Pazhani Subramania Pillai- Mridangam Solo

[vidya423]

This is my bro's guru's guru ! This is a rare collection , thanks for uploading !! =D

[pitquote]

Sorry- Trichy sankaran took the notes from this mastero. Not other wise

[pitquote]

There are many giants in Mridangam whose names were just not known in today century

1. Kutralam Siva Vadivel Pillai- Mridangam

2. Palghat Mahadeva Iyer- Mridangam

3 Kandadevi Alagirisamy

4. Hariharan

5. Ghadam Ramachandran

6. Parur (i do not know the name) if i am right Parur Anandha raman (violin)

They are all exponents who gave new dimension to the mridangam

Unfortunately no technology was available to save their performances. (even tape recorder was not available ) Any one having- please

[sonofthedestroyer]

@pitquote,

Excellent post. Many thanks for this

[muralierode]

excellent. I remember in early 70`s mike were provided only to vocalist and violinst.. I request you to upload miriduangam excerpts of one of the doyen Shri C S Murugabhoopathy sir. thank you

[Manjural]

May I know what exactly is the technical difference between this tanjore bhani and pudukkottai bhani???

[sonofthedestroyer]

@Manjural,

I am not really sure myself how to explain the technical differences.

But you can perhaps get a rough idea by listening to Trichy Sankaran (pudukkottai) and Umayalpuram Sivaraman (Tanjavur) and comparing. Palghat Raghu is famous for blending the 2 styles better than anyone else.

[raghav1976007]

@Manjural There is not technical difference as such between these 2 schools, coz its the same stuff thats being played. The way of xpression differs. Tanjore bani relies more on arithmetic patterns and karvais (intervals). Pudukottai bani is 'Sollu' based. Even korvais are sollu based. I feel sollu based style is aesthetically more appealing, mayb im biased coz I am student of this school.

[raghav1976007]

@Manjural

Technically from a tala perspective, there is no difference between the two styles. But, its the way of expression, 'solkkattu' and the fingering that differs. Palani's style is more sollu based or pattern based. Thanjavur bani relies more on explicit kanakku (maths) and they use TADINGINATOM in different forms to xpress the beauty of a composition, just to give an example. But in Palani's style this TADINGINATOM will be expressed in a sollu example - Dim--Nankitataka

[ajaysrinivas]

been years.. but still golden!!

[reluctantguru]

While the trio of PMI, PSP and CSM have to be categorized under 'Na Bhuto, Na Bhavishyati,' having listened to all 3, I have to say that, to me Palani sir is THE greatest and his playing the best - Guess it is a matter of personal preference (Could possibly also be due to the fact that I was exposed to PSP's playing both during pre-natal dev. and for a large part of my early years).

[sonofthedestroyer]

@reluctantguru,

He played the most complex patterns of the 3 i think. Some prefer that. Others prefer Mani Iyers exceptional timing. CSM to me sounds like he has traits of PSP and PMI in his playing

[reluctantguru]

@sonofthedestroyer True. I like the complexity of PSP's patterns and the tonal quality (the ghumkis in particular - As someone has rightly pointed out PSP could make the Mridangam both coo like a dove and roar like a lion). Also agree on the CSM comment (Includes traits of the other two masters). In any case, all 3 are a treat to the senses (My fav. playlists contain thanis by the 3, and some by Trichy Sankaran, whose style I think most closely matches PSP's)

[FutbolFanatic90]

@reluctantguru

That's because I assume Trichy Sankaran is PSP's disciple 

[Gomatagene]

Celebration of percussion ... superb . Thanks for the upload.

[anandkumardeva]

Thanks for your upload.

Did you people notice how Palani sir changing Thisra Kathi from Sathusram, not only that, he is playing Sathusram in Thisram. Only Palani sir introduced this kind of playing in Mridangam.

Also guys, note that the Mora and Korvai also in Thisram kathi.

I am thinking, these maestros introduced all kind of rhythamic calculations and played. The new generation mridangamists are just following them, we did not invent anything!.

[LfunkeyA]

these beats are so sweet

[divinemilkman]

Our great mridangam ancestor!!! Great to hear him play..Pazhani style forever!!

[kjjaypee1]

It was a wonderful treat to hear him. I have heard from my father about the mridangam greats. Am hearing him only through this. How nimble are the finger works. Very clear and authentic. This is definitely a prized catch. God bless you for conserving this and sharing.

[pisthall]

I remember Pazhani ayya's disciple Sri Shanmugham who had a verbal exchange with Sri Umayalpuram over lineage differences in mridangam playing. This happened way back in the 80s in Music Academy. Maybe "sonofthedestroyer" is the youtube signin for Mr. Shanmugham by any chance? But it also looks like you could be Trichy Sir's disciple. Any case, glad to get introduced this way because I love Sankaran sir's artistry as well.

[sonofthedestroyer]

@pisthall,

Verbal exchange? really? how? why?

And anyway i cant reveal my name. I have to keep that little detail a secret. And my Gurus are more Tanjavur oriented than Puddukotai. But then again, these days its all mixed up.

[pisthall]

Pazhani Sri Subbudu will always be remembered as the greatest contemporary of Palghat Sri Mani Iyer, in that Mani Iyer himself held Pazhani's style of playing in high esteem. Palghat Sri R. Raghu has gone on record stating Pazhani as his "manasika guru". All great musicians of Pazhani's days had nothing but praise for his scintillating performance.

Just listen to the piece in this video between 6:20 and 7:00. God bless you for posting this sonofthedestroyer (Lord Muruga/Lord Vinayaga?) :-)

[sonofthedestroyer]

@pisthall,

Aha! You guessed what my name is about eh? But yes, these days it is Trichy Sankaran who replicates this style very well. Palghat Raghu was more 50/50. And Raghu used Kappi mridangam so the sound came out differently also

[satchi123]

amazing!!..carnatic music is like a perfect blend between ur rational and creative side, got lots of math in it.

[FutbolFanatic90]

from 2:40 to 2:49 or so...is almost the same style as mine :-P

[sonofthedestroyer]

@FutbolFanatic90 ,

Can you upload yourself? would be cool

[FutbolFanatic90]

@sonofthedestroyer

Lol...am not that perfect, still learning and got lots to learn. hav u uploaded urself? anticipate a good 1.

[sonofthedestroyer]

@FutbolFanatic90 ,

I did upload in the past but removed them. I had issues with revealing my face due to the controversial nature of some of my youtube behaviour.

I might upload again only showing the fingers on the drum

[satchi123]

Masterpiece, only this instrument has this effect on my mind...hardcore experience..lol

[sonofthedestroyer]

That is the mridangam!

Shame these great masters are not alive to record under the latest audio technology.

But there are some good ones around today also

[FutbolFanatic90]

good point...waz thinkin the same

[abhJOKA]

dude this rules! WOOOOOOOOT!

[eri8ka]

thanks for posting!

[FutbolFanatic90]

what year did this take place?

[sonofthedestroyer]

I am not sure. Definitely 1970s or older

[vijay5481]

during 1950's..! he was merely 54 when he passed away in 1962!

[anandkumardeva]

@sonofthedestroyer : Nope, Palani passed away in 1962.

This is a Madura(i) Mani ayyar concert.

[RamLakshmanan]

Balle balle! The nadham and the layam are just outstanding. Clarity, complex patterns, gathi bedam (change of pace), and the climactic korvai all spell class.

[worlddominator62]

What is amazing about this thani is the mohara korvai in my opinion. Perfect transition into thisra nadai and the korvai is classic Pazhani style.

[indianmusicdanceluvr]

omgggggggg

this is like BETTER than AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

woooow!

[WarzSchoolchild]

The Mridangam is pure balm, and is the most healing of instruments. Pure Nectar!

THANKS!

[arvindvenkat]

Ghatam is Banglore Manjunath, Concert is that of Madurai Mani Iyer @ Music Academy

[sonofthedestroyer]

thanks!

[MridangamFan]

Great clip...listening to it I can certainly see Trichy Sankaran Sir's style!

[MridangamFan423]

Thanks for putting this up mate. I still can't determine who was the better mridangist - mani iyer or palani. I guess when it came to gumkee and how technical the tani was, you would have to hand it to Palani. But when it came to clarity, it was Mani Iyer all the way. But both these guys were SOOO precise with their chollus. Somehow, I preferred the style of Mani Iyer.

[sonofthedestroyer]

This is clip is courtesy of Sangeetapriya (dot) org

[reethigowla]

I wonder what happened to the Ghatam artist !!

[sonofthedestroyer]

Ha yes! They didnt mention his name so i have no idea who it is.

[reethigowla]

yea...what I meant was, the ghatam player just played one avarthanam in the beginning and afterwards he didnt get a chance to play at all ! It seems fishy. And while he was ending his only avarthanam, Pazhani interrupted and made it conclude faster !