noreply@blogger.com (L. Ramakrishnan)Sat, 7 Sep 2024 21:47:52 -0500Blogger http://www.blogger.com88125http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/en-usnopoetry, ecology, queer, carnatic music, veena, Dikshitar, ChennaiPoetry, rants, raves, commentary and other assorted offerings from a reluctant blogger in Chennai: themes include but are not limited to carnatic music, ecology, queer issues and other related (?) stuff.Poetry, rants, raves, commentary and other assorted offerings from a reluctant blogger in Chennai: themes include but are not limited to carnatic music, ecology, queer issues and other related (?) stuff.L Ramakrishnanlramakrishnan2004@gmail.comL Ramakrishnanhttp://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2021/01/kara-dhrta-vina.htmlWed, 6 Jan 2021 10:05:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6279592315696411804 fingers traverse frets pull, caress, glide across strings goddesses listen0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2012/11/kaarthigai-deepam.htmlThu, 29 Nov 2012 11:39:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6732740510608019850 crouched in her balcony she gazes at the street agal vilakkus* line compound walls, illuminate kolams and staircases in flickering geometries of ritual auspiciousness flames fickle destined to die a slow death as oil surrenders to wick or a quick one from a wayward Marina gust no flame quite so steady, she realizes, as her everyday kaarthigai deepam** inscrutable glow of cigarette2lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2012/10/vijayadasami-2012.htmlTue, 23 Oct 2012 11:22:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-9219256066327713722 0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2012/04/sri-guruna-palitosmi.htmlFri, 6 Apr 2012 15:04:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6771149664001446444 It has been a year since my Guru Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan passed away. Among the many ways I've been remembering her today is through this rendition of s'rI gurunA pAlitO'smi. The song is part of a studio recording made by Kiran Kannappan and friends from SwaraSamuha in Bangalore in 2005. Mami's trips to Bangalore for concerts at Ananya and Bangalore Gayana Samaj, the Veena Seshanna award, and0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2012/01/abhayamba-jagadamba.htmlMon, 23 Jan 2012 12:05:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6084896872412068464Just discovered some youtubed excerpts of a 2007 concert of Kalpakam teacher in which I had accompanied her. The rAga kalyANI followed by MD composition abhayAmbA below:0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2011/10/vijayadasami-2011.htmlWed, 5 Oct 2011 12:55:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-11541345587415436361lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2011/09/ganesha-chaturthi-2011.htmlThu, 1 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-8722148652839742071Preparations began Wednesday with shopping for a clay Ganesha (no paint!) and accoutrements at Thannithurai market on Royapettah High Road. The puja Ganesha (above) basked in the attention along with the rest of our collection, including the painting by Amma, a Titwala MahaGanapati (far right) that is 30+ years old, dancing Ganesha from Kiran, and others acquired or gifted 0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2011/05/dusky-business-deals.htmlFri, 6 May 2011 11:34:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5065309636972170945... and other gems from the brochure of the Delhi hotel at which I'm staying, typed up just the way they appear in print:The guest rooms at [hotel name], provide an ideal setting for complete relaxation and recline, as every room overlook the plush green ambience of the surroundings.Five spacious & aesthetically done up halls and two grandiose lawns are just right for all the celebrations...1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2011/04/smt-kalpakam-swaminathan-1922-2011.htmlWed, 6 Apr 2011 13:18:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-768800820295886574gAna vana mayUrI is no more. Kalpakam teacher passed away today (April 6, 2011) at her residence in Madras at the age of 88. I would like to remember her through this rendering of siddhIshvarAya namastE. 1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/12/dessert.htmlMon, 6 Dec 2010 11:56:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-841584770516161811strawberries quiverfresh cream glides over ripe curvesin luscious embrace1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/10/ayush-and-myka.htmlTue, 26 Oct 2010 17:17:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5439636755933762102Ain't this the cutest? My nephew Ayush, son of Meera and Manu; with Myka, a friend's Vizsla (Hungarian pointer). Okay, well, yeah: some credit to Manu for the photography too.2lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/05/night-light.htmlSun, 30 May 2010 12:04:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-1190716683567454120Candleholder from Austin ceramic painting workshop, 19970lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/02/web-00.htmlWed, 17 Feb 2010 07:34:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-4061571338550235780Click photo above for full display. From a trek to Nagala Hills on Feb 13, 2010, with the Chennai Trekkers.1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/02/jazz-is-home-too.htmlMon, 1 Feb 2010 04:07:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5084134661326802839So, last October I went to Viveks on Royapettah High Road to get myself one of those nifty audiotape/CD-to-mp3 converters. As I waited in line to get my card processed along with the hordes of Deepavali shoppers, I saw that Viveks was running a 'perfect home' slogan contest with a Honda Jazz hatchback as the first prize. The car, a model released in India in mid-2009, reminded me a lot of the 3lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/01/icandy.htmlSun, 17 Jan 2010 12:16:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-3664757052097021268Thanks to Rohit and his parents...1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/01/kara-dhrta-vina.htmlMon, 4 Jan 2010 16:17:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-3751314953371803318fingers traverse frets pull, caress, glide across strings goddesses listen0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2010/01/bhairavi-aryam-abhayambam-bhaja-re-re.htmlSun, 3 Jan 2010 03:36:00 -0600tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6728361186044423125Here is a recording made by Ramji and Vidya on their visit to Kalpakam teacher's place on November 29, 2009. Thanks to Vidya for this three part video, starting with AlApanA,followed by tAnam,and concluding with a rendition of AryAm abhayAmbAm, a kRti from the abhayAmbA vibhakti series of Muttuswami Dikshitar.I remember this weekend as the one following my return from South Africa with H1N1, an 0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/10/campaign-for-open-minds.htmlFri, 16 Oct 2009 07:50:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6782686106458914175Launched October 11, 2009, the Campaign for Open Minds is one of the many efforts to end homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in India. This online campaign is a response to the alarming surge in attempts at conversion therapy and other negative reactions to increased visibility of LGBT people, following Delhi High Court’s historic July 2 2009 decision decriminalizing homosexuality. There are 0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/09/vijayadasami-2009.htmlTue, 29 Sep 2009 14:29:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-6882908816941759742The books snuggle in their new shelves, and the veenas steal a quiet moment together...2lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/08/bansuri-on-beach.htmlSun, 23 Aug 2009 12:38:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5294381893635235165Quietly, reluctantly, I drag myself out of bed as the sun's rays diffusing through the curtains and the loudspeakers blaring from the auto-stand Pillaiyar temple jointly remind me it's time to prepare for the festive day.Stepping outside to tie the coconut frond toraNams on the door, I note with pleasure that my considerate neighbours have already drawn a kOlam for me.I'm treated to a delicious0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/08/gana-vana-mayuri.htmlSat, 15 Aug 2009 13:29:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5724940383658590136Kalpakam teacher turned 87 today, Aug 15, 2009. During the veena lesson I had an opportunity to record her playing the Dikshitar kRti gauri girirAja kumAri (see video below). The imagery of the epithet gAna vana mayUrI struck me as being ideally suited to mAmI herself. Here's wishing her a happy birthday and many more years of blissful wanderings in the gAna vana.If you have a slow connection 3lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/07/delusions-of-grandeur.htmlFri, 24 Jul 2009 15:53:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-4666032363410502962Pigeon lands on lotus leaves, and struts around thinking he's a pheasant-tailed jacana. Dipping in for a gulp of water, he's startled by an enormous koi carp that surfaces to investigate. Delusions of grandeur flee in a whir of flapping wings.1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/07/indra-karmuka-ganapatim-bhajeham.htmlTue, 21 Jul 2009 14:58:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-5642105877459987586indra-kArmuka-gaNapatim bhajE'hamanyAya-nyAya-vAraNamtrikONa-madhyagatamwoodlands-bhOjanAlaya-sthitam1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-by-g.htmlTue, 21 Jul 2009 14:28:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-9071582962603123223Review by G. Swaminathan of Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan's concert on June 6, 2009, at Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai Singing along with the veena, Kalpagam Swaminathan presented Dikshitar’s Abhayamba Vibhakti kritis in all their grandeur. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/06/12/stories/2009061251190300.htm1lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)http://lramakrishnan.blogspot.com/2009/03/muthuswami-dikshitar-jayanti-march-30.htmlTue, 31 Mar 2009 10:28:00 -0500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10993329.post-1219226141175045658My guru Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan led this effort to render some lesser known compositions of Muttuswami Dikshitar at a program arranged by Nada Inbam in Chennai.The compositions that grew on me in the course of preparing for this concert were the meditative shrI nIlOtpala nAyikE (rAga nArI-rItigauLa), sprightly gOvindarAjam upasmahE nityam (mukhArI), and brooding gaurI girirAjakumArI (gaurI).One0lramakrishnan2004@gmail.com (L Ramakrishnan)noMy guru Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan led this effort to render some lesser known compositions of Muttuswami Dikshitar at a program arranged by Nada Inbam in Chennai.The compositions that grew on me in the course of preparing for this concert were the meditative shrI nIlOtpala nAyikE (rAga nArI-rItigauLa), sprightly gOvindarAjam upasmahE nityam (mukhArI), and brooding gaurI girirAjakumArI (gaurI).OneL RamakrishnanMy guru Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan led this effort to render some lesser known compositions of Muttuswami Dikshitar at a program arranged by Nada Inbam in Chennai.The compositions that grew on me in the course of preparing for this concert were the meditative shrI nIlOtpala nAyikE (rAga nArI-rItigauLa), sprightly gOvindarAjam upasmahE nityam (mukhArI), and brooding gaurI girirAjakumArI (gaurI).Onepoetry, ecology, queer, carnatic music, veena, Dikshitar, Chennai