Strings of harmony – The Hindu

Strings of harmony
G. SWAMINATHAN

Lalitha and Nandini. Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

At Nandi Fine Arts: Lalitha and Nandini burnished every swara with plenty of soul.

Meticulous planning, comfort zone playing and best choice of kritis made the violin duet of Lalitha-Nandini, at Sastri Hall, Mylapore, for Nandi Fine Arts enjoyable. It was gratifying to note that in between their musical expeditions of different genres, the sisters also provide space for tradition-bound playing to the pleasure of connoisseurs.

The Surutti varnam added extra sheen to the concert as the siblings burnished every swara with plenty of soul. Papanasam Sivan’s ‘Gajavadana’ in Sriranjani with swara suites opened up the unlimited shades of the beautiful raga. Latangi was developed by both, emphasising its vivacity.

Chiselled phrasings

Patnam Subramanya Iyer’s ‘Aparadamula’ and their expansion on ‘Kripa Jesina’ with niraval and swarams was testimony to their strong base in the classical idiom. The Kharaharapriya raga treatise for Tyagaraja’s evergreen ‘Chakkani Raja’ was approached by Lalitha with veneration; she built it up with carefully chiselled phrasings. The kriti was rendered at a leisurely pace to provide enough importance for the swaras at ‘Kantiki Sundara.’ The spirit with which the sisters exchanged swara sallies added weight to the rendition.

On the lighter side, the duo played a rare composition of Muthiah Bhagavatar in the unusual raga, Buddha Manohari, ‘Om Namo Narayana’ of Ambujam Krishna in Karna Ranjani and a javali as a tribute to Brinda Amma.

S. Sridharan on the mridangam and G. Ravichandran on the ghatam kept rhythm with the right perspective. Their thani was energetic.

(During the December Season, the sabhas vie with each other getting artists and conducting programmes. But, it would help the audience if the organisers show equal interest in sprucing up the auditorums. Sastri Hall’s ceiling is peeling off and this scribe had to shift to three different locations to protect himself from the dripping of water from the open gaps in the ceiling.)

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/strings-of-harmony/article4170617.ece

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Impressive display of prowess

Impressive display of prowess

JYOTI NAIR BELLIAPPA

Of Nandini Muthusamy’s violin and and Purbayan Chatterji’s sitar.

Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

Enthralling: Violinist Nandini Muthusamy and (right) sitarist Purbayan Chatterji.

Kartik Fine Arts and Nandi Fine Arts recently organised a jugalbandi concert by violinist, Nandini Muthusamy, and Hindustani sitarist, Purbayan Chatterji. Their performance exemplified mastery within the two selected genres that in unison only elevated the music to a higher plane.

The first segment of the event began with individual performances by Nandini, followed by Purbayan, before the jugalbandi, which concluded the programme.

In keeping with tradition, Nandini began with Purandaradasa’s composition in Hamsadhwani invoking Lord Ganesa followed by the presentation of Tyagaraja’s ‘Banturiti’ and ‘Ramakatha,’ sung in Hamsanadam and in Madhyamavathi, respectively, and Rajaji’s ‘Kurai Ondrum Illai, in Ragamalika, which was played with aplomb. Nandini concluded with a complex korvai.

Beauty and ecstacy

Purbayan Chatterji’s performance on the sitar showcased the best of Maiher Gharana and Raga Maru Bihag, exhibited perfection, harmony, beauty, and ecstasy. His innovations on the sitar were elastic, fluid, and profound. He even accompanied singing a bandish and concluded with a sidha jhala.

For the jugalbandi, Nandini and Purbayan chose Charukesi. Pathos emerged as the predominant emotion through the impressive display of prowess over their respective instruments. It was a voyage through the intricacies of the raga.

With smooth and light strokes, swaying to the resonating notes, komal dha and ni, Nandini’s rendition was hypnotic; yet when Purbayan joined with his rendition, he had woven a splendid veil.

After Purbayan’s Alap and bandish, the musical dialogue and repartee took many forms, each with its own melodic possibilitiesand progressions of phrasing, tone, and colour. The initial playing of the ghat was in vilambit, and then in madhya laya.

The two artists alternated and then played together, progressively with more and more complexity. They systematically increased the laya and exhibited cross-rhythmic patterns, using tihais and todas, which then led into a dhrut at an electrifying speed.

Bangalore Praveen, performing on the mridangam, and Yogesh Samsi on the tabla, continued a dramatic exchange until the climactic moment was reached.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/11/06/stories/2009110651240200.htm

The book authored by us on our Guru `Violin Maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer’ released

The book authored by us on our Guru `Violin Maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer – His life and contribution to the World of Music’ was released.

The book is being released by Sri Narayana Viswanath Editor in Chief, SARIGAMAPADANI, the first copy was received by Padmabhushan Dr. K. J. Yesudas in the immediate presence hotelier Shri. K. R. V. Ramani at Nandi Fine Arts, Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Chennai.

Nandi Fine Arts honours Yesudas – The Hindu

Nandi Fine Arts honours Yesudas

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Guidance of parents and the blessings of ‘Guru’ are most important for one to become a good Carnatic musician, noted vocalist K.J. Yesudas observed here on Friday.

Speaking at a function organised by Nandi Fine Arts, Mr. Yesudas said the present day youth adopted short-cuts to become good vocalists. They used a tape recorder to learn music, which would never tell aspiring youth whether they were singing properly or not, he said.

Mr. Yesudas was presented with the ‘L. Vaidyanathan award for Achievement,’ which carried a shawl, a citation and a memento.

Narayana Viswanath, Editor-in-Chief, Sarigamapadani, and former Chief General Manager, RITES, recalled his association with violin maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer and lauded the efforts taken by his granddaughters M. Lalitha and M. Nandini. A book brought out by the sisters,‘Violin Maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer — His Life and Contributions to the World of Music’, was released.

Date:22/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/22/stories/2007122260061200.htm

http://www.carnaticdarbar.com/news/200802/20081203.asp

CHENNAI, December 3: Violin sisters Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini have a busy music season this time too. Besides performing together, the sisters have also lined up a few jugalbandi concerts with other artistes.

For details, you can visist: www.lalithanandini.com or www.wordpress.lalithanandini.com.

11-Dec-2008	Jugalbandi of Dr.M.Lalitha with Pravin Godkhinde in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan at 5. 30 PM
12-Dec-2008	Violin duet Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini for the Narayana Theerthar Music Festival in Chennai at 6.30 PM
15-Dec-2008	Violin duet Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini for Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha at 6.30 PM. Kalakadu R.Srinivasan (mridangam) and G.Ravichandran (ghatam)
21-Dec-2008	Nandi Fine Arts – Violin duet Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini at 6. 30 PM at the Varasiddhi Vinayakar Temple. Tanjore Kumar (mridnagam) and Pudukottai Ramachandran (ghatam)
23-Dec-2008	Jugalbandi Nandini Muthuswamy (violin ) with Pravin Godkhinde (flute) for Ananya and Nandi Fine Arts at 6.30 PM
25-Dec-2008	Violin duet Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini at the Ayyappa Bhaktha Samajam, Mandaveli, 6.30 PM
02-Jan-2009	A special thematic violin duet concert ‘Sarvam Vishnu Mayam’ by Dr.M.Lalitha and M.Nandini with multi-media presentation for Bharat Kalachar at 5 PM. Pharupalli Phalgun (mridangam) and Herbert Lang of Germany (kanjira)

Nandi Fine Arts honours Yesudas – The Hindu

Nandi Fine Arts honours Yesudas

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Guidance of parents and the blessings of ‘Guru’ are most important for one to become a good Carnatic musician, noted vocalist K.J. Yesudas observed here on Friday.

Speaking at a function organised by Nandi Fine Arts, Mr. Yesudas said the present day youth adopted short-cuts to become good vocalists. They used a tape recorder to learn music, which would never tell aspiring youth whether they were singing properly or not, he said.

Mr. Yesudas was presented with the ‘L. Vaidyanathan award for Achievement,’ which carried a shawl, a citation and a memento.

Narayana Viswanath, Editor-in-Chief, Sarigamapadani, and former Chief General Manager, RITES, recalled his association with violin maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer and lauded the efforts taken by his granddaughters M. Lalitha and M. Nandini. A book brought out by the sisters,‘Violin Maestro V. Lakshminarayana Iyer — His Life and Contributions to the World of Music’, was released.

Date:22/12/2007

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/22/stories/2007122260061200.htm