How violin exponent A. Kanyakumari put collectively a Carnatic choir

Over 80 vocalists and 7 instrumentalists got here collectively to carry out 10 choose compositions of Saint Annamacharya, set to music by Kanyakumari, at Narada Gana Sabha not too long ago
| Picture Credit score: R. Ragu

Conducting a large-scale Carnatic music choir is mostly an energy-sapping train with disproportionately meagre returns when it comes to melodic aesthetics. However not when you have got somebody as completed and galvanizing as Avasarala Kanyakumari on the helm.

So, it was a fascinating night as Crew Mohana Dubai not too long ago organised ‘Guru Vandanam 2024’ — a tribute to the violin exponent, who was additionally the chief mentor of the ensemble — on the Narada Gana Sabha Corridor below the auspices of Brahma Vidya Belief. Over 80 vocalists and 7 instrumentalists got here collectively to carry out 10 choose compositions of Saint Annamacharya, set to music by Kanyakumari, and Ragamalika tillana named ‘TriShakti’, created by her.

Kanyakumari is on the verge of finishing 60 years of her journey as a performing violinist, and her wealthy vein of expertise was all too evident as the ten kirtanas, tuned in mellifluous ragas and set to easy talas, had been carried out. Not simply the melodic facet of the songs, however the lilting interlude patterns too asserted what a wonderful amalgam of precision, finesse and flexibility she is.

The choir was mentored by violin exponent Kanyakumari
| Picture Credit score:
R. Ragu

Annamacharya (1408-1503), a thinker and composer-singer hailed from Tallapaka, close to Tirupati. He’s thought of an incarnation of Nandaka, the sacred sword of Vishnu, which obliterates maya or phantasm. A outstanding disciple of Srimath Adivan Satakopa Yatheendra Mahadesikan, the primary Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Math, Annamacharya conveyed intricate and wealthy philosophical concepts via songs written in lucid Telugu and Sanskrit, numbering a mammoth 32,000. The bard used these compositions as a method to pour out his deep devotion to predominantly Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala and Lord Nrusimha of Ahobilam.

The songs introduced on the day had been ‘Ambujaksha namo’ (Nagaswaravali-Khanda Chapu), ‘Evvari vaado’ (Behag-Khanda Chapu), ‘Papamu punyamu paraga’ (Sivaranjani-Adi), ‘Pondhaku athma’ (Bagesri-Adi), ‘Ithara dharmamulandhu’ (Mohana Kalyani-Khanda Chapu), ‘Analamu suryudu’ (Surya-Adi), ‘Nerupari innitanu’ (Tilang-Eka), ‘Innallu nandhu nindhu’ (Shanmukhapriya-Adi), ‘Machika prapanchapu’ (Vasanthi-Adi) and ‘Vennnalu selavi’ (Chakravakam-Eka), adopted by the tillana.

A phrase in regards to the idea of ‘TriShakti’ as reasoned by Kanyakumari. Kannada, Vasanthi and Shivashakti, the three ragas that includes within the tillana, denote herself, her guru MLV and paramaguru GNB, who created the last-named raga. To attract from a musical parlance, both arohana or avarohana order could also be adopted, in keeping with custom, when providing salutations to at least one’s lineage of gurus and he or she selected the previous.

A. Kanyakumari completes virtually 60 years of her musical journey
| Picture Credit score:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

The ensemble was led by a number of music lecturers of reputation. Ramashree Alladi’s articulate presentation of the which means earlier than every tune was a price addition. Nevertheless, devices taking turns to enjoying within the background throughout the narrative not solely proved a distraction but additionally compromised audibility.

Crew Mohana was based in 2009 to encourage younger expertise in classical music. “My grandfather Kothamangalam Subbu was the creator of the traditional Tamil novel and movie Tillana Mohanambal and the organisation attracts its identify from it as additionally from the attractive raga Mohanam,” mentioned Anand V. Subramanian, a founding member.

Tallapaka Meenalochani, belonging to the Annnamacharya lineage, was a particular invitee on the occasion.