Audio Review: Shadjam - Ganesh/Kumaresh
I bought two Ganesh/Kumaresh CDs yesterday, one of which definitely needs mentioning. Its an Audio CD titled "Shadjam - The Aadhara Swara". I love the theme of the CD and I hope some of you will buy this CD after hearing about the beauty of it.
To talk in simple Western Music terms, the CD is all about one scale and its modes. In Carnatic terms, Bedhams. Ganesh/Kumaresh present a wonderful experience of understanding the nature of each raga that is obtained by doing a bedham on each swara of Kalyani. First is a rendition of the Kalyani Varnam "Vanajakshi" which gradually switches to a new 'shruthi' at the end into Sahana. At the end of the sahana song, the shruthi shifts back to the original 'sa' and a few beautiful kalyani phrases are played. It then moves up to 'ga' to obtain 'saramathi'. They then render the wonderful Tyagaraja kriti "Mokshamu Galada" in saramathi followed by another shift back to sa and then to kalyani's 'ma'. Kalyani's 'sa' and 'pa' aren't as strong as its other notes. So if you drop 'sa' and 'pa', what you obtain from 'ma2' is ma2 da2 ni3 ri2 ga3 ma2. This is tonically alike Hindolam which has the notes sa ga2 ma1 da1 ni2 Sa. The song 'Manasuloni' by Tyagaraja is rendered with grace, though I'm not a fan of hindolam these days (I find hindolam very 'light').
In a similar fashion they move from each note back to 'sa' shruthi to remind the listener that they are still 'looking at' Kalyani but that these other ragas are nothing but various other 'view points' of kalyani. The brief alapana in front of each shruthi focuses primarily on the new note from which Kalyani is going to be looked at. To me, this album is a spiritual revelation of understanding music at a new level -- that everything is interconnected. The arabhi song 'Narasimha' is played from 'pa' (which I think is the 'best' bedham from kalyani's 'pa') followed by dropping 'sa' and 'ma' to obtain Madhyamavathi from 'da' (da2 ni3 ri2 ga3 pa da). The Oothukadu composition 'Aadathu Asangaathu vaa kanna' is rendered with such 'nidhaanam' and improvised beautifully... and to finish it all up, 'nama namo raghavaya' in desiyathodi from 'ni' is rendered (this is the first time I'm listening to desiya thodi and I must say this is exactly like sindhubhairavi without the blues'y'ness of sindhubhairavi).
At first I was a bit disappointed for I expected each song to be a separate track on the CD. However, after listening I completely understand and appreciate the reason for making all of them into a single track. Firstly, each song 'merges' beautifully into one another using 'kalyani' as the bridge. The shruthi shifts. These things would be difficult to present as different tracks. By far one of the best 'experiences' I've had with Carnatic CDs. The audio recording quality is amazing too. I had expected the Electric Violin, but no complaints... Its still a great listen.
I recommend this CD to anyone who is trying to learn Carnatic music. Even those who don't learn, I'm sure this will be a great soothing experience.
There is another wonderful CD titled 'Manoranjani' of Ganesh Kumaresh that I bought. It has a very beautifully presented RTP in Ranjani. Highly recommended. Ganesh uses the Electric Violin while Kumaresh uses the Acoustic and the way they improvise clearly exhibits the level of communication and comfort they have with each other. Ganesh/Kumaresh: One of the best duos ever!
To talk in simple Western Music terms, the CD is all about one scale and its modes. In Carnatic terms, Bedhams. Ganesh/Kumaresh present a wonderful experience of understanding the nature of each raga that is obtained by doing a bedham on each swara of Kalyani. First is a rendition of the Kalyani Varnam "Vanajakshi" which gradually switches to a new 'shruthi' at the end into Sahana. At the end of the sahana song, the shruthi shifts back to the original 'sa' and a few beautiful kalyani phrases are played. It then moves up to 'ga' to obtain 'saramathi'. They then render the wonderful Tyagaraja kriti "Mokshamu Galada" in saramathi followed by another shift back to sa and then to kalyani's 'ma'. Kalyani's 'sa' and 'pa' aren't as strong as its other notes. So if you drop 'sa' and 'pa', what you obtain from 'ma2' is ma2 da2 ni3 ri2 ga3 ma2. This is tonically alike Hindolam which has the notes sa ga2 ma1 da1 ni2 Sa. The song 'Manasuloni' by Tyagaraja is rendered with grace, though I'm not a fan of hindolam these days (I find hindolam very 'light').
In a similar fashion they move from each note back to 'sa' shruthi to remind the listener that they are still 'looking at' Kalyani but that these other ragas are nothing but various other 'view points' of kalyani. The brief alapana in front of each shruthi focuses primarily on the new note from which Kalyani is going to be looked at. To me, this album is a spiritual revelation of understanding music at a new level -- that everything is interconnected. The arabhi song 'Narasimha' is played from 'pa' (which I think is the 'best' bedham from kalyani's 'pa') followed by dropping 'sa' and 'ma' to obtain Madhyamavathi from 'da' (da2 ni3 ri2 ga3 pa da). The Oothukadu composition 'Aadathu Asangaathu vaa kanna' is rendered with such 'nidhaanam' and improvised beautifully... and to finish it all up, 'nama namo raghavaya' in desiyathodi from 'ni' is rendered (this is the first time I'm listening to desiya thodi and I must say this is exactly like sindhubhairavi without the blues'y'ness of sindhubhairavi).
At first I was a bit disappointed for I expected each song to be a separate track on the CD. However, after listening I completely understand and appreciate the reason for making all of them into a single track. Firstly, each song 'merges' beautifully into one another using 'kalyani' as the bridge. The shruthi shifts. These things would be difficult to present as different tracks. By far one of the best 'experiences' I've had with Carnatic CDs. The audio recording quality is amazing too. I had expected the Electric Violin, but no complaints... Its still a great listen.
I recommend this CD to anyone who is trying to learn Carnatic music. Even those who don't learn, I'm sure this will be a great soothing experience.
There is another wonderful CD titled 'Manoranjani' of Ganesh Kumaresh that I bought. It has a very beautifully presented RTP in Ranjani. Highly recommended. Ganesh uses the Electric Violin while Kumaresh uses the Acoustic and the way they improvise clearly exhibits the level of communication and comfort they have with each other. Ganesh/Kumaresh: One of the best duos ever!