Profiles of the later 20th century musicians, instrumentalists
MYSORE NAGAMANI SRINATH - VOCALIST
Having
been under the direct tutelage of Ramnad Krishnan and having many more
maestros enrich her art, she belongs to an exclusive and elite group of
musicians who have held center stage in the field of Carnatic music for
over three decades. She is an astute grammarian with deep insight
into the facets of the enthralling and enhancing medium of music. She
has enriched the field by her numerous compositions, by providing
ever-new nuances to the traditional compositions of yester years and by
training a whole new generation of artistes. Nagamani has a
sterling academic record with a galore of gold medals and scholarships.
She is the recipient of many prestigious awards and citations including
the “Rajyotsava Award”- the highest award for the state of
Karnataka. Nagamani is presently working as Professor and
Head of the department of Music, Maharani's Arts College,
Bangalore University.
(information from Nagamani Srinath's website).
MYSORE M.NAGARAJ - VIOLINIST...............................(b.1930)
Eldest son of S.Mahadevappa, a violinist, Nagaraj was musically talented
even as a boy and made his appearnace on the stage at the age of
eleven. Since then his rise to artistic heights has been
phenomenal. Has a charming style and is giving accompaniment
to prominent artistes and giving solo concerts also. A popular
violinist, he is Staff Artiste of the All India Radio, Mysore.
P.S.NARAYANASWAMY - VOCALIST.............(b.February 24, 1934)
Hails from Konerirajapuram, the village of the illustrious vocalist
Vaidyanatha Ayyar. Son of Dr. Subramania Ayyar, a popular physician,
Narayanaswami had his initial musical training under Tirupambaram
Somasundaram Pillai, nagaswaram vidwan and Mudicondan Mani Ayyar and
then under Sangita Kalanidhi Mudicondan Venkatrama Ayyar. In 1953, he
went over to trivandrum for a decade of gurukulavasa with Sangita
Kalanidhi Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar.
A traditional vidwan of the Tanjore style, he is noted for his chaste
rendering and adherence to values. He has been graded as a Vadya Vrinda
(National Orchestra) Conductor and Composer. The purity of his style is
no small measure due to his dedicated training under two of the
stalwarts of classical Carnatic music.
He is the recipient of the titles :
Bala Gana Ratna, Sangita Sikhamani and Kala Ratna.
An amicable and cultured vidwan who has been accompanied by all great
violin and mridangam artistes. He has trained a number of disciples.
TRICHUR NARENDRAN - MRIDANGISTT.............(b.1951)
Born at Kunnamkulam, Tirchur district, Narendran is an Economics
graduate. From the age of seven, he was having training in
mridangam successively under K.P.Namboodri, Koduvayur Radhakrishnan and
Palghat Raghu, the renowned artiste. After his debut at the age of
ten, Narendran, has been having hundreds of concerts on All India
Radio, Doordarshan, sabhas, etc. He has pleasing rendition and has
a good repertoire. He taught Indian Classical Percussion during
1984-86 at the San Diego State University.
A.K.C.NATARAJAN (CLARIONET)
Born
in Thiruchirapalli, he learned music from Alathur Venkatesa Ayyar of
the celebrated Alathur brothers. He learned Nadaswaram from Illupur
Natesa Pillai and learned Clarionet from his father Shri
A.K.Chinnakrishnan. Natarajan made his debut in 1946.
With his training in Nadaswaram, Clarionet and music from a celebrated
vidwan, he has proved his ability to give classical exposition on the
non pliable clarionet.
A.K.C.Natarajan received many awards - "Clarionet Chakravarthi" from the
Maharaja of Mysore in 1969; "Isai Perarignar" from the Tamil Isai
Sangham of Chennai in 1988; Asthana vidwan of Dharmapuram,
Tiruvavaduthurai and Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
S.NITHYASREE.............(b.1973)
Born
on 25th August 1973, Nithyashree hails from a family of eminent
musicians. She is the grand daughter of the great exponent of Carnatic
music, Smt D.K.Pattammal on the paternal side and the Great Mridangam
Maestro Palghat Shri T.S.Mani Iyer on the maternal side. She had her
training in Carnatic vocal under the able tutelage of her mother Smt
Lalitha Sivakumar and also from Smt D.K.Pattammal.
She started giving public vocal concert from the year 1987 and never
looked back. She is an 'A' grade artiste of AIR, Chennai. She has won
many prizes while in school and college. She is a graduate in commerce
and is the recipient of the national Merit Scholarship instituted by the
Government of India.
Nithyashree has received many awards like 'Yuva Kala Bharathi' from
Bharat Kalachar, 'Innisai Mamani' from Tamilnadu Goodwill Welfare
Association.