Vintage flavour, strict adherence to shruti, disciplined and uncontrived music, positive attitude and complete devotion towards music – all these qualities formed the hallmark of Smt Jayalakshmi Santanam’s concert for Suswaraa at Gokhale Shastri Hall on Dec 11th, 2007.
One would wonder what made her music so special though she sang the very same masterpieces that are heard often in many concert stages (unfortunately, I missed the first 2-3 pieces).
1. Sujana jeevana – khamach
2. Ananda nataprakasham – kedaram
3. Jaya jaya padmanabha – manirangu
4. Chingara velavan vandan - anandabhairavi
5. Himadri sute – kalyani
6. Ksheera sagara shayana – devagandhari
7. Kamakshi – bhairavi
8. Shanti nilava vendum – tillang
Some vital aspects that made her concert so special were:
1. No phrase was rendered out of place thereby maintaining the right proportion and balance of phrases.
2. Simple, short and elegant raga alapanas of Bhairavi, Devagandhari, Anandabhairavi, without dramatization of phrases under the pretext of singing with bhava.
3. The kalpana swarams and neraval at Shyama Krishna sodari for Himadri sute and Shyama Krishna sahodari for Kamakshi placed the concert on a higher pedestal. Crisp neraval and kalpana swara rounds built within 1-2 avartanams created a greater impact than unending rounds with mathematical calculations and koraippus!
4. Strict adherence to shruti and kalapramanam added to the concert’s brilliance.
5. Pronunciation and enunciation of sahityam was perfect
Karaikkal Shri Venkatasubramaniam and Shri T K Ramakrishnan provided wonderful support on the violin and the mridangam respectively.
It is surprising that such wonderful musicians’ glory remains unsung! She is a must-listen for aspiring musicians, students and rasikas.
Vintage concert by Smt Jayalakshmi Santanam at Suswaraa
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arasi
- Posts: 16873
- Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30
Garudadhwani,
Thank you for attending the concert. Yes, she has been overlooked by sabhas and rasikAs for a long time. This season, it seems to have changed somewhat.Thank goodness.
It is not just Jayalakshmi Santhanam. There are several other musicians out there who are examples of traditional music of a high order. New blood and new innovations cannot stand the test of time unless rooted in the healthiest of traditions. When I hear some talented youngsters sing, I hear their aping some very popular vocalist or other. They forget that they have to be themselves while they develop as better artistes. How I wish such aspirants attend the sparsely attended concerts of veterans to enrich themselves!
While I am all for innovations and advancement in all forms of the Arts, I do feel that performances which are not based on the essence of the rich past have no chance of making a mark for posterity. They would leave no impressions for the future to treasure.
I wish more performers attend the concerts of veterans while they are around. That way, they younger generation does not have to regret a dozen years from now and exclaim, 'how I wish I had heard them in live concerts!'. This is what I would say to them: for all you know, they may be performing just this evening, a few miles away from your house!
Thank you for attending the concert. Yes, she has been overlooked by sabhas and rasikAs for a long time. This season, it seems to have changed somewhat.Thank goodness.
It is not just Jayalakshmi Santhanam. There are several other musicians out there who are examples of traditional music of a high order. New blood and new innovations cannot stand the test of time unless rooted in the healthiest of traditions. When I hear some talented youngsters sing, I hear their aping some very popular vocalist or other. They forget that they have to be themselves while they develop as better artistes. How I wish such aspirants attend the sparsely attended concerts of veterans to enrich themselves!
While I am all for innovations and advancement in all forms of the Arts, I do feel that performances which are not based on the essence of the rich past have no chance of making a mark for posterity. They would leave no impressions for the future to treasure.
I wish more performers attend the concerts of veterans while they are around. That way, they younger generation does not have to regret a dozen years from now and exclaim, 'how I wish I had heard them in live concerts!'. This is what I would say to them: for all you know, they may be performing just this evening, a few miles away from your house!
Last edited by arasi on 12 Dec 2007, 10:29, edited 1 time in total.
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garudadhwani
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 03 Sep 2007, 10:24