Jayan Parameshwaran's review

http://kpjayan.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/abhishek-raghuram-at-rasanveshanam-concert-utopia-near-airport-30th-march-2014/

How an idea becomes a movement

What is Rasaanveshanam?

I have decided to share this for the renewal of ideas among current core members and also to set the expectations for new core members.

We discussed over many sessions the scope of Rasaanveshanam. The blog Rasaanveshanam.blogspot.in tries to capture it.

The vision of Rasaanveshanam is "journeying together in quest of great musical experiences".

It translates into four types of activities as discussed:

1. Physically travelling together to kshetras of Carnatic music - Trinity and others, temples, historic places, and spending time savouring the lyrics, the compositional impetus, life stories of musicians and saints, and the music, all of which deeply enriches the Carnatic experience.

2. Hosting intimate concerts at home, with only Rasaanveshanam core members and their guests, enabling a close interaction with musicians. Key themes - home setting and hospitality, great music at close quarters, small group for better interactions.

3. Spending time together in the context of music - maybe attending concerts, or just sitting together, singing to each other,  playing some tracks and discussing them etc. This is an ongoing activity already.

4. Serving the larger cause of music appreciation by arranging thematic/lec-dem type of concerts of veterans and very knowledgable "non-mainstream" artistes. This last activity was intended to be thrown open to even outsiders, at a venue easily accessible. For this purpose we did not want to go and book expensive sabha halls. Ananya Sevasadan in Malleswaram seems ideal for such an activity.

How often do we do each of the four, and how much money, and which artiste etc. is all up for discussion time to time. We are not mandating anything. It is never an either or choice among the four.

For example, having a concert of Vyasarapadi Kodandaraman, a famous nagaswaram vidwan, in a venue like Ananya seems great. Because we think our efforts and money are well spent if the rasikas who attend Ananya programmes also come. That is the subject of co-hosting.

There is an important difference between concerts at home and item 4. Say Ananya. There will be no catering, no spend on the hall or mike or seating etc, the payment will be mainly to artistes. There will be a 2 minute intro to Rasaanveshnam and the event will be co-promo with Ananya in the media and their newsletters etc.

To add some important exclusions:

Will Rasaanveshanam become a sabha with public membership? No.

Will Rasaanveshanam conduct music festivals and sell tickets? No.

Will Rasaanveshanam get sponsors and ads? No.

Will Rasaanveshanam become a byword in music circles like Gayana Samaja or ISS or Unnati? No.

Will Rasaanveshanam sell music recordings and videos? No.

An important inclusion:
Does the core member have any commitment? Yes, very much. The entire event each time will be hosted on cost-sharing basis. Of course if the concert is held in anyone's home there will be added strain and responsibilities for the host; but whatever costs can be detailed and estimated will always be shared equally immediately after each event by the core members with the 'host' core member.

We estimate around six concerts at home every year and the total outflow per year will be Rs 20—25K per core member.

Happy Rasaanveshanam in the Jaya samvatsara!

Brilliant Start to Rasaanveshanam - Concert at Home

Abhishek Raghuram - Vocal
HM Smitha              - Violin
Anantha R. Krishnan - Mridangam

Abhishek delivered an unforgettable concert at Arunachala today. We had over 60 people including guests from Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bhagavatars of OS Sunder group who had done Bhajans for Aruns family this morning. Arun and Meenakshi had made excellent arrangements.

Abhishek was accompanied by an able and melodious HN Smitha and a SIMPLY SPECTACULAR ANANTHA R Krishnan.

The song list was:
1. Viriboni Bhairavi
2. vatapi Hamsadhwani
3. Vinata Suta Jayantasena T
4. Ada Modi Charukeshi
5. Meenakshi Memudam Purvi Kalyani
6. tani
7. Mayamma Ahiri
8. A song in Surutti Telugu which went like Rama Namam...
9. Mangalam

Purvi Kalyani scaled unprecedented melodic depths of the raga and some unique simply unique phrases that brought out hidden gems in this raga. He did much work in the lower half of the scale, upper half of the scale, top scale and lots of jump phrases. His swaras were electric in parts. 

The song was rendered magnificently. I think nothing was left untouched or unadorned. It was his total worship of the idol of Meenakshi in Madurai, with all flowers, sandal paste, incense and offerings. In the words of Venky, your chartered accountant, it was Paisa Vasool.

The Jayantasena was handled very well too.
Ahiri was like litchi with ice cream - a surprise dish.

Anand delivered exquisite touches and punches every minute of the concert. The mike arrangements were excellent, we got the full tonality of the left and right wonderfully. He delighted us all with a great tani after a superb Meenakshi.

Abhishek had met with a big accident ten days ago on his way to a concert in Hole Narasipura. The car turned turtle. His ribs are badly bruised and hurt inside. He had great pain while sitting down or standing up. He said his concert today had been possible because of great love and care of family, friends and well wishers. 

He initially said he would sing for less than a couple of hours, I think he did finally 3 hours.

Jayanthi and Kumaresh brought him and his wife in their car, they stayed throughout and enjoyed the concert.

The full house had nothing but happy memories after the concert. Even the prasadam Sundal and Kesari was good.

On to the next concert!!!!!


Sachi