Devotional Singing Birmingham Archives -

Grand Bhajans – Dr Udayalur Kalyanaraman Birmingham, UK

Solihull based Carnatic-Circle & London based Shri Radha Madhava Kalyana Mahotsav is pleased to invite you all for a Grand Bhajan festival. On Saturday, the 17th Nov 2018, world renowned Dr Udayalur Kalyanaraman and troupe are performing between 5-7pm at the temple of

Shree Hindu Community Centre
541A Warwick Rd,
Birmingham B11 2JP.

4.15pm – Car park opens. Coach and Cars allowed.
4.45pm – Temple opens. A small snack will be available in downstairs hall
4.45pm – Sound check with the artists upstairs
5 to 6.45pm – Bhajan event by Mr Brigha Balu. Car park will be securely locked
6.45pm – Short discourse (5 mins) by Mr Brigha Balu
6.50pm – Vote of Thanks by Raj (5mins)
7.00pm – Car park will be reopened
7.00 – 7.20pm – Temple Aarti

Parking is available on Warwick road and the adjoining roads. A special manually gated car park has being arranged with Tyseley Locomotive works (670 Warwick Rd, Birmingham B11 2HL) which is situated diagonally opposite the Temple and is a 5 minute walk. The car park will be opened between 4.15-5.05pm by Bharath (07902 865540). Please note that the GPS takes you to the neighbouring car park. Hence, please use the map below.

Capture — Car park will be opened at 4.15pm and gates secured at 5.05pm. The gates will reopen after the event at 7pm

The temple is undergoing refurbishment and consists of 2 church style buildings(White & brick Colour). There are no signboards for the temple at the moment. The programme will be conducted at the Temple Sannadhi hall on the 1st floor.

RSVP – Santhana Gopal (07906 535762) or Krishnan (07929 613063).

This will be followed by a week-long celebration culminating in a Radhakalyanam on the 24th and 25th November near Heathrow.

A week long celebration/event list is provided below

Websites –

http://Carnatic-Circle.com

http://radhakalyanam.uk

Bhajans/Krithis Birmingham Balaji Temple 21st Oct 2017

Carnatic-Circle’s Midlands based “Sampradaya” Bhajan group and “Mantrasara” came together to put together a traditional & impressive performance at the Tividale Balaji temple community hall on Saturday, the 21st Oct 2017 (5pm- 7.15pm).

The event was graced by the presence of Tabla Pandit Sandip Banerjee (From Kolkata) and Chief guest – Dr Kanakaratnam (Chairman of Trustees at the Balaji Temple) who graced the occasion with their presence and support.

The Balaji temple has been ever supportive of our Carnatic based Devotional singing & Bhakthi initiatives and we are very grateful to them and their volunteers who made this event successful in every sphere. Such a unique choir consisting of Adults & Children does not exist in the entire country and it is with utmost pride that we present our Bhajans/Krithis and ensure that we uplift everyone that participate in our community gatherings.

This performance was well received by the audience who came from across the midlands to see us perform. One of the feedbacks that we received from few of the experienced elders was that, we have implemented a traditional system in the same lines as it is done in South India. Below were the songs that were sung as a part of our repertoire at the temple Continue reading “Bhajans/Krithis Birmingham Balaji Temple 21st Oct 2017”

AIKYA 2017 – Resounding Success

AIKYA 2017 hosted by us on the 8th Oct 2017 in Birmingham, UK was a Dance and Music festival unparalleled. It was designed to provide our students/participants a platform to showcase their talents in a unique manner, hitherto unseen in other traditional concerts. Below are some of the photographs/glimpses of this wonderful event.

Carnatic-Circle takes pride in preserving & promoting our great traditions and culture with its musical entreaties.

We hope we have given some fantastic memories for the participants & local community to treasure. Many thanks to all the participants & parents who took pains to ensure that they participate and make the event a grand success.

AIKYA – Annual Music & Dance showcase

Carnatic-circle.com and Aabheri Nritya Vidyala come together to present AIKYA – a grand ensemble of Indian classical Bharatanatyam dance and music

AIKYA – Our annual Music & Dance showcase event on 8th October 2017 (4-8 pm) will be one of Birmingham’s biggest event in 2017 for portraying Indian culture & tradition with local upcoming talent in its pristine form. All performances will be delivered by our group of students who come from varying ages, linguistics & background. We all have come forward to perform with utmost fervour.

Tickets can be bought from http://tickets.ruddockpac.co.uk/Sales/events/ruddock-hall/aikya/ticket. This will be an agglomeration of Indian classical Carnatic Music which will be followed by a Tabla Ensemble & Bharatanatyam dance in a concert environment on a professional stage in a hall with renowned acoustics. The Chief Guests will be the Queen’s representative for West midlands – Deputy Lieutenant Gurpreet Bhatia. Guests of Honour are Head of Chancellor from the Indian Consulate Shri S.M. Chakraborty, District Judge Asokan from the Judicial appointments Commission and Sri Harmohinder Bhatia (Upasak Ji) from Sant Nirankari Mission.

All performances will be delivered by our group of students who come from varying ages, linguistics & background. The Vocal music will be accompanied by instruments such as the Sitar, Veenas, Flute, Violins, Guitar & Tabla. Any musicians who are interested to perform are welcome to apply for an Audition. Bharatanatyam performances will be performed with live vocals and music. Carnatic vocal renditions following age old traditions will be sung.

Mark your diaries – 8th October! All are welcome!

Bhajan event-Birmingham Balaji

Sampradaya Bhajanai group & Mantrasara performed in front of Birmingham Balaji on Saturday, the 3rd of June.

After several weeks of rehearsals, our Sampradaya Bhajanai group & Mantrasara performed in front of Birmingham Balaji on Saturday, the 3rd of June. The team had well prepared notes distributed amongst the audience for them to sing along in the typical Dakshina Bharata Sampradaya style. Songs in Thodaya Mangalam were followed by energetic deliveries of Astapadhis, Abhangs and Namavalis amidst the chanting of Devi Astotram and Hanuman Chalisa. Our performance at the temple was well received and we shall be performing there periodically.

Some Excerpts/Photos of our Weekly Bhajan sessions

If you want to join our Solihull/Birmingham based Bhajan sessions, please call on 07906 535762 or send us an email through this website.

We welcome anyone that has an interest in Indian Classical music, be it Vocals or Instrumental.

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Carnatic Vocal, Bharatanatyam & Tabla in Solihull/Birmingham

Learn the nuances of Bharatanatyam dance forms, Indian Classical Carnatic (Karnatic) Vocal singing & Tabla from experienced teachers at Solihull based Aabheri Nritya Vidyalaya and Carnatic Circle

Devotional Chant/Singing

Sampradaya & Mantrasara run by Carnatic-Circle.com are 2 groups that run free Bhajan workshops every week in Birmingham & Solihull, UK. For those interested in weekly Shloka/ Vedas/Stothram recitation in Birmingham, please get in touch. We also perform devotional singing of a large repertoire of Bhajans and Abhangs. These workshops are primarily geared to adults which can read Lyrics independently. If you are interested to participate or simply want to listen to our weekly performances, please call in.

We are always looking for any music instrumentalists that want to add colour to the sessions.

All these efforts are mainly to preserve our heritage and is done on a group basis free of cost.

Mohanam & Shudha Saveri Ragams

We have discussed about quite a few Ragams before in our class. But, in this context we will discuss the relationship and difference between Shuddha Saveri and Mohanam.

Both are Audava ragams or Pentatonic in nature – meaning, this raga has 5 notes. In Carnatic music, Ragas are classified as Melakarta Ragas and Janya (Subset or Derived) Ragas. As you are all aware, there are 72 Melakartas Ragas which are all Sampoorna (all 7 notes) ragams. Shuddha Saveri and Mohanam are both Janya Ragams and they are both derived from their respective Melakartas. (Use the link to find the 28th & 29th Melakarta before reading forward). Continue reading “Mohanam & Shudha Saveri Ragams”

Carnatic vocal exam preparations

Dear Parents,

Following are the Carnatic music vocal exam preparation targets for all participants depending on which class you are attending during the week. Continue reading “Carnatic vocal exam preparations”

Carnatic/Tabla Lessons Solihull/Birmingham

Carnatic music predominantly originates from South India, but has an universal appeal across all sections, language being no barrier. What is Carnatic Music and how is it different from Hindusthani Music?

Carnatic Vocal – Group lessons are run by Preetha Gopal throughout the week for all levels and caters for Adults and Children. The teaching is based on the age old tradition of learning the Swaravalis and gradually build up to Alankarams, Gitam & Varnams. We maintain a comprehensive Youtube and Facebook channel.

A student will start with learning

Sarali Varisai (Videos Available)
Janta Varisai – next level (Videos available)
Dhatu Varisai, Mel Sthayi Varisai, Mandhra Sthayi Varisai (Videos Available)
Alankarams, Geethams and Swarajathis
Varnams & Keerthanais

Inorder to maintain some variety, some Bhajans, Abhangs or Shlokas will be added as the classes progress. We run an average of 9 events in a year where students can perform. Students will be comprehensively prepared towards music exams and earn grades. Lessons are also provided via Skype or any other online mediums.

Tabla – Percussion lessons in Tabla are held as group lessons and are conducted for children and adults. Lessons usually delve into the theory & practical aspects such as Kaydas/Paltas and gradually progressing into taals, Moharas, Mukhdas and Relas. Lessons include theory and the necessary preparation for Grade exams.