THE JOURNAL OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MUSIC Vol. LI 1980 *Ti W Tfa ^ I W^CrfTT ^ m f o l ^ fcf0Tf*T T O || “ I dwell not in Vaiknntha, nor in the hearts of Yogins nor in the Sun; (but) where my bhaktas sing, there be I, Narada! ” Edited by T. S. PARTHASARATHY 1981 The Music Academy Madras 306, Mowbray’s Road, Madras - 600 014 Annual Subscription - Rs. 12 : Foreign $ 3*00 OURSELVES 2 - This Journal is published as an Annual. All correspondence relating to the Journal should be addressed and all books etc., intended for it should be sent to The Editor, Journal of the Music Academy, 306, Mowbray's Road, Madras-600014. Articles on music and dance are accepted for publication on the understanding that they are contributed solely to the Journal of the Music Academy. Manuscripts should be legibly written or, preferably, type­ written (double spaced and on one side of the paper only) and should be signed by the writer (giving his address in full). The Editor of the Journal is not responsible for the views ex* pressed by contributors in their articles. JOURNAL COMMITTEE OF THE MUSIC ACADEMY I. Sri T. S. Parthasarathy — Editor (and Secretary, Music Academy) 2. 99 T. V. Rajagopalan — Trustee 3. f* S. Ramaswamy — Executive Trustee 4. ff Sandhyavandanam Sreenivasa Rao — Member 5. 99 S. Ramanathan — Member 6. ff S. Natarajan Secretaries of the Music 7. >9 R. Ranganathan > Academy, Ex-officio 8. ff T. S, Rangarajan ' members. CONTENTS -3 PAGE The 53^d Annual Conference of the Music Academy, Madras: Official Report: — 1 Meetings of the Experts’ Committee — 24 The Sadas — 41 The Sangita Sara of Sri Vidyaranya S. Ramanathan — 57 The Pulluvans and Their Music L. S. Rajagopalan — 72 Madurai Gopala Bhagavatar’s Family Manuscript T. Kodandaramaiah — 81 The Natya Sastra in the Tamil Soil (Kum) Padma Subrahmanyam — 89 The Concept of Sruti-Jati-s N. Ramanathan — 99 The Musical Empire of Maharaja Svati Tirunal T. S. Parthasarathy , — 113 Some Aspects of the Rhythmic Beauties of Tiruppugazh P. K. Rajagopala Aiyar — 120 Electronic Sruti Instruments P. E. Sankaranarayanan and Miss K. Meenakshi — 129 Music Teaching—Under Gurukula System and in Recognised Institutions Sandhyavandanam Sreenivasa Rao — 133 The Teaching of Music (Tamil) S. V. Parthasarathy — 140 Book Reviews T. S. Parthasarathy — 147 THE 53Rd MADRAS MUSIC CONFERENCE OFFICIAL REPORT THE OPENING DAY ® 20—12—1979 The 53rd Annual Conference of the Music Academy, Madras, was held at the T. T. Krishnamachari Auditorium in the premises of the Academy, 306, Mowbray’s Road, Madras-600 014, from the 20th December 1979 to 1st January 1980. The Conference was inaugurated by Sri M. Hidayatullah, Vice-President of India. The inaugural function began with the singing of prayer by Smt. Mani Krishnaswamy. MESSAGES Sri S. Ramaswamy, Executive Trustee of the Music Academy, read the following messages received from prominent persons all over India for the success of the 53rd Conference of the Academy. Sri Prabhudas B. Patwari, Governor of Tamil Nadui “ The work done by the Music Academy in fostering our fine arts with dedication is indeed admirable. Its record of service in this field extends to more than half a century. I am particularly happy that this Academy preserves and promotes Classical Carnatic music, promotes understanding between the Carnatic and Hindustani Schools of music and develops research. I wish the Academy a bright and prosperous future and continued success in its laudable endeavours." Sri G. D. Tapase, Governor o f Uttar Pradesh: “ Music and arts, like religion, were another media to trans­ forming the brute unto man, and the man unto god: Whenever these gave way to sensuality and commercialism, societies and nationalities have crumbled to dust. I would therefore, wish the Academy to continue to propounding the fundamentals of drama­ turgy as set forth by our saints and seem and I wish the mission all success." 2 THE JOURNAL OF THE MADRAS MUSIC ACADEMY [Vol. LI Sri Bidesh Kulkarni, Lieutenant Governor, Pondichery: “ I send my congratulations on the occasion and best wishes to the Music Academy for the continued success of its endeavours." Sri Y. B. Chavan, Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister o f India: “ I am happy to learn that this Conference will arrange sessions of both Hindustani and Carnatic music, apart from providing a forum for Indian and foreign musicologists to participate in mutually useful discussions. I send my good wishes for the success of this Conference.” Sri C. Subramaniam, Minister o f Defence, India “ The Music Academy of Madras has done yeoman service to music lovers for the last more than half a century in promoting classical Carnatic music, synthesising Carnatic and Hindustani schools of music, encouraging musicians and instrumentalists and enlightening the public about the fine arts through its research studies and publications. It is in the fitness of things that the 53rd Confer­ ence of the Music Academy will be inaugurated by the Vice-President of India on the 20th December, at Madras. It is equally befitting the occasion that Vidvan Sri K. S. Narayanaswamy will be presiding over the Conference. As usual, I find the Academy will be present­ ing a good fare in dance and music, both in Carnatic and Hindus stani, apart from scholastic discussions on Music and Musicology. I have every hope that, as in previous years, music lovers both Hindustani and Carnatic and dance lovers will be fortunate this year also, to enjoy the performances of renowned artists and pro­ mising youngsters in the field of music and dance.” Sri Fazlur Rahman, Minister o f Labour, Govt, o f India “ The contribution of the Music Academy in preserving and promoting classical Carnatic jnusic and other related arts are laudable. I wish the Conference all success.” Sri S. N. Kacker, Minister o f Law, Justice and Company Affairs, New Delhi “ Music is the greatest uniting factor for mankind and I am sure the Academy will play its unique role in achieving the objective of communal harmony and national integration. I wish the Conference all success.” THE 5 3 r d m a d r a s m u s ic c o n f e r e n c e 3 Dr. M. Chenna Reddy, Chief Minister o f Andhra Pradesh-. “ The services of the Music Academy all these years need not be emphasised. Madras, being traditionally a Camatak music loving city, has also done its best to foster greater understanding between Carnatak and Hindustani schools of music in the recent years. The Academy deserves all congratulations for this task. I am glad that the Academy is proposing to conduct competitions in various branches of music to discover young talent. This is the best opportunity for young and the promising artists to compete with their seniors to prove their worth. I wish the Conference all success.” Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister o f Rajasthan, Jaipur: “ I am happy to learn that the 53rd Conference of the Music Academy, Madras, will be held from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1st 1980. I wish the Conference all success.” Sri P. Kolandaivelu, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Tamil Nadu: “ I congratulate the President, Executive Trustee and Secre­ taries of the Music Academy, Madras, since they are striving hard to preserve and promote Classical Carnatic music and develop Research, studies and publications in the history, theory, art and science of Indian Music. I wish the 53rd Conference of the Music Academy a grand success.” Sri K. A. Krishnaswamy, Minister for Co-operation, Govt, o f Tamil Nadu: “ The Music Academy has rendered yeoman service to preserve and promote Indian Music. I wish the Conference every success.” Sri M. M. Ismail, Chief Justice, Madras High Court: “ The Music Academy has an enviable record to its credit by way of providing entertainment to the public of Madras, encouraging young and devoted artistes and honouring the Masters in the field. In addition, the research activities carried on by the Academy during the period of Conference have won the appreciation of the learned and knowledgeable.” 4 THE JOURNAL OP THE MADRAS MUSIC ACADEMY [Vol. LI Mr. James A. Rubin, Executtve Director, Pan Orient Arts Foundation, Hashua, U.S.A.: “ I have just learned that Sri K. S. Narayanaswamy has been elected to serve as President of this year’s Conference. The Academy should be congratulated on its choice of this dedicated musician and teacher, who exemplifies all that is fine and enduring in music, generally; and in the noble Carnatic tradition, specifically. Please extend my warmest best wishes to the Academy and the new President for a most successful and rewarding Conference.” The President of the Academy, Sri K. R. Sundaram Iyer, welcomed the distinguished guests, members of the Academy and the public. In his address, Sri Snndaram Iyer said: “ Hon’ble Vice-President of India Shri M. Hidayatullah, Vidwan Sri K. S. Narayanaswamy, the President-Elect of this- Conference, Vidwans and Vidushis, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have great pleasure in welcoming you all, the members of the Music Academy, the musicians, the Members of the Experts Committee and other guests. We consider it a great privilege and a source of encouragement to have with us today, a respected distinguished son of our country, Hon’ble Shri M. Hidayatullah, the Vice-President of India, to inaugurate our 53rd Annual Conference and Concerts. His great contribution to the judicial field from the Bar to the highest office of the Chief Justice of India firmly established supreme and un­ shakable faith of our countrymen in the judiciary without which there cannot be any meaningful democracy.