For listeners and learners

LIVING MEDIA India, an allied Wing of India Today, has brought out a set of nine cassettes of Carnatic music. Each cassette costs Rs. 65 and can be had from Living Media India Ltd. 1-A, Hamilton House, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110 001.

Jagruthi (An awakening) - Jayanthi (veena) - mridangam Bangalore Arjun Kumar - ghatam S. V. Ramani.

An excellent effort by a mature musician of the younger generation. As mentioned in the inlay card, veena is a source of transcendental joy. This with violin, flute, konnakkol and vocal recitation makes it lively. Included in the album are a varnam in Bowli by Lalgudi Jayaraman, ``Entha nee vina'' in Urmika by Pallavi Sesha Iyer, the Syama Sastri Swarajati in Bhairavi, ``Pal Vadiyum mukham'' by Uthukadu Venkatasubba Iyer, Tulsidas Bhajan (``Ramachandra''), a Sivasthuthi and a tillana by Lalgudi Jayaraman in Mand raga. There are many things here to be learnt by genuine students and students who think they already know everything. Pleasant music for others.

Raamamrutham - Vijay Siva - violin by R. K. Sriram Kumar - mridangam by Manoj Siva.

A live recording of a Rama Navami Concert by Vijaya Siva at the Krishna Gana Sabha. Songs included are ``Saketha Nagara Natha'', Harikambhoji, (Mysore Sadasiva Rao), ``Kousaleya'', Gowri Manohari, (V. V. Srivatsa), ``Raghupathe'', Sahana (Tyagaraja), ``Dev Devam'' Dhanyasi (Annamacharya) Kalyanarama, (Hamsadhwani) of Uthukadu and ``Mamava'' in Manirangu of Dikshitar. Vijaya Siva keeps up his pleasant style of singing.

Serene Moods - Flute by N. Ramani - Thiagarajan and Atul Kumar, Sridhar violin - Srimushnam Raja Rao mridangam - E. M. Subramaniam ghatam.

A fine album by the flute trio. The songs included are ``Sarasijanabha'', Kamboji, ata tala varnam, ``Brova Samaya'' (Gowri Manohari) by Garbhapuri-Vasar (not Garpapa Rivasar as printed) ``Maati Matiki'', Mohanam, ``Soukhya'' (Kapi) and ``Palinthuvo'' (Kanthamani) all by Tyagaraja, ``Raghunatha Nannu'' (Swara Ranjani) of Poochi Iyengar, and ``Arumugham'' (Kuntalavarali) of Arunagirinathar.

Mystic Raptures - Mandolin U. Srinivas and U. Rajesh - mridangam Vellore Ramabhadran - ghatam E. M. Subramanyam - kanjira Selva Ganesh.

Only three songs are included. On Side A is a long alapana of Mayamalavagowla followed by the krithi ``Merusamana'' of Tyagaraja. On Side B is ``Yediah Gathi'' in Chala Nata by Koteeswara Iyer and a bhajan in Mand. The two artistes keep up their expected standard and provide pleasant music.

Tharangini - compositions of Narayana Theertha - violin H. N. Bhaskar, mridangam Poongulam Subramaniam and kanjira by Sethuraman.

Five Tharangas of Narayana Theertha are sung here. The singer's excellent voice and clear diction provide a happy listening experience.

Moonlit melodies - S. Shashank flute - violin Embar Kannan, mridangam Vankyala Ramamurthi, ghatam S. Karthik.

Side A of this album by the young flautist Shashank has three songs - ``Gopalaka Pahimam'' (Revagupthi) of Swati Tirunal, ``Nee Bhakthi'' (Jayamanohari) of Tyagaraja and ``Raghunatha Nannu'' (Swara Ranjani) of Patnam Subramanya Iyer. Side B is devoted to Ragam (Kalyani), Thanam and Pallavi, Good listening.

Shakthi the omnipotent - guitar by Prasanna - mridangam J. Vaidyanathan - ghatam S. Karthik.

A very successful adaptation of the guitar to Carnatic music is demonstrated in this tape. Side A has ``Kanjadalayathakshi'' (Kamala Manohari), ``Kaumari'' (Gowri Velavali) both of Dikshitar, ``Vijayambike'' (Vijayanagari) of Muthiah Bhagavathar, ``Neelayathakshi,'' (Paras) of Syama Sastri and an ``English'' note in Sankarabharanam by Dikshitar. Side B is devoted to the Kalyani Navavarana Krithi, ``Kamalambam Bhajare'', of Dikshitar.

Kshetramaala - compositions of Tyagaraja by O. S. Thyagarajan - violin Delhi Sundararajan - mridangam Thiruvarur Bhaktavasalam, - ghatam Uma Shankar.

Side A contains ``Theeratheeyagaraada'' (Gowlipantu) ``Ilalo Pranathaarthi'' (Atana) ``Lalithe'' (Bhairavi) ``Sundari Nee Divya Roopamu'' (Kalyani) and ``Vinayakuni'' (Madhyamavathi). Side B is devoted to the Khamboji krithi, ``O Rangasayi''.

Madhura Sangeetham - Dikshitar songs - Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan - violin V. V. Ravi - mridangam T.K. Murthi - ghatam Vaikkom Gopalakrishnan.

The senior musician has three songs on Side A - ``Vathapi Ganapathi'' (Hamsadhwani), ``Govardhana Gireesam'' (Hindolam) and ``Akhilandeswari'' (Dwijavanthi). Side B contains Sri Sathyanarayanam (Suba Pantuvarali) ``Panchasath Peeta'' (Deva Gandharam) and ``Purahara Nandana'' (Hameer Kalyani).

G. DWARAKANATH

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