Medley in Mayamalavagowla

Here is a wonderful Medley based on the Raga Mayamalavagowla.

A bit of history and introduction to the raga - thanks to Wiki:

Mayamalavagowla (pronounced māyāmāḻavagauḻa), is a raga of Carnatic Music. Originally known as malavagowla, "maya" was prefixed to it after the advent of the scheme of the 72 melakarta ragas.  This is a morning raga.

This auspicious raga evokes śānta(peace) rasa and pathos. It creates a soothing effect. Suitable to sing at all times, particularly, the first yAMam (dawn). It is commonly used for beginners lessons such as Sarali Varisais or Sarali Svaras (Telugu), etc. Since it eschews vivadi swaras (relatively discordant notes), has a uniform distance between svara sthānas (relative position of notes) and has symmetry, they are easier to learn. It is an ancient rāgam and has been around for a long time. It is a Sampurna raga. This rāgam corresponds to Bhairav in Hindustani music. Mayamalavagowla has quite a few janya ragams associated with it, of which Bowli, Jaganmohini, Gowla, Gowlipantu, Lalita, Nadanamakriya, Revagupti, Saveri and Malahari are quite well known.

As many of us would know, the basics in Carnatic music are usually set in this raga and this happens to be the first raga a student receives from the Guru. This is typically a soothing raga which reflects the sunshine of a pleasant morning, and can produce positive vibes of Peace and Kindness.

This particular medley starts with one such Guru-Sishya learning session - delivered by none other than the greatest of greats - Dr Balamurali Krishna. He starts off with the brilliant notes of the Mayamalavagowla and a wonderful mini-aalapana - these are extracted from a song from the Malayalam film "Bharatham" which has music by the great Ravindran master.

As you hear this song, you will automatically be reminded of yet another similar song in Tamil - but that would follow a little later in the Medley.

The first piece of Dr BMK is all about Devi or Ambaal (Goddess Rajamaathangi), and the medley automatically evolves into the next piece from Maestro Ilayaraja - "Maasaru Ponnae Varuga" from the film "Devar Magan" - which is another song on the same Goddess. This is a short, but scintillating song with amazing accompaniments, bubbling with energy all through. The Maestro brings his efficient orchestration into full display in this wonderful piece.

This song describes Ambaal as the sister of Madhavan (Lord Vishnu), and that provides the link to the next piece in the Medley.

The earlier piece integrates into the brilliant musical interlude again of the Maestro, followed by the mystic, musical voice of Dr K J Yesudas - part of the track "Rama Namamoru Vedhamae" from the popular film Sri Raghavendrar. You would note that this song is all about Madhavan (Lord Vishnu) who got linked up in the previous piece of the Medley.

This divine link throughout this medley was an accidental discovery - much after I compiled the songs through, but appears to be a beautiful and logical connection. And this last piece by Dr Yesudas is the one that you would be reminded of when you heard the first portion by Dr BMK - these two tracks have an amazingly identical beginning, with a Guru-Sishya tradition at the start. You can listen to the individual tracks again to understand the beauty (see links at the end of this post).

There are tons of melodies to choose from Ilayaraja's treasures set in this raga, and I could not really make a satisfactory selection. In all likelihood, you can expect one more medley in the same raga anytime soon - else I would feel guilty of hiding away many other gems.

Hope you would enjoy this collection.. look forward to your views and comments..


Raga Mayamalavagowla Medley | Muziboo

Links to download the individual tracks:
1) Rajamaathangi
2) Maasaru Ponnae Varuga
3) Rama Naamamoru Vedhamae

Abhogi Medley - on demand!!

Based on the request of my FB friend (Hareesh Iyer), I fast tracked my compilation of the Abhogi Raga Medley.

Let us get a brief understanding of the Raga Abhogi, courtesy Wiki:

Abhogi (pronounced ābhōgi) is a raga in Carnatic music and has been adapted to Hindustani music. It is a pentatonic scale, an audava or owdava raga. It is a derived scale (janya raga), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Ābhōgi has been borrowed from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and is also quite popular in the latter.

Abhogi is a scale that is used for compositions in a medium to fast tempo. This scale has been used by many composers and there are lots of compositions in classical music.

Ābhōgi's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam Valaji.

Sriranjani is a rāgam which has kaisiki nishadam in both ascending and descending scales in addition to the notes in Ābhōgi

The best non-filmi, popular song in Abhogi (to me) would forever be "Sabaapathikku Veru Deivam Samaanam Aagumaa" composed by the great Gopalakrishna Bharathi. Though there are hundreds of wonderful compositions in Abhogi, am somehow attracted to this composition on Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram.

It is probably with His blessings that this medley is getting delivered on the day of Aani Thirumanjanam - one of the 6 special occassions in a year when Lord Nataraja gets His sacred Abhishekam.

Coming to the medley, I open the track with a brilliant composition of the Malayalam music legend - Ravindran Master. I accidentally came across this song "Aalila Manjalil"(from a Mohanlal starrer movie "Soorya Gayathri"), and on the first hearing itself, it became a big time favorite for me - just like love at first sight. Sheer supreme feeling of classical Abhogi all the way. As I wanted you all to enjoy the brilliant opening of this grand song, I have set this up as the opening track. Music knows no language boundaries - so would you agree once you hear this piece.

Following this track closely is the brilliant composition of Maestro Ilayaraja - "Indraikku yaen indha aanandhamae" from the movie "Vaidheki Kaaththirunthaal". You will certainly experience the "Aanandham" (supreme happiness, in the absence of any other apt word) when you listen to this track that is brimming with life and joy all through.

To complete the medley, I chose another melodious track of the Maestro himself - "Kaalai Naera Poonguyil" (from the movie "Amman Kovil Kizhakkaalae") - pure and rich Abhogi. I have tried to blend this in with the nice interlude BGM of Ilayaraja at both the charanams, as that is something to be never missed.

I have always felt that Ilayaraja gives us glimpses of his mastery over music more in the BGM/interlude and music fillers than through anything else. You will eventually concur with my thought when you listen to all of his soulful BGM/interludes.

Note: Some other interesting tamil film songs in this Raga are: Thangaradham Vandadhu (sung by the great Dr Bala Murali Krishna) and Vanakkam Pala Murai Sonnaen.

Hope you would enjoy this medley … comments welcome, as ever…

Raga Abhogi Medley | Muziboo

For the benefit of those who are inclined to download all these three songs in full and listen to them later, here are some links:

Aalila Manjalil
Indraikku Yaen Indha Aanandamae
Kaalai Naera Poonguyil

 

Yet another Raga based Medley - Darbari Kaanada

Back from a break.. into the exciting world of music again.

Darbari Kaanada is one of the ragas that I just love so much - mainly due to its soft and soothing nature. You can enjoy peace and bliss while listening to this, and this raga is completely away from the monstrous sound (or should i say Noise) effects which lot of our composers produce today.

Before we head there, a bit of history and knowledge - from Wiki:

Darbari Kanada, or simply Darbari, (pronounced darbāri kānada), is a raga in the Kanada family, which is thought to have originated in Carnatic music and brought into North Indian music by Miyan Tansen, the legendary 16th-century composer in emperor Akbar's court.

This tradition is reflected in the name itself; Darbar is the Persian derived word in Hindi meaning "court." As the most familiar raga in the Kanada family, it may sometimes also be called Shuddha Kanada or pure Kanada. It belongs to the Asavari thaat. It is also sometimes written as Durbari and Durbarikanada.

Darbari is a grave raga, played deep into the night, considered to be one of the more difficult to master, and with the potential for profound emotional impact

Luckily for us, we have wonderful compositions based on this raga (and some from the associated Kaanada family) within the realm of Tamil Film music. I have tried to piece together some of my favorites into this medley.

Consciously the opening piece of this medley is set in a high pace - drawing from the evergreen song "Malarae Mownamaa" composed by Vidyasagar (VS). I just could not leave out that song when making a medley of this very raga.

However, the initial pace dies down very quickly as the medley sets into a classical mood with the wizard A R Rahman providing the lullaby type "Kaatrae En vaasal Vandhaai" from the movie Rhythm. Am sure this is a popular number which everyone can relate to.

From here, the medley travels into my favorite VS's composition - "Nee Kaatru, Naan Maram" from the movie "Nilaavae Vaa". Note that he used the same ragam for "Malarae Mownamaa" in Karnaa movie, and brought it again here - shows his love for such soft, nice melodies. The BGM interlude that comes after A R Rahman's lovely piece could be familiar even to Malayalee friends as VS has used the same interlude elsewhere in a popular Malayalam song.

To wrap up the medley in soothing style and leave you with the blissful feeling of this raga, I take you into the world of the Maestro Ilayaraja. After all, who else can leave us spell bound and blissful with every single note of music that's embedded in to a song or the BGM - just the Maestro, none else.

Just shut your eyes and listen right from the musical interlude that follows VS's composition, and you will really feel the beauty and magic of the Maestro's hand. So, we get into the song "Kalyaana Thaen Nilaa" from the movie "Mownam Sammadham" as the last leg of the medley.

Hope you like this combination which I have consciously put together from the works of different composers. Comments welcome as always..

Raga Darbari Kaanada Medley | Muziboo

For those who are inclined to download the full songs and listen later, here are some links:
Malarae Mownamaa
Kaatrae Yen Vaasal Vandhaai
Nee Kaatru Naan Maram
Kalyaana Thenilaa