Saint Tyagaraja's Rasali in the Voice of Murali - Dr. M Balamuralikrishna - AIR Vijayawada (1999)

Here is a radio concert of AIR Vijayawada produced in 1999, featuring a vocal recital of Dr. M Balamuralikrishna (BMK). He is accompanied on the violin by Smt. B V Durga Bhavani and on the mridangam by Smt. Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohan Rao.

In this hour-long programme, BMK presents three compositions.
1. Ayyā guruvarya – Rāga : Sushama – M Balamuralikrishna 00:00:05
2. Aparādhamulanórva – Rāga : Rasāli – Tyagaraja 00:24:13
3. Navamóhana Muraré – Rāga : Manórama – M Balamuralikrishna 00:53:11

A unique and interesting fact about the above presentation is all the three rāgas of these compositions are created by the respective composers of each song. Listening to these renditions while observing their lyrical beauty alone would bring the listener to a realm of joy. It would further enhance the joy of listening and the level of appreciation, if we could also dwell on some of the details of these ragas. Here are some pointers for that.

1. Rāga: Sushama
In this composition BMK extols the grace of his guru, “O Gurudeva! my singing is your command; your tender, flower like, gentle words become the “Pallavi”; your graceful companionship becomes the “Anupallavi”; your sacred feet become the “Charanam” and there by your whole being manifests as my composition”.
The song has been tuned in the rAga ‘Sushama’, which is BMK’s own creation. It is a derivative of Nata Bhairavi (20), with a scale of s r2 m1 p d1 S / S d1 p m1 r2 s. The word Sushama implies exquisite beauty, splendour, greatly even, etc. In an interview, when asked about the name ‘why Sushama’, BMK smilingly replied, “What can be more splendid than the grace of the Guru? That’s the reason I called it as Sushama.”

2. Rāga: Rasāli
This is a raga created by Saint Tyagaraja and it is believed to be the last one in the series of his “shata-rāga-rathna-mālika”- the garland of one hundred gems of rāgas.
Tyagaraja pleads with Lord Rāma for forgiveness for his transgressions and seeks protection as He has done for others.
Rasāli is a derivative of Vanaspati (4), with a scale of s r1 m1 p d2 n2 S / S d2 p m1 r1 s and is a is a shādava – audava rāga. This rāga is also known by the name Vanāvali or Rasāvali. The note rishabha (r1) is a nyāsa-svara here and has a pronounced intonation.

Also listen a Tamil version of the same kriti : https://youtu.be/kzcV4H498vc?list=PLib2_dZVr0VovAJEDB9XOHeqdWXLkDe-8&t=2937
3. Rāga: Manórama
BMK concludes the recital with his own composition on Lord Krishna which describes the charming beauty of the Lord. The rāga Manórama is charming too. This is a derivative of Kāmavardhini (51) and has a m1 as “anya-svara”, with a scale of s r1 g3 m1 g3 p m2 p d1 n3 S / S n3 d1 p m2 g3 m1 g3 r1 s.

Audio is digitally remastered and posted here for posterity. Enjoy listening to the album!

Видео Saint Tyagaraja's Rasali in the Voice of Murali - Dr. M Balamuralikrishna - AIR Vijayawada (1999) канала Music for Posterity : Sreenivasa Murthy