Dr. M Balamuralikrishna-MS Gopalakrishnan-Dr. TK Murthy live (1960s)

Live somewhere (1960s) Dr. M Balamuralikrishna- vocal Parur MS Gopalakrishnan- violin Dr. TK Murthy- mridangam 1) Gana Sudharasa Pananiratam- Nattai, Adi, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna (swaraprastara only) 2) Kanugonu Sowkhyamu- Nayaki, Rupakam, Thyagaraja 3) Needayarada Amba- Purvikalyani, Adi, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna 4) Muddu Momu- Suryakantham, Adi (2 kalai), Thyagaraja 5) Nannu Kanna Thalli- Sindhukannada, Desadi, Thyagaraja 6) Ganamalinchi- Kalyanavasantham, Adi, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna 7) Ninnuvina Gathigana- Kalyani, Adi, Subbaraya Sastri 8) Brihadeeswara Mahadeva- Kaanada, Rupakam, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna 9) Marulu Konnane (Javali)- Chenchuroothi/Jenjoothi, Misra Chapu, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna 10) Natha Hare Jagannatha Hare (Ashtapadi)- Charukesi (madhyama sruti), Adi, Jayadeva 11) Jaya Jaya Gurunatha- Vallabhi (madhyama sruti), Adi, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna 12) Gayathi Vanamali- Hamsadhwani (madhyama sruti), Adi, Sadasiva Brahmendra As the 89th birthday of the great Dr. BMK approaches, another concert of the KrishnaDwaya is at your service. This is a much more intellectual concert with two awesome co-artists collaborating to deliver delicious prasadam to one and all. Look how they make each krithi into a garland to be adorned around the Goddess of Music. Isn't it wonderful to have compositions other than the famous hits being rendered? Who would think that Purvikalyani and Kalyani would be rendered together? That too a Subbaraya Sastri krithi for the latter! And Kalyanavasantham sounds so heavenly. Mother Meenakshi must be smiling widely. When KrishnaDwaya bring such original and melodious gANam, we have to stop and listen immediately. They were meant for each other, respected each other and brought the best out of each other to provide mellifluous and sonorous gANam for the world. For example, when BMK starts off with Nattai swaraprastara, MSG takes it to another level with his marvelous play, then BMK goes to another level, but MSG takes it further. The "thukkadas" after the main piece display their terrific teamwork and complete mastery. MSG nails every sangati perfectly and his alapanas for Purvikalyani, Kalyanavasantham and Kalyani are out of the world. His one string play is awesome. As I've mentioned many times, we should never consider MSG an accompaniment to BMK; it was "equal collaboration" as Sri Purna Bangere mentioned in an upload. This concert does not take us to the past, but keeps us rooted in the present. Such is the power of Krishnadwaya gANam. As you can tell, mridangam is played by no other than TK Murthy sir. He is one mridangam vidwan whose style has influenced my mridangam playing! I have listened to him for so long and I love how he adapts his play each time while maintaining the strict tradition. Here, his kuchi mridangam gels in so well with KrishnaDwaya. Pay attention how he enhances each krithi including the Dr. BMK compositions. During Ganamalinchi, he nails "Nadiyinchi Nadiyinchi" down to the tee. He excellently transitions to Rupakam (Tisra gathi) during the anupallavi of Kanugonu Sowkhyamu after playing Chatusra Gathi for some time. When Muddu Momu is rendered, he makes the jewel of Suryakantham shine even brighter. His playing during the swaraprastara is pleasurable. And his theermanams are impeccable. The thani though truncated is a hallmark of the Thanjavur bani. I remember the first time I heard Murthy sir which was an album with the Hyderabad Brothers in 1993 and I was amazed to hear the clarity and brilliant strokes from such a senior vidwan. He took that album to another level. Then I heard him with MSS from the famous 1970 commercial album, the Annamacharya krithis albums and the 1966 UN concert and I can firmly say he is one of my favorites. From the 30s to today, he's seen it all. And what fantastic disciples he has to carry on the Thanjavur bani; a few of whom I know. Let's continue to honor him before his departure date arrives and let's encourage his disciples to take the Thanjavur bani even further. Though the sruti varies in places and there are abrupt stops, I decided to leave the tracks as they are. I would like to thank one of my good friends for having this concert for so long. I relish his contributions every time and his youthful love for the music form which never discriminates! Let's celebrate KrishnaDwaya gANam and Thanjavur bani nAdam provided by the ageless TK Murthy Sir together! Happy Birthday Dr. BMK!