Clear and melodic voices

Gitaa Cassettes - GCT 378 - Tamil Devotional - Sakti Parasakti - T. S. Ranganathan and others. - Price Rs. 35/-.

T. S. RANGANATHAN, a multi dimensional artiste, has recorded for Gita Cassettes an audio volume of nine Tamil devotional songs on Devi penned by Kandasami Gurukkal of Nagabhooshani Amman Koil, Scarboraigh, Canada, and Anbu Dheepan. The other singers included in the album are Sankari Krishnan, Usha Rao and Hamsi who have a couple of solo songs to their credit. The choral group features Sudha, Hamsi, Sakuntala and Radha.

The songs are very pleasingly tuned and the orchestration is very sensitively managed.

Ranganathan has a mellifluent voice and he has given soulful musical expression to the lyrics. The female voices are clear, fluent and melodic and are ideally suited for devotional singing.

Gitaa Cassettes - Carnatic classical - The Lalgudi Lineage - Compositions of Lalgudi V. Gopala Iyer - Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi - Price Rs. 50/-.

THE BIRTH centenary of Lalgudi V. R. Gopala Iyer, father and guru of Lalgudi Jayaraman, was celebrated recently, and on this occasion an audio cassette of his compositions sung by his granddaughter Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, was released by Gitaa Cassettes. The accompanists are Padma Shankar on the violin and J. Vaidyanathan on the mridangam.

`Thunayagum' in Madhayamavati set to Kanda chapu is a melodic introduction to the programme.

Bilahari is a smooth textured elaboration with the salient prayogas emerging with clarity. The violinist's reply is tidy and tasteful. `Muladhara Devaaya Namasthe' in Sanskrit with attractive sangatis in the kriti structure and an interesting chittaswaram, is a pleasing rendition. The swara passages by both the vocalist and the violinist are brisk and pertinent without unnecessary beating around the bush.

`Tirumuruga' in Ritigowla also with a chittaswaram endowed with mellifluent expression is worthy of a positive assessment.

Saradha Bharanam, conceived by the composer himself is a vivadi raga and a janya of Vagadeeswari, the 34th melakartha. `Poovil Urai' on the Goddess of Learning, Saraswathi, had pleasing refinement.

`Iniagilum', a song in Manirangu on the First Lord in the Hindu Pantheon, rich in raga and sahitya bhava is a mellow rendition.

`Gandharva Manohari, a derivative of Charukesi, has a languorous elegance and the song on Devi Srimathi, the presiding Devi in the temple at Thiruthavathurai or more popularly known as Lalgudi, does touch an emotional chord.

A sweet alapana of Ranjani woven with many ear friendly prayogas is the purple patch in the programme. Padma Shankar following the path of the vocalist as faithfully as the children behind the Piper of Hamelin, impresses with her brief yet facile raga response. `Adi Mudalva', yet another song deifying Lord Vinayaka with commendable pitch perfection, does provide grist to the keen ear.

Manohari is the raga that gives the kriti `Alavaiamar' an attractive apparel. The Tamil lyrics are clearly enunciated and the raga bhava emerges convincingly. The rendering of `Nandagopa' in Kapi set to tisra nadai adi talam stressing on the musical and rhythmic lilt in the composition, has considerable aural appeal.

Vijayalakshmi, whose violin artistry is well recognised, has made a zealous attempt to establish her credentials as an accomplished vocalist also.

- S.P.

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