Kanna Vaa – 29 August 2021

Ranjani-Gayatri’s Janmashtami concert was a celebration of Krishna with a unique tapestry of beautifully selected pieces.

Purandaradasa’s composition marked the joyous beginning, as Krishna entered, dancing to the gripping tunes of Arabhi as they showered him with a breathtaking cascade of swarams to that awesome edam. This was followed by a poised verse on Bala Mukunda in Purvikalyani that prefaced an exquisite composition of Narayana Theertha – Krishna’s journey to Gokula, in his own words! My ears lit up at that swaraksharam for Tapasa.

Guruvaram – 24 July 2021

Ranjani Gayatri’s Guru Poornima concert was a very special offering of the choicest music befitting the occasion.

The concert began with paying obeisance to the primordial Guru in the form of verses from the Dakshinamurthy Stotram soaked in the beauty of Shankarabharanam. Following this was the natural choice to begin such a concert with – Sadguru Thyagaraja’s Gurulekha Etuvanti adorned with fiery crisp swarams dancing to Khanda Chapu.

The joy of discovering a new Dikshitar kriti in their voices is multifold – and today it was Guruguhaaya, the Guruguha Vibhakti kriti in the adorable Saama – the search for the embedded raga mudra, discovering the lyrical dimensions of beauty like the praasams, and most delectably, the balance of the glides and plain notes in the meditative kriti contrasted with the gripping movements in its madhyama kala – the unique transformation that each raga undergoes with varying speed, something many of us are discovering in our recently invigorated varnam practices! All these and much more in their perfect voices that shine on the nuances like an impartial sun.