024 :Jasmine strings- String Saraswathi's blog

They say one must have done abishekam(spiritual ablution) to lord Shiva for getting a golden voice, i think the hands that performs the abishekam also would be blesseed with a musical gift that's divine..this is what i think every time i listen to "Veena E.Gayathri" - Veena Saraswathi, who can fill the place with reverberating divine music through the strings in her hands. Any music lover, would need no introduction to this prodigy .
The most feared music critic Late.Sri. Subbudu, said.."She represents the auspicious month of Margazhi among veena players".. is just another feather on her cap.

Interestingly the Veena Queen, has started trying her hands on something along with veena , she is exploring the blog world . Titled Jasmine Strings - she synonymously spreads the musical thoughts like the jasmine spreading the fragrance. Audio tracks are a feature in her blog, where she has hosted few of her tracks .I enjoyed the "Sri Vidyaranya Swami Bhajans" ..hope you too

023 : Simhendra Madhyamam - My Favourite Raaga

Simhendramadhyamam is 57th Melakartha Ragam. It's a "Prathi" Madhyama raaga. It's one of my favourite raaga.

Aa: S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S

Illayaraja alias music has used this raaga exceptionally well in Paneer Pushpangal. My acquaintance with this raaga came from the Album How to Name it? interestingly i was able to find a youtube version of it.. here it is..

022 : M.S - Musical face of India

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (M.S Amma), needs no introduction to India, she was the first Indian Musician to be awarded Bharat Ratna. Recently i was searching for some carnatic stuff and landed upon this excellent documentary video on MS Amma. It was really excellent. One thing amazes me about MS amma is the elite class she belongs to interacting with Mahatma , Nehru and the lineage of Presidents and PM's of India, Extra ordinary performance in UN..but lived a simple and down to earth life.

Even today when I listen to "Kurai Ondrum illai..." or Baja Govindam or Sriman Narayana ..list is endless..they are the best Tranqulizers. Smt MS and Sri Sadhasivam were the pair made for each other. The charity couple have donated enormous amount of money to the social cause . who will get such a rare blessing , that Sri Venkateshwara of Tirupathi wakes up with the Suprabhatam sung by her.

Anecdote on Smt MS Amma and Sri Sadhasivam

H.Y. Sharada Prasad, a close friend of MS and Sadasivam, writes about their marriage:"It was a remarkable marriage. They made a striking pair. Wherever they went or sat, all eyes turned towards them, because of Subbulakshmi's extraordinary grace and beauty and the large, radiant eyes outshining the diamonds and silks she wore. Sadasivam had a presence which by no means was in the shadows. There he was, upright and broad-shouldered and handsome, in his white khadi and the lines of sacred ash on his forehead. Subbulakshmi seemed to lean on him like the jasmine creeper twining itself around a tall tree. When the two entered a room, one felt as if more lights had been switched on. There were some who called them Parvathi-Parameshwar...."

021 :Music Info - Carnatic : Raaga?

It's like trying to dry the ocean, if some one attempts to create a repository or reference for Music. But the process of collaborative learning is more effective, hence i'm planning..this series. Lets explore the ocean of Music together
What is a Raaga?
A Raaga is a combination of musical notes aka Swaraa(Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Nee). Raaga primarily denotes melody. Ideally there must be at least 5 notes or a maximum of 7 notes (swaras) in a Raaga

"tonal framework for composition and improvisation" -Joep Bor of the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music

Every Raga would have an “Aarohanam” - ascending notes & an “Avrohanam” - descending notes.There are many ragas recognised and played in Carnatic Music and each ragas has its time and season that defines it.

Melakarta or Janya Raagas:
Melakarta is a collection of fundamental Raagas Melakarta ragas are parent ragas (hence known as janaka ragas) from which other ragas may be generated. There are 72 Melakartha Raagas. They are split into 12 groups called chakras, each containing 6 ragas. The ragas within the chakra differ only in the dhaivatham and nishadham notes (D and N), You can find the list of all the 72 Raagas and the chakra's they belong to in the following link http://carnatica.net/sangeet/melachart.htm
(Contd..)
Musical - Gems : Here's a masterpiece Shri Sadasiva Bramendrar in Shyama Raga Manasa Sancharere...

Keerthana: Manasa Sancharare
Author: Sadashiva Brahmendra
Ragam: Shyama
Talam: Aadi
PallaviMaanasa Sanchara re
Brahmani Maanasa Sancharare
Charanam 1
Madasikhi pinchalankruta chikure
Mahaneeya kapola vijitha mukure
Charanam 2
Sri Ramani Kucha Durga Vihare
Sevaka jana mandira mandare
Charanam 3Paramahamsa mukha Chandra chakore
Paripooritha murali ravadhare

020 : Raman Ethani Ramandi - Everlasting Melody

I'm currently lstening to this melody, raman ethanai raman adi.. from the movie "Lakshmi kalyanam".. the song is written by Kaviarasar kannadasan. If i say the lyrics are classic to the core would be like saying Sun is brighter.

Salient part of this song is the charanam where multiple rama nama's are listed and peacefully transcends to ramajeyam japam. I'm listening to this song @ midnight 12:15, and the sheer joy in me made me blog this

019 : Karpagavalli nin - An excellent song : Navarathiri Spl

"Karpagavalli nin Porpadhangal pidithey..nargadhi arulvaai amma... devi..."an excellent song composed in a Raghamalika of AnanthaBairavi,Kalyani,Bhageswari and Ranjini ragas . Composed by: Yazhpaanam N. Veeramani Iyer is a masterpiece, which not only offers good listening to the ears, but also offers peace and solace when one understands the meaning . TMS has rendered his voice with such a grace and charm this song would live for ever and no doubt would continue to offer the peace and solace to the listers and would be a means to reach out to the ears of Shri Kapaleeshwara samedha Thirumayilai Karpagambal.

taaLam: aadi

ragam:-AnanthaBairavi

PALLAVI:

Karpagavalli Nin porpathangal pidithennarghathi aruLvai amma....Devi

Karpagavalli Nin porpathangal pidithennarghathi aruLvai amma

ANUPALLAVI

parpalarum potrum pathi mayilapuriyilcirpam niraintha uyar singara kovilkonda........karpaga CHARANAM-1

neeintha veLaithannil seyanennai maranthainaanintha naanilathil naduthal yaridamoenintha mounamamma ezhai enakaruLaanantha bairaviye AatharithaLum amma........karpaga

Ragam:-Kalyani

CHARANAM-2

ellorkum inbangal ezhilai erangiendrumnallatchi vaithidum nayakiye nithyakalyaniye kapali kadhal puriyum anthaullasiye uma unai nambinen amma........karpaga
Ragam:-Bagheswari

CHARANAM-3

nageswari neeye nambidum enaikappaivagheswari maye vaarai ithu tharunambaghesree thaye parvathye inthalogheswari neeye ulahinil thunai amma.........karpaga
Ragam:-ranjini

CHARANAM-4

anjana maiyidum ambige empirankonchi kulavidum vanjiye ninnidamthanjamena adaithen thaye unseinaanranjaniye raashippai kenjukiren amma..........karpaga