Concert at Thrissur

‘Griha vinika’ is a chamber music organization based out of Thrissur.

The nice thing about them is that all their concerts are held in the residences of their members.

I have always known that Carnatic music sounds best in chamber performances because one gets to sing and listen to kritis that are not always chosen while singing in a public stage.

My hosts Smt and Sri Brahmadathan were at their cordial best and their coffee (apparently sourced from Germany) was to die for!!!

Sri Palakkad Swaminathan was on the violin while Sri Palakkad Mahesh Kumar played the mridangam.

The list:

1. Sami nine – shankarabharanam – adi – varnam along with the anu bandha sahitya “nenarunchi goodi….”

2. Surya murthey – souwrashtra – chathurasra dhruva – Dikshitar (S) at ‘sourashtraarna manthraathmaney”

3. E papamu – athana – misra chapu – thyagaraja (R,N,S) at “raja shekhara sannuthanga…”

4. Parandhamavathi – dhaamavathi – rupaka – Dikshitar (R)

5. Atu kaaradani – manoranjani – adi – thyagaraja

6. Rave himagiri kumari – todi – adi – swarajathi – shyama shastry (R,Thanam, N,S) at “shyama Krishna nutha…”

7. Miscellaneous Tukkudas

In retrospect, I am surprised that there were only six items till the thani avarthanam!!!

The concert lasted a good three and half hours.

The experience of singing Todi in three stages followed by Thanam and Swarajathi was an enriching one personally.