Phil played an exciting line up of Rag Charukesi, Raghu vamsa Sudha in Rag Kadanakuthuhalam, Rag Bhageshri, Rag Chandraprabha and ended with a Dhun.

Our September 12 concert was presented by saxophonist Phil Scarff and tabla artist Amit Kavthekar. You can find out more about these artists by visiting their websites:

Phil Scarff

• Indian classical music: philscarff.com
• Phil Scarff leads the world-jazz fusion ensembles Natraj (natrajmusic.com) and the Lewis Porter-Phil Scarff Group (porterscarff.com).
• Recordings are available from itunes and many digital streaming platforms.
• To purchase CDs, contact Phil directly at philscarff@natrajmusic.com.

Amit Kavthekar

• amitkavthekar.com
  

Vishayka Hari kept the audience of 100 Zoom participants mesmerized by weaving together a story of 6 saints from 5 states and passages from the Bhagwat Gita.

Rajhesh Vaidhya enthralled the audience by playing:

• Vatapi ganapatim bhaje. -Raga Hamsadhwani,
• composer-Dikshitar
• Teliyaleru Rama -Raga Dhenuka, deshadi Tal,
• composer- Tyagaraja 
• Ni daya rAda. -Raga VasantaBhairavi, Rupak Tal,
• composer -Tyagaraja 
• Manavyalakim Chara, Raga nalinakanti, Aadi Tal,
• composer- Tyagaraja
• Nagumomu galaleni – Raga Abheri, Aadi Tal,
• composer-Tyagaraja
• Kurai onrum illai- Ragamalika, Aadi Tal,
• composer- Rajaji
• Krishna ni begane baro-
• composer- Vyaasaraya
• Chinnanjiri kiliye-Ragamalika,
• composer-Bharatiyar
• Paluke banagaramayana, Raga AnandaBhairavi, Adi Tal,
• composer- Ramadas 
• Prema mudita man se kaho Ram,Ram,Ram bhajan
• Lag ja gale – Hindi film song
• Brahmamokate – Raga bowli, Aadi Tal,
• composer-Annamacharya
• Maitrim bhajata-Ragamalika, Aadi tal,
• composer- Chandrasekhara Saraswati
  

• Ullam irangi vandu arul purivaye – Raga Hamsadwani,
• Aadi talam, Composer Papanasam Sivam
• Palisemma muddu sharade – Raga Sriranjani, chatushri
• ekatalam tishra nadai, Composer-Purandara dasa
• AruL seiyya vendum – Raga Rasikapriya,
• Composer-koteeswara Iyer
• Paramapurusa jagadeeswara– Raga Vasanta,
• Aadi talam, Composer-Swati tirunaL
• Viruttam-Nama shivayattai nan maravene
• Irakkam varAmal ponadenna kAraNam en Swami–
• Raga Behag, Rupaka Tal,
• Composer -Gopalakrishna Bharati
• Enna kavi padinAlum – Raga NeelamaNi, Aadi Tal,
• Composer-Anayampatti Aadisesha Aiyyar
• Sriramachandra krupAlu – Raga – Yaman,
• Mishra chapu Tal, Composer-Tulsidas
• Abhang- Ye hi Vittale bhaktajana vatsale– Raga –
• brindavani , Eka tal, Composer-Saint Namdev
• Ek Mantra japte raho – Rag Darbar,
• Composer-Swami Prabhupada
  

• Maate Malayadhwaja – Raga Kamas, Composer Muttayyah Bhaagawatar
• Shri Vighna Rajam Bhaje – Raga Gambeera Nattai, Composer Ootukkadu Venkatasubbaiyyar
• Shri Valli Devasenapate – Raga NaTa Bhairavi, Composer Papanasam Shivam
• VidajAladhura – Raga Janaranjani, Composer Tyagaraja
• Ethavunara – Raga Kalyani, Composer Tyagaraja
• Pibare Rama Rasam – Raga Ahir Bhairavi, Composer Sadasiva Brahmendra

Raagas played by Anupama were Rageshree Ek Tal,

Behag (Alap,Jor,Jhala,Teen Tal)

Anar Anar folk song from Afghanistan its six beat dadra.

She concluded with Rag Sindhubairavi

• Soundararajan started with: Mahaganapatim – Raga Nattai, Adi Tal,
• Composer: Muttuswamy Dikshitar
• Santana gopalakrishnan upasmahe – Raga Kamas,
• Composer: Muttuswamy Dikshitar
• Ranganayakam bhAvayeham – Raga NAyaki, Adi Tal,
• Composer Muttuswamy Dikshitar
• Banturiti kolu viyya vayya Rama – Raga Hamsanandam, deshadi Tal,
• Composer Tyagaraja
• Nagumomu – Raga Abheri, Adi Tal,
• Composer Tyagaraja
• Jayadeva ashtapadi – Raga Amir kalyani
• Venkatachala Nilayam – Raga Sindhubairavi, Adi Tal,
• Composer: Purandaradasa
• Oruthi Maganai Pirandhu – Raga Behag, Adi Tal,
• Composer: Andal
• Tillana
• Pibare Ramarasam – Raga Yaman Kalyani, Adi Tal,
• Composer Sadashiva Brahmendrar
• Kurai ondrum Illai – Ragamalika, Adi Tal,
• Composer Rajaji
  

Jayanth accompanied by Murari and Bharadwaj started with

• Mahaganapathim – Raga Nattai; Chatusra ekam Tal
• Akhilandeshwari – Raga Dwijavanti; Adi Tal
• Pavana Guru – Raga Hamsanandi; Rupaka Tal
• Kaligiyunte – Raga Keeravani; Adi Tal
• Vaishnava Jana To – Bhajan
• Raghuvamsa Sudha – Raga Kathanakuthuhalam; Adi Tal
• Jagado Dharana – Raga Sindhu Bhairavi-Kapi: Adi Tal
• Pahadi Dhun
• Thillana – Raga Behag; Adi Tal
  

Sushmitha Suresh performed the following dances:

• Saraswati Kauthvam: The blessings of goddess Saraswati are invoked in a mixture of Nritta the abstract aspect of dance and Abhinaya-narration
• Pranamamyaham Sri Gauri Sutam: A Salutation to the son Gauri, Lord Ganesha.
• Innum yen manam– Nrityopaharam: Nrityopaharam or Varnam forms the central piece of a Bharatanatyam performance, testing the dancer’s skill in Nritta and Abhinaya.
• Momu Jupura : Shringara Lahari: In praise of the mother of the universe, Goddess Gauri, the fierce protector of her loved ones.
• Chinnanjiru kiliye: Madhuvanthi Thillana: Sushmita closed with a traditional Thillana in Bharatanatyam.
  

Rooted in the style of the Virtuoso violinist Dr Manjunat, Arun Ramamurthy brings in a fresh approach to the age old south Indian classical repertoire,The trios collaborative sound is driven by the propulsive rhythm section of drummer Sameer Gupta and bassist Perry Wortman.

Selections played that evening:

• Delusions – Raga Madhuvanti; Adi Tal
• Preservation – Raga Natabhairavi; Adi Tal
• Simple Joys – Raga Mohana Kalyani; Adi Tal
• Walk As One – Raga Chakravakam; Misra Chapu Tal (7 beats)
  

Kathak Yatra is the journey of kathak dance through history. It offers glimpses of the evolution of different eras starting from the temple period, through the Royal courts of kings and emperors to todays proscenium Stages!

The word Kathak is derived from the Sanskrit word Katha, meaning a story, Rhythmic footwork, fast pirouettes, and complex moments characterize this graceful spontaneous dance. The form has its origin in the narrative tradition of the village minstrel, the ‘Kathakars”, who sang songs of heroic tales and dramatized their lyrics with subtle gestures and expressions.

Ragas played by the artists

• Ragam Malayamurtham; Rupaka Tal
• Ragam Simhendramadyamam; Mishra Tal
• Ragam Mohanam RTP



Mohanam is an audava (pentatonic) ragam using only 5 notes, and is the oldest raga known.

• It is a very pleasing and enchanting ragam that invokes a wide range of emotions.
• Ragam alapana is a pure melodic improvisation based on the ragam, followed by Tanam.
  

Raaga wishes to thank all the members, donors and well-wishers, that made these programs possible in its first year.

Donors:



Arun & Sarada Penukonda, Arun & Vijaylakshmi Maheshwari, Mukund Kini, Murali & Madhumati Muppala, Ramiah & Lakshmi Krishnan, Subhash & Seema Kshetrapal, Viswanatham & Rukmini Piratla, Eric & Sherry Hynden, Suresh & Usha Tate, Rathna & Lakshmi Bushan, Radhakrishna & Shirley Bharath, Rao & Purna Chalasani, Ira Dash, Paramasiva & Premalatha Halasyamani, Mallika & Kumar Nandur, Vishal & Sandy Madhar, Shiva & Nithya Sharma, Lakshman & Menaka Setty, Piyush & Abantika Shah, Suresh & Usha Tate, Vaishali Dihenia, Mukesh Vyas, Sahees, C.V. & Sathya, Daniel Singh.

Ragas Sung by Bhuvanesh Komkali

• Rag Bhimpalas
• Naad so Jaanu re Sur gaani– Vilambit Ek Tal-12 beats,
• Composer: Pandit Kumar Gandharva
• Tarana in Teen Tal-16 beats
• Rag Multani
• Balama moare , Madhya laya (medium Tempo)-Composition in Teen Tal-Traditional Composition
• Dil Bekaraar Haiga -Drut(Fast Composition) in Teen Tal
• Rag Kalyan
• Mukha Tero Karo – Madhya laya teen tal-
• Composer: Pandit Kumar Gandharva
• Nirguni Bhajans: In praise of god in his formless aspect
• Rag Bhairavi

Komkali ended with this late evening raga, filled with devotion, love and peace.

Board of Directors:



From left, Rathna Bushan, Shirley Bharath, Mallika Nandur, Anju Uttamchandani, Lakshmi Krishnan, Sarada Penukonda, Harshad Bhatt