By M.K. Sadagopan
During the Memorial Day weekend (May 26– 28, 2007) Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam (CTU), a not-for-profit organization, celebrated its 31st annual music festival at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Lemont, Illinois. The festival is held in honor of Carnatic music composer Saint Tyagaraja (1767-1847).
The main goal of CTU is to propagate Carnatic music and culture among the younger generation. Accordingly, the prime events were on May 26th, when about 200 children performed Tyagaraja’s Compositions. During the three days, the Utsavam offered a total of fourteen events including six concerts by celebrity-artists from India. The response from the community was extraordinary, with a head count of about 4870 for all programs, and the performers’ (professionals and amateurs) headcount topping 550. At least 400 volunteers worked through out the year to bring it all together.CTU programs of 2007 are to be broadcast in TV channels in Tamil Nadu, India (Date to be announced). This will give a great impetus for every Carnatic music student and enthusiast in our midst – especially the youth and children. After 30 years, the Utsavam is in its second generation. The younger volunteers who have grown with the organization are deploying their extraordinary organizational, professional and business prowess to conduct the Utsavam with grace and efficiency.The Utsavam included food served (at no extra cost) on all three days to save the patrons having to leave the premises between concerts. Thousands of plates of meals and snacks were served, including the famously home-cooked South Indian feast on May 26th.
The Utsavam started on May 26th with Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram group invocation, followed by Pancharatna Kritis Group and Homage to Tyagaraja by groups and individuals performing Kritis by the Saint. The day concluded with a musical play Tyagaraja Bhakta Manjari, performed in Bharatanatyam style, by Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala. On May 27th the program started with a group of children performing the Utsava Sampradaya Kritis. This was followed by a Harikatha on Seetha Kalyanam by T. N. Seshagopalan. The day’s second concert was by N. Ramani (Flute). The day’s programs concluded with a concert by Unnikrishnan (Vocal). Children performed more Utsava Sampradaya Kritis on May 28th. The Programming continued with Tyagaraja Kritis on Western Orchestra (Children’s Group) and Gana Vrinda Orchestra (Adults Group). The next concert was by Ganesh and Kumaresh (Violin Duet), followed by the last concert of the Utsavam – a Jugalbandhi with Shashank (Carnatic Flute) and Abhyankar (Shastriya Sangeet Vocal).
All children who performed were rewarded with gifts and certificates. They were photographed, video and audio taped to make this day memorable for them, and to encourage them in their study of Carnatic music. The CTU brochure Tyagaraja Vijayam was published with articles by participants and experts.
This year’s Utsavam had many innovative touches. Flute artist N. Ramani opened the musical proceedings with Chetulara in Bhairavi. At the end (as well as after each) of the Pancharatnas, Mridangam Maestro Srimushnam Raja Rao offered a camphor-on-coconut Arati to Saint Tyagaraja, Sri Rama and the entire Utsavam. This is in keeping with the tradition at Tiruvaiyaru, in India, which is the birthplace of Tyagaraja Aradhanas everywhere. Ramani (Flute), Nagai Muralidharan (Violin) and Srimushnam Raja Rao (Mridangam) led the group rendering of Endaro Mahanubhavulu (Sri Ragam). Another novelty was the Jugalbhandi, mentioned above with Shashank (Flute, Carnatic) and Sanjeev Abhyankar (Vocal, Shastriya Sangeet). On Day-3, there was a musical procession from the Rama Temple Snnidhi to the auditorium in the next building, led by Nadaswaram Vidwans Shubhan Kasim and Shubhan Babu.
A large Utsavam like CTU cannot be done without strong financial backing. The Utsavam is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency. Dr.Vidhyasagar and Nagamani Dharmapuri are main sponsors of the festival. Matching grants are provided by HSBC, Unilever and BP Amoco. Numerous generous donors contributed upwards of $500 each. All of this allowed CTU to offer a grand festival at a heavily subsidized admission price – which in turn attracted a larger audience, in the cause of keeping Carnatic music vibrant in the USA.