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The Saxophone concert by Kadri Gopalnath was held on October 4,
2003 in Tampa, at the Public Health Auditorium of the University
of Southern Florida in Tampa. Kadri was accompanied by Kanyakumari
on the Violin and by Thenikottai Mani on the Thavil. The gathering
was impressive and there were many Westerners among them, evidently
attracted by the Saxophone. The concert lasted for nearly four hours
and 19 songs were presented in all. The concert started with a varnam
and after a few pieces Syama Sastri’s bhairavi Swarajathi was taken
up. This was rendered so melodiously and artfully, it left an indelible
Impression on the minds of the audience. One felt it continued for
ever. Thyagaraja’s composition Nagumo was rendered in a tempo suited
for the song, and the artists did full justice to it, with elaborate
swaraprasthara in all the three speeds. For RTP, Gopalnath chose
Brindavanasaranga and brought out the beauty of the raga, thru the
niravals on the Pallavi and accompanying swaraprasthara . The post
Pallavi period was replete with thukkadas ,12 of them in all. They
were all rendered gracefully and a lot of them by popular demand.
Many of them were Devar namas . Gopalnath and Kanyakumari have a
perfect understanding in the renderings, and this was quite evident
during swaraprastharas. The passing over from one to the other mesmerized
the audience. Indeed it was a great combination in terms musical
excellence and precision, developed Over years of playing together.
Mani on the thavil was superb. He played his high volume Percussion
instrument with great restraint and softness. In the Thani avarthan
session he showed his virtuousity, and duly received the approbation
of the audience. All in all it was a very satisfying concert.
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