L. Subramaniam

[MrNymoron]

cheers!

[arjunpriyanka]

extraordinary...

[ShootMyMonkey]

I don't see anything wrong with shanky's comments as he does go on to explain his reasoning thoroughly. I happen to agree with him for the most part. There was a time when LSub was far more thoughtful in his exposition, and actually explored "raga-space", but it's become such a rarity now.

If you just hear the fast bits, it hardly rings of Hamsadwani. It just happens to have the scale, but a raga isn't just arohanam+avarohanam. The character of the raga didn't even appear until he slowed down.

[ShootMyMonkey]

Sure, you can swoon over his technique and all, but ultimately, he's favoring one facet of musicianship at the cost of another. That's not what I'd call moving the art "forward".

You look at people like MSG who changed the way gamakas are rendered, and did things with a violin that no one else has done, but didn't lose sight of bhavam, lakshanam, etc. Technique wasn't a focal point, but a platform to raise the level of phrase construction. Even when MSG does go fast, he still shapes every note.

[ShootMyMonkey]

I don't mean to harp on MSG. I could say similar things about Chowdiah, LGJ, MC, VVS, MysoreBros, etc. Moving the art forward to me would involve all facets being improved in ways previously not done(or at least nothing lost for some partial gain).

LSub, in my mind, is doing what I'd call a shift in gears. Clean-bowing, sruthi-suddham, intricate rhythm, but utterly destroyed bhavam. This is what separates good/skilled/excellent/etc from "great" in the sense that legends are considered great.

[flashrules]

Ok..wat qualifications do u and shanky have to comment on LS. It has ofcourse become a fashion to criticize all great musicians in the name of tradition,purists etc. Everything is relative, as long as its pleasing to your ears, it doesn't matter..IMO,those ppl are hypocrites.

[ShootMyMonkey]

No one is more anti-tradition than I am. I can't speak for shanky, but I'm also a carnatic violinist myself, and I was quite vilified by traditionalists because of my atheism. Still, knowledgeable people among Carnatic listeners is quite common, and so it's not rare to expect commentary. I'm quite simply a pure meritocrat. Things should stand on their merits alone, and those things with merits should continue to stand so long as they're not superceded. It's really that simple.

[ShootMyMonkey]

I would add that what you mention of things being relative is sort of correct. If we had no reference point for other performers, or even LSub himself in earlier years being able to uphold merits wrt facets of music such as ragabhavam, vinyasam, etc, in addition to technique, maybe there wouldn't be any criticism.

My defense of shanky was not his points, but that he explained clearly and rationally why he felt as he did. All the responses, including yours, reek of emotional knee-jerk reactions

[flashrules]

Criticism IMO is a little over-stated in Carnatic music. People need to use an appropriate medium to convey their thoughts to the artist as opposed to just commenting on a public forum like youtube.

[archanasridharb4u]

Awesome violin display by both dad and son.

[agathalucia]

Una de las obras mas hermosassss...gracias por publicarla! bellisimo Viva L. Subramaniam

[hexapluto]

Don't know what to say after listening to this combo. Awful and would like to share one thing. I am aclassical Singer in AIR and this man is very very humble and down to earth and the boy used to accompany his father from the age of 3. At this age when kids would play with video station, Ambi played with VIOLIN which is the toughest instrument to handle......

[bmkaruppan]

'Awful and would like to share one thing ....' . Dear Hexapluto, I was shocked to see the adjective Awful, as it did not really square with the subsequent sentiments of yours. It must have been a slip, and you meant AWESOME.

[suhas1717]

fabulous dad and son!

[shaivyakarnam]

WHether you like his style of music or not - you have to accept that you need people to experiment, to push the boundaries. I love Carnatic music (not as a scholar - but as a lay person) - so what I say next needs to be tempered. After listening to the great artists do the same ragas in the same 16th century style - fo song after song - it all blurs into a rather bland rice and curds experience. SO - it is great that there are people like L SUbraminam and ohters who oush our listening tastes.

[sgkarthik]

Is there any word to express this master piece. Great.

[sanjulen]

I think all the jealous people should forget all about the technical area of music for a minute coz when beautiful music soothes the ear, right and wrong are never in conflict... only enjoyment exists. If something sounds good to the ear then it sounds good. Bottom line. We shouldn't bring the politics of right or wrong into a persons ''style'' of playing any instrument. We should all learn to appreciate as musicians. Sorry if i offended anyone. tc

[shankyxyz]

choti muh badi baat, but i think, l sub "WAS" an incredible artist, no longer is.the whole peice is monotonously fast and has hardly any bhava.classical music need raga bhava and taala. while the raga and tala part are the best you ever can hear, there is hardly any bhava. now i understand why my guru always told me not to get overtly technical. playing varnam in 12 speeds shows ur technical virtousity, but hardly makes a complete musician. the problem is much worse with his brother L Shankar

[shankyxyz]

if u play everything that he played in this peice, 10 times slower, u will notice, there is hardly any raga sanchara or any subtle gamakas. the ragas beauty has been reduced to a side show in front of their technical virtuosity.thats the reason,whether L Sub plays hamsadhwani or kaapi, he seems to play it the same way.too frickin fast.this is also the issue if you play with western musicians too long.i am not saying they are bad, but bhava has never been their focus area.he shld learn dhrupad.

[dittybitty]

please go to the nearest musicworld or planet M and buy yourself a CD of L Subramanim and Bismillah Khan Live in Geneva and Mahalingam and L Subramaniam....listen to them once before making such foolish asinine comments.... the problem with people like you is you cant appreciate different kinds of music....

[fujiali]

harika bi kemancısın..balık ayhan

[shankyxyz]

dude that concert with bismillah khan sahib was made many many years back. i have every cassette ever released by l sub and l shankar, except his fancy pop music ones. i have probably heard them more than i have heard any other mucisian, hindustani or carnatic. as i said, a younger sub or shankar were absolutely fantastic. but nowdays, their music lacks manodharma. there is nothing different about this music, by the way.

[sangeetakumar]

it sounds like hamsadwani.. but which krithi or varnam exactly

[ramdam23]

Its  vAtApigaNapAtiM bhaje'haM ...... hamsadhvani raagam.

[sangeetakumar]

what is the name of this piece?

[ustadkiustad]

hey watch the best indian violinist s.harikumar...10000000 times better than l.subramanium and l.shankar..type key words s.harikumar

[samjaycanada]

what you are talking? Subrahmaniams experience and knowladge you are comparing with harikumar? sunbrahmaniam played several varnams in 12 speeds!! And his raga playing, tala complications....harikumar is nothing in front of these great artists. he is just imitating them....his raga playing is very poor....he is good in speed...thats it

[HATHI01]

You are absolutely right! I had honour to know Him personally, He is just divine and very modest artist.

Hathi Ji

[sonofthedestroyer]

L Subramaniam is possibly the best violinist on the planet. In what sense you think Harikumar is better i dont know.

[dewdrops12345]

Have you heard of Yehudi Menuhin? Perhaps the greatest violinist of the West at his times. Do you know what was one of his last wishes, when he was asked on an interview? it was "I would love to perform together with Mani (l.subrahmaniam) once more" . I guess you will not argue that Yehudi Menuhin didnt know how to rate a violinist. And I dont know whether Menuhin said anything at all about s. harikumar.

[dewdrops12345]

The above post was intented as a reply to the argument that s. harikumar was 10000000 times better than l. subrahmaniam.

[arn123321]

this is pretty repetitive..

[kundamandi123]

Hey..old l.subramanium is good .i mean 80's to 90's.now very bad.sorry.

[aaaaaagaaaaaa]

Today I was at his concert, in Warsaw (Poland)... It was amazing experience!

[premik]

I was at this wonderful event. My pranams to Mani the great and his very talented son!

[arredor]

Thank you.

[vw78]

simply brilliant

[Scotttabla]

Ganesh Kumar stands out as one of the masters and maybe the greatest living master of the art of Kanjira playing. He is amazing and adds so much to this performance. -Scott Davidson

[gregoryburrows]

very nice, how the mrdangam player goes only with L. and the kanjira player is with Ambi, clapping the tal while not playing. I was sorry to miss that show--thanks for posting!

[oridathoruvan]

Good one.

[anotherarunan]

sickkkk men :D

[natyam1]

Great Mridangam, Mahesh. It's awesome.

[pkmahesh]

This was at the Lincoln center Damosch Park out of doors festival. I am wondering who recorded this?

[vichella]

L. Subramaniam & Ambi Subramaniam (violin)

Mahesh Krishnamurthy (mridangam)

Ganesh Kumar (kanjira)

At the Lincoln Center NY

[natyam1]

this is fantastic. where was this played?