Infinite Ocean in a Cup! Savour of music from Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh

With its vastness and depth beyond the sight, Music is often referred to as 'Anantha Saagaram' ( the Infinite Ocean). "Cup O' Carnatic" by Vidushi Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, a video series which influenced a lot of viewers, was an effort to handover the flavors of the infinite ocean with the piecemeal approach at the best.

"So many people write to me with queries on Veena and Music. Though initially I tried to answer them individually, due to time constraint, it became difficult. So I thought it will be nice to have a public platform to attend such queries so that every one can access it", Dr. Jayanthi explains the path that lead her to the creation of "Cup O' Carnatic".

To motivate young rasikas into enjoying and appreciating Carnatic music, the videos are purposely kept to a shorter duration.

Apart from its rich content and the effective presentation, what was so special about the series was its short duration. This in-fact had inspired even the non carnatic music followers to wait for each episode. The goal was that, by the time one finishes a cup of Tea or Coffee, they should have enjoyed the episode. "In today's fast paced world, time is a precious commodity. To motivate young rasikas into enjoying and appreciating Carnatic music, the videos are purposely kept to a shorter duration. The content is chosen in such a way that music students and rasikas will take away something from each episode", says Dr. Jayanthi. The Season-1 ended a few months back with thirteen highly successful episodes.

Now there is something for the music lovers to enjoy again. Much awaited Season-2 of "Cup O' Carnatic" is about to reach you. The first episode of the second season will be available on youtube and facebook from next Friday 15th June, 2018.

Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, the niece of Legendary Violin Guru and Musician Pathmabhooshan Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman, has the Swaras in her blood. She started learning music at a young age of three and went on sharpening the skills with her dedication. She is one of the youngest veena artistes to receive the A-TOP grading, the highest from All India Radio, and had performed at so many esteemed venues across the globe. Also, she had found the place among the torchbearers of Saraswati Veena. It is quite obvious that she started her video series with an episode that emphasizes the importance of saadhakam, the practice. After a short piece on the veena, she starts saying "Practice...! ( then a small delay before she continues)...Practice is the key in becoming a musician".

The lenght of that silence is so accurate like the pauses we see in between the phrases during the concerts of the genius musicians like her. The delay that she gave after the first word 'Practice' before the word 'practice' for the second time, has a such a depth! It stands for more than a million words and conveys the devotion of an artist and the importance the musicians and artists give to the saadhakam. "There is no short-cut to practice. But right practice is the most important thing", she adds. The duration of this first episode is 2.36 minutes.

Get updated!
Visit and Like our fb page at : www.facebook.com/wocue

The series moved forward each week with Second episode of 2:59 minutes 'When to introduce Manodharma', Episode 3 - 'Introducing Gamakams' (3.09 minutes), Episode 4 - 'Introducing music to kids' (2.42 minutes), Episode 5 - 'Understanding the expression of speed' (2.40 minutes), Episode 6 – 'How to plan a concert' (2.38 minutes), Episode 7 - 'Buying a new Veena' (2.21 minutes), Episode 8 - 'Music and Spirituality' (2.21 minutes), Episode 9 - 'Thalam strings in Veena' (2.56 minutes), Episode 10 - 'Adding your own touch to a composition' (2.50 minutes), Episode 11- 'Ragam (Ragam Thanam Pallavi)' (4.01 minutes), Episode 12 - 'Thanam Simplified' (4.37 minutes), Episode 13 - 'Pallavi made easy' (4.10 minutes)and ended with an episode 'Season 1 Sign off'.

Season-2 is at our doorstep now. Let us wait for the cup of Music on each Friday!

Written by
Nambiar Sooryavamsha Kshathriya

Comments

"And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest...", Dr. Bombay Jayashri at Narada Gana Sabha

V idushi Bombay Jayashri culminated her musical yagnas Margazhi season Chennai appropriately at a Sabha whose name is synonymous with the Vedic sage holding Tampura singing songs of Vishnu and Sadguru Gnanananda . Yes Sadguru Gananda Auditorium of Narada Gana Sabha was chocked with ardent music lovers from Chennai and rest of the ‘world’ to listen to Carnatic music by Bombay Jayashri. While, on 30 December 18, people started queuing up outside the gates in 'tune' with the anticipated calm and meditative music, there was a celestial event of invisible line up of ragas waiting to waft in and gently enter the vocal chords of the divine singer framed between two Tampuras . And when curtain was raised at 4 pm. Bindumalini, Kalyani, sriranjani, Sindhu Bhairavi, Desh - to name a few Gandharv Beings - came one by one in a very orderly manner. In contrast to the melody , the applause was higher than 6 on the Richter Scale and the standing ovation appeared to be unend...

G.N.B, an unparalleled Genius Musician

C an a musician have a great flow to his music and yet be analytical? Can a musician sing based on Lakshya without compromise to Lakshana? Can a musician have discipline in his Kirthana singing despite having extraordinary Manodharma...? There was one musician who was a testimony to all the above. He had many firsts to his name ! It was he, who introduced the concept of “Porutham” singing. When he sang Palintsu Kamakshi, he sang Kalpana Swaram for “Kanthamagu” . It was not the hackneyed MRSRM finish. He used to finish with phrases such as SNPNM, RMPNS and PNSRM and start Kanthamagu from the adjoining note. This was a huge innovation. Of course genius musicians such as Lalgudi Sir, Balamurali Sir and Seshagopalan Sir have taken a leaf out of his books and added Kanakkus to Poruthams and further embellished. He introduced concept of Sruthi Bedham. He used to just show a glimpse of the child Raga and not dwell too much into it. When he elaborated Thodi, he would sh...

Pandit Samta Prasad - Resonance unlimited

I f each year is a beat, today the second cycle of the twelve beat Ekthal is completed, after the demise of the Maharaj of Thaal - Pandit Samta Prasad (Gudai Maharaj). Of course, his life was not different from his own words: "The whole life of a tabla artiste is dedicated to finding a special beat with the tali and the khali . They reside in his heart, because his soul rests and throbs with the thaala of measured matras" . He is a musician who had dominance over both the baayan and tabla. He was an illustrious soloist and accompanist. In Pandit Kishan Maharaj's ( tabla exponent ) opinion, "Tabla in Gudai ji's hands seemed like a fish trapped in an eagle's claws". He had such an astonishing control over the instrument. It is said that in those days, the organizers felt like- without Gudai Maharaj the concerts were incomplete and they will first attest to the date of Gudai Maharaj before they finalize the main artist ! He was awarded the...

"Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes" - Saswati Sen

P resents layers of the Kathak maestro's personality as witnessed by one of his foremost disciples. This book reveals how this icon of Indian dance, who is a mentor for thousands and an inspiration for countless people across the globe, is actually an unassuming, simple person outside his artistic world. Saswati Sen has known Pandit Birju Maharaj for over forty-five years. Gradually, she began to see the divinity in her talented master and decided to write a book on his life and work. Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes presents layers of the Kathak maestro. Title - Birju Maharaj: The Master Through My Eyes Author - Saswati Sen Publisher - Niyogi Books, 2013 ISBN - 9381523827, 9789381523827 Length - 216 pages Subjects- Biography & Autobiography › Composers & Musicians Buy this Book >>

Violin Maestro, Padmabhushan Sri T.N. Krishnan turns 90

T oday is a red letter day for me as I attended Kanakabhishekam of Prof T N Krishnan Sir and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala Ji on the occasion of 90 th Birth Day celebration of the violin Legend. Amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras, Havan, Pooja to Lord Guruvayurappa, Nadaswaram by Vidwan Seshampatti Sivalimgam, felicitation by Governor of Tamil Nadu the celebration culminated with Abhishekam of the couple from the vessel of yagna rituals with everyone singing Gowri Kalyana Vaibhavame. Post the Abhishekam the Couple were resplendent while seated, as people lined up to touch their feet and obtain Mangala Akshadai. I am very very blessed to witness Parameswar Parvathi and was so overwhelmed that I could wet their holy feet with Aananda Bashpam ( tears of joy ). May God Bless them with many more Jayanthi so they can, in turn, Bless millions like me. Sri. C.S. Pancham with Sri T.N. Krishnan and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala on the occasion of 90th B...

Cascade of Divine Music - Sri. Sakethraman at Marghazi

I have always nursed a dream of attending a live concert of young and prodigiously talented Saketharaman the Carnatic Vocal * on the horizon. There is something about Saketh that leaves you craving for more and you submit an urgent wish list looking yonder at sky and a prayer in your lips to soon grant you the wish of next concert. He has a knack of disproving that there is satiation as your greed and appetite increases multifold and Eh Dil Mange More. Saketh lit the auditorium with cascaded divine Carnatic music and it was music for the souls as evidenced by earth quake of applause repeatedly at every subtle nuances he scaled effortlessly. The repertoire : Palayasumam – Arabhi Sundaratara deham – Pantuvarali Amba Neelambari – Neelambari VaraNarada – VijayaSri Marakathavalli – Kambhoji Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Varamu & Saveri (dwi-raga) Aadu Chidambaramo – Behag Tirupugazh – Hamir Kalyani Saketh started the concert with a slokam in Arabhi and he j...

Prayers through Music, Dr. Bombay Jayashri

S adguru Sainath attained Samadhi on Vijaya Dashami day exactly 100 years ago . In relation to this on 18th Oct. 2018, Vidushi Dr. Bombay will offer the prayers through Music. In August 1918, Shirdi Sai Baba told some of his devotees that he would soon be "leaving his mortal body" . Towards the end of September, he stopped eating. As his condition deteriorated, he asked his disciples to recite holy texts to him and continued to meet visitors. On 15th October 1918, he breathed his last. This year on 18th October 2018, the thithi of Dasami comes after mid day as per Hindu lunar astronomy. Hence Sai Temple all over observe 18th October as Samadhi Centenary.

Janmashtami - the journey towards Oneness

I t is Janmashtami today. The day on which the Complete Avatar of Lord Narayana was born as Little Krishna as the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Krishna, if we go through the puranas, is everything. He is a good son, a brother, a friend, a lover, a protector, a destructor, a messenger, a statesman… and what not! Having the constrains of a living being, we try to limit Krishna or can only view Krishna at times as per our perception or state of mind. The fact is that Lord Krishna, the Supreme God, is beyond all space and time. For Radha, Lord Krishna is her lover. She wants to be with him always and never wants to get separated from him. But, we can see sad Radha experiencing the pain of separation a lot. The Mohiniyattam video clip by the renowned dancer Dr. Neena Prasad that is attached here depicts such a situation from Ashtapathi beautifully. Radha cannot suffer the pain of separation. She is imagining that her Lover is spending his time with his some other ...

Pristine purity with traditional hues - Dr. Bombay Jayashri at Margazhi

S he came she sang she conquered. Bombay Jayashri performed scintillating concert at Music Academy today prime slot. For 150 minutes several ragas ( Carnatic music does not have concept of Ragini ) wafted. Thodi, the central piece, descended from Heaven and embraced in its aura the entire audience of 1500 passionate music lovers. After a soul stirring Alap,she chose Shyama Sastri Swami’s masterpiece Ninne Namminanu Sada for her characteristic treatment. The music was sublime and emphasis was pristine purity with traditional hues. Acute poverty of expressions come in the way of describing her concert in words. Heard melodies are sweet but the reverberations are sweeter because of the joy of recollections in tranquility. Today’s fulfilment of a dream for me reminded me of a place in Scotland which I visited last year where Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy were said to have stayed for some time . The poet wrote The Solitary Reaper in 1815 at that place and I q...

WOCUE

Search This Blog