The Music Academy, Madras 115-E, Mowbray’S Road
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Tyagaraja Bi-Centenary Volume THE JOURNAL OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS A QUARTERLY DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MUSIC Vol. XXXIX 1968 Parts MV srri erarfa i “ I dwell not in Vaikuntha, nor in the hearts of Yogins, nor in the Sun; (but) where my Bhaktas sing, there be I, Narada l ” EDITBD BY V. RAGHAVAN, M.A., p h .d . 1968 THE MUSIC ACADEMY, MADRAS 115-E, MOWBRAY’S ROAD. MADRAS-14 Annual Subscription—Inland Rs. 4. Foreign 8 sh. iI i & ADVERTISEMENT CHARGES ►j COVER PAGES: Full Page Half Page Back (outside) Rs. 25 Rs. 13 Front (inside) 20 11 Back (Do.) „ 30 „ 16 INSIDE PAGES: 1st page (after cover) „ 18 „ io Other pages (each) „ 15 „ 9 Preference will be given to advertisers of musical instruments and books and other artistic wares. Special positions and special rates on application. e iX NOTICE All correspondence should be addressed to Dr. V. Raghavan, Editor, Journal Of the Music Academy, Madras-14. « Articles on subjects of music and dance are accepted for mblication on the understanding that they are contributed solely o the Journal of the Music Academy. All manuscripts should be legibly written or preferably type written (double spaced—on one side of the paper only) and should >e signed by the writer (giving his address in full). The Editor of the Journal is not responsible for the views expressed by individual contributors. All books, advertisement moneys and cheques due to and intended for the Journal should be sent to Dr. V. Raghavan Editor. Pages. The XLIst Madras Music Conference (The Tyagaraja Bi-Centenary Conference), 1967-Ofi5cial Report ... 1— 42 Chinnaswami Mudaliar & Subbarama Dikshitar- Their contribution to the Study of Tyagaraja Kritis by Dr. S. Ramakrishnan ... 43— 47 Sri Tyagaraja's influence on Modern Music by Vidvan Sandhyavandanam Srinivasa Rao 48— 53 Influence of Traditional Music on Tyagaraja by Sri Y. Satyanarayana 54— 60 Krishnalila Prasanga in the Kirtanas of Purandara Dasa and Tyagaraja by Asthana Vidvan N. Chennakesaviah 61— 72 The Spread and Development of Tyagaraja Kirtanas in Mysore by Asthana Vidvan N. Chennakesaviah 73— 77 Compositions of Sri Tyagaraja and their Tradition and Vogue in Andhra Desa by Vidvan Nori Nagabhushanam Pantulu 78— 84 Tyagaraja’s Kirtanas in Hindi by Vidvan Srirangam R. Kannan, Benares Hindu University 85— 87 Some more Hindi versions of Tyagaraja Kritis by Sri Ramamurti Renu, A.I.R. Hyderabad 88— 89 Tyagaraja in his Signatures by Dr. V. Raghavan 90— 99 Tyagaraja and Annamacharya by Dr. V. Raghavan 100—105 f ■ T- 0- CONTBNTI Pages * Tyagaraja and Ramadasa by Dr. V. Raghavan ... 106—111 Kritis of Tyagaraja—An Analyiia by Sri K. R. Rajagopalan, Christian College, Tambaram ... 112—167 Boek>Review: S. Srinivasa Rao 168 Tyagaraja—A Pictorial Album THE XLIst MADRA8 MUSIC CONFERENCE {The Tyagaraja Birth Bi-Centenary Conference conducted jointly with the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi) OFFICIAL REPORT The Opening Day 20th December, 1967 As 1967 happened to be the year of the bi-Centenary of the birth of the great Carnatic composer Sri Tyagaraja, a Committee was set up by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi to celebrate the event at a national level and to organise the celebrations at important centres, Delhi, Lucknow, Calcutta, Bombay, Hydera bad, Madras, Bangalore, Trivandrum and Tiruvayyaru. It was resolved to conduct the Madras celebrations in co-operation with the Music Academy, Madras. Accordingly the Music Academy, Madras decided to organise their 41st Annual Conference as a Tyagaraja Bi-centenary Conference, in which Tyagaraja and his compositions would figure in the Experts’ Committee Sessions as well as in the concerts. Special efforts were made by the Music Academy, Madras to achieve this objective. The papers, discussions and demonstra tions of the Experts’ Committee were all devoted to Saint Tyagaraja, his genius and compositions, and in all the concerts Tyagaraja’s songs were exclusively rendered, thereby providing an index to the Tyagaraja repertoire of the musicians. An exhibition of photographs relating to Tyagaraja’s life and work prepared by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, as also of publications and manuscripts containing the compositions of the Saint and accounts of his life and expositions of his art, collected from several individuals and institutions, was also organised. As part of the Festival, two Harikathas were performed on the life of the Saint-composer and the dramatic poem of the Composer Nauka Caritram was also produced as a dance-drama. Reprc- 2 THH JOURNAL OF THE MADRAS MUSIC ACADBMY [VOL. XXXIX sentatives of the three traditions of the pupils of Tyagaraja were invited and as a fitting conclusion to the whole celebrations, there was a bhajana in which Bhagavatas brought up in the traditional style of devotional congregational singing participated. Opening Function The 41st Conference and Tyagaraja Bi-centenary celebrations began on 20-12-’67 in the auditorium of the Music Academy, 115-B, Mowbray’s Road, Royapettah, Madras-14. Because of the special nature of the Conference, there was a record attendance and an atmosphere of devotion and piety filled the hall. Musicians and musicologists from different parts of India as also representatives from foreign countries, besides members of the Academy and special invitees, were present. The Conference was opened by H. E. Dr. B. Gopal Reddi, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, who has not only been actively connected with Central Sangeet Natak Akademi but was also himself a student of the Saint and his compositions. The pro ceedings began with prayer by Vidwan K. V. Narayanaswami who rendered the Kriti ‘ Sadguru svamiki ’ in Ritigaula composed by the late Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Aiyangar as a homage to Saint Tyagaraja. Messages Dr. V. Raghavan, Secretary, Music Academy, Madras* then read messages received for the success of the 41st Conference and Tyagaraja Bi-centenary celebrations: Dr. Zakir Hussain, President of India, said in his message t— “ I send my best wishes for the success of the forty-first Music Conference and Sri Tyagaraja bi-centenary celebrations which the Music Academy, Madras, will hold at Madras, from the 20th December, 1967, in co-operation with the Sangeet Natak AkadFmi, Delhi.” Dr. S. Radhakrishnan wrote:— “ I am pleased to know that many renowned musicians of Madras and elsewhere are attending the 41st Conference of the Music Academy, Madras and celebrating the great services f- PTS. M v] THB XLISt m adras m u sic c o n f e r e n c e 3 rendered to the great art by Sri Tyagaraja. His songs are well known throughout the country and have served to integrate oar society and keep the impulse of religion alive. I wish the Conference all success.” The Vice-President of India Sri V. V. Giri sent his best wishes for the success of the Conference. Smt. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, wrote:— ” Shri Tyagaraja’s inspiring' genius has enriched our music and has brought it to the common man for it provides a synthesis of classical music with devotional compositions which appeals to the initiated as well as to the uninitiated. “I am glad that the Madras Music Academy is dedicating this year’s session of its Annual Conference to the great saint- composer Shri Tyagaraja to celebrate his bi-centenary. My greetings to the Conference which I hope will further advance knwledge and understanding of the music of the saint-composer.” Dr. P. V. Rajamannar, first Chairman of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi wrote: “ The Annual Conference of the Music Academy, Madras, and the programme of concerts and recitals of Music and Dance, 'associated with it, have contributed in an abundant measure to the development and spread of these two great art-forms and have become a leading feature every year. Apart from the concerts and recitals, the discussions of experts in Music - \d Musicology have proved to be of inestimable value and have served to demonstrate the fundamental unity of Indian Culture. On this occasion of the 41st Annual Conference of the Academy, I send my greetings and good wishes for its success.” Dr. Trigun Sen, Education Minister at the Centre said :— “ I am glad that the Madras Music Academy is holding its 41st Music Conference dedicated to the saint-composer Shri Tyagaraja. I am particularly happy that Shri Tyagaraja’s bi centenary is being celebrated this year on an All-India basis by 4 THB JOURNAL OF THB MADRAS MOslO ACADEMV [VOL, XXilrf the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi and other State Akademis and music institutions. I attach great importance to such celebra tions as they spread the message of great men to the wider public and involve larger audiences in the appreciation of artistic and cultural manifestations. “The Madras Music Academy has been a dynamic force in the development and promotion of music for more than four decades now. Its contribution to music and musicology in general and to South Indian music in particular is significant. I am sure the deliberations during the Conference and the recitals would further deepen our understanding of the music of Shri Tyagaraja. I con gratulate the Madras Music Academy in its noble endeavour and wish the Conference a great success.” Messages had come from the following Governors of States, wishing the Conference success : Dr. P. V. Cherian— Maharashtra; Dr. Pavate-Punjab; Sri K. C. Reddy—Madhya Pradesh. Messages had also been received from some of the Central and State Ministers and Chief Ministers of States. Sri M. Anantasayanam Ayyangar, former Governor, sent his good wishes. Sri S. N. Mozumdar, former Vice-President of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi said:- ~ “ I have been impressed throughout by the sustained activities, 'of a high order, of the Music Academy, Madras.