RAJ S. RANGARAJAN
It was a heart-warming experience: two well-known violinists -- Ganesh-Kumaresh and two percussionists in full flow at Flushing, New York recently. Their melodic performance was electrifying and even breathtaking. Thanjavur T. R. Govindarajan on the "thavil" was such a picture of professional concentration that one thought he was possessed in a kind of mesmerized trance. Patri Satish Kumar on the “mridangam” was exquisite.
The four energetic artistes reveled in each other's prowess and expertise on their chosen instruments that evoked gushes of sentiment and nostalgia from the expert and the novice. The violinists’ knowledge and mastery of the “gamakas” were unmistakable. Gamakas are embellishments to musical notes that make the overall listening effect a pleasurable lesson in noteworthy wholesomeness.
At one point, the duo called for audience participation which brought forth a flood of suggestions on the fusion between the classical and the contemporary that a purist such as a T.M. Krishna perhaps would not approve. But the Saturday evening crowd loved every moment with the brothers referring to their individual Mac laptops.
The foursome in unison brought new meaning to exalted words such as rhythm, resonance and melody. Govindarajan virtually made his “thavil” talk. Not to be outdone was the percussionist, Patri Satish Kumar who matched Govindarajan’s resonant forays with relaxed finesse.
Promoted by Saregama India of the Entertainment sector of RPG Enterprises, the evening lifted everyone’s spirits. This institution dedicated to music was established as the first overseas Indian branch of EMI, London. Earlier HMV (His Master’s Voice) or The Gramophone Company of India Ltd. was the sound of choice and record.
Brothers Ganesh and Kumaresh were hailed as child violin prodigies as early as 1972 when Ganesh was hardly seven and Kumaresh, five. Trained by their father, T.S. Rajagopalan, a veteran violinist himself, this performing duo has impressed doyens such as vocalist Dr. Balamurali Krishna, tabla wizard, Ustad Zakir Hussain, A. R. Raman and mridangam player Palghat Raghu -- to name a few.
They have introduced a new musical expression to Carnatic music called “Ragapravaham” which highlights musical creativity as pure melody and is not necessarily dependent on language or religious flavours. This new composition is based on typical ragas (melodic scales) and thalas (rhythmic cycles) without lyrics.
Team Ganesh- Kumaresh has created several such instrumental compositions that accentuates candidly the poetic elements of the violin. Among new ragas that are their forte are Hemantha Mohanasri, Amrutha Kalyan and Pamara Ranjani.
Their virtuosity and classicism with the stringed instrument was impeccable this day, and with percussion specialists rising to the occasion in no small measure, connoisseurs of the Carnatic form went home musically satiated for a splendid evening.
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[Raj S. Rangarajan is a New York based freelance writer. He covers trend stories on art, reviews books and films for media based in New York; Toronto, Canada; Seoul, Republic of Korea; and India. He can be reached at raj.rangarajan@gmail.com]
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