Profiles of Artistes, Composers, Musicologists
Unless otherwise specified, the profiles in this section are
from
The Garland, Another Garland, Yet Another Garland and The
Fragrant Garland by Mr.N.Rajagopalan
SALEM
Dr.S.JAYALAKSHMI - VOCALIST
A
prominent vocalist, Dr.Jayalakshmi had her training with Maharajapuram
Viswanatha Ayyar, T.Chowdiah and others. She has taken special interest
in promoting tamil songs, Thevaram, Tiruppugazh and Prabandams and is running
the Cultural Centre of Performing Arts, Adyar, Chennai. She has been successfully
conducting Tamil Religious Song festivals for over a decade..
Has
a pleasing voice and is a popular artiste. She is a musicologist and is
connected with the Annamalai, Bharatidasan, Kamaraj (Madurai) universities,
etc. She has brought a number of publications, research papers, translations,
etc. Dr. Jayalakshmi launched the International Music Trust to teach 'music
through correspondence' - an endeavour worthy of research! She has been
awarded the following titles :
Doctorate
in philosophy of music from the World University, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Kalaimamani
from the Govt. of Tamilnadu
Isai
Perarasi from Tamil Academy, Kanchipuram
Nadakanal
from Nadakanal
Asthana
vidwan of Mantralaya Math.
D.K.JAYARAMAN
- VOCALIST.............(b. 1928)
The
lad of eleven with captivating voice and expression was chosen to play
the role of Prahalada. Ariyakudi Ramanuja Ayyangar was Vishnu. N.S.Ramachandran
was the producer. Renowned Palghat Mani, Mysore Chowdiah, Parupalli Ramakrishna
Pantulu were among the cast. The musically talented lad was not only a
brilliant success but had the presence of mind and the alertness to take
over singing the piece 'Sri Maha Ganapathi' (Sourashtra) when by inadvertance
Parupalli had begun the song at the pitch of the lad. It should be noted
that it was a live broadcast on the AIR long back. There was all-round
praise to the lad, who was none other than D.K.Jayaraman, one of the top
artistes.
D.K.Jayaraman
is the son of Krishnaswmay Dikshitar and Rajammal and was born at Kanchipuram,
near Chennai. He was enveloped by the musical environment provided by the
renowned D.K.Pattammal, his sister. Her popularity with musicians drew
many a prominent Vidwan and Jayaraman had thus a profitable exposure to
music. He was precocious and had good grasping power. At five he was able
to render 'Balagopala' (Bairavi) like his sister and at seven he would
render 'Thiruvadi Charanam' (kamboji) like Musiri Subramania Ayyar. In
fact some used to call him 'Hello Thiruvadicharanam!'.
He
had the privilege to learn music from many stalwarts like D.K.Pattammal,
Rajarathinam Pillai, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavathar, Jayamma -
daughter of Veenai Dhanammal, Muthiah Bhagavathar, Madurai Brothers, Ariyakudi
Ramanuja Ayyangar, Musiri Subramania Ayyar and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.
'Laya' he imbibed from Needamangalam Minakshisundaram Pillai and Tanjore
Ramadas Rao. Tamil songs, he learnt from Kotiswara Ayyar and Papanasam
Sivan. No trainee could expect for more and naturally he became a repository
of a rich repertoire of songs and styles. He has trained several students.
Honours
and titles :
Sangitha
Jyoti by Sivananda Saraswathi
Nadha
Brahmam by Papanasam Sivan
Yogam
Nagaswamy Prize from the Music Academy 1974 & 1981.
Gana
Kalanidhi from Sri Thyagaraja Sangitha Sabha, Coimbatore in 1978
Dikshitar
Krithi Award from Music Academy in 1979
Sangitha
Choodamani from Krishna Gana Sabha in 1980
Kala
Visharad from Dombiville Fine Arts, Bombay in 1982
Gayaka
Choodamani from Thulaseevana Sangita Sabha, Trivandrum in 1983
Kalaimamani
from Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram in 1983.
LALGUDI
G.JAYARAMAN (VIOLIN)
Born
on 17.9.1930, of Gopala Iyer and Savithri Ammal at Lalgudi, he has the
unique distinction of being in the direct lineage of Rama Iyer, a direct
disciple of Thyagarajar. He received his initial training from his father
and his paternal uncle Kandaswami Bhagavathar. He got a diploma in vocal
and graduated in violin under his father. His debut performance was at
the Perambur Sangeetha Sabha, Chennai in 1947 and the next year he performed
at the Music Academy, Chennai. Till 1986, he accompanied several prominent
artistes such as G.N.Balasubramaniam, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavathar.
He had evolved his own unique style and started giving solo performances,
initially with his sister Brahmanandam, later with his son G.J.R.Krishnan
and daughter J.Vijayalakshmi. he has presented various Jugalbandis with
Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Chaurasia, Amjad Ali Khan. A talented composer,
his varnams, tillanas and pada varnams became instantly popular among musicians
and dancers. He has received various titles & honours, a few of which
are - "Nadha Vidya Thilaka" in 1963 from Lalgudi Music Lovers' Association;
"Nadha Vidya Ratnakara" in 1971 from East West Exchange Inc. New York;
"Vadhya Sangeeta Kala Ratna" in 1971 from Bharati Society, New York; "Sangeetha
Choodamani" in 1971 from Federation of Music Sabhas, Chennai; "Padma Sri"
in 1972 from the President of India; "Sangeeth Natak Akademy Award" in
1978; "State Vidwan, Tamilnadu" in 1979 from Govt. of Tamilnadu; "Kalaimamani"
in 1979 from Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram; "Asthana Vidwan" in 1979
from Tirumalai Tirupathi Devasthanams; "Nadha Vendhan" in 1979 from Sangeethalaya,
Kuala Lumpur; "Bharatha Sangeetha Ratna" in 1980 from Sri Parthasarathi
Gana Sabha, Bangalore; "NAtional-level award" in 1982 from Chowdiah Memorial;
"Saptagiri Sangita Vidwan Mani" in 1988 from Tyagaraja Trust, Tirupati;
:Sangita Kalasagara" in 1991 from Visakha Music Academy.
JOHN
HIGGINS - CULTURAL AMBASSADOR & VOCALIST.............(August 18,1939
- December 8,1984)
It
was a Greek tragedy. The young man from the West came to the land of Purandara
Dasa, Jayadeva and the Carnatic Musical Trinity and quite soon not only
absorbed and assimilated the nuances, intricacies and finesse of carnatic
music but became one of its performing artistes and qualified exponents.
he made a deep impact with his sincerity, dedication, understanding and
involvement and was shaped to be the cultural ambassador for which role,
he was eminently qualified, suited and moulded. This cultural link between
the West and the East was lost, being a victim of a hit and run driver
at the prime of his life. He was born at Andover, Massachusetts, New England.
He did his B.A (music & History 0, M.A (Music) & Ph.D (Ethnomusicology)
from the Wesleyan University.
While
young, he was well encouraged by his father who taught english and his
mother who taught him piano and who accompanied him in his musical pursuits.
Under Fulbright scholarship, Higgins studied Carnatic music at Chennai
during 1964-67 and made his debut quite fittingly at the Tyagaraja Festival,
Tiruvaiyaru in 1965. His marriage in October 1967 with Rhea in the States
was highlighted by a concert in Carnatic music. During 1981-82, he came
to India for the third time as Senior Research Fellow of the American Institute
of Indian studies. He was Professor of Music and Associate Dean of FIne
Art of York University, Toronto during 1971-78, when he became Director
of the Centre for the Arts and Professor of Music, Wesleyan University.
He
kept close contacts with the musicians in India and took interest in popularising
Carnatic music in the States. Sangita Kalanidhis K.V.Narayanaswamy and
T.Viswanathan have given glowing tributes to the attributes, musical acumen
and attainments of Jon Higgins.
