Scope for creativity in Sampradaya Bhajans

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 06 Aug 2009, 12:15

I'd have to agree with srinivasrgvn on the issue of restricted scope for manOdharma in the prAcIna paddhati. However, that doesn't mean bhAgavatar's completely forego creativity, nor do they let go the opportunity to present some nice sangatIs in certain compositions

e.g. hear this bhAgavatar's rendition of mAnasa sancararE (well WORTH listening except the annoying feedback from the PA): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0UKvZ6rfxA. Of course, in keeping with the concept of sangkIrtanam (congregational singing) it would be sensible to limit the number of sangatIs and allow the general congregation to be able to follow your lead.

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 06 Aug 2009, 13:53

Hi Vidya

This is coming soon after the Udayalur Kalyanaraman thread http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... souls.html and some answers can be found there!

Viruttam and shlokam singing, and allied raga-alapana, bhava-sangeetham are big areas of creativity in sampradaya bhajan. Bhaavam is a core aspect of SB -- the initials for Sampradaya Bhajan as well as the person in whom viruttam singing reached its pinnacle - Sethalapathy Balasubramanian! I am told he led the margazhi bhajans in Mylapore for some years.

I have also heard amazing mettus (tunes) and gaits to namavalis, kritis etc. set by such greats as Sreevanchiyam Ramachandra Bhagavatar and Swami Haridoss Giri, not to mention more contemporarily Udayalur mentioned above.

smala · Post by **smala** » 07 Aug 2009, 00:24

http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/c ... rtist.115/.............has P. Sivan songs by Sethalapathy Balasubramanian, S. R. --------for some reason I cannot hear the audio on MIO although the player seems to be playing ! Can someone suggest something ?

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 07 Aug 2009, 01:09

Vidya Raja wrote:Thanks Always_evolving for your post. Is there a link where i can hear Sethalapathy Balasubramanian(he is in Sri Udayalur Kalyanaraman's group?) and Sreenivanchiyam Ramachandra Bhagavatar?

No No. Sethalapatti Balasubramaniam is a foremost disciples of Papanasam Sivan. He used to be in Bhajan sessions around Kapaliswar temple by Papanasam Sivan. Sanjay Subramanian has a very high regard for him and in his blog speaks about learning some songs from his recordings. Refer to

http://sanjaysub.blogspot.com/2008/08/c ... -from.html

The following link has

http://sangeethamshare.org/nvn/

a lecture demonstration by Sethalapatti Balasubramanian on Papanasam Sivan. Do listen to it. It has some wonderful moments when he sings exactly like different stalwarts like Madurai Mani Iyer etc.

There is also a concert of his in the above link. The concert is full of viruthams and lot of "Aha Ahas" from the ever appreciative M.Chandrasekar.

I also remember reading Hindu article on him but the google search does not seem to be working for me.

I also remember Coolkarni giving a short video of his presenting "Thunai Purindarul" in Varamu which I heard just few times but his rendition is till ringing in my ears.

If you are interested and with Coolkarni's permission and if I am able to dig it out, I can post it somewhere.

2 CDs are available here.

http://www.kalakendra.com/shopping/adva ... ubramaniam

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 07 Aug 2009, 01:13

I tried one song and it played. Did you select the song and press play? Also check what player you are using. It plays in real or windows media.

Try this: kandA vandarul - http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/-qC ... one_detect

gopalk · Post by **gopalk** » 07 Aug 2009, 06:26

Vidya Raja wrote:Thanks Always_evolving for your post. Is there a link where i can hear Sethalapathy Balasubramanian(he is in Sri Udayalur Kalyanaraman's group?) and Sreenivanchiyam Ramachandra Bhagavatar?

I think ALways_evolving referred to a different Sethalapathy Balasubramanian. However the person in the referenced video is also named Sethalapathy Balu (in bhajan circles better known as Briga Balu) and is a part of UKB's team.

Srivanchiyam Ramachandra bhagavathar videos are pretty rare. I do have some full length ones (3 hrs). He was known for his abhinayam. (See UKB and JKD talk about Srivanchiyam bhagavathar in this video at 4:00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEO1D8_M ... e=channel).

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 07 Aug 2009, 07:26

Yes indeed. I meant the older Sethalapathy and not Briga Balu who sings with UKB!!!

Gopalk: wow it's great that you have some 3 hr videos of Srivanchiyam. My father's family organized his bhajans regularly for decades and I have seen him a few times too. He's quite captivating. My dad is now not very well and would be thrilled to see him in action. Would it at all be possible for us to get a copy of some of your videos?

smala · Post by **smala** » 07 Aug 2009, 12:51

gopalk wrote:
Vidya Raja wrote:Thanks Always_evolving for your post. Is there a link where i can hear Sethalapathy Balasubramanian(he is in Sri Udayalur Kalyanaraman's group?) and Sreenivanchiyam Ramachandra Bhagavatar?
I think ALways_evolving referred to a different Sethalapathy Balasubramanian. However the person in the referenced video is also named Sethalapathy Balu (in bhajan circles better known as Briga Balu) and is a part of UKB's team.

Srivanchiyam Ramachandra bhagavathar videos are pretty rare. I do have some full length ones (3 hrs). He was known for his abhinayam. (See UKB and JKD talk about Srivanchiyam bhagavathar in this video at 4:00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEO1D8_M ... e=channel).

I too would love to get a hold on those videos -- although I have no video player ! --still, I'm interested - we can work out logistics.

jodha · Post by **jodha** » 07 Aug 2009, 13:18

Vidya Raja,

UKR learned from one Sethalapathy Balasubramanian f/o mridangists B.Ganapatiraman & B.Sivaraman is no more.

There is defenitely scope for jelling innovation with bhakti in sampradhaya bhajans.But fundamendalists may not allow that.There is a wrong notion that being musical means lack of bhakti !
Probably if this can be amicably redressed changes are sure to follow.