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Novel instrumental experience
DR. N. RAMANI, master flautist, is never tired of making novel experiments in instrumental harmony. More than two decades ago, a veena-venu-violin recital by the Lalgudi- Ramani-Venkataraman combine enthralled music lovers all over the country. The new landmark in instrumental harmony too followed the integral tracks of Indian thought. Now he has combined with clarinet maestro A.K.C. Natarajan in another experiment in instrumental harmony. Taking into account the fact that it is not easy for an assertive instrument like clarinet to synchronise easily with flute, known for ages for its ability to create a blissful experience among listeners through its soothing recital, the two masters deserve kudos for arriving at the ideal format to make the experiment a success.
The music lovers of Kochi got a chance to experience this rare treat at the concert organised by the Rasikapriya. Ajith Edappally (violin), Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan (mridangam) and ganjira Thrikkakkara Y.N. Shantharam (ganjira) made their own contributions in making this a very successful experiment.
A distinctive feature of the concert was the solo touch in raga alapana. Natarajan handled Panthuvarali and Bhairavi, while Ramani handled Mohanam, his favourite raga. After two bits in Abhogi and Begada, the combine took up the Tyagaraja krithi `Raghuvara... ' in Panthuvarali. Tyagaraja's `Evarura ninnuvina... ' was the piece chosen for Mohanam.
The main piece was the ragam thanam pallavi in Bhairavi (Devi Sree Thripura Sundari). Though the masters handled the alapana in turn, they joined hands in singing swaras and niraval. After the ragam, thanam, pallavi and a bit in Neelambari, they played well-known Bharathiar krithi `Chinnam chiru kiliye... ' as ragamalika. More than half a century ago, it was D.K. Pattambal who popularised this piece among music lovers. `Alai payuthe... ' in Kanada by Oothukkad Venkitasubramania Iyer, `Vighneswara... ' in Sindhubhairavi and a thillana in Dhanasri by Swati Tirunal were the other pieces presented by the masters. They rounded off the concert with `Mangalam Kosalendra' by Swati Tirunal in Madhyamavathi.
For years, many must have listened to the masters in separate concerts. Their combined performance was a novel experience and has opened up a new chapter in instrumental harmony. After all, harmony and equilibrium are the sustaining forces of the entire universe.
M.K.BALAGOPAL
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