Sublime Strings – South Indian Classical Music

The violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman is part of a long line of disciples of the famous Tyagaraja, an 18th-century composer and a leading figure in the history of Karnatic (South Indian) classical music. Unlike NorthIndian (Hindustani) music, it is heavily reliant on fixed compositions, many going back to what is commonly known as the ‘holy trinity’ of composers – the other two being Tyagaraja’s contemporaries Shyama Sastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar. On this CD, Lalgudi, famous for his intensely lyrical style, is accompanied on second violin by his son JGR Krishnan, with Karaikudi R Mani on the mridangam, (a barrel-shaped drum) and TH Vinayakram on ghatam, another South Indian drum shaped like an clay water-pot.

The first track features a ‘Ragam Thanam Pallavi’ (often shortened to RTP) a distinctive piece which really tests the improvising ability of the musician. It begins with a detailed elaboration, then a gradual unfolding, of the ‘Raga Simhendramadhyamam’ and is followed by melodic improvisation in a slightly faster tempo and with a more tangible element of rhythm, followed by a shorter section, featuring melodic and rhythmic improvisation. Finally, there is some exhilarating drumming by both percussionists. But the second track, featuring a glimpse of three beautiful ragas – ‘Kedaram’, the morning raga ‘Malayamarutham’ and, lastly, ‘Brindavanasaranga’ – is the one where Lalgudi really comes into his own, giving us a fascinating insight into all three pieces. They just seem to flow into one another, but with each single note gleaming with clarity. This album is an absolute must for lovers of both violin and South Indian music.