MUSIC
Profiles of the later 20th century musicians, instrumentalists
G.N.DESIKAN
- VOCALIST.............(October 9, 1930- October 7, 2008)
Sangeetha
Vidwan, Sri G N DESIKAN, belongs to the music school of late Ganakaladhara
Madurai Mani Iyer, having had training from his disciple, Sri V R Sethuraman
Iyer. He is a retired Sales Officer having served in ICI (India) Ltd. ,
Chennai office for nearly 37 years. He has been giving programmes in sabhas
all over India since 1955.
He
is also conducting a Music School at his house- Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha
Vidyalayam- since 1980, under the auspices of which he is celebrating every
year Ganakaladhara Madurai Mani Iyer day, along with Vidyalayam's Anniversary
and Sri Thyagaraja Jayanthi, with renowned Sangeetha vidwans participation.
His
Sangeetha Vidyalayam will be completing 25 years of existence in the year
2005 along with his 50th year of his musical career. He will also be completing
75 years
of age during that period.
He
is now the Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. He has been awarded
numerous titles such as
1.
"Sangeetha Rathnam " from late Sri Mounaswamiji, Ambattur,Chennai
2.
" Sangeetha Bhushana " from Thulsivanam Music Festival Committee, Trivandrum,
Kerala
3.
"Sukhalaya Sangeetha" from Chembai Ekadasi Festival Celebrations, Chembai,
Palakad, Kerala
He was honored by Bharath Kalachar, Chennai with late Dr. Semmangudi
Srinivasa Iyer award for Veteran Musicians
angelfire.com/...
(Profile provided
by the artiste)
SALEM
G. DESIKAN - VOCO-VAINIKA.............(July 7, 1926 - March 18, 1986)
Born
of D.Gopalachar, Advocate, Salem, a patriot who relinquished his practice
to support national struggle, G.Desikan had his musical training under
Sister Lakshmi, a disciple of Salem Doraiswami Ayyangar. He made his debut
performance at Devakottai in his twelfth year. Desikan had made intensive
study of the music and styles of eminent vidwans of Carnatic and Hindustani
music and was practically a self-made vidwan having moulded his vidwat
by sheer observation and dedicated practice. His voice was melodious, attractive
and praise-worthy. His services were availed of by Annamalai University
to tune songs in Tamil as part of the efforts to popularise Tamil Isai.
He was a great admirer of the styles of eminent vocalists of the time and
of the Nagaswara maestro, T.N.Rajarathinam and inspired by them, used to
bring out flashes of their styles at his concerts, which exuded lakshana
and lakshya graces.
Desikan
founded the Sangita Samrakshana Sabha, Salem along with his friends. He
had trained many including Jayalakshmi Ramachandran, Neela and Eachangudi
N.Ramamurti Bhagavatar. He had given a large number of concerts (vocal
and veena) for All India Radio and sabhas. Padma Desikan, his wife, is
a veena player. Desikan was also manufacturing veenas according to specifications.
Honours
and titles :
Gana
Kala Chandra by Tiger Varadachariar
Gana
Kala Paripurna by T.N.Rajarathinam
Sangita
Samrat at Bangalore
GURUVAYUR DORAI - MRIDANGIST.............(b.July 12, 1935)
Dorai had his training in mridangam, under Plaghat Subba Ayyar and
Palani Subramania Pillai, both renowned artistes and made his debut at
the age of eight at the performance of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar,
who had a life-long craving to bring up young lads and help them.
Guruvayur Dorai has been having a busy programme accopanying top
artistes at sabhas, radio and television. Plays on kanjira too. He has
anticipation and vibrant action. Was visiting professor in the
University of Washington, Seattle during 1977-78.
Titles received :
Laya Gnana Samrat from the Association of Musicians in 1965
Sundara Mridanga Visarada from the AG's Office Recreation club, Chennai
Nal Laya Mamani from the Tamil Nadu Nalvazhi Nilayam, Chennai
Tal Vilas from Sangeet Peeth, Sursinger Samsad, Mumbai in 1982
Nadakanal by Nadakanal
Dr.S.A.K. DURGA - MUSICOLOGIST.............(b. June 1, 1940)
Born at Kumbakonam of S.A.Venkatarama Ayyar and Lalitha, Dr.Durga earned
her Masters and Doctorates in Indian Music and Ethnomusicology from
Madras and Wesleyan Universities respectively. She did her post-post
Doctoral research in Ethnomusicology at Yale University, USA. She says
that she has been recognised as the 'highest qualified woman
musicologist in the world'.
Dr.Durga has taught Indian music and Ethnomusicology at the Universities
in India and USA. She learnt music from her mother, a disciple of
Rajamanickam Pillai and had further training with Madurai Mani Ayyar,
Maharajapuram Viswanatha Ayyar, Ramnad Krishnan and
Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna and has given concerts in India and abroad.
Proficient in Hindustani and folk music styles, she has acquired a
knowledge of other foreign styles. 'Her exquisite concert which won
repeated applause included songs in twelve languages', says the 'Indian
Express'. Dr.Durga has several publications and articles to her credit,
besides compositions. She has founded the Center for Ethnomusicology,
Chennai. The International Music Club, New York has awarded the title
'Skylark of India' to her.
Publications
1.Voice Culture, 2nd ed., Indian Musicological Society, Baroda, India,1997
2. The Opera in South India, B.R.Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, India, 1979
3. Research Methodology for Music, Center for Ethnomusicology, Chennai, 1993
4. Ethnomusicology-A study of Intercultural Musicology, Center for Ethnomusicology, Chennai, 1996
5.Indian Music in the Context of Independence, Center for Ethnomusicology, Chennai, 1998
6.Vallala Yakshaganam (Tamil), Lalita Publications,Chennai, India ,1978
email: sakdurga@hotmail.com
Article, The Hindu
DURGA PRASAD - GOTTUVADYAM.............(b. August 15, 1963)
Son and disciple of Allam Koteswara Rao and Premavathi, Durga Prasad
hails from a family of musicians of Andhra Pradesh. Learnt Gottuvadyam
from Kalasikhamani A. Narayana Ayyar. An artiste of the All India Radio
& has been giving performances. Purity of style and rendition mark
his play.
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