Karnatak University, which is in idyllic settings, in Dharwar.Other great artists from that area like Kumar Gandharv and Mansoor belong to different lineages though.
I will introduce Sripad Hegde and Kaivalya Kumar too , in a few days time.
Vinayak Torvi - you must have heard him.
In any case I do not have any non-commercial recordings of his.

knandago2001 · Post by **knandago2001** » 30 Mar 2008, 15:18

Dharwad â€“ that magical gateway between malenaadu and bayalu seeme
http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9811/98110160.htm

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 30 Mar 2008, 18:08

Nandagopal
You make me homesick !!

hsuvarna · Post by **hsuvarna** » 30 Mar 2008, 23:00

knandago2001 wrote:Dharwad â€“ that magical gateway between malenaadu and bayalu seeme
http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9811/98110160.htm

Indeed. There is something sweet in the 'Mitti" of Dharwad. My doubt is that they mix this mitty in that "Peda"
they make in Dharwad too. These guys singing gives me the taste of that "Peda".

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 31 Mar 2008, 07:26

the track in post 33 of rajaguru has another brilliant patdip.the second half is pure honey.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 31 Mar 2008, 07:32

hsuvarna
that mitti produces a kind of kannada that opens one heart to the limitless beauties of relationships .
wolag banree sahebra.erdu dina iddhogralla .namgoo thamp annisthadey.haada hacchalenu...

you are so right.it is the soil there,that brings out the beauty in the simple pleasures of life.

vijayathanikar · Post by **vijayathanikar** » 07 Oct 2008, 01:13

hello.. i'm new to this forum... i'm a very great fan of pt.venkatesh kumar..and i've accompanied him on tanpura once or twice..

great see so many people posting their views abt him..

and tracks posted here are expired..

can u people tell wher i can get those tracks..

and i have around 15-20gb of his recorded collections.. anyone interested can get it from me..

Thanks....

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 07 Oct 2008, 11:59

Welcome to the forum, Vijaya! Why don't you upload some tracks on sendspace or some file sharing site?

vgovindan · Post by **vgovindan** » 06 Jul 2018, 00:54

Kanaka Dasa - Toredu jivisabahude - Venkatesh Kumar -

https://youtu.be/N5eeahOzFdo

rasikas.org

Venkatesh Kumar sings on feb 18th

Re: Venkatesh Kumar sings on feb 18th