by Dr. Rama V Bennur
Though Mysore is known to be a seat of Vainikas, Violinists are making sound ! The cultural centre has a number of aspirants of Violin, who mostly are disciples of Vidwan H.K. Narasimhamurthy. Thus, the M.S.G. baani is spreading!
M.S. Bhaskar, son of H.K.N., is a violinist par excellence. Sindhu Suchetan and H.N. Smitha are the Violin duos, who are trained by H.K.N. They are also his wife Vidu. Rajalakshmi’s nieces. The talented sisters are equally good in vocal music too. They have received a number of accolades for singing as well as playing violin. They are in unison while playing, which was displayed recently (29.7.2014)in a concert sponsored by the Surabhi Ganakala Mandira Charitable Trust in city. The serene atmosphere at the Bidaram Krishnappa’s Prasanna Seeta Rama Mandira added to their enchanting bowing.
Vidwan G.S. Ramanujam (Mridanga) and Vidwan V.S. Ramesh (Ghata) enhanced the musical experience with their layavadya support. Sindhu and Smitha compliment each other with their synchronising strings. Be it a Kruthi or manodharma, their inclination, style and vibration are strikingly identical.There was a perfect balance between the compositions and the manodharma all through the concert. The very first phrase in their alapana would confirm the raga. The flawless bowing and the ‘gayaki style’ in their playing pleased all the music-lovers.
‘Neranammithi’, the opening Varna (Kaanada) in two speedsset the mood for the evening. A short sketch of Nata led to ‘Sarasiruhasanapriye’, a composition of Puliyuru Doreswami Ayyar. A moderate and crisp kalpanaswaras at ‘Saraswathi’ was attractive. They took up Natakuranji for a detailed delineation. One after the other, they breathed life to every phrase. Each sangathi carried the raga bhava that was pleasing to the ears. ‘Naachai Vidavakura’, a Keerthana by Mysore Vasudevacharya followed in perfect uniformity. A neraval at “Devadeva Sri Vasudeva mahadeva vinutha” was nothing but an extension of the raga. The competitive kalpanaswaras too adorned the kruthi.
Shyama Shastri’s composition ‘Kamakshi’ in Varali too carried the essence of the raga. Tyagaraja’s composition ‘Tana meedane’ (Bhooshavali) was presented with kalpanaswaras. The main raga of the day was Mukhari. Sindhu Suchetan, who began the alapana from the lower octave, got in to the mood of the raga even before entering the middle register. Smitha continued it in the higher octave from the tarashadja and expanded the raga. The delicate gamakas embellished the sancharas along with a stress on the dhaivatha in the arohana. They accentuated the jeeva swaras to bring the rasanubhava. This raga is known to evoke Karuna rasa or sorrow mood. Tyagaraja’s ‘Ksheenamai’ portrayed this perfectly.
The lyrics in charana – “Yadijesinajagannathudushiramuna” was selected for neraval and swaras. They played a Kannada Devaranam‘ Govinada ninna namave chanda’ and ended the concert with a Tillana by Lalgudi Jayaraman in Sindhu bhairavi. The Taniavartha included many interesting combination of beats. These young violinists, though from Mysore, are settled in Bangalore for a better prospectus. Their hard work and endurance will certainly take them a long way.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / August 11th, 2014