Topic started by Shyam (@ a060-0611.snfc.splitrock.net) on Mon Aug 28 18:19:17 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

This is a thread to share all facets of information including recent and old renditions of RTP-the jewel in the crown of a carnatic classical concert. Please feel free to share your opinions.
Shyam

Responses:

• From: Shyam (@ a060-0721.snfc.splitrock.net) on: Sat Sep 2 13:58:25 EDT 2000
  
  I have a rendering of ragam thanam keerthanam by MSS in Thodi (million thanks to Lakshman!!)with Daasharathey. I also have one by Semmangudi with kamboji and O Rangashayee (Thanks to Shyam Krishnamurthy. I have several RTKs by E.Gayathri in Mohanam (Nannu palimpa) Hemavathy (Sree kanthimathim), Revathi (dont remember), Thodi (Gajavadhana), Purvikalyani (Kasi Visaalakshi) etc. They are a part of Karaikkudi tradition, I think.
  Does anyone know why RTK s are not sung anymore. What a loss.
  Also does anyone know of a concert where Semmangudi has rendered the Bhairavi swarajathi with ragam and thanam?
  
  
• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-67-118-12-77.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Thu Sep 11 14:28:51
  
  Once DKP in Thyagraja utsavam if I remember correct, against kambodhi RTP took up 'Entharo Mahanu bhavulu anthariki vandhanamu' the first two lines as pallavi.
  
  
• From: Nick H (UK) (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Thu Sep 11 15:04:13 EDT 2003
  
  But they *are* sung/played. I heard Lalgudi Krishnan and Viyalakshmi present one only this last Sunday and they regularly feature in London concerts.
  
  
• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-67-118-12-114.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Sat Sep 13 22:52:45 EDT 2003
  
  Nick - Can't help but wonder, Did the Lalgudis play this pallavi in Kambodhi as well ? How extensive was their pallavi rendition ?
  
  Legend goes that DKP pioneered this "pallavi in praise of an individual" trend in honor of Thyagiar at his Aradhana.... What a clever way to honor the great saint!
  
  
• From: Padmanabhan Shakkottai (@ hide196.nhs.uk) on: Tue Sep 23 14:10:19 EDT 2003
  
  I would thimk that the tanam preceeding a keerthana is usual in any veena concert . The veena is well suited for a tanam and therefore it is customary to always render a tanam after alapana in a veena concert.
  The logic of RTPs is not so much the rendition of the pallavi but the ability to portray kalpana sangeetha at its best. It usually is a measure of ones capability in the field of laya. The pallavi has to be rendered in trikalam with anuloma & viloma. The pallavi is usually structured in such a way that the first akshara starts at an odd place as opposed to samam & it is important to maintain the sthana during neravel.
  For example the Hindolam pallavi neerajakshi kamakshi starts at 3/4 place. It is a challenge to render these pallavis & also to accompany such renditions.
  Alas nowadays the art of pallavi rendering is going into oblivion. There are pallavis with kanda nadai in the laghu section & tisra nadai in the druthum section.
  Historically the percussionist is supposed to play for the tanam as per sampradaya. to get a good perspective into RTP singing one should listen to the few recordings of Alathur brothers.
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-66-120-160-119.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Wed Sep 24 02:31:28 EDT 2003
  
  I actually have Santhanam rendering Entharo Mahanu following a beautiful 20 min Thodi, truly awesome!!
  
  
• From: SHyam (@ adsl-66-120-160-119.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Wed Sep 24 02:32:05 EDT 2003
  
  I mean just as a pallavi... hehehehe
  
  
• From: Nick (@ mridangam.demon.co.uk) on: Thu Sep 25 07:02:36 EDT 2003
  
  Sorry, so much happening this past couple of weeks that I can't remember details from the Lalgudi concert. Not that I make any pretence at being able to recognise raga, on the contrary...
  
  
• From: Balakrishnan (@ adsl-67-118-13-157.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Thu Sep 25 13:42:34 EDT 2003
  
  Yes. Padmanabhan is right and observations are quite curious and interesting. Definitely it needs lot of skill and efforts to handle RTP. I have heard Madurai Srirangam Iyengar singing tanam set to definite thalam which was closely accompanied by mirudangam. The pracitice of playing tavil for tanam still prevails in nadaswaram tradition. One can not forget Nachiyar Koil's talent while accompanying Tiruvenkadu/ Karukurichi/ Kulikkarai during RTP.
  
  
• From: Stuart (@ host217-43-68-9.range217-43.btcentralplus.com) on: Thu Aug 26 18:20:14
  
  I have just listened to Doreswamy Iyengar playing Thanam on an old tape - it is incomparable. There is no mrdangam , of course.
  
  
• From: Nick H (UK) (@ nhaynes.adsl.wizards.co.uk) on: Fri Aug 27 02:06:48 EDT 2004
  
  I'm not very keen on mridangam accompaniment to thanam.
  
  I once heard it [violin solo] with morsing accompaniment, which I thought worked well. This was before I started playing the instrument, so not bias!
  
  

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