May 29, 2004: The setting could not have been more perfect: a long holiday weekend, a bright and sunny day in the midst of gloomy dreary Boston weather preceding and following it. That seemed glorious enough. But, the warm and sunny day turned brighter as the MITHAS Spring Concert series came to a close with an exciting season finale with the brilliant violin duet of A. Kanyakumari and Embar Kannan, with Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan on the Mridangam. The audience who had come in the midst of the long Memorial Day weekend to the M.I. T. Wong Auditorium were treated to a spectacular display of virtuosity and left satiated into the warm Boston night.

After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Aldous Huxley famously said. "Translating a three-hour glorious concert into words is impossible, but represents the difficult task of a reviewer. What should one focus on? Should one report the infectious camaraderie between the three players as they challenged and joked with each other through musical notes and complex rhythms that one could not but smile and join in the joy of the moment? Or should one marvel at the mechanical theatrics of the bow on an upright violin, sometimes slow and other times dizzyingly fast, sometimes straight, other times angled, or sideways, but always moving effortlessly with absolute precision? Or should one describe the almost magical tone that emanates from her white violin  if you close your eyes, you can at times, of course, hear a stringed instrument, but at other moments hear a melodious human voice, and at yet other times the lyrical waves of a wind instrument"? The concert was all of these - technical perfection accompanied by haunting expositions of over two dozen ragams.

For anyone even vaguely familiar with Carnatic music, Kalaimamani A. Kanayakumari is well known and revered. A disciple of Vijayaswara Rao and M. Chandrasekharan, she came into prominence as the violinist of choice for Dr. M. L. Vasanthakumari whom she accompanied for over nineteen years. Her virtuosity has not gone unnoticed. She has received many accolades during her more than 25-year career including the title of Dhanuveena Praveena bestowed by M. S. Subbalakshmi. Embar Kannan, her student, now a well-known violinist in his own right, is a gifted violinist and composer and has received awards from Bharath Kalachar and the Music Academy. The able accompanist on the mridangam, Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan was born in a family of percussionists, a disciple of Shri Karikudi Mani, and has accompanied most leading musicians such as Balamuralikrishna, M.L. Vasanthakumari, N. Ramani, D. K. Pattammal, Mandolin Srinivas, Sudha Raghunathan to name a few.

The violin duet performance began pleasantly with the rendition of the Nattakurunchi Varnam. The melodious sounds filled the listeners with anticipation for the delights yet to come. In the Dikshitar song in Nattai, the Swaram rendered by both violinists was charming and moving. The rapport between the musicians enhanced the listening pleasure. The beautiful song Sri Viswanatham by Muthuswami Dikshitar [Ragamalika], which included 14 ragas, was rendered superbly.

Some of the songs still ringing in my ears are Mokshamugaladha in Saramathy by Thyagaraja, Janani Ninnuvina in Reethigowla by Subbaraya Shastri and Manaviyala in Nalinakanthi by Thayagaraja. Echarikaikarai in Yadhukulakamboji by Thyagaraja and Janaki Ramana in Suddh Seemandhini also by Thyagaraja were soul stirring.

But the unquestionable highlight of the evening was the Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi, set in two ragams: Kalyana Vasantham and Varamu. The first a derivative of Kirvani and the second of Karaharapriya, proved to be interesting and wonderful choices. The entranced crowd lapped up this delicious musical fare as the artists revealed the intricate contours of the Ragas as they traveled back and forth between the two beautiful choices, displaying deep knowledge of the Ragas. The selection of the two Ragas was complemented by the fabulous melodic and rhythmic improvisations by the violin duo, concluded by a spirited Mridangam solo.

The medley of songs chosen to wind up the concert were very harmonious and enjoyable, including a Lalgudi Thillana in Desh, Venkatachala Nilayam in Sindhu Bhairavi, and Krithis in Karna Ranjini, and Mohanam. The popular Krishna Ni Begane was played with great vivacity.

The violin concert of Kanyakumari and Embar Kannan was a delight to the less itinerant listeners this Memorial Day weekend. Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan provided exemplary percussion support that enhanced the performance of the violin duo. We hope to see these gifted performers in Boston again soon!

“After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music,” Aldous Huxley famously said. Translating a three-hour glorious concert into words is impossible, but represents the difficult task of a reviewer. What should one focus on? Should one report the infectious camaraderie between the three players as they challenged and joked with each other through musical notes and complex rhythms that one could not but smile and join in the joy of the moment? Or should one marvel at the mechanical theatrics of the bow on an upright violin, sometimes slow and other times dizzyingly fast, sometimes straight, other times angled, or sideways, but always moving effortlessly with absolute precision? Or should one describe the almost magical tone that emanates from her white violin – if you close your eyes, you can at times, of course, hear a stringed instrument, but at other moments hear a melodious human voice, and at yet other times the lyrical waves of a wind instrument? The concert was all of these - technical perfection accompanied by haunting expositions of over two dozen ragams.

For anyone even vaguely familiar with Carnatic music, Kalaimamani A. Kanayakumari is well known and revered. A disciple of Vijayaswara Rao and M. Chandrasekharan, she came into prominence as the violinist of choice for Dr. M. L. Vasanthakumari whom she accompanied for over nineteen years. Her virtuosity has not gone unnoticed. She has received many accolades during her more than 25-year career including the title of “Dhanuveena Praveena” bestowed by M. S. Subbalakshmi. Embar Kannan, her student, now a well-known violinist in his own right, is a gifted violinist and composer and has received awards from Bharath Kalachar and the Music Academy. The able accompanist on the mridangam, Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan was born in a family of percussionists, a disciple of Shri Karikudi Mani, and has accompanied most leading musicians such as Balamuralikrishna, M.L. Vasanthakumari, N. Ramani, D. K. Pattammal, Mandolin Srinivas, Sudha Raghunathan to name a few.

The violin duet performance began pleasantly with the rendition of the Nattakurunchi Varnam. The melodious sounds filled the listeners with anticipation for the delights yet to come. In the Dikshitar song in Nattai, the Swaram rendered by both violinists was charming and moving. The rapport between the musicians enhanced the listening pleasure. The beautiful song Sri Viswanatham by Muthuswami Dikshitar [Ragamalika], which included 14 ragas, was rendered superbly.

Some of the songs still ringing in my ears are Mokshamugaladha in Saramathy by Thyagaraja, Janani Ninnuvina in Reethigowla by Subbaraya Shastri and Manaviyala in Nalinakanthi by Thayagaraja. Echarikaikarai in Yadhukulakamboji by Thyagaraja and Janaki Ramana in Suddh Seemandhini also by Thyagaraja were soul stirring.

But the unquestionable highlight of the evening was the Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi, set in two ragams: Kalyana Vasantham and Varamu. The first a derivative of Kirvani and the second of Karaharapriya, proved to be interesting and wonderful choices. The entranced crowd lapped up this delicious musical fare as the artists revealed the intricate contours of the Ragas as they traveled back and forth between the two beautiful choices, displaying deep knowledge of the Ragas. The selection of the two Ragas was complemented by the fabulous melodic and rhythmic improvisations by the violin duo, concluded by a spirited Mridangam solo.

The medley of songs chosen to wind up the concert were very harmonious and enjoyable, including a Lalgudi Thillana in Desh, Venkatachala Nilayam in Sindhu Bhairavi, and Krithis in Karna Ranjini, and Mohanam. The popular Krishna Ni Begane was played with great vivacity.

The violin concert of Kanyakumari and Embar Kannan was a delight to the less itinerant listeners this Memorial Day weekend. Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan provided exemplary percussion support that enhanced the performance of the violin duo. We hope to see these gifted performers in Boston again soon!

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