Becoming a Senior Citizen ... With Music

[denom]

Dear Nick,

Wish you a very happy 60th B'day. May the years ahead be filled with you enjoying your music with many more private concerts held especially for you & your loved ones/friends.

Have Fun

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thank you all. I'm looking forward to tonight's concert. Family dinner party will happen tomorrow evening.

As to learning from seniors, I don't think it is defined by years: there are many members here of half my age who have put so much into music listening and hifi. Some have been successful in life and have been able to indulge high-end passions: others have saved paise, cents or pennies for the best they can experience, some even building it themselves. It is all a part of the experience, and as a community we get to all mix together: that is the great thing

 

[keith_correa]

<<<<<<<<<<<< mhrotd >>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Nikhil]

Many Happy Returns of the Day Thad!
Truly an exceptional way to celebrate the occasion.

 

[srinisundar]

Still in the office, don't know today i will make it for greeting Thad Personaly and also to attend the concert...

Happy Birthday Thad..

 

[mbhangui]

Happy Birthday and have a great day

 

[canchi]

Nick,
Happy Birthday. Have a great day and enjoy your concert!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Many thanks to all

It has been a great day!

Somehow, it became quite stressed towards the end of the afternoon... get ready, pick up sweets-for-audience from Sri Krishna Sweets, buy fruit for artists, get to hall early to welcome artists (feeling self concious!).

It was, though, really nice seeing the artists as they arrived. They all know me anyway, so goodness knows why I should be shy: just I have never been in that situation before!

Smt Vedavali and her husband (who introduced himself to me, a few years back, as Mr Vedavalli --- I'm still not sure what the 'R' stands for!) blessed my wife and I and gave us gifts. This was completely unexpected!.

Of course the concert was wonderful. No doubt one of my really-rasika friends will post details of what she sang on rasikas.org.

It was a most amazing experience. Probably my best birthday ever!

At the end I was very tied up with talking to all those on-stage friends --- and if I missed any off-stage friends, please accept my apologies.

 

[sivasarjun]

Truly great.
Atleast what was the main kriti?Did she sing a pallavi?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Here is the song list, courtesy of rasikas.org member sankark

mAnasa guruguha - Anandabhairavi - rUpakam - MD (S@manasa). A captivating tempo (slower than what I have heard so far) that enhanced the beauty of the song so much.
kamalAptakula - brndavana sAranga - Adi - T
parama pAvana - pUrvikalyani - Adi - Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (R NS@parama pavana, sublime NS)
soundararAjam - brndavana sAranga - rUpakam - MD
nenarunci nAnu - malavasri mAlavi - Adi - T - what a contrast compared to the previous slow tempo song, this was in jet speed.
bhajarE rE citta - kalyAni - m cApu - MD (RNS@devIm sakthi, T. Energetic and well appreciated thani)
mAmava pattAbi rAma - manirangu - m cApu - MD
avalOkayE sri gOvindam - kurinji? - Adi - ?
slokam (vandE brndAvana) in sAveri, sahAna, surati followed by pathiki hArathi re - Adi - T
mangalam

There is a wonderful commentary from Crama (who was sitting behind me) on that rasikas.org thread.

My own post on that thread:

Once the music begins, the sponsor becomes just one of the audience

However, of course I can't claim that it was just like any other concert: it was a most amazing experience. Almost certainly the most amazing birthday of my life, (except maybe the 0th one!). I am very deeply grateful to Smt Vedavalli and to all the artists, each one a senior in their field. I'm also happy that others were able to share this great music

It is never to be forgotten. Two RV concerts in three days, in total, made it many more times the experience.

Thank you to all who gave wishes, gifts, etc. Thank you to Semmu and Bharat and others who organised the generous presentation of a fruit bowl. The only disadvantage of being involved with all the artists at the end was that I'm sure I missed speaking to a number of friends off-stage.

I am thrilled, delighted, amazed, and humbled by the whole experience. I'm still amazed that Sangita Kalanidhi Smt R Vedavalli, who gives so few concerts in a year, accepted to sing for me, and I am double-amazed that she was amazed that I should be amazed!

It seems that people are surprised at the idea of such a concert. I am surprised that I never thought of it before, and that more music lovers do not. I also learnt another lesson: rather than sitting at home wishing that someone would perform, it is actually possible to be the catalyst that makes it happen! Hats off to all those that actually do.

Of course, regular concert organising must be hard work (hats off again). This was relatively easy, as all I had to do was mention the idea to Raga Sudha Jaya, who greeted it with enthusiasm (nearly a whole year ago), saying, "Of course! We will have RV's concert on July 4th next year!" With her involvement and help, and Smt RV's acceptance, there was nothing left for me to do except get a bit nervous and shy at the start! I am deeply grateful to Smt Jaya for the gift of the hall and presenting the concert under the Naada Inbam flag. Sadly, she has been called away by family responsibilities and was not able to be at this week's concerts herself.

This is beginning to sound like a speech!

My wife said I should do that... thank the artists, etc, from the microphone. I told her, Yes, I can do that, I am actually quite comfortable with a microphone, I will even make people laugh --- but after all I have said and written about speeches at concerts, the members of rasikas.org will never forgive me! :lol: