Useful website about ragams

http://people.rit.edu/pnveme/ragaindex.html

House-concert on Feb 27, 2010

Mayuri Vasan's concert accompanied by Anu Murthy and Karthik Vasan at Chinmaya Rameshwaram center on Feb 27 at 3:30pm.

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/basics/ramesh/gentle-intro-ramesh-mahadevan-I.htm

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/basics/ramesh/gentle-intro-ramesh-mahadevan-II.htm

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/basics/ramesh/gentle-intro-ramesh-mahadevan-III.htm

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/basics/ramesh/gentle-intro-ramesh-mahadevan-IV.htm

Decisions Decisions

On March 28, Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna sings in Los Angeles(http://www.simala.us). Gayathri Venkataraghavan and Trichur Ramachandran will sing in San Diego (http://www.indianfinearts.org/).

Cleveland Aradhana 2010 schedule

http://www.aradhana.org/schedule.html

Concert and Aradhana

Last Friday, I was able to attend Aditya Prakash's concert at UCLA(organized by Spic-Macay). His accompanists were Shiva Ramamurthy on the violin and Nirmal Narayan on the mridangam. We reached half an hour late. Aditya sang well. Good alapanas and smooth change of speed in swaram singing. His Dwijavanthi alapana reminded me a little of Sahana ragam. Upon discussing with Teacher, I learnt that these ragams have similarities, being janyas of the same karta (Harikambhoji). The violinist was good. All three artistes showed a good command over music.
On Saturday, Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana and Other Composers' Day was celebrated at Malibu Temple. Some of my favourite songs like Gaanamurte and Nambikkettavar evarayya were sung. I was able to identify Nattakuranji ragam. I liked the rendition of Bhagyada Lakshmi baaramma. I listened to Manirangu ragam for the first time. The Ashtalakshmi song was long but a good display of teamwork. The singer of 'Maa Ramanan' could have sung the lines about 'thanjam endru.... anjel..' with more bhavam.

This week's saadhakam

I shifted focus to Hamsadhwani ragam this week. I read and learnt that this janya of ShankarabharaNam was created by Sri Ramaswami Dikshithar, the father of Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar and that it has an auspicious effect. Apparently the best time to sing this ragam is 7-9 pm.
I attempted to sing the varisais in Hamsadhwani. I was able to sing them in 3 speeds. I should get it checked with teacher sometime soon. I am happy with this step. This sure is fun!
I have also been practising Hamsadhwani kalpanaswarams. I have been working on these steps:
1) Write down swarams from various resources - my own imagination; the varNam, jathiswaram and krithi I know; the tape of Sri Semmangudi's and tips and ideas from teacher.
2) Practise the listed swarams - problem is - by the time I reach the long swarams, I lose interest or breath. Need to make practice more interesting.
I foresee repeating these two steps for at least the whole of January to feel confident.
The singer I listened to the most this week - Nithyashree Mahadevan.
In addition, I was able to practise Valachi vachi and Jagaddaananda for class. Good week:)!