Shravanam - Arunachalam - Kaddanuvariki

Collecting music is like the activity of a Honeybee!
It collects honey but rarely does it enjoy it!!

I want to listen to music.
I want others to listen to music.
I want people to talk about music.

It is with this intention that I am bringing another almost hour long performance as a single file.
This is a low bit rate file and can be haerd without breaks.
The track gets downloaded even before you listen half of it!
Even dialup users can enjoy this.

I want some feedback on this trial of mine.
I have a lot of good music to share.
All of us can enjoy it!!

Welcome to Shravanam, the listening platform!

Shravanam 2

Sri Karukuruchi Arunachalam - Nadaswaram - Kaddanuvariki - Todi

Let us enjoy good music!!

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Vipranarayana - Radio Drama - Songs

There is a famous film "Vipranarayana" in which A Nageswara Rao Excelled in the title role.
Many may not know that there is a radio drama written by Sri Devulapalli Krishna Sastry on the theme.
Music was by Sri Balantrapu Rajani Kanta Rao.
Dr Balamurali and Kum Srirangam Gopalaratnam play the lead roles here.
This drama was staged at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad long back.

The same script and music is used by Smt Ratna Papa for her Kuchipudi performance.
Smt Sobha Naidu also stages the drama with her troupe.
I was involved in some way in the latters first production.

I now bring you some songs from the drama sung by Balamurali and Ratnam Garu.
They are ever enjoyable!!

List:

01-Emi_Matale_Sari.mp3
02-Pandemu_Galada.mp3
03-Vedalenide.mp3
04-Tagana_Swamy_with_Padyam.mp3
05-Mundu_Telisena.mp3
06-Vadduvaddu_Suma.mp3
07-Tuluva_manasaye.mp3
08-Vanalona.mp3

Link:
 
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=10f3f26dc390f408ab1eab3e9fa335caf800b012a63397db
 
Let us enjoy good music!
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Balamurali's Ramadasa Concert - Shravanam

The cassette containingg Ramadasa songs by Balamurali is a big hit and continues to be available even now in the market.
I have been listening to those songs for over decades.
The singers in chorus sometimes mar the quality of the songs at a couple of places.
This is my very personal impression.

Now, I found this 80 minutes concert recording, thanks to a musical soul.
This is ambrosia for music lovers.
The concert was performed on 8-4-1981.
It must be Sri Rama Navami Season.
Murali Garu chose to sing all Bhadradri Ramadasa items in this concert.
Only the opening Rama Ninu Vina (Tyagaraja) and the Tillana (Own) as also his grandfathers composition Ramaramayanarada are exceptions.

Main item Nanubrovamani is a veritable treat.
I uploaded the concert as usual to my folder in Sangeethamshare.
This happens to be my 150th upload there.

I found that even all the members of Sangeethapriya group are not downloading all the concerts.
I felt that there are many who would like to listen to the concert once.
So, I hosted a low bit rate version on the net and made the concert available for easy listening.
Those who want to download can always go to my folder in Sangeethamshare/Sangeethapriya.

Details of the concert

Team:

Dr Mangalampalli Balamurali krishna - Vocal

Sri Annavarapu Ramaswamy - Violin

Sri Mahadevu Lakshmi Narayana Raju - Midangam

List:

01-Ramaninunvina-Shankrabharanam-Tyagaraja.mp3

02-Trakamantaramu-Dhanyasi-Ramadasu.mp3

03-Nanubrovamani_Cheppave-Kalyani-Ramadasu.mp3

04-Palukebangaramayena-Anandabhairavi.mp3

05-Bhajare_Sreeramam-Vakulabharanam-Ramadasu.mp3

06-Ikshwakukulatilaka-Yadukulakambhoji-Ramadasu.mp3

07-E_Teerugananu-Nadanamakriya-Ramadasu.mp3

08-Ramaramayanarada-Sindhubhairavi-Prayaga_Rangadasu.mp3

09-Tillana-Brindavanasaranga_n_Mangalam.mp3

Duration: 01:18:46

The concert is available in a single track!

Let us enjoy good music!!
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Sand and Foam of Kahlil Gibran

I have translated almost the entire collection under the title.
You can read them in my web pages on tripod.
Link is available on the right of the blog page.

Now I am adding more lines from Sand and Foam.

I am thoroghly impressed by Gibran's style and thoughts!!

Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.
నమ్మకమన్నది మనసులోని ఒయాసిస్సు. ఆలోచనతో ప్రయాణికులు దాన్ని అందుకోలేరు.
When you reach your height you shall desire but only for desire; and you shall hunger, for hunger; and you shall thirst for greater thirst.
నీవా ఎత్తుకు ఎదిగిన తర్వాత, కేవలం కోరికలనే కోరుకుంటావు. ఆకలికై ఆకలిగా ఉంటావు. గొప్ప దాహానికై తపిస్తావు.

If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
నీ రహస్యాలను గాలికి చెప్పి, ఆ గాలి వాటిని చెట్లకు చెప్పిందని తప్పు పట్టలేవు.

The flowers of spring are winter's dreams related at the breakfast table of the angels.
వసంత పుష్పాలంటే, దేవతలు తమ భోజనం బల్ల దగ్గర చెప్పుకున్న చలిరాత్రి కథలు.

Said a skunk to a tube-rose, "See how swiftly I run, while you cannot walk nor even creep."
Said the tube-rose to the skunk, "Oh, most noble swift runner, please run swiftly!"
మురికి పంది కందమూలంతో అన్నది గదా, చూడూ నేనెంత వేగంగా పరుగెత్తగలనో, నీవేమో నడవడం కాదు, పాకనుకూడా లేవు అని, కంద ఓ వేగం గల మిత్రమా, వేగంగా పరుగెత్తి వెళ్లి పో అన్నది.

Turtles can tell more about roads than hares.
దారులను గురించి కుందేళ్లకన్నా తాబేళ్లే ఎక్కువ చెప్పగలవు.

Strange that creatures without backbones have the hardest shells.
వెన్నుపాము లేని ప్రాణులకు, అన్నిటికన్నా గట్టి పెంకులుండటం విచిత్రం.

The most talkative is the least intelligent, and there is hardly a difference between an orator and an auctioneer.
ఎక్కువగా మాట్లాడేవానికి తక్కువగా తెలివి ఉంటుంది. మహావక్తకూ వేలం పాటగానికీ తేడా తక్కువే.

Be grateful that you do not have to live down the renown of a father nor the wealth of an uncle.
But above all be grateful that no one will have to live down either your renown or your wealth.
తండ్రి కీర్తికీ పినతండ్రి ధనానికి తగినట్టు నీవు బతకనవసరం లేనందుకు కృతజ్ఞుడుగా ఉండు.
ఇక నీ కీర్తికీ, ధనానికి తగినట్టు ఎవరూ బతకనవసరం లేదని కూడా కృతజ్ఞుడుగా ఉండు.

Only when a juggler misses catching his ball does he appeal to me.
గారడీవాడు బంతిని పట్టుకోలేక పోయినప్పుడు నాకెంతో నచ్చుతాడు.

The envious praises me unknowingly.
అసూయగలవాడు తెలియకుండానే నన్ను పొగుడుతుంటాడు.


Long were you a dream in your mother's sleep, and then she woke to give you birth.
చాలా కాలం మీ అమ్మ కలలో నిద్రలో నీవు కలగా ఉన్నావు. అప్పుడామె నిన్ను కనడానికి మేలుకుంది.

The germ of the race is in your mother's longing.
మీ వంశానికి అంకురం మీ అమ్మ కోరికలో ఉంది.

My father and mother desired a child and they begot me.
And I wanted a mother and a father and I begot night and the sea.
మా అమ్మా నాన్న ఓ పిల్లవాడిని కోరుకుని నన్ను కన్నారు.
నాకు అమ్మ, నాన్న కావాలనుకున్నాను, రాత్రీ, సముద్రం దొరికాయి.

Some of our children are our justifications and some are but our regrets.
మన పిల్లల్లో కొంతమంది మన సమర్థనలు, కొంతమంది మన క్షమాపణలు.

When night comes and you too are dark, lie down and be dark with a will.
And when morning comes and you are still dark stand up and say to the day with a will, "I am still dark."
It is stupid to play a role with the night and the day.
They would both laugh at you.
రాత్రి వచ్చి నీవూ నలుపై ఉంటే, కోరి నలుపుగాపడి ఉండు.
ఉదయమయ్యి ఇంకా నీవు నలుపుగా ఉంటే, లేచి కోరికతో దినానికి విషయం చెప్పు.
రాత్రి పగళ్లతో కలిసి నటించడం బుద్ధిలేని పని.
అవి రెండూ నిన్నుచూచి నవ్వుతాయి.

The mountain veiled in mist is not a hill; an oak tree in the rain is not a weeping willow.
పొగమంచువల్ల కనపడనంత మాత్రాన కొండ గుట్ట కాదు. వర్షంలో వంగినంత మాత్రాన మహా వృక్షం చిన్నది కాదు.

Behold here is a paradox; the deep and high are nearer to one another than the mid-level to either.
ఇదోక విరోధాభాసం. లోతు ఎత్తు రెండూ, మధ్యస్థానం కన్నా ఒకదానికొకటి దగ్గరగా ఉంటాయి.

When I stood a clear mirror before you, you gazed into me and saw your image.
Then you said, "I love you."
But in truth you loved yourself in me.
నేనొక శుభ్రమయిన అద్దాన్ని నీ ముందుంచితే, నీవు నాలోకి చూచావు, నీ బొమ్మే కనుపించింది.
అప్పుడు నీవు, నీవంటే నాకిష్టం అన్నావు.
కానీ నిజానికి , నీకు నాలోని నీవంటే ఇష్టం.

When you enjoy loving your neighbor it ceases to be a virtue.
నీ పొరుగింటి వానిని ప్రేమించడంలో నీకు ఆనందం దొరికితే, అది ఇక మంచి గుణంగా మిగలదు.

Let us enjoy some great works of thought!!
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The Stream and the Desert

This is a story about the importance of change.
Ususally the first reaction to change is resistance.
But, without change we cannot expect much progress.
This is an ancient story.
It is interesting to note that wise people have identified the importance of change long back.

Read the story!

ప్రవాహం - ఎడారి


అది ఒక ప్రవాహం. దూరంగా ఉండే కొండలలో పుట్టింది.

అక్కడి నుంచి అందాలతో నిండిన రకరకాల ప్రాంతాల మీదుగా ప్రవహించింది.

చివరకొక ఎడారిని చేరింది.

అన్నిచోట్లా ఎన్నో అడ్డంకులను దాటుతూ ప్రవహించినట్లే, ఎడారిని కూడా దాటేయాలనుకున్నది ప్రవాహం. కానీ ఇసుకలోకి ప్రవేశించిందో లేదో, దాని నీరంతా మాయమయి పోతున్నది.

అయినా ఎడారిని దాటాలని ప్రవాహం పట్టుదలగా ఉంది. మరి ఏమిటి దారి

అంతట్లో ఎడారిలోనుంచి ఒక అదృశ్యవాణి వినిపించింది. “గాలి ఎడారిని దాటుతుంది. మరి ప్రవాహం కూడా ఎడారిని దాటగలగాలి” అన్నది ఆ గొంతు గుసగుసగా. ఆ గొంతు ఎడారి ఇసుకదే.

కానీ ఇసుకలోనేమో ప్రవాహం మాయమయి పోతున్నది. గాలి ఎగరగలుగుతుంది. అందుకే అది ఎడారిని దాటగలుగుతుంది. ప్రవాహానికి అనుమానంగా ఉంది.

“అవును! నీ పద్ధతిలో నీవు పరుగులు పెడితే, ఎడారిని దాటలేవు. లేకుండ పోతావు. లేదంటే మడుగవుతావు. నీవు గాలిని ఆశ్రయించాలి. గాలి నిన్ను ఎత్తుకుపోయి గమ్యం చేరుస్తుంది” అన్నది గొంతు.

“అదెట్లా?” అన్నది ప్రవాహం.

“గాలి నిన్ను తనలోకి పీల్చుకుంటుంది.”

అది ప్రవాహానికి నచ్చలేదు. ప్రవాహమంటే ఎదురు లేని పద్ధతి. స్వంత గుర్తింపు గల పద్ధతి. తన గుర్తింపును పోగొట్టుకుంటే, అది తిరిగి దొరికేనా, అనుమానం పుట్టింది.

“గాలి తనపని తాను చేస్తుంది. నీటిని గ్రహించి ఎడారిని దాటుతుంది. అక్కడ వదిలేస్తుంది. వర్షంగా కురిసిన నీరు తిరిగి ప్రవాహమవుతుంది!” అన్నది ఇసుక.

“నాకేమిటి నమ్మకం?”

“నమ్మకపోతే బురదగుంటగా మిగులుతావు. అదికూడా ఒకపూటలో జరిగే పనికాదు. అది ప్రవాహానికిపట్టవలసిన గతీకాదు.”

“నేను ప్రవాహంగా ఉన్నాను, ప్రవాహంగానే ఉండిపోలేనా?”

“ఏ రకంగానూ అది వీలయేట్టు లేదు. మారితే మళ్లీ ప్రవాహంగానూ మారే వీలుంది. అప్పుడూ నిన్ను ప్రవాహమనే అంటారు. ఇవాళటి ప్రవాహానికీ ఆ ప్రవాహానికీ తేడా ఏమిటి?”

ప్రవాహం తీవ్రంగా ఆలోచించింది. ఒకప్పటి తన స్థితి కళ్లముందు మెదిలింది. అంతా తానేనా? అంతా ఉండేదా? గాలిలోనుంచే పుట్టిందా ఏమిటి తాను? తాను తానేనా నిజంగా ?

ప్రవాహం గాలిని ఆశ్రయించింది. ఆవిరయింది. ఎత్తులకు ఎగిసింది. ఎడారిని దాటింది. కొండ మీద కురిసింది. ప్రవాహంగా మారింది. ప్రవాహానికిందంతా ఈసారి గుర్తుంది.

“అవును! నా అసలు రూపం సంగతి ఇప్పుడు అర్థమయింది.” అనుకున్నది ప్రవాహం. అది పాఠాలు నేర్చింది.

“అవును! ఇది కలకాలంగా జరుగుతున్న చక్రక్రమం. అంతటా వ్యాపించిన మాకది ఎప్పుడో తెలుసు!” అన్నది ఇసుక.

జీవన ప్రవాహం నడిచే తీరు కూడా ఇసుక మీద రాసి ఉందంటారు అందుకే.

A STREAM, from its source in far-off mountains, passing through every kind and description of countryside, at last reached the sands of the desert. Just as it had crossed every other barrier, the stream tried to cross this one, but it found that as fast as it ran into the sand, its waters disappeared.

It was convinced, however, that its destiny was to cross this desert, and yet there was no way.

Now a hidden voice, coming from the desert itself, whispered: The Wind crosses the desert, and so can the stream.'

The stream objected that it was dashing itself against the sand, and only getting absorbed: that the wind could fly, and this was why it could cross a desert. 'By hurtling in your own accustomed way you cannot get across. You will either disappear or become a marsh. You must allow the wind to carry you over, to your destination.' But how could this happen?

'By allowing yourself to be absorbed in the wind.' This idea was not acceptable to the stream. After all, it had never been absorbed before. It did not want to lose its individuality. And, once having lost it, how was one to know that it could ever be regained?

'The wind', said the sand performs this function. It takes up water, carries it over the desert, and then lets it fall again. Falling as rain, the water again becomes a river.'

'How can I know that this is true?' 'It is so, and if you do not believe it, you cannot become more than a quagmire, and even that could take many, many years; and it certainly is not the same as a stream.'

'But can I not remain the same stream that I am today?'

You cannot in either case remain so,' the whisper said. ‘Your essential part is carried away and forms a stream again. You are called what you are even today because you do not know which part of you is the essential one.'

When he heard this, certain echoes began to arise in the thoughts of the stream. Dimly, he remembered a state in which he—or some part of him, was it?—had been held in the arms of a wind. He also remembered—or did he?—that this was the real thing, not necessarily the obvious thing, to do.

And the stream raised his vapour into the welcoming arms of the wind, which gently and easily bore it upwards and along, letting it fall softly as soon as they reached the roof of a mountain, many, many miles away. And because he had had his doubts, the stream was able to remember and record more strongly in his mind the details of the experience. He reflected, 'Yes, now I have learned my true identity.'

The stream was learning. But the sands whispered: 'We know, because we see it happen day after day: and because we, the sands, extend from the riverside all the way to the mountain.'

And that is why it is said that the way in which the Stream of Life is to continue on its journey is written in the Sands.

Let us enjoy change in life!!
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Madurai Mani Iyer at Calcutta

Sri Thiagarajan has been and continues to be a musical soul.
In his late age Carnatic Music is his soul companion.
His music collection is as rich as his collection of experiences and anecdotes.
Sri Thiagarajan was reluctant in sharing the following with people.
He thinks that people may not take it in the right spirit.
Ultimately he left the decision to me!
So, here is his tribute to the friend and a top musician Sri Madurai Mani Iyer!!

Tribute to the late madurai mani iyer

By Sri Thiagarajan Rathakrishnan
 I have had the privilege and pleasure to get acquainted with the late Madurai Mani iyer . I wish to record my great respect and regards for him through your site.

My wife kamala thiagarajan and I were in Calcutta from 1952 to 1969. We had a friend and a well wisher the late n viswnathan of the Calcutta electric supply corporation, he and his wife were also a distant relation to us.

The late madurai mani iyer whenever he came to Calcutta for concerts, he was the honored guest of viswanathan. In one of his visits my wife and i were introduced to him. The first words mani iyer said was that nannu palimpa by my wife on veena in the all India radio concert was good. It was indeed a great complement. He said he keeps on the radio on throughout the day, and listens to the concerts, irrespective of the grade of the artistes.

He had come to Calcutta for a concert on 27.10.1962. We met him as usual. We were however very much disturbed to see him shivering in the cold. That was the beginning of the winter in the north. We suggested he must have a razaai and offered to get him one.. It was a Sunday. Most of the shops were closed. We went round bhowanipur and found a shop open. We got a razaai, though not a very good one, and gave it to mani iyer. I cannot express in words in words how he felt comfortable in the razaai. He thanked us so much. In the evening he was on the stage with his razaai on. He called it a razaai kachcheri. He did not stop with that. He sang kamalambike in thodi and thyagarajaya namaste in begada. A great tribute indeed to us. I had the recordings of the concert kindly presented to us by viswanathan. And I preserve them even to day..


We used to visit him often in Chennai. He was an excellent conversationalist. He narrated several of his experiences. We became good friends with his mother, sisters and the late vembu iyer. i am not competent to speak on his concerts, but the one I remember is his concert in the sai baba temple in alamelumangapuram, next to our house, during the navarathri festival. The entire place was full with no space to move about. What is more inportant was the people of the poorest section (from the slums if I may call it) had gathered to listen to him in pin drop silence. He sang a ragam tanam pallavi - gandhi mahan vazhi nadappom - in shanmukhapriya. A superb one. I believe this one is in sangeethapriya. In one of his concerts in calcutta I requested him to sing shanta muleka in sama. He said I must hear it from alattur but he did swaraprasthara in the pallavi..

I can write more. But I do not want to take your space. May his soul rest in peace.

Sri Thiagarajan sent me the recordings of the two above mentioned items from the Razaai concert.
I bring them here for your listening pleasure!
 
01) Kamalmbike - Todi

  Link:
http://www.4shared.com/audio/8DJoWGci/03-Kamalambike-Todi-MMI.html
 
02) Sri Tyagarajaya Namaste - Begada

 Link:
http://www.4shared.com/audio/V8Y0Oemg/04-Tyagarajaya-Begada-MMI.html
 
I also bring an excellent Jyotiswaroopini played on the Veena by Smt. Kamala Thiagarajan!

Link:
http://www.4shared.com/audio/Uocakp8T/03-KT-Jyotiswarupini26.html
 
Let us enjoy good music!!
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Sumati Padyam on Leadership

ఒక యూరికి నొక కరణము
నొక తీర్పరియైనగాక నొగి దరచైనన్
గకవికలు గాక యుండునె?
సకలంబును గొట్టువడక సహజము సుమతీ

Oka yUriki noka karaNamu
noka tIrpariyainagAka nogi daracainan
gakavikalu gAka yunDune?
sakalambunu gottuvadaka sahajamu sumatI

ఒక యూరికిన్ = For a village

ఒక కరణము = One accountant

ఒక తీర్పరియైనగాక = One Judge

ఒగి దరచైనన్ = If there are more

గకవికలు గాక యుండునె? = Would it not be confusion?

సకలంబును = Everything

గొట్టువడక = without becoming problematic

సహజము = It is natural

సుమతీ = Oh the Wise one

These days we talk of collective leadership.
The management may be good enough as long as there is harmony among the leaders .
We are witness to the problems of collective leadership at the top level.
Half the time the leaders spend their days in keeping the flock together.
Baddena identified this problem long ago.
He says there should be only one person looking after the money matters of the village.
Karanams were the revenue officers at the village level till recently.
There cannoot be more than one such officer for a village says the poet.
Similarly the one who discharges justice at the village also should be only one person.
This is a point for discussion now!
If there is only one person giving judgements would he become autocratic?
History has such examples.
The poets questions that if there are more people involved in the affairs of the village, would it not naturally lead the situation into chaos?
 
It is always told that too many cooks spoil the broth.
Poet thus recommends a solid leadership!
On th whole he means that we have to be conscious about the quality of teh leadership and think well before selecting a leader. 
 
The verses in the Satakams are based on the collective experiences.
With passing times some of these ideas may call for a review.
 
Classic wisdom makes us think!!
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