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Musings on Music
a handy music diary for writing notation by S.Rajam
Text by S.Rajam, Text assisted by "Garland" Rajagopalan, Illustration by S.Rajam

Composers


MUTHUSWAMI DIKSHITAR - Architect of Raga forms: (1776-1835)

The compositions of Dikshitar are rich in raga bhava full of gamakas & graces, beauty, majesty, mastery & wisdom. A magnificient composer, vocalist & veena player, he was all serenity & poise. One of the Carnatic Music Trinity.

Muthuswami Dikshitar was born in a family of intellectuals, well versed in Sastra. His father gave him a full course in music in Purandaradasar's pattern. Dikshitar had a mastery over veena. He was blessed by Lord Muruga of Thiruthani & he composed his first kriti - Sri Nadhathi Guruguho there. He spent five years at Benares & was well versed in the North Indian form of music.

His compositions are known for their originality of the structure. He had deep reverence for classical tradition. He has composed in all the 72 melakartha ragas. He is considered the architect of raga forms. Some of his famous compositions are the Kamalamba Navavarnam, Navagraha kriti, Chaturdasa Ragamalika. He has composed songs in sanskrit & also set songs to western tunes. His compositions are a combination of rich diction, melody & laya in majestic flow. His mudra was Guruguha.


From Musings on Music - a handy music diary for writing notation by S.Rajam
Text by S.Rajam, Text assisted by "Garland" Rajagopalan, Illustration by S.Rajam


Dikshitar the Genius
Article by Smt.Sulochana Pattabhiraman
featured in "Bhava Raga Tala Modini" a book of articles compiled by Dr. V.V. Srivatsa circulated at the annual series of Guruguhanjali in 1998