Etching a Melody in our Minds: K V Narayanaswamy’s Sukhi Evaro

Two months ago, I posted a rendition of Sri Madurai Mani Iyer's Sarasa Sama Dana along with writing about what made it so special and how it showed the imaginativeness in Carnatic Music. Not long after this, I once again came upon another superlative recording of Sri K V Narayanaswamy's Sukhi Evaro. "Etching a Melody in our Minds" is what I feel describes the Kanada Alapana preluding Sukhi Evaro. As listeners, we often remember catchy rhythms, sangathis of krithis, certain patterns in swara prastaras... but rarely is a singer able to "etch" an Alaapana into our minds like Sri Naryanaswamy. On the bus to school, my earbuds in, all I listened to for the past two weeks was this masterpiece. When it would inevitably be time to get off the bus, I wouldn’t feel dismayed or longing to hear what would come next. Only this strange hold prevented me from taking my earbuds out. Where did this grip come from? Why? How? I could only wish I had the answer. The moment KVN commences his alapana by breathing out a steady rishabha sustaining it but for a few seconds, we already know something special is coming. The first note is enough to speak the name of the Raga. Kanada. And one has to ask, how is this possible? It's only one note, but it still takes our mind there. The opening is tranquil. These beginning phrases feel like the preface to a story. As he [KVN] ascends up, we too go with him, looking to discover something. Soon after, when he reaches the Tara Sthyaai (Upper Octave) with its long notes, a sense of calm comes over us and we think we have found whatever we were searching for. The Alapana has all the flavor of an actual story. It's not just a gradual build-up to a crescendo or a harmonious blending of a predefined set of elements. It's not just that we recognize the beautiful sancharas of a kanada, it's that every phrase surprises us by ending where we don't expect it to - just like the twists and turns in a tale. And towards the end, there is an ineffable sense of satisfaction when he returns back to the lower parts of the scale. We feel we are brought back to calm waters after a voyage of exploration. Please share your thoughts on the music in the comment section below! Please Like and Subscribe for notifications on new videos and channel updates:    / shriramvasudevanmusic   Kanada Alapana [0:00] Sukhi Evaro - Kanada - Deshadi Talam - Thyagaraja [7:34] Other Concerts of K V Narayanaswamy:    • Palghat KV Narayanaswamy Live at Krishna G...      • K V Narayanaswamy - M Chandrasekharan - Pa...      • K V Narayanaswamy - Wedding Concert, c. 1983      • KV Narayanaswamy - Music Academy, Madras, ...      • Sri KV Narayanaswamy - Radio Program   Lyrics for Sukhi Evaro: https://www.gaanapriya.in/vgovindan/T... Palghat Kollengode Viswanathan Narayanaswamy (15 November 1923 – 1 April 2002), often referred to as K. V. Narayanaswamy was an Indian musician, widely considered to be among the finest Carnatic music vocalists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1986. He was described as the "Perfect Knight" of Carnatic music, a phrase from Geoffrey Chaucer, by V. K. Narayana Menon, art critic of India and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. Biography Source: Wikipedia Etching a Melody in our Minds: K V Narayanaswamy’s Sukhi Evaro