Profiles of the later 20th century musicians, instrumentalists
TANJORE S. KALYANARAMAN - VOCALIST...............(b.June 2, 1930)
A senior vocalist, S. Kalyanaraman belons to Komal and was born at his
mother's village of Thiruvengadu, a village noted for musically talented
men. His father N.Srinivasa Ayyar was a grandson of Komal Muthu
Bhagavathar.
KAZHUGUMALAI A.KANDASWAMY - VOCALIST...............(b.April 1, 1932)
Kandaswamy hails from the sacred place Kazhugumalai. He is the son of
Arumugham Pillai and Ponnammal. His paternal uncles were nagaswara and
tavil artistes. He had his musical training under Sankaradas Swamigal,
Dr.Sitarama Ayyar, Madurai Padma Sri Madurai Somasundaram (Somu). 'A'
grade artiste with All India Radio, Kandaswamy has been giving concerts
for over two decades.
Titles:
Ganaranjita, Gana Kalanidhi, Isai Semmal and Ganakala Bharati.
A. KANYAKUMARI - VIOLINIST ...............(b.June 5, 1961)
Born at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Kanyakumari is a Bachelor of Arts with
Carnatic Music as Main, & has a diploma in Classical Carnatic Music
(Violin). She had her special training in music under Ivathuri
Vijayeswara Rao of AIR 1965-69, M.Chandrashekaran 1971-73,
M.L.Vasanthakumarti 1978 onwards.
Kumari Kanyakumari has been having a hectic practice providing
accompaniment to prominent artistes on the All India Radio, Doordarshan,
Sabhas, etc. Since 1987, she has been giving a large number of
special programmes titled 'Vadhyalahari' - combination of violin, veena
and nagaswaram. This innovative presentation has caught the
attention of many & is popular.
She had a special coaching assignment for six weeks at the University of
San Francisco. Apart from prizes from Universities & Music
Academy, she has received the titles of:
Nada Tantri Lava Samanvite from Santhana Viswa Dharma Mandir, USA and
Vaayullena Vidwamani from Golkonda V.S.S., Kakinada
Her rendition is crisp and mature and free from flaws.
S.KARTHICK (RAJ KOUNDINYA) - GHATAM ARTISTE...............(b.June 7, 1971)
He was born in Quilon, Kerala of E.V.Subramaniam & Padma
Subramaniam. He had his training in ghatam under T.H.Vinayakaram &
T.H.Subashchandran. Mother Padma Subramaniam had come out of the
Trivandrum Music College and the Central College of Carnatic Music,
Chennai and had further training under O.V.Subramaniam & T.R.
Subramaniam. Thus a musical home presented young KArthick with initial
inspiration and ample scope to practise.
Karthick is in the thick of popular ghatam artistes. His amiable and
affable cultured presence ensures co-ordinated and understanding laya at
concerts. His Manamadurai-made ghatam (pot) withstands his dexterous
play with scintillating strokes to match not only the main artiste's
swara prasthara, etc. but the mridangist's challenges at concerts.
Karthick is conversant with konnakol and morsing too. He has been
providing competent accompaniment to senior vidwans at all forums ably.
He has won many prizes; has presented papers at seminars. With his rich
knowledge of Sanskrit, he hopes to secure Ph.D. on a topic related to
music, viz., 'Percussion in Sanskrit Literature'. Has given an audio
cassette on ghatam-play.
Title:
Yuva Kala Bharati by Bharat Kalachar in 1992.
PUDUKKOTTAI RAMASWAMY KRISHNAMURTHY
Pudukkottai Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy born on the7th October, 1939 to
Shri. K.Ramaswamy and Smt. Meenambal at Pudukkottai is an illustrious
Vainika Gayaka (meaning an exponent in both Veena and Vocal) holding
high reputation among the Carnatic Music Fraternity. He had his initial
training at the age of 9 from Shri. S.Srinivasan at Pudukkottai and
later did his Degree in Music at the Annamalai University, under
the guidance of Late Shri. Gomathi Shankar Iyer and Late. Sow.
M.G.Gaurikumari. His first performance was in the age of 9 in the year
1953 with Shri. Karaikudi Mani accompanying him on the Mridangam.
He has been awarded with the titles “Vainika Vidwanmani, Nadha
Chintamani, Vainika Panchanana, Chellapalli Ranga Rao award by the Music
Academy, Chennai and the list goes on..
Very recently he has been awarded the “ A Top grade by the All
India Radio - the highest grade any musician can get from the All
India Radio. He has performed at almost all the sabhas across the
country apart from playing at the Brahmotstavams at Tirupathi. His
performance in the Divine presence of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at
Puttaparthy is the most memorable according to him. Noted personalities
such as Narayanachar, Rallapalli, Annavarapu Ramaswamy, Ananthakrishna
Sharma have attended his concerts. It is also worthy to mention that he
has played in the presence of the Shankaracharyas of Kanchi and Sringeri
Mutts.
Mr & Mrs Krishnamurthy were invited to give programmes in Various
cities in Canada during May 2005. His Audio CDs were in good demand
every where during their whole tour. His lecture Demonstration at
Calgary University was attended by Western Musicians.
In July 2006 the Granada International Music & Dance Festival Spain
invited Mr.& Mrs.Krishnamurthy to give a Veena duet concert the
festival which is an unique honour for the couple for being the first
South Indian Karnatic musician to enter into this Country and
introduce the divine instrument for the first time in the presense
of the fully packed auditorium Consisting of Spanish music lovers. The
concert was received with big ovation in the audience preferred to
attend this concert than attending the final foot ball match.The
music critics of Granada hailed the performance as the divine
meditating. The singing of songs along with veena was greatly
appreciated.
A rare technical wizard who can make electronic Sruthi gadgets,
amplifiers and who can construct the Melam on a Veena. Has designed an
new compact veena and named it Krishna Veena in the year 1994.
Above all he has been a guiding light for more than thousand students
when he served as the Principal of Music College in Tirupathi from the
year 1961 to 1997. His disciples are mostly All India Radio
acclaimed artists, teachers, lecturers at various music colleges across
the world.
A dream and love of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came to existence in
the form of an wonderful Music College in Year 2000. He was the most
fortunate and the first professional musician to be invited by Bhagawan
to be the Principal of Music College. A successful administrator and
teacher, the students of music college have presented many programmes of
vocal and veena in the Divine presence of Bhagawan. Had an unique
opportunity to give lecture demonstration in Brindavan summer
course in 2002 on spirituality in music for which alone Bhagawan
surprised every body and listened for the entire programme.
Source: http://www.pudukottaikrishnamurthy.com
B.KRISHNAMURTI - VOCALIST & PEDAGOGUE...............(b. August 24, 1932)
Born at Pavattakudi (Ramnad District) of Balasubramania Ayyar and
Lakshmi Ammal. He studied upto Matriculation and Praveshika in
Hindi. He had his music training under four Sangita Kalanidhis,
viz., Musiri Subramania Ayyar, T.N.Swaminatha Pillai, B.Rajam Ayyar
(brother) & Mudicondan Venkatarama Ayyar. He had taken a
Teacher's Training Certificate in Indian Music & Sangita Vidwan
Title Course. He was awarded Fellowship for Research in Pallavi
singing by the Sangeet Natak Academy. He was a linguist with
knowledge of English, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit.
He collected and edited for the Madras State Sangita Natak Sangham:
Prahalada Bakti Vijaya of Tyagaraja
Nauka Charitram Kirtanas of Tyagaraja
300 kritis of Tyagaraja, 72 mela raga malika of Maha Vaidyanatha Ayyar and
Arohana and avarohana for 2000 ragas.
He edited rare compositions of Patnam Subramania Ayyar, etc, and Nava
Graha krities with notation. He has performed in various sabhas,
centres, etc and won praise and prizes. An AIR artiste. For
dramas of Dr.V.Raghavan, background music with appropriate ragas were
composed by him. He has composed tunes for Tirupugazh, Divya
Prabandams, Venkatesa Suprabatham , etc.
Posts held:
Teacher, Teacher's College of the Music Academy for 15 years
Inspector of Music Schools, Tamil Nadu in 1967 under the State Sangita Nataka Sangham, Madras
Lecturer and later Professor, Tamil nadu Govt. Music College, Madras from Jan 1978
Principal, Govt. Music College, Madurai from Dec.1988
A classicist, B.Krishnamurti represents the rich erudition and tyle of
Mudicondan Venkatrama Ayyar. He has a sweet, responding voice,
good artistry and a remarkable sweep of kritis. His rich
experience in varie dfields has equipped him to be a competant vocalist
and a respected teacher.
Prof. T.N.KRISHNAN
Born
on 16.10.1928 at Parur, Prof. T.N.Krishnan a child prodigy, had his
initial training from his father Narayana Ayyar and later with
K.K.Parthasarathi Ayyangar and Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar. He had
the opportunity to provide accompaniment while quite young to eminent
stalwarts of the day like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Ayyangar and Chembai
Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and was on the All India Radio at the age of
ten.
The distinguished Professor drew inspiration, from papa Venkataramaiah, a
renowned violinist of yester years, in shaping his aesthetically rich
gamaka-laden style. He enjoys high reputation both in India and abroad
for thrilling classical rendition.
He toured many countries like USA, UK, Australia, USSR, Singapore,
Malaysia, etc., Prof. T.N.Krishnan received many awards and honour. To
mention a few are "Sangita Kalanidhi", "Padma Sri", "Sangita Kala
Nipuna", "Aasthana Vidwan" of TTD Devasthanams, "Kalasagara", "Padma
Bhushan",...
He also held several posts - Professor of violin; Principal of TN
Government Music College; Vice-Chairman Sangeet Natak Academy, Delhi;
Chairman Audition Board Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation; Visiting
Professor Centre for World Music, Berkeley, USA...
CALCUTTA K.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY - VOCALIST/TEACHER...............(b.December 21, 1923)
Krsihnamoorthy born at Sikkazhi of Sankara Ramayyar was a musical soul
full of robust passion and dedication with innate capability to flower
forth into a musician of vast parts; and quite appropriately destiny
brought the young lad to a society which had such colossuses as Tiger
Varadachariar, Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar and Papanasam Sivan.
Thus the innate conducive aptitude received ample opportunities and rich
food for growth of knowledge and exposure to soulful music of verdant
type.
Had his training in music under Mani Bhagavatar at Mayavaram and then
studied at the Music College of the Annamalai University, Chidambaram
then manned by stalwarts like Tiger Varadachariar, Sattur Krishnayyangar
and Ponniah Pillai. 'Ayyangar was my adharsha guru and he a model,
ideal guru in all respects' in theory and practice of music. KSK, as he
is popularly called now, had many practice sessions with Tanjore
Tyagarajan and Sankara Ayyar and percussionist T.K.Murthy, then a
disciple of Tanjore Vaidyanatha Ayyar, a mridangam maestro, at Tanjore.
His debut was at the Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai. Enjoys a vast
repertoire of songs, lavish expertise and varied experience. Above all,
he is a respected teacher of distinction. The concert dias would seem to
have ignored him much as it did many stalwarts like Simizhi Sundaram
Ayyar but as guru, he has drawn many shining young artistes and has
shpaed their careers. A musical Drona indeed. A senior Editor, Sruti
magazine. He is a shy and retiring person. He has a research-oriented
mind, an adept in lakshya-lakshana music and a good tune-setter.
Honours & Titles:
Sruti Foundation, Chennai honoured him with the title of Sangita Kala Nipuna
Suswara, Chennai conferred the title of Sangita Kala Jyoti and gave the Jana Saraswati Peeth Award in November 1994.
Maharajapuram Viswanatha Ayyar Trust honoured him in 1994.
LALGUDI G.J.R. KRISHNAN - VIOLINIST........................(b.April 15, 1960)
The Lalgudi family is oneof the few in Carnatic music which takes
genuine pride as inheritors of a precious legacy and continuous
dedication for generations to the classical art. The paterfamalias
Rama Ayyar was a devoted disciple of Tyagarajah. Krishnan and
Vijayalakshmi, son and daughter of Lalgudi Jayaraman, Violin Maestro are
duo violinits who combine delightfully rendering melody more
melodious. The magnitude of their intensive training, dedication
and exquisite musical expression come to instant notice when they
commence their concerts. The 'Lalgudi perfume' quite carefully
filtered and invigorated by their stalwart father, and passed on to
Krishnan, spread its fragrance and the duo play to aesthetic
perfection. Krishnan practically had all the gifts of gurukulavasa
at home from birth and the father - aunt violin concerts had come to
stay since 1958 even before he was conceived.
Krishnan got an early start in his training at the tender age of five
with his grandfather Lalgudi Gopala Ayyar and continued it with his
father. Made his debut in 1973 providing violin support to his
father. he is giving solo rcitals, jugalbandhis and violin duets
with his father or his sister. His style like his father's is the
gayaka style closest to vocal rendition. His raga delineations are
crisp and absorbing. Kriti rendition exhibits musical vigour and
grace. Impeccable bowing and careful planning feature his
concerts. Has been giving quite a large number of concerts in
India and abroad.
A post graduate in commerce and a Cost & Works Accountant, Krishnan
is an Executive Officer in an Investments Company and is a co-promoter
of the vibrant organisation 'TYME' (Talented Youth for Musical
Excellence).
Honours & titles:
Best violinist Award by Music Academy, Madras - 1986
Yuva Kala Bharati by Bharat Kalachar - 1987
