UMS Concert Program, April 9, 1979: Yakshagana -- B. V. Achar

Concert: Sixtyfourth
Complete Series: Eighth Annual
Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAr
Yakshagana
Directors
B. V. Achar
Martha Bush Ashton
Handadi Subbanna Bhat
Dancers
Sakkattu Laxminarayana, Haradi Mahabala Ganiga, Cherkadi Madhava Nayak,
Birthi Balakrishna, Haradi Sanjiva Ganiga, Belthur Ramesha,
Dayananda Balegara, Haradi Sarvottama Ganiga
Musicians
Januvarukatte Gopalakrishna Kamath: Singer
Hiriadka Gopala Rao: Maddale (horizontal drum)
Brahmavara Ananta Rao: Chcnde (vertical drum)
B. V. Achar: Sruti (drone)
Monday Evening, April 9, 1979, at 8:30 Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
(Performed without intermission)
Yakshagana, a South Indian dancedrama, traditionally begins with rituals per?formed outside and in the chauka (the dressingroom). Drums and cymbals are played to invite the audience to attend the spectacle. Then a prayer is sung to the elephantheaded god (Ganapati puja), asking him to bless the performance. These are heard as the audience enters the hall to be seated.
Procession oj Musicians and Lamp Bearers
Rangasthala Abbara
Announcement by the musicians that the ritual songs on the stage are about to begin.
Hare Ramana Govinda
Song in praise of various gods, performed by dancers representing Lord Krishna and Balarama. Belthur Ramesha Haradi Sarvottama Ganiga
Gajamukha
A song in praise of Lord Ganapati (the elephantheaded god).
Belthur Ramesha and Haradi Sarvottama Ganiga
Radha Lola
A song in praise of Lord Krishna, danced by a female character.
Dayananda Balecara
Centennial Season -Sixtyfourth Concert
Eighth Annual Asian Series
Prasanga Pithike
Drums and cymbals announce that the play is about to begin.
Januvarukatte Gopalakrishna Kamath (tala) Hiriadka Gopala Rao (maddale) Brahmavara Ananta Rao (chende)
Abhimanyu's Battle
This story is from the great Indian epic, the Mahabharatha. The princely clans-the Pandavas and Kauravas--fight for supremacy for eighteen days on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Abhimanyu's battle takes place on the thirteenth day.
Oddolaga (introductory dance of the major characters)
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the dejected Kaurava, with his warriors, Kama, Shalya and Dushshasana, considers ways and means of defeating the Pandavas. At this juncture, Drona, the most senior warrior of the Kaurava army approaches his king, Kaurava. He assures the king that he has a plan for defeating the Pandavas, provided Arjuna, Pandava prince, is drawn away from the battle. His plan is to arrange the army in a circular formation which has an entrance but no exit. Only a superior warrior can find a way out.
Kaurava Haradi Mahabala Ganiga
Kama Cherkadi Madhava Nayak
Shalya Haradi Sanjiva Ganica
Dushshasana Haradi Sarvottama Ganica
Drona B:rthi Balakrishna
Oddolaga of Samasaptaka (Introductory dance of the Demon king)
Kaurava has summoned his ally, Samasaptaka, the demon king of Trigartha. The demon king shows himself brushing his teeth, washing his face, bathing and putting on ritual makeup. He then worships Lord Shiva by bathing the linga (the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva), decorating it with flowers, waving the sacred flame, taking a flower blessed by the God, and putting it on his headdress.
Samasaptaka goes to Kaurava. Kaurava asks Samasaptaka to fight Arjuna. Arjuna comes and defeats Samasaptaka in battle.
Samasaptaka Sakkattu Laxminarayana
Arjuna Haradi Sarvottama Ganica
Oddolaga of Abhimanyu (Introductory dance of Abhimanyu, the young warrior son of Arjuna)
Abhimanyu decides to join the Pandava Army and fight the Kauravas. He goes to his mother, Subhadra, to receive her blessings. Subhadra tries to dissuade her son by telling him that he is too young. But the prince says that he is determined to go. Reluctantly she gives her blessings and he proceeds to the battlefield.
The next scene is the Kaurava army--Drona, Kaurava, Dushshasana, Shalya and Kama arrange themselves in a circular formation. Jayadritha guards the entrance. Abhimanyu arrives and defeats Jayadritha and enters the formation. He fights the Kaurava warriors one by one, and defeats them.
Kaurava scolds his warriors for the defeat. Drona becomes angry and says: "Collectively we will fight Abhimanyu. By standing behind him, Kama will destroy Abhimanyu's bow." And thus, Abhimanu's bow is taken. He uses his sword but loses it and begins fighting with his shoulders and hands. At an opportune moment, Kama cuts off Abhimanyu's arms. The young prince rolls over on the ground and dies.
Abhimanyu Belthur Ramesha
Subhadra Dayananda Balegara
Jayadritha Sakkattu Laxminarayana
Mangala (A prayer of thanks to the gods for the successful completion of the play.)
Dayananda Balegara
All interested persons are cordially invited to attend a free lecturedemonstration by the Yakshagana troupe, to be held tomorrow, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. in this auditorium.
Note: In next year's season, soon to be announced, all Asian events will be included in the Choice Series.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Memorial Tower, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Phones: 6653717. 7642538