The Saxophone Charm
Saxophone Sisters M S Lavanya and M S Subbalaxmi must be the 'only' sister duo in the entire country who play this Western wind instrument and that too with such remarkable flair and panache. It is not at all easy to play this instrument as it requires efficient breath control. It was believed at one time that the saxophone was not well suited for Carnatic music for various 'sound' reasons until Kadri Gopalnath boomingly shattered the myth. The Lavanya-Subbalaxmi sisters (their brother M S Sudhindra also playing the instrument) are Kadri's disciples. They have been enthralling Carnatic music lovers all over the country for several years now with their well-acquired proficiency in this instrument, as they did at the TTD Sravana Mandiram Hall on September 26.
It was most heartening to note that the Sax Sisters presented in the course of the TTD concert 10 kritis in about 15 ragas Hamsadhwani, Gowla, Malayamarutham, Ritigowla, Kalyani, Bauli, Yaman Kalyani, Madhyamavati, besides two Ragamalikas, incorporating seven other ragas, very pleasingly conforming to traditional alapana-swara patterns with style and ease.
The kritis chosen were indicative of their versatility: Dudukugala, Manasaa Yetulo and Ethavunnara of Sri Tyagaraja; Janani Ninnuvina of Sri Subbaraya Sastry; Baaro Krishnayya of Sri Kanakadasa; Brahmam Okkate of Annamayya; and Bhaagyada Laxmi Baaramma of Purandaradasa. The main piece, Ethavunnara-Tyagayya-Kalyani was particularly rich in imaginative swara passages and
gamakas.
Saxophone music can be a veritable feast for the ears when well-controlled and softly rendered. The sister duo deserved warm appreciation on this score. They combined very well and nicely complemented each other while playing solo by turns. These two, in their early twenties (the younger sister Subbalaxmi is a computer engineering student, while the elder, Lavanya, is an arts graduate who majored in Hindi), have a very bright future, if, of course, they continue to take to this fine art with sustained commitment.
Lavanya received the 'AIR National Award' at their national competition, 2002, as also the 'Rajyotsava-Young Talent Award' from the Karnataka government the same year. Subbalaxmi too has won many prizes. They have given many educative lec-dems on the saxophone. Endowed with impressive stage presence, the sisters have to their credit, concerts on the radio, television and many recordings on cassettes and CDs and claim to have given 500 recitals thus far.
Lavanya-Subbalaxmi were supportively accompanied by G Venkatasubramanian (son of jalataranaga vidwan Aanayampatti Ganesan) on the violin, Kumbakonam Saravanan on mridangam and Adambakkam Shankar on ghatam. The Kalyani thani by the percussionists that lasted a full 15 minutes evoked much appreciation from the rasikas. The violinist too earned plaudits for his skillful playing.
R. Srinivasan
Ph no. 24355576
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