Ranjani-Gayatri
Ranjani-Gayatri | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Mumbai, India |
Genres | Carnatic Music |
Occupation(s) | Classical Vocalist |
Instruments | Vocals, violin |
Ranjani and Gayatri are world renowned Carnatic vocalists and violinists, and sisters.
Early life
Ranjani and Gayatri were born to N. Balasubramanian[1] and Meenakshi (a Carnatic vocalist as well) and have a younger sister : Savitri who currently lives in the US. Born into a Palakkad Iyer family deeply involved in classical music, Ranjani and Gayatri's musical talents were discovered at a very early age. Even as toddlers, they showed an uncanny capacity to grasp the subtle nuances of Carnatic music - Gayatri could identify over a hundred ragas when she was barely two and a half and Ranjani could delineate complex rhythm patterns at age five.
They started their violin training at the early age of nine and six respectively from Sangita Bhooshanam Prof. T.S. Krishnaswami at the Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai.
As violin duet artists
Ranjani and Gayatri began their music career as violin duet artistes even before they reached their teens. Through their intense training from Sangita Bhooshanam Prof. T. S. Krishnaswami, they quickly established themselves as top-class violinists of international repute. The sisters achieved success as violin duet performers, and subsequently they also proved successful as violin accompanists. Both Ranjani and Gayatri have accompanied various artists on the violin, including D.K. Pattammal, M Balamuralikrishna, T Vishwanathan and other popular artistes of the current generation.
As vocal artists
The sisters have given vocal concerts since 1997, after they became students of Padma Bhushan Sangeeta Kala Acharya P. S. Narayanaswamy.[2]
Within barely three years, they won high praises from critics and music lovers all over the globe. Their music, imbued with a deep and abiding classicism, has been described as an exhilarating blend of vitality, melody and emotion. Perfection of sruti (pitching), powerful voice control, rich imagination and impeccable aesthetics which reflect the timeless values of classicism - these are some of the qualities that describe the music of Ranjani and Gayatri. Above all this, it is the sisters' capacity to deeply experience and enjoy what they sing, that takes their music to a different plane. Their two voices blend and contrast to strike a fine balance between vibrancy and contemplation, intellect and emotion, tradition and innovation. Their concerts, which draw full houses across the globe, resound with energy, freshness and emotional fervor. Audiences eagerly await and savour their in-depth Ragam-tanam-Pallavi-s, soul-stirring viruthams and lively abhangs which are special features of Ranjani - Gayatri’s repertoire. The sisters have learnt many bhajans from Vocalist Seetha Narayanan. [3]
As composers
Apart from singing, Ranjani and Gayatri also have an interest for composing music. Most of the abhangs they sing at the end of their concerts have been set to music by the sisters. They have also set many other thukkada pieces, including bhajans. Here is a list of some of the songs set by the sisters:
- Bolava Vitthala – Abhang (Sant Tukaram) – in raag Bhatiyar.
- Pagaivanukkarulvai (Subramanya Bharathi) – Ragamalika
- Naachke Aaye – Bhajan (Ambujam Krishna) – in raag Basant-Bahaar.
- Raam Naam Mhanata – Abhang (Tukaram) – in raag Jhinjhoti
- Sharana Sharana – Abhang (Sant Tukaram) – in raag Pilu.
- Dhanya Dhanya – Abhang (Sant Eknath) – in raag Durga.
- Sada Majzhe – Abhang (Sant Tukaram) – in raag Mishra Malkauns.
- Je Ka Ranzale - Abhang (Sant Tukaram) in raag Bairagi
- Maajha ha Vitthal - Abhang ( Sant Janabai) in Raag Pilu
- Nirvana Shatkam of Adi Sankara in Raga Sohini
Awards
Ranjani and Gayatri have received multiple awards and recognitions throughout their career. In addition, various music personalities from all over India have recognised their talent. Most recently, the sitar player of North India, Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, was so impressed by their singing that he organised a concert of theirs in Delhi. Here is a list of the awards and recognitions received by the sisters:
- Received the prestigious Indira Sivasailam Endowment Medal from the Music Academy in 2016
- Received the prestigious title of Vani Kala Sudhakara from Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha
- Lifetime Achievement award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 2013
- Sangeeta Kala Siromani Award from Chennai Cultural Academy[4]
- Sanskriti Awards, instituted by Sanskriti Foundation, New Delhi, (recognising their contribution to the field of performing arts)[5]
- Kalki Krishnamurthi Memorial Award (instituted by the Kalki trust in memory of the writer Sri. Kalki Krishnamurthy)[2]
- Yogam Nagaswami Award of the Music Academy, Chennai
- National Eminence Award (by the Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai)[2]
- Title of "Isai Peroli" from the Kartik Fine Arts, Chennai in Dec 2005.
- Dr. M.L. Vasanthakumari Endowment Award, Chennai.
- Per (The Carnatic Music Association formed their debut violin duet concert at the Indian Music Group Festival of Music when they were thirteen and ten years old respectively.
- Recipients of the Government of India Talent Search Scholarship from the age of ten.
- Winners of the First Prize in the All India Radio National Competition for Violin.
- Recipients of the title of "Sangeeta Shanmukha Mani' conferred by Shanmukhananada Fine Arts and Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai.
Albums
Ranjani and Gayatri have various albums to their credit. Here is a list of some of the albums that have been released:
- Kurinji Malar (Live Concert)
- Anandam – Journey Into Bliss
- Un Thiruvadi Charanam (Live Concert)
- Paramaanandam
- Pravaaham
- Rama Bhakti
- December Season 2001 Kutcheri (Live Concert)
- Madrasil Margazhi 2003 (Live Concert)
- Madrasil Margazhi 2004 (Live Concert)
- Madrasil Margazhi 2005 (Live Concert)
- Madrasil Margazhi 2006 (Live Concert)
- Madhuryam – Violin Duet
- Dual Harmony
- The Awakening
- Thendral
- Samaanam
- Saravanabhava
- Ambujam – Krithis of Ambujam Krishna (Live Concert)
- Paadaravindam (Live Concert)
- Kshetradanam
- Kutcheri 2010 (Live Concert)
- Kutcheri 2011 (Live Concert)
- Gems of Carnatic Music (Live in Concert 2004)
- Vaibhavam 2011 (Set of 4 concerts from December Music Season 2011)
- Vaibhavam 2012 (Set of 4 concerts from 2012)
- Vaibhavam 2014 (Set of 4 concerts recorded from 2013)
References
- ↑ "Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer passes away: the end of an era". Asian Tribune. Indo-Asian News Service. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- 1 2 3 Anima, P. (21 November 2008). "Sister act". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/interview-the-singing-sisters-2001708
- ↑ "Security Check Required". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "'Virutham is our forte'". The Hindu. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2011.