Carnatic Vocal Concert by Smt. Gayatri Girish

I had the good fortune of attending the Carnatic vocal concert by Smt. Gayatri Girish at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad on 25th June 2009. The program was organized by SICA, Hyderabad. It was a brilliant concert which presented the Carnatic music in its purest form. Violin support was given by Sri Mysore Srikanth, mridangam by Sri Neyveli Skandasubhramanyum and morsing by Sri Srinivasa Gopalan. Here is the entry of the concert on Gayatri Girish's blog.

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

I am very thankful to Smt. Gayatri Girish for graciously gaving permission to host the MP3s of the concert on this blog. Please note the disclaimer below.

Please note that the MP3s hosted here are only for personal and learning purposes. Please do not use them for commercial purpose. Please respect the artist by not violating the disclaimer.

1. Introduction (MP3)
2. Sami Ninne Koriyunnanu - Varnam - Sri - Adi - Garbhapuri (Lyrics, MP3)
3. Siddhi Vinayakam - Shanmukhapriya - Rupaka - Muththuswamy Dikshithar (S) (Lyrics, MP3)
4. Marivere Gati Evaramma - Anandabhairavi - Misra Chapu - Shyama Sastry (R, S) (Lyrics, MP3)
5. Lokavana Chatura Pahimaam - Begada - Adi - Thyagaraja (Lyrics, MP3)
6. Navaratna Vilasa Vaibhava - Navaratna Vilasam - Adi - Muththuswamy Dikshithar (MP3)
7. Idathu Padham Thookki - Khamas - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (Lyrics, MP3)
8. Kamalambam Bhajare - Kalyani - Adi - Dikshitar (R, N, S, T) (Lyrics, MP3)
9. Irakkam Varamal - Behag - Rupaka - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (Lyrics, MP3)
10. Indhira Naamamu - Kalyana Vasantham - Adi - Annamacharya (Lyrics, MP3)
11. Gopigopala - Gamanasrama - Adi - Surdas (MP3)
12. Anjanavannani - Kapi - Adi - Pasuram (MP3)
13. "Shantakarma Bhujagashayanam" Slokam - Saveri, Jog, Dhanyasi, Surati
    Sri Venkata Girisham - Surati - Adi - Dikshitar (Lyrics, MP3)
14. Thillana - Sindubhairavi - Adi - Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaier (MP3)
15. Bhavamana - Mangalam - Sourashtra - Adi - Thyagaraja (MP3)

You can download the entire concert into two zip files: File 1, File 2.

[Update: 3rd July 2009] Article about the concert in Hindu Friday Review.

SICA Programs: 25th and 26th June

Organized by: SICA, Hyderabad
Venue: Ravindra Bharathi
Time: 6:30 PM

25th June: Carnatic vocal concert by Gayatri Girish.
26th June: Mandolin concert by Arvind Bhargav

Entry is free for SICA members. Tickets will be available for the non-members at the venue before the concert.

Saving Energy Starts at Home: NGM Article

I strongly recommend the article "Saving Energy Starts at Home" in the March 2009 edition of National Geographic Magazine to anyone who is interested in energy conservation and related issues.

Carnatic Concert by Sri Vijay Siva

As part of 19th Annual Cultural Festival and 162nd Aradhana of Satguru Sri Thyagaraja Swamy, Sharada Cultural Trust organized a week long music festival from 24th January 2009 to 1st February 2009 at Keys High School, Secunderabad. On 25th January, Sri N. Vijay Siva rendered an excellent carnatic vocal concert. He was accompanied by Sri R.K. Srirama Kumar on violin, Sri N. Manoj Siva on mridangam and Trichy Sri K. Murali on ghatam.

Courtesy: Link

1. Introduction
   
2. Sarasuda Ninne Kori - Varnam - Saveri - Adi - Kothavaasal Venkataraamaiyyar (Lyrics)
3. Innum Paramukham Eno - Begada - Rupakam - Doraisami Iyer
   Neraval and Swarams @ 'Vanna Thogai Mayil'
4. Marakatha Mani Varna Rama - Varali - Adi - Thyagaraja (Lyrics)
   Neraval and Swarams @ 'Dharani Tanayakunna Prema Rasamu'
5. O Jagadamba Nannu Amba - AnandhaBhairavi - Adi - Shyama Sastry (Lyrics)
6. Sri Balasubramanya - Bilahari - Misrachapu - Muththuswamy Dikshithar
   Neraval and Swarams @ 'Abala Gopa Viditha Deena Sharanya'
   
7. Ramabhi Rama Manasu - Dhanyasi - Adi - Thyagaraja
   
8. Nadachi Nadachi Chuchera - Kharaharapriya - Adi - Thyagaraja (Lyrics)
   Swaramas @ 'Nadachi Nadachi Chuchera'
   Taniavarthanam
9. Enganum Vara Varakanisangal Illamal - Kalyani - Adi - Kavi Kunjara Bharathi
   
10. Tridaksha Vardhaki - Ragamalika - Narayana Bhattadri (Link)
11. Thiruvazhat Thiruvazhi Sankham Vaazhat - Ragamalika - Adi - Sri Koneri Appanaiyengar (Lyrics)
12. Harivasaradha Upavasa - Sindhubhairavi - Purandara Dasu
    
13. Bhagyatha Lakshmi Baramma - Madhyamavathi - Adi - Purandara Dasu (Lyrics)
14. Tirruppugazh - Mohana - Adi - Arunagirinadha
    
15. Bhavamana - Mangalam - Sourashtra - Adi - Thyagaraja
    

[12th March 2009 - Update: The MP3 files have been removed at the request of the artist.]

Qawwali Program by Iqbal Hussain

Iqbal Hussain Khan Bande Nawaz and party's Qawwali program at IIIT, Hyderabad on 6th February 2009 presented Sufi music in its purest form. Iqbal Hussian, who hails from Gwalior gharana, impressed the audience with his powerful voice and authentic rendition. The percussion artists provided excellent support to the vocals.

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

If there are any copyright issues for putting the MP3s for free download, please let me know. I will remove the access to files in that case. I am hoping that the MP3s downloaded from here are ONLY for personal use and will NOT be used for commercial purposes.

1. Man Kunto Maula - Amir Khusro (MP3, Lyrics)
2. Allah Hu - Mohammad Iqbal Naqibi (MP3, Lyrics)
3. Man Ke Meeth Jagat Ke Mohan Sundar Mukh Dikhlaona (MP3)
4. Chhap Tilak Sab Cheeni Ray Mosay Naina Milaikay - Amir Khusro (MP3, Lyrics)
   
5. Mera Piya Ghar Aaya Oo Laalni - Bulleh Shah (MP3, Lyrics)
   Dama Dam Mast Kalandar (Lyrics)

The entire concert can be downloaded in one zip file.

Concert by Sri O.S. Thyagarajan

A grand carnatic vocal concert by Sri O.S. Thyagarajan took place at Keys High School, Secunderabad on 7th February 2009. The violin support was given by Delhi Sri P. Sundara Rajan, mrudangam by Chidambaram Sri S. Balashankar and ghatam by Sri Nemani Somayajulu. It was organized by Sri Chandrasekharendra Sangeetha Educational Society as a part of their 10th annual music festival.

Photo Courtesy: The HinduIf there are any copyright issues for putting the MP3s for free download, please let me know. I will remove the access to files in that case. I am hoping that the MP3s downloaded from here are ONLY for personal use and will NOT be used for commercial purposes.

1. Introduction (MP3)
   
2. Sami Daya Jooda (Varnam) - Kedara Gowla - Adi - Tiruvottiyur Thyagayya (MP3, Lyrics)
3. Evarani Nirnayinchirira - Devamruthavarshini - Adi - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
4. Ilalo Pranatarti Harudanucu - Atana - Adi - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
5. Nemamu Tho - Lathangi - Adi - Tiruvottiyur Thyagayya (MP3)
   - Ragalapana, Neraval @ 'Samaja Varadayani Ninnepudu'
   
6. Enrikku Shiva Krupai Varumo - Mukhari - Misra Chapu - Neelakaanta Shivan (MP3, Lyrics, Lyrics)
7. Karanam Kettu Vaadi - Purvi Kalyani - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (MP3, Lyrics)
8. Shridhara Pahi Dayakara - Jayantashri - Rupaka - Mysore Vasudevacharya (MP3)
   
9. Ninne Nammi Nanu - Thodi - Misra Chapu - Shyama Sastry (MP3)
   - Ragalapana, Neraval @ 'Kamakshi Kanchadalayathakshi', Taniavarthanam
   
10. Eppovaruvaro - Jonpuri - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (MP3, Lyrics)
11. Momu Joopara - Behag - Rupaka - Annamacharya (MP3)
    
12. Nadupai - Madhyamavathi - Khandachapu - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
    Mangalam

The entire concert can be downloaded in two zip files: file1 and file2.

SICA Hyderabad - Kalyani Balakrishna Iyer Memorial Concert on 11th Feb 2009

SICA Hyderabad is organizing Grand Carnatic Vocal Concert (Kalyani Balakrishna Iyer Memorial Concert) by "Carnatica Brothers" Sri K.N. Sashikiran & P. Ganesh (Vocal Duet) on 11th Feb 2009 at 6:30 PM at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. Violin support by Sri V.L. Kumar, Mridangam by Sri M.L.N. Raju and Morsing by Sri P. Srinivasagopalan.

Carnatica Brothers: Grandsons of legendary Gottuvadhyam Narayana Iyengar, Sashikiran and Ganesh are cousins who sing as the vocal duo "Carnatic Brothers". The duo have stormed the carnatic music world at the age of two as child prodigies and have since emerged as front-ranking musicians. They had their advanced training under "Sangita Kalanidhi" Brida and also from T. Viswanathan and Calcutta K. S. Krishna Murthy. They have performed extensively in India and in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia & UAE. They now have a vast experience of over 3500 concerts, lecture demonstrations, jugal bandis and fusion concerts. They have garnered critical acclaim and popularity with their emotive style of singing and their strict adherence to classicism.

In Sept. 2006, Shashikiran and Ganesh performed a marathon 24 hours concerts - a stupendous task considering the fact that they did not take a single break during the entire 24 hours. The concert was dedicated to all those who lost their lives in various natural calamities and terrorist strikes and to mark the World Peace Day.

The brothers have been accompanied by senior stalwards like "Sangita Kalanidhis" Umayalpuram Sivaraman, T.K. Murthy, Vellore Ramabadran and others. They are the Asthana Vidwans of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Recipients of numerous awards and titles: 'Best Vocalist" from CMANA, USA (1998), Bharath Nirman Excellence Award for meritorious achievements in diverse fields, "Outstanding Young Indian" by Jaycees Special Millennium Honour Award, Music Adacemy's "Best Ragam Tanam Pallavi" Award 2004, "Isai Chudar" from Sri Ragam Fine Arts, Barath Kalachar's Yuva Kala Bharathi Award (2002) etc.