Music In Middletown, CT
Contributed by Dr. A. Ramayya Mulukutla

In this northeastern state of Connecticut, about 100 miles from New York City, expatriate Indians have built a Hindu Temple. It is a small community of Persons of Indian Origin. This temple is the center of all the cultural activities in this beautiful valley about 25km from the state capital of Hartford.

T. M. Krishna, who does not need any introduction to rasikas of carnatic music in South India visited place on April 21, 2007. RAGA, the local music association arranged the concert in the basement temple hall. About 80 enthusiasts filled the hall to capacity and were regaled by Krishna, with compositions of several composers in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada. His soulful singing included Sriranjani (Maarubalka), Mukhari (Enthani NeVarninuntunu), Devagandhari, Kambhoji (Sri Subrahmanya Namasthe), Khamas. Kalavathi, Thodi and others. One of the interesting numbers he rendered was Purandaradaasa’s composition in praise of his disciple (‘Daasarayya’ in Edukula Kambhoji) The concert concluded with several short pieces, like a Javali (in Kanada), Viruttam in Ragamalika, a verse from Thiruppavai in Varali .

Krishna was ably accompanied by P. Ganesh Prasad (a disciple of guru V. V. Subrahmanyam) on violin and Vinod Siramam on mridangam.

RAGA the sponsor of this program, though its membership is very small, organizes about 6 concerts a year, by well-known visiting artists as well as Thyagaraja Aradhana in the Spring (because of extremely cold weather and snow in January). Flute Maestro N.Ramani will be performing at the same venue on May 6, 2007.