Agi Music Releases IR's Music Journey: Live in Italy

Agi Music (www.agimusic.com) has released the album, "Ilaiyaraaja's Music Journey: Live in Italy".

It has the following songs:
1. Aya Kalaigal
2. Pavana guru pavana pura
3. Sune Oh Yashoda Maiyya (Hindi)
4. Mayil Pola
5. Janani Janani
6. Music Journey (Lullaby and Games of Tamil Nadu)
7. En Ullil Engo Aengum Geetam
8. Ilankathu Veesudey
9. Three in One (Introduction)
10. Three in One
11. Asaiya Kathula
12. Veetukku Veetukku
13. Orchestra (Mood Kapi)
14. Mathacha PArvati Devi

Both the CDs and cassettes come with a booklet, with a biography of IR and pictures from the concert.

Let's post our comments on the album in this thread.

It's so refreshing to listen to some brand new numbers in the album. Even the older, familiar numbers like "Janani Janani" , "EnnuLLil Engo" and "Aasaya Kaathula" have been presented with some variation in interludes and orchestration. "Suneyo yashoda Maiya" is a Hindi number sung by Uttam Singh's daughter Preeti. I also found this to be a new composition.

The instrumental compositions are a real treat.

I especially loved the piece, "3-in-1" a composition with only 3 notes, composed especially for this concert. It's a real creative piece, which is so rich that you don't realise he has used only 3 notes!

The last item, "Mood Kapi" is a richly layered orchestral piece that combines the Malayalam classic, "Tumbee Vaa" (Tamil: Sangathil Padatha Kavithai) with some amazing Brindavana Saranga phrases, giving it a totally new flavor. The applause from the Italians at the end of this, as well as almost every other number is mind-blowing.

Neels,

Sunu oh tune is of Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal song - Ghanashyama. Check out the applauding at the end of veetukku veedu song - full 2 minutes. I think they liked the rhythm variations provided in that piece.

I think the lullabies and games piece has been reduced to 10 mts in the album, because of lack of space. Because songs on marriage, death, etc are not finding a place here.

Venky,
Yes. They probably also enjoyed IR's tribute to Mozart's 25th Symphony. Note the WCM style strings follow-up to each line of the pallavi that IR sings.

Can some one confirm me on the availablility of the album in bangalore ?

Thanks.

I have grabbed my copy from Shanthi Tailors in Chennai

Here is my review on the album

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Illayaraja's_Musical_Journey-76841-1.html

Smile
Sureshkumar

Suresh, nice review. It sure is a must by for music lovers.

Suresh you have convinced me to buy the cd.

Suresh,

Shanthi tailors nu mottaiyya sollittu ennai thavikka vachuteengalae...:?
Neway i had to do some work to find out the location before i grabbed my CD :)
For other fans the address is as follows
Shanthi Tailors
no.5, Sannathi street,
Mylapore, chennai.
Opp st. to mayilai Kabaleeshwarar temple
Near RASI silk emporium.
PH: 24643783, 24951475.
Cost of CD is Rs.300/- and cassette is Rs.140/-

Get a copy ASAP. They have only limited copies.
The CD is worth buying for the compostions 3in1 and orchestra[mood kapi] which is an instrumental version of 'Sangathil paadaatha' . And ofcourse to listen to the 2 minute non-stop appaulds for 'Veetukku vetukku' :D

And ne one Italian here :) please translate this page
http://www.liveconcert.it/nuovo/rubrica.asp?idrub=244

A review from this site
http://www.aaa-angelica.com/edizioni/ang-2004.html
after 30 years of absence from the stage (even in india), dr. ilaiyaraaja performs live with a rich, mixed, ensemble of 18 elements; his music, besides containing many different musics, can inspire reflections and meditations on the form, on its consume, for an eventual, possible expansion: by showing rare models and formulae, unthinkable for the western music song world or western cinema; it is an open form that is strictly linked to the inspiration of the moment, ready to welcome anything in a surprising structure, enriched by a, still so strong, indian tradition, where rhythm, melody, devotion and surprise travel together; it¹s almost like a kaleidoscopic song, full of rules, but also rich in expressive possibilities.