Karthik Krish comments : Mr.Parrikar, "We drop the curtain on the Bihag fest with a beautiful Veena item of S. Balachander playing Tirupati Narayanaswamy Iyer's vagalAdi -"
I am not sure but I think it should read as Tirupathi Narayanaswamy Naidu as against Tirupathi Narayanaswamy "Iyer"!
The author responds: One comes across citations of both "Iyer" and "Naidu." I now have him referred to as "Tirupathi Narayanaswamy." Regards, Rajan P. Parrikar
Thank you for the nice articles. We had a request. Could you also point some very recent Non Film and Film compositions that are married to the raga you are discussing, thus honoring current artistes and at the same time inviting an audience that we could interact with and encourage. Please be assured that I will continue to read your column with as much interest and respect even if you chose not to consider very recent music.
Warm regards Subhas Chakravorty
The author responds: Thank you for the suggestions. Although I am always open to beautiful music regardless of when it was composed, I have not actively kept up with the popular music coming out of India in the very recent past (post-1990). Regards, Rajan P. Parrikar
Rajeev Bharadhwaj comments : Quite accidentally I came across Rajan's site. I was astonished to find a variety of Amir Khan pieces there. Unfortunately, I had a few pauses in the streaming because of network congestion. Is there a way to ftp the files and hear the mp3s (or wavs) directly. Also, I did not find Kafi thaat ragas. Is this coming?
Rajan, you made my day last night. Thanks!
Ramnik Shah comments : I have just come across your series of articles on the Indian classical music. I have enjoyed your articles and in particular your links to some exceptional music. I look forward to more of your articles.
Sriram Bhamidipati comments : Excellent writings. Need more often... Ofcourse invaluable Music snippets.. Is there a grand repository from where we can fill our mp3 buckets ? thanks sriram
I went through the site www.sawf.org and was keen to get the complete compositions of the following artists:
Bhimsen Joshi Raga Pooriya Dhanashree Thumri in Raga Khamaj
Jitendra Abhisheki Raga Kaushi Kanada Raga Vikram Bhairav
Mallikarjun Mansur Raga Todi Raga Pooriya Raga PatBihag Raga Lajwanti Raga Darbari Kanada
I would really like to congratulate you on the excellent collection that you have assimilated on the site. Like you said its really sad that these are not available commercially and might not see the collection reaching the Rasikas like us.
Is there any source that I could contact to get these in whatever format - Cassettes. Tapes Spools, CD, Downloadable format - just any format will do. I do not mind paying for the same as I would like to have these for my listening pleasure. Please do let me know if you could provide the same or guide to a source where I could get them from.
ALso could you please give me Dr Rajan Parrikars email id.
Vikramaditya Varma comments : I just accessed your sight and was pleased to hear the snippet of Gagan Vihang. However, I am not happy with write up along side. I consider Dinkar Kaikini an amazing talent and have been most privileged to witness him in concert several times, both private and public. I have also had the opportunity of attending workshops conducted by him. His mesmerizing voice and musical intelligence, I believe, are matchless. I would greatly appreciate it if you would change your write up. Thank you.
Aishwarya Gulati comments : I am a regular surfer on the vast ocean of music you offer, Mr. Rajan Parrikar. Thanks very much indeed.
Does anyone agree with me that the Drut portion of Bhimsen Joshi's rendition of Bihag in your archives...lat ulajhe suljha ja baalam, is a trifle unlike his usual style...i.e. i feel he has not put his heart and soul into it.
Santosh K Pandey comments : dear rajanji it is people like you, and really very few in number, who have been gifted with capacity to imbibe the spirit of our great music. to persons like me who are always yearning for elevated lessons on music your cyber attempt is bliss giving. i wish you could provide the short tracks with more commentary (critique) like that of jhasa'b by the available artists on the ragas not covered by you. better and if possible compose thaat by thaat with all popular ragas. regards dr santosh k pandey bits-pilani rajsthan
J S Pande comments : dear parrikar ji i suggest you ask the 'enthusiasts' of the dhrupad-including any of the dagars for that matter-to simply define 'dhrupad'. yours jsp
SudhirMittal comments : dear Dr parrikar ji, You do seem like a great authority on hindustani music. But the most prized hindustani value of Vinamrata has certainly escaped you. This makes you sound a lot like the 'balderdash' and 'through your hat', words that you like to so freely use for acclaimed musicians. Word of advice ... cut out these ungentlemanly words about people who have a lot more claim to music lover's attention than you. namaskar
The author responds: Shri Mittal-ji, Pencil in an appointment with your proctologist and have him dislodge all that detritus of vinamrata from your rectum. You will once again be a happy man. Warm regards,
Quite by accident,when I was trying to find something on Madhyamavathi I came across your site. It is as though I hit gold (much much more valuable than anything actually) It is amazing how lovingly you have created this .You have done invaluable work for the cause of the greatest thing in life-music. With much appreciation and gratitude, Prashanti
Chris Klacsanzky comments : Excuse me for writing a question not totally relevant to the topic of this area.
Is there any universal system for Samay that is used? The carnatic system of music doesn't seem to have a Samay system and many of the gharanas have different opinions about the timing of Ragas. Also the Vadi and Samvadi for a Raga seems to differ between Gharanas and North and South Indian Music. Is there a universal system for Vadi and Samvadi? Sage Narada, who is well respected in the field on Indian classical music says that "who sings knowing the proper time remains happy. By singing ragas at the wrong time one ill-treats them. Listening to them, one becomes impoverished and sees the length of one's life reduced."
Here is a bong writing to you. You seem to have 'unearthed' many bong 'conspiracies', and you have special disliking for Amartya Sen. You have very sharply demarcated and strong likings and dislikings, and you hit at them in no uncertain terms and in black and white. Don't you think that grey shades add more colours to life?
Anyway, here is a request. Can you give to me some long-playing pieces of Pt. Mansur (preferably from live recordings) like Bihagda, Shivmat Bhairav, Patbihag, Todi, Savani, Jaunpuri (the short excerpt of Jaupuri from your SAWF archive is unbelievable !)?
No musician has ever moved me as this great man does. I lost all my bodily senses for 10 mins when I listened to his Malvi.
Chandidas Mishra comments : dear mr. parrikar, thank u so much for the very well-informed articles and the illustrative musical pieces, especially by pandit ramrang. would you please tell us a little about raag kirwani? please do. warm regards. chandidas.
Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay comments : Dear Mr. Parrikar I was searching for Bihag on web and found your article. It is an outstanding compilation on Bihag. Let me know about the web links of your other articles. I would like to read them. Also do have an article on Kirwani, Basant Mukhari, Shivmat Bhairab, Deshi. I have another question. I have a tune with following 'chalan'. D, n, r G m d N S' -- S' N d m M G r S. As you can see -- it is like Marwa with an extra application of M in abarohan. I have heard it somewhere - but not able to trace out the raga. It will be great if you can help me. Regards ----------- Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay New Jersey USA
Dr. Vishwanath Kadaba Narasimha Ayengar comments : Rajan, I don't know you. But I personally knew Pandit Vinayakrao Patwardhan. Your bad-mouthing of Vinayakbua is, to say the least, unbecoming of you.
