The Indian EXPRESS 13 NOVEMBER 25, 2011 WESTCOAST Newsline Zankaar – “Raag Malika” Memerizes the Music Lovers MILPITAS ising and talented youngsters, Varun on Mri- dangam and Shruti on Violin. There was wide angeet Dhwani held its 82nd Music applause from the music loving audience for Concert at the Milpitas Library Audito- the artists. Srium, with the theme “ Raag Malika “ ( Another highlight of the Concert was Garland of Ragas i.e., Hymns) when as many the Hindustani Classical version on Raag Ma- as 15 artists performed their best in several lika, which was performed by a well known segments namely, Carnatic and Hindustani Bay Area Vocalist Sandeep Ranade. While Classicals, Instrumental ( Slide Guitar), Semi explaining the nuances of Raag Malika, with Classicals, Devotional and Movie songs- all its historical perspective, he pointed out that based on more than on one Raga. Sangeet he had composed a unique piece of Band- Dhwani series provide a unique opportunity ish, on his own. One of the requirements for music enthusiasts and music connoisseurs was that the Bandish must follow Raagmala’s alike to present as well as listen to fellow mu- cycle from Bhairavi through Yaman. Starting sicians’ renditions while also sharing educa- from a musical journey with morning ragas, tional sound bytes, about many facts around he continued to render through ragas which Indian music are usually sung in the afternoon, evening, At the outset, the Carnatic Classical was night and midnight ragas, before culminating performed by Shreedhar Ganapathy who in Raag Bhairavi. He followed the rule that has been trained both in Carnatic as well as the rendition should start and end with Raag Hindustani Classical music and he could bring Bhairavi. Also, the lyrics of the raagmalika out the finer aspects of both, in his perfor- need to be semantically coherent towards a mance of 25 minutes. Shreedhar started his single theme, so as to create an aesthetic and performance, with an invocation to Lord Sri mellifluous piece. Sandeep while summing up Ganesha with an impromptu composition of his performance, explained that the Raagma- “Vakratunda Mahakaya” in Raaga Mohanam lika is created in praise of the Goddess Du- and Raaga Bhupalam. Following this, it was rga (also known as Kali, Parvati, Bhavani and Sri Chakra Raja Simhasaneshwari, a lilting Narayani) and mostly devotional lyrics fit in composition written by Sage Agastya him- very well with such Ragas. Sandeep has to self in Tamizh and set to 4 Raagas - Senchu- journey through as many as 18 different Ragas rutti, Punnagavarali, Naadanaamakriya, and for creating one unique Bandish which he ren- Sindhu Bhairavi. The song is in praise of dered with his melodious voice. Sandeep was the Mother Goddess-Sri Lalita Ambika (or ably accompanied by Vivek Datar and Ustad the Goddess who presides over Sri Chakra). Surinder Mann, the leading accompanists of Shreedhar continued with the unique Raaga the Bay Area. The audience was simply spell Maalika song “Sarangan Marugane” contain- bound with their mind blowing performance. ing 12 Raagas , with each line having a differ- The next Artist was Raju Chithamba- ent raaga. This song was composed by Late ram, a lead vocalist for Andaaz Live Band Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam. Shreedhar that had earned the credit for raising over $ ended the session with “Mahalakshmi Ash- 600K, in fundraisers for non-profits. Raju has takam” for which he had himself composed been learning classical music from Pt. Laxmi the tune in “Yaman, Hamsanandi, and Naat- Ganesh Tewari and Shri Mahesh Kale for tai”. He was ably accompanied by two prom- over 10 years. He had chosen to present the song “Apoorva Raagam” , i.e., a Raga that has originally sung by her Guru. This composi- never before been presented. This selected tion is a beautiful blend of 4 raags - predomi- song was earlier composed by MS Viswana- nantly Raag Maand, Kalawati, Patadeep and than and sung by the inimitable Yesudas. The Shivranjani and some streaks of Yaman, Des raga used on the song refrain, is a modern in- and Hamsadhwani which showed a wonderful Apple names Arthur D. Levinson vention by Dr. Balamurlikrishna called “Raga composition in raagmalika in Hindustani clas- Mahathi”. Unlike the standard ragas which sical music. The lyric of this bhajan is ‘Mat- use a minimum of 5 notes, this raga uses only waro Badar Ayo re, Hari ka sandeso kachhu Chairman of the Board 4 notes (Sa Ga Pa ni), essentially the notes that nahi layo re’. In this, Radha is disappointed make up the Dominant 7th Western Chord (C as she doesn’t receive any message of Krishna E G B-flat). Yet the composition is very rich, with the advent of Monsoon. The Mother Na- pple Inc. has named Arthur Levinson proving once again that from the Beatles to ture is green and is dancing with the hymns of as its non-executive chairman, a move Dr.Balamurali- krishna, the hallmark of a monsoon but she is sad as she misses Krishna Athat rewards the longtime Apple genius is to do more with less. The climax of in such a lovely season of togetherness. board member who chose it over Google Inc. the song is in the Carnatic Raga “Bhairavi”, a Gaurangi chose to sing a thumri with when the technology giants began competing dramatic change in mood from major to mi- mishrit ragas, a special song “ Saawan ki ritu” with each other. nor. Raju was accompanied by esteemed ac- and her performance was also, quite impres- Cupertino-based Apple also added Rob- companists Vivek Datar on the harmonium, sive. ert Iger, President and CEO of Walt Disney Ustaad Surinder Mann on Tabla and young Usha Pugalia sang one of the best raag Co. to its board. Varun on the Mridangam. All of these recre- malika songs, “Kurai Onrun Illahi ( in Tamil Levinson, 61, who is chairman of South ated the magic of the legends. language) which included three Carnatic ra- San Francisco-based Genentech and was its Two senior students learning Hindustani gas “Shivaranjani”, “Kaapi” and “SindhuB- CEO in the past, has been on Apple’s board Classical Music were encouraged to sing one hairavi” ( taalam; aadi). It is significant to note since 2000. When Jobs stepped down as CEO of their favorite songs under Raag Malika. it was composed by a great Indian politician, because he was too sick to continue working, Madhav (Krishna) Rayaprolu and Harish Statesman and Governor-General of India, he retained his title of chairman. But since he Rajamani sang a famous raag-malika “Hin- Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.) This song passed away in early October, that spot has dol Gaavat Sab” composed by Late Jitendra had been earlier, melodiously rendered with been vacant. Levinson makes sense as a re- Arthur D. Levinson Abhisheki and Lyrics by Late Pt. Ramashray much devotion, by Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, placement because he has been a long-time Jha both of whom were legends leaving an and it has sine become one of the popular lyr- member of Apple’s board. When Jobs stepped indelible imprint in the field of Hindustani ics, in Carnatic Music. down as CEO back in August, Levinson Other Apple board members include Classical Music. They were accompanied by. The concert ended with Ashwini Guru- spoke on behalf of the board and praised former U.S. Vice President Albert Gore Jr., Vivek Datar on Harmonium and Surinder prasad rendering a Kannada devotional song Jobs’ “extraordinary vision and leadership Avon Products Chairman and CEO Andrea Mann on Tabla. “Eredide mane o baa athithi “from a Movie Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said Levinson Jung, J. Crew Chairman and CEO Mil- The instrumental segment, was “Slide “Hosa Belaku”, which also covered more than is the company’s “longest serving co-lead lard Drexler, Intuit Inc. Chairman William Guitar” by Vikram Shrowti, which was intro- two raagas.. director.” Campbell and Ronald Sugar, former boss at duced in Zankaar Concert for the first time Pradeep Joshi, Hon.Director, Sangeet As chairman of Genentech, Levinson Northrop Grumman, who joined last year af- and it created a rare aura of musical taste Dhwani proposed vote of thanks to the au- also sits on the board of its parent, Roche. He ter two vacancies were created when Jerome to Hindustani Music lovers in the audience. dience and all artists who performed at the was CEO of Genentech from 1995 to 2009, York died in March and Google boss Eric Vikram played 4-5 ragas, which included Ya- event, so well. Over 150 persons attended the when it was a public company, before Roche Schmidt quit in July. Iger now fills the other man, Hansdhwani, Darbari Kanada, amongst concert. Joshi announced that the theme for bought it. vacant seat. others to conform to the theme “Raag Malika”. the next concert coming up on December 31, He also works on the boards at Amyris, Jung is Apple’s other “co-lead director.” Shubhasree Chaki, another well known 2011 will be “Raag Bhairavi”. Thanks and ap- NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and the Broad She’s been on the board since 2008. Camp- Bay Area Vocalist trained under the legend- preciation were also due to an excellent sound Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of bell is the longest serving director -- Apple ary Veena Sahasrabudhe sang a rare piece management by Sanjay Saxena, one of San- Technology and Harvard University. added him to its board in 1997. of Meera’s Devotional song on Raag Mala geet dhwani’s committed Volunteers. NORTH AMERICAN EDITION.