South Indian Carnatic Classical Music

[sughosh]

Higgins Baghavathar, as he was popularly known, was in my opinion, the best any Westerner came close to being a perfect Carnatic singer. If you closed your eyes and listened, you would think it was a hard core south Indian (from Myplapore? ) who was singing. Unfortunately he was in the circuit for a short time, and then simply disappeared. I will roam the shops to see if I can pick up any albums of his.

Just picked up a Higgins LP yesterday. An outstanding Endaro mahanubhavu on this LP. Strangely no picture of him on the sleeve...wonder if this was issued at a time when purists might have baulked at the sight of a white man on the cover of a Carnatic LP

 

[srramanujam]

1. Sangeetha Kalanidhi V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Live at the Music Academy, 1984. Accompanied by Kuttalam R. Viswanath Iyer on the Mridangam, D. Balakrishna on the Veena and KS Manjunathan on the Ghatam.

Saregama CDNF 147774. Bar Code 8901112477747. Packed 11/2007.

• Nee Bhajana
• Naodadina Maata
• Entaninne
• Gangaye Vasandhara
• Sri Ramam (Narayanagowda - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshithar)
• Eswari Rajeswari

2. Sangeetha Kalanidhi V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Music Today. Bar Code 901563074533. Accompanied by Vellore Ramabhadran on the Mridangam, and D. Balakrishna on the Veena.

• Nadaposana
• Venkatarsaila Vihara
• Chintaya Makanda
• Padavi Nee Sadbhakti
• Raga Ratnamalikache

3. Thyagaraj Masterpieces By V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Vol 1. Music Today. Accompanied by Vellore Ramabhadran on the Mridangam, and D. Balakrishna on the Veena.

• Vachama Gocharame
• Nadopasana
• Padavi Nee Sadbhakti
• Raga Ratnamalikache
• Ee Vasudha

4. Maestro Alive - Mysore Doraiswamy Iyengar - Kosmic KMD 437. Accompanied by PG Lakshmi Narayana on the Mridangam

• Tera Teeyakarada
• Rama Bhakthi
• Eti Janma
• Shantamulekha
• Needayarada
• Bhavanutha

I shall update other album information as and when I get my hands on them.

Cheers

In addition, i list the following

5. Maestros Choice, Music Today CD A 91014 (This CD has been repeated in other Music Today releases)

• Venkatasaila Vihara
• Chintaya Makanda
• Ghana Ragamalika Tanam
• Thillana - Kapi

6. Great Masters I, Dreams Audio CDNNM 272

• Varnam (Neranammiti)
• Bhajanaseya
• Samukhanavila
• Namikettavarillavo
• Thillana

7. Great Masters, II, Dreams Audio CDNNM 272

• RTP Kambhoji

8. Maestros in Concert, Sagar Music, D 9859

• Ramaneepai
• Ragaratnamalikaye
• Sarasiruhanana
• Intakante
• Balakanakamaye

9. Lute Maestros, Koel released my Music Today, KDI 066 AAD

MAATHE MALAYADHWAJA
RAGHUNAATHA NANNU
APPARAMA BHAKTHI
POGADIRELO RANGA
BHAJARE
MANASA SANCHARARE
THILLANA
THILLANA
KALAYE

In addition i have an MP3 CD which has the following extra title

Deva Deva Jagadeeswara
Raja Raja Radhithe
Brichevarevarura
Hechari Kagarara
Thillana

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Higgins Baghavathar, as he was popularly known, was in my opinion, the best any Westerner came close to being a perfect Carnatic singer. If you closed your eyes and listened, you would think it was a hard core south Indian (from Myplapore? ) who was singing. Unfortunately he was in the circuit for a short time, and then simply disappeared.

He died ...in an accident, I think?

 

[venkatcr]

He died ...in an accident, I think?

Ooops, I had no idea. He died in 1984, hit by a stupid drunken driver. My sincere apologies.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Higgins left another lasting legacy: he was instrumental (no pun intended) in Trichy Sankaran's departure for Canada.

 

[Kevian]

 

[sivasarjun]

Just picked up a Higgins LP yesterday. An outstanding Endaro mahanubhavu on this LP. Strangely no picture of him on the sleeve...wonder if this was issued at a time when purists might have baulked at the sight of a white man on the cover of a Carnatic LP

Beautiful music.What are the other pieces on it?
Listening to Thyagarajayoga Vaibhavam as I write.

 

[crisscross]

Higgins Baghavathar, as he was popularly known, was in my opinion, the best any Westerner came close to being a perfect Carnatic singer. If you closed your eyes and listened, you would think it was a hard core south Indian (from Myplapore? ) who was singing. Unfortunately he was in the circuit for a short time, and then simply disappeared. I will roam the shops to see if I can pick up any albums of his.

There have been a few enquiries about V Doreswamy Iyengar. As part of digitising all my CDs, I have on hand the following albums by VDI.

1. Sangeetha Kalanidhi V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Live at the Music Academy, 1984. Accompanied by Kuttalam R. Viswanath Iyer on the Mridangam, D. Balakrishna on the Veena and KS Manjunathan on the Ghatam.

Saregama CDNF 147774. Bar Code 8901112477747. Packed 11/2007.

• Nee Bhajana
• Naodadina Maata
• Entaninne
• Gangaye Vasandhara
• Sri Ramam (Narayanagowda - Adi - Muthuswami Dikshithar)
• Eswari Rajeswari

2. Sangeetha Kalanidhi V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Music Today. Bar Code 901563074533. Accompanied by Vellore Ramabhadran on the Mridangam, and D. Balakrishna on the Veena.

• Nadaposana
• Venkatarsaila Vihara
• Chintaya Makanda
• Padavi Nee Sadbhakti
• Raga Ratnamalikache

3. Thyagaraj Masterpieces By V. Doreswamy Iyengar - Vol 1. Music Today. Accompanied by Vellore Ramabhadran on the Mridangam, and D. Balakrishna on the Veena.

• Vachama Gocharame
• Nadopasana
• Padavi Nee Sadbhakti
• Raga Ratnamalikache
• Ee Vasudha

4. Maestro Alive - Mysore Doraiswamy Iyengar - Kosmic KMD 437. Accompanied by PG Lakshmi Narayana on the Mridangam

• Tera Teeyakarada
• Rama Bhakthi
• Eti Janma
• Shantamulekha
• Needayarada
• Bhavanutha

I shall update other album information as and when I get my hands on them.

Cheers

Hi Venkat,

Thanks so much for sharing this.. any comments on the recording quality?

 

[sughosh]

Beautiful music.What are the other pieces on it?
Listening to Thyagarajayoga Vaibhavam as I write.

Track listing is as follows:

Side One

1. Endaro mahanubhavulu (Sri ragam)
2. Etula brotuvo (Chakravakam)
3. Amba paradevate (Misspelled as "naradevate" on the sleeve LOL) (Rudrapriya)

Side Two

1. Siva Siva Siva Yanarada (Pantuvarali)
2. Samayamidera - Javali (Behag)
3. Dhim ta na na na - Thillana (Hindolam)

 

[venkatcr]

Thanks so much for sharing this.. any comments on the recording quality?

Quite good, though you must be aware that live recordings will not have the quality of studio recordings.

Cheers

 

[ajay124]

Quite good, though you must be aware that live recordings will not have the quality of studio recordings.

Cheers

Live recordings seldom sound as good as studio recordings, based purely on sound quality. But good live concerts have a sense of excitement and immediacy. Musicians perform differently when they are in the presence of an audience. They even perform differently, depending on whether the audience is a small,discerning one or a mammoth, beer guzzling, mass of teenagers!

Live concerts also have 'additional' music in the form of applause,coughs,sneezes and people fidgeting or moving around. Many recordings of jazz concerts from the 50's have a background score of tinkling crockery, as these recordings were made in clubs and restaurant's, where the patrons were busy eating and drinking, while the likes of Charlie Parker,Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson spun their magical tapestry. Lucky guys!

 

[srramanujam]

Quite so. Music is like life and a live recording catches the pulse of it. You can live the moment along with the audience.

 

[venkatcr]

I was fortunate to find the following albums in Mylapore. Been listening to Jon's beautiful rendition of carnatic numbers.

Jon B. Higgins - Entharo Mahanubhavulu
Saregama - CDNF 147728

Amba Paradevathe (Rudrapriya)
Enneramum (Devagandhari)
Entharo Mahanubhavulu (Sri)
Etula Brothuvo (Chakravaham)
Samayamidera (Behag)
Siva Siva Sivayanarada (Pantuvarali)
Thillana (Hindolam)
Thyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam (Ananda Bhairavi)
Viribhoni (Varnam) (Bhairavi)

Jon B. Higgins - Vazhi Maraiththu
Kosmik Records, KM 480008

Eavari Pora (Varnam) (Abogi)
Kalikiyunte Kadha ((Keeravani)
Ragarathnamalikache (Reetigowla)
Vazhi Maraiththu (Natai Kurunji)

Jon B. Higgins - Vocal
Saregama - CDNF 147885

Govardhana Giridhara (Darbari Kanada)
Kaa Va Vaa (Varali)
Padhari Varigidhu (Khamboji)
Shobhillu Sapthaswara (Jaganmohini)
Thanayuni Brova (Bhairavi)
Thillana (Neti Sogusu) (Mandari)

Cheers

 

[crisscross]

Absolutely brilliant stuff! YouTube - ‪ZAKIR HUSSAIN,SITAR RAVI SHANKAR &VINAYAKRAM VIKKU‬‏

Does anyone know if this is available on CD?

 

[Hiten]

Though I don't know malayalam Yesterday I heard two singers singing and discussing south indian and hindustani classical music on Doordarshan Malayalam channel. Hindustani classical singer was bearded person, both had lovely voice.. Can anyone tell me both singers name if they have seen this programme recently or in the past.
Thanks

 

[crisscross]

The concert video I posted is the "Sound of the Millenium" Concert at the Gateway of India.. Does anyone know if there are any DVD's or Audio CD's of this?

 

[quad]

Though I don't know malayalam Yesterday I heard two singers singing and discussing south indian and hindustani classical music on Doordarshan Malayalam channel. Hindustani classical singer was bearded person, both had lovely voice.. Can anyone tell me both singers name if they have seen this programme recently or in the past.
Thanks

This guy?

 

[sivasarjun]

Though I don't know malayalam Yesterday I heard two singers singing and discussing south indian and hindustani classical music on Doordarshan Malayalam channel. Hindustani classical singer was bearded person, both had lovely voice.. Can anyone tell me both singers name if they have seen this programme recently or in the past.
Thanks

I havnt seen the programme but most probably the hindusthani guy is Ramesh Narayanan a disciple of Pt Jasraj.

 

[Hiten]

yup, sivasarjun, the same gentelman, Ramesh Narayanan, like his voice (open, big and heavy). Other gentleman was singing/discussing south indian classical but can not describe him, only he had moustache, but that pretty much covers everyone
will search youtube and update
YouTube - ‪Raag Megh rendered by Pt. Ramesh Narayan‬‏
@quad : I also like yesudas.

 

[sivasarjun]

Was it Sreevalsan G Menon a disciple of Balamuralikrishna?