A Pure Carnatic Evening by Smt. R. Vedavalli

The carnatic concert by Sangeetha Kalanidhi Smt. R. Vedavalli on 21st October 2008 at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad offered classical music in its purest form to the audience. The concert was organized by SICA, Hyderabad in the memory of Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar. Smt. Vedavalli, known for presenting the carnatic music in its pure and holy form, rendered the compositions of the trinity of carnatic music along with compositions of Patnam Subramanya Iyer, Mysore Vasudevacharya and Purandara Dasa. Smt. Charulatha Ramanujam provided support on violin and Sri K. Sivakumar on mridangam. Smt. Sumathi, Smt. Vedavalli's disciple, provided vocal support.

The concert started with the Ghanaragamalika Varnam composed by Dr. Vinjamuri, in whose honor this concert was organized by SICA, Hyderabad. The next few compositions in Rudrapriya, Vachaspathi and Marga Hindolam set the mood for a perfect evening. After the ragalapana of Panthuvarali and a short krithi of Shyama Sastri in Manji, the main highlight of the evening 'Ekamresa Nayaki' composed by Dikshitar set to raga Shanmukhapriya was rendered. The ragalapana was in great detail and the rendering of the words reflected the bhavam of the composition. The concert ended with short compositions in Suruthi, Abheri and Kaanada. Overall, it was a wonderful and memorable concert.

Photo Courtesy: Google Pages

The entire concert is recorded. You can download the full concert in the form of two zip files: file 1 and file 2. You can find the individual MP3s below.

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. Introduction (MP3)
2. Ghanaragamalika Varnam - Adi- Nata,Gowla,Arabhi,Sri,Varali - Dr.Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar (MP3)
3. Gananayakam - Adi - Rudrapriya - MuthuswamiDikshitar (MP3, Lyrics)
4. Yennadu Nee Krupa - Adi - Vachaspati - Patnam Subramanya Iyer (MP3, Lyrics)
5. Chalamelara Saketa Rama - Adi - Marga Hindolam - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
6. Ninnu Nera Namminanura - Rupaka - Panthuvarali - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
7. Brovavamma Tamasa - Misra Chapu - Manji - Shyama Sastri (MP3, Lyrics)
8. Ekamresa Nayaki - Adi - Shanmukhapriya - Muthuswami Dikshitar (MP3)
   Neravel : 'kAnchi nagara nivAsini'
   Thani Avarthanam
9. Slokam - Pathiki Harathire - Adi - Suruthi - Thyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
10. Gokulanilaya Krupaalaya Paalaya - Adi - Abheri - Mysore Vasudevacharya (MP3, Lyrics)
11. Sreekantha Enagistu Daya Mado Than De - Misra Chapu - Kaanada - Purandara Dasa (MP3, Lyrics)
12. Thillana (MP3)
13. Bhavamana (Mangalam) - Adi - Saurashram - Thyagaraja (MP3)

The Hindu gave the following review about the concert:

South Indian Cultural Association (SICA) has been religiously holding memorial concerts of Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar, since his demise in 1999, with the assistance of the musician’s family. Most of the vocalists who are invited are senior musicians, who either know Iyengar directly or have full knowledge of the late musician’s contribution. Invariably, they include one or two compositions of this late veteran composer-vocalist, in their repertoire.

R.Vedavalli of Chennai who gave concert on the opening day of this year’s two-day memorial festival held at Ravindra Bharathi, opened with Varadaraja Iyengar’s Ghanaraga malika varnam with swarakalpana in each of the respective Ghana ragas. Vedavalli, as many would know, is a Sangeetha Kalanidhi of Madras Music Academy and is on various expert committees too. No wonder, she took time to set her aging voice in order and once she did it, the concert gained momentum.

Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts at Hyderabad

SICA, Hyderabad is organizing two day Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts at Hyderabad on 21s and 22nd October. On 21st October, it is carnatic vocal by Smt. R. Vedavalli and on 22nd October, carnatic vocal by Maharajapuram Srinivasan. The programs take place at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad and everyday it starts at 6:30 PM.
Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts are held every year in the honor of Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaja Iyengar (July 15, 1915 - August 16, 1991). He is a very renowned musican and composer. He has been awarded the titles Gana Kalanidhi, Gayaka Ratna, Sangeetha Jyothi, Sangeetha Ratnaakara, and Gana Vidya Visarada to mention a few. SICA, Hyderabad is organizing his memorial concerts to pay homage to him since 1992.

SICA, Hyderabad invitation gives the following excerpt about Dr. Vinjamuri:

Hailing from Guntur district in A.P. Sri Varadaraja Iyengar was a unique personality. He was a Musician, Musicologist and a composer. He belonged to the Sishyaparampara of Saint Thyagaraja.
His first Guru Sri Piratla Sankara Sastry belonged to Veena Kuppaier School, while his late Guru Sri Tiger Varadachary, belonged to Manambuchavadi Venkata Subramanya Iyer School. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyenger imbibed the best of these traditions. He considered late Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar as another guru and in fact he was often called 'Kutti Ariyakkudi of A.P.'
Sri Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar was with AIR, Chennai and Hydeabad for a long time and was mainly instrumental in propagating Bhakthi Music over AIR.
Among the numerous awards received by him 'Ganakalanidhi' conferred on him in 1958 is the most prestigious one. He was closely associated with the South Indian Cultural Association (SICA), Hyderabad and was its Vice President for some time.
Even since his demise in 1991, SICA has been organising the 'Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts' every year as a tribute to and in memory of this great Musician, Musicologist and Composer, jointly with the Vinjamuri Trust.