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SRUTI NOTES SRUTI The India Music & Dance Society A Publication of SRUTI Volume 3, Issue 3 August 2000 Board of Directors President From The Editors P. Narayanan 610-526-0615 Dear friends Vice President S. Rajagopal A special feature of this issue of Sruti Notes is that the Juniors’ Corner makes its debut, with 610-649-7623 articles by some young students on their experiences in learning the Indian classical arts. With four young and enthusiastic music lovers in charge of this section of Sruti Notes, the Juniors’ Corner Treasurer promises to bring many interesting and educational features in future issues. We request more C. Nataraj youngsters to come forward with their contributions and the parents to encourage them to partici- 610-519-4994 pate in this venture to make it a success. In addition to this, this issue presents the news and hap- Recording Secretary penings in the world of music and dance, events in our own community, reviews and letters. Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan 610-644-3659 Many of you have already received information in your emails regarding Srutiranjani 2000. The annual issue will be published in November and we request all writers to please observe Corresponding Secretary the deadline of October 15 for sending their articles. The Juniors will make their debut in this Kishore Pochiraju forthcoming issue of Srutiranjani with a separate section allotted to contributions from youngsters 609-520-0977 under 18. We also welcome advertisements from corporations and small businesses. Please con- tact the LC for rates and other details. Members at Large Rama Gundurao The Library Committee is also working on the special millennium publication planned for the 215-591-0380 th year 2001 to coincide with Sruti’s 15 anniversary. We are in the process of identifying topics, H. Ramakrishna writers, and also sources of funding for the venture. Those who would like to help the LC in this 610-240-0392 task are requested to contact a member of the committee. Resource Committee Viji Swaminathan Ramana Kanumalla Chairperson (Chairperson) For the Library Committee 610-277-8955 Dinakar Subramanian 610-630-1878 Ravi Pattisam (610)837-1026 Library Committee Viji Swaminathan (Chairperson) UPCOMING SRUTI PROGRAMS IN 2000 215-643-2145 Srinidhi Narayan Maharajapuram G. Ramachandran — Vocal 610-630-7298 (September 23) Hema Ramamurthy 215-295-1980 See attached flyer for details Jeya Sankaran 610-239-7894 M.S. Gopalakrishnan & Narmada – Violin Duo M.M. Subramaniam (October 21) 610-240-0268 Priya Sisters – Vocal (November 11) Email [email protected] Please visit our Web Site www.sruti.org 1 Alarmel Valli’s Sprightly Bharatanatyam Concert From the President’s Desk By Chandrakala Menon Dear Friends, On May 13, 2000, the Indian community in the Delaware Valley was treated to an exquisite and scintillating Bharatanatyam performance in the Now that Labor Day has passed, and the first Pandanallur tradition by Alarmel Valli that left the audience craving for leaves of fall are floating down in the breeze, SRUTI more. Valli combined swift foot-work, flexible and graceful body move- members are eagerly anticipating the first concert ments, naturalness in abhinaya, master choreography and excellent musi- after the summer. We will begin by presenting cianship from the 20 year-old Randhini Ramanathan to make this Maharajapuram Ramachandran, son of the late Bharatanatyam recital a memorable one for everyone. Maharajapuram Santhanam on September 23. Valli is truly a master communicator at several different levels. She This year we have received a continuing grant eloquently explained to the audience the deeper philosophical interpreta- from the Philadelphia Foundation. We have also tion of the different compositions she had lined up for the evening while been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Council choosing to squat comfortably on the stage rather than disturb the height- on the Arts. We are very gratified by the recognition adjustment on the microphone that she had to share with her musicians. As and support SRUTI continues to enjoy from its a dancer, her movements conveyed an unmistakable joyous spirit that ap- donors. However, I would be remiss if I did not pears to be a hallmark of her performances. Her abhinaya was so natural bring your attention to some trends that give us cause and free-flowing that she slipped into and out of the characters that she for concern. The first is the escalating artist fees and was portraying with ease. auditorium rentals. They have gone up by an average of 40-50 percent compared to five years ago. Valli opened the evening’s concert with a brisk Shakti Vandanam – The second is the decline in attendance. Ticket an invocation to Shakti or the Goddess of Energy embodied by Mahishas- prices have not been increased, and season ticket uramardini, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. She used Adi Shankara- sales as well as single ticket sales have been falling charya’s Sanskrit composition, Ayi giri nandini to depict the various at- steadily. Indeed, without institutional support every tributes of Devi. The swarams in this piece were composed by Prema one of our events will end in a significant deficit. Ramamurthy and the viruthams were set to music by S. Rajeswari. Valli’s choreography of this piece showed immense creativity and attention to This is clearly not a good position -- while detail. institutional support is welcome, I believe that we, as music and dance lovers, should ensure that at least This was followed by the Varnam in ragamalikai that was composed 60 - 70 percent of our cost base is supported by by Prema Ramamurthy and choreographed by Valli. Kaanna aavadaa di community (member) contributions. There are really endan naadanai was fast-paced and depicted the bhakta’s longing for only two ways to do it: the first is to increase prices. Lord Siva as the Nayika’s yearning for her lover. In this number, the nay- Obviously, we are reluctant to do that. The second is ika tells her sakhi that she longs for a glimpse of her beloved Lord and is to increase attendance. Apathy on the part of our reminded of Him by everything in nature including the splendor of the members, demonstrated by their reluctance to buy rising sun and the darkness of the rain clouds. She describes His beauty as season tickets, and in simply not attending our the Lord of Dance and complains to her sakhi that although spring is in the concerts, is starting to hurt us. air and the cool perfumed wind is blowing gently, her Lord is indifferent toward her and that she should bring Him to her immediately. Valli’s tal- This message is just a wake up call to all old and ent and creativity were evident in the choreography and execution of this new members, and would-be members. The only piece. way for us to ensure that we can offer quality programs is to show support by our sustained The first piece after the intermission was a philosophical one, Jeeva- attendance of the programs. From our part, we are nam Jeevanamrutham. This piece compared human life to the cycle of committed to bring you carefully selected and well- water in nature having its origin in the rain clouds, traveling on earth as organized programs. rivers, merging with the seas and evaporating and becoming rain clouds again. It was a gentle piece that dealt very subtly with the fullness of life We look forward to seeing all of you in the treating losses and gains as necessary experiences for a wholesome life. upcoming concerts by Ramachandran, M.S This piece was also set to music by Prema Ramamurthy. Valli’s choreog- Gopalakrishnan and Narmada, and Priya Sisters raphy of this number showed a maturity and insight that was capable of respectively. Please be sure to visit our web page depicting abstract themes through Bharatanatyam in a manner that was (http://www.sruti.org) for additional details. intelligible to the lay person. On behalf of the Board of Directors, The next piece, a Sangam era composition, by far was enjoyed the most by everyone -- the young and not-so-young alike. It was a piece P. Narayanan based on an Indian folklore and captured a moment of transition between President childhood and adolescence. The piece, unnuneer vikkinaan in Raga- malikai and Talamalikai told the story of a childhood friendship between a boy and a girl that blossomed into physical attraction between the two at (Continued on page 3) 2 (Continued from page 2) Community News Newcastle and Manchester. Ravi Kiran adolescence. Valli’s depiction of the will compose and conduct some pieces scene where the childhood friend ap- Graduations for the orchestra and also play Chi- pears at the doorstep of the now adoles- travina at the festival. Speaking to Car- cent nayika asking for drinking water Suresh Swaminathan, son of Viji and P. naticmusic.com, Ravi Kiran said that he and the nayika’s efforts to hide his flirta- Swaminathan (Ambler, PA), graduated has composed pieces in Kalyani and tion with her from her mother by dis- from Upper Dublin High School and will Karaharapriya for the special Millen- tracting her with a tall story about her be attending the University of Pennsyl- nium project. A core group of major friend choking on the water she gave vania Engineering School this fall. A instruments like base guitar, piano, vio- him to drink was well received by the member of the National Honor Society, lin, flute, some percussion and tabla audience and was representative of Suresh has been awarded the Class of will be used in the orchestra. This is Valli’s expertise and finesse. 2000 Scholarship for Academic Achieve- the first time BBC has ventured into ment.