Vadhya Sunadha Pravaham

It used to be unusual to come across new releases of Karnatic (South Indian) music because North Indian, or Hindustani music appeared to be more popular with recording companies. It’s good to see that this has at last been somewhat rectified in recent years and we are now able to listen to more Karnatic music – a style rooted in a very ancient tradition, distinct from the Muslim-influenced Hindustani variety, although the two forms have quite a lot in common. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi is a leading exponent of the Lalgudi style of violin – the instrument being an important part of the Karnatic tradition and the style’s name being taken from her father Lalgudi Jayaraman, a distinguished South Indian musician. She is accompanied by Mala Chandrashekar, who expresses a great deal of flair on the bamboo flute, and also by Jaishree Jairaj on the veena, an ancient lute. Lalgudi himself was at the forefront of combining string, wind and plucked instruments, which has since become a favourite feature of Karnatic music. Unlike North Indian music, a great deal of Karnatic music is based on set composition and this disc contains three by Thyagaraja (d.1847), the most prolific of Karnatic composers.

There is some excellent percussion by Kallidaikurichi Sivakuma on the mridangam (a barrel-shaped drum similar to the pakhavaj of the North) and N Guruprasad on ghatam (a clay water pot designed as a drum). For those unused to the Karnatic sound, this is a fine starting point.