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MUSIC

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
 
  
D.PATTAMMAL - MUSICIAN / COMPOSER.............(b. - c.1928)
Wife of Dr.M.N.Dandapani, Pattammal is an ardent devotee of Classical music initially as a vocalist and when she lost her voice, as a composer and musicologist. She had been giving concerts on All India Radio for sometime but her contribution to music is laudable for her publications and compositions :
'Madhava Geetham' - Jayadeva's Ashtapadi in Tamil in 1979;
'Mela Ragha Kritimala' - Tamil compositions in the 72 Mela ragas in 1981 as has been done by Kotiswara Ayyar;
'Janya Raga Kritimala' with 83 compositions;
'Raga Pravaham' jointly with her spouse on raga classifications, etc., a book of reference of much use in 1984;
Hundreds of kritis and kirtanas called Arul kirtanas, Tiruvilayadal Kirtanas, etc.

Pattammal had varied training in music with Alamelu Jayarama Ayyar ( an authority on Ashtapadi and wife of famous lawyer, K.S.Jayarama Ayyar), Pozhakudi P.V.Ganesier, Kalakad Ramanarayana Ayyar and D.K.Pattammal.

Titles & Honours :
Sahitya Ratna, Vaggeya Ratna & Kalimamani from Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram


 
M.P. PERIASWAMI @Pe. THOORAN - COMPOSER
Born at Modakurichi in Coimbatore district of Palanivelappa Gounder and Paavaathal, he was a born teacher, patriot and a composer of merit. He was greatly influenced and inspired by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. He declined to sit for his examination for Bachelor of Arts shocked by the execution of the immortal Bhagat Singh, a prince among patriots by the British. Thooran qualified later passing B.A., L.T. A voracious writer, he composed over six hundred songs on national, spiritual and moral issues. He wote 'a poem a day' for several years after his daily poojahs. His song 'Adu Ratte' was a clarion patriotic call which was widely in current use during the Freedom Struggle. He became popular and the melody queen N.C.Vasanthakokilam included this piece in her cocnerts invariably. A precocious child and later a man with noble ideals, Thooran is an acknowldeged poet and composer. Analogous to Tyagarajah's 'Santhamulekha, Soukyamu ledhu', Thooran's 'Santhamillamal sukham undo?' (Nattakurinji) stresses that there is no joy without patience and no contentment amidst worries. Deep philosophical truths lay hidden in his simple devotional songs. Musical aesthtics and bhava find abundant evidence in his compositions.

With profound poetic talents, he had to seek like Arunachala Kavirayar outside help to set his songs to tune as he was not a musician. He availed of the services of Sivaramakrishna Ayyar as guru and choreographer. (Sivaramakrishnan was born in 1913 at Mavelikara in Kerala and had joined Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya as music teacher in 1937). Thooran had also availed of the services of senior musicians like K.V. Narayanaswamy, T.M. Theagarajan, T.K. Govinda Rao and T.V. Sankaranarayanan to set his songs to music.

Eminent musicians like Tiger Varadachariar, Musiri Subramania Ayyar and Semmangudi Srinivasa Ayyar had spoken highly of his compositions. His songs have been brought out in five volumes titled 'Isai Mani Manjari'. Annamalai University, Alliance Company, Tamil Isai Sangham and Tamil Writers' Association have brought out his works. His publications include 'Thooran Stories' (1962), 'Nalla Nalla Paattu' (1965), 'Call of the Wild' and 'Bharati' for children.

His claim to fame rests on his memorable contributions to Tamil. He was Chief Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia during 1948-1978 and the encyclopaedia went into ten huge volumes. The credit for bringing out the first-ever Children's Encyclopaedia in Tamil in ten volumes also goes to him. His life was one of fulfilment and enduring contribution of intellectual excellence. The moral code of conduct he set for himself was high. When T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar granted him a salary of Rs.30, he took only Rs.15 per mensem. This reminds one of the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri, Gottuvadyam Sakharama Rao and Violin Sundaresa Ayyar of Tiruvalangadu and men of such unstained galactic stream.
Posts Held:
Teacher in Bobichettipalayam - 4 years
Warden & Teacher, Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Perianaickenpalayam - 15 years
Chief Editor, Tamil Encyclopaedia - 1948-1978
Chief Editor, Tamil Kalai Kalanjiam, a prestigious journal

Honours & Titles:
Padma Bhushan by President of India 1968
Isai Perarignar by Tamil isai Sangham 1972
Kalaimamani by TamilNadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram 1970
Annamali Chettiar Award by MAC Charities 1978

Thoorans's multi-sided interests covered the deliberations and activities of
The All India Radio
Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram
Tamil Isai Sangham
Centre of College of Carnatic Music
Tamil Kalluri, etc.


 
R.PICHUMANI - VAINIKAT....................................(b. May 18, 1920)
Born in a family of musicians, R.Pichumani had training in vocal music under Jalra Gopala Ayyar at the age of ten and later veena with Tiruchi Kuppanna. At the age of fifteen he won the prize for Carnatic Vocal at the National College. Became a 'Sangeetha Bhooshanam' of the Annamalai University under the stalwarts Tiger Vatradachariar, K.S.Narayanaswami Ayyar and V.S.Gomati Sankara Ayyar. 'On the foundations of the intensive training received there, he built for himself a distinct Classical Carnatic aesthetics enduring the pressures thrust on him by the materially rich and gorgeous world of cine-music in which he had to serve for a number of years during his early years.

For nearly five decades, Pichmani has been a dedicated sampradaya vainika having given over 1500 concerts on the radio, doordarshan, sabhas, etc. he is a respected vidwan known for unruffled rendition at once satisfying and soothing.


 
DR.S.PINAKAPANI - VOCALIST.............(b.August 3, 1913)
If music has therapeutic values, a surgeon and post-graduate in medicine is the best qualified person to be a musician. Dr.S.Pinakapani is an eminent musician and a civil surgeon who dissects not only human anatomy but also the intricate vistas of Carnatic music with distinction.

Son of S.Kameswara Rao and S.Jayamma, the doctor learnt music from B.S.Lakshmana Rao of Mysore and had advanced training under Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu and Rangaramanuja Ayyangar. After his debut in 1936, he had given numerous vocal recitals on the All India Radio and elsewhere. He has been Asthana Vidwan, Tirumalai Tirupathi Devasthanams. He has composed tana varnams in rakti ragas.

He is the recipient of many awards like :
Sangita Natak Academy Awards - Both Delhi and Andhra Pradesh - 1966 & 1977
Ganakala Prapoorna
Sangita Kala Sikhamani
Honoured by the Indian Fine Arts Society
Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy, Madras in 1984.
"Dr.Piakapani is a unique combination of a highly qualified medical expert and an outstanding vocalist with a vast repertoire assiduosly built up over the decades. Even as a student he showed a predilection for music and could write down much in notation with extraordinary facility.' He has many disciples including Medunuri Krishnamoorthy, the fine classicist.


 
MADURAI PUSHPAVANAM - VOCALIST.............(1885-August 1917)
'A handsome stripling with a curious coiffure that subsequently became the fashion among his fans, clad in spotless white muslin with loose sleeves flying about, with eyes closed and the music! What an intoxicating voice, responding readily, with incredible ease and grace, to the surging crescendo of ravishing, sophisticated music conjured up from a highly imaginative mind! And how the audience rocked and swayed as if in a trance.'
observes R.Rangaramanuja Ayyangar on Pushpavanam of Madurai, a disciple of one of the renowned teachers of yester years, Ettayapuram Ramachandra Bhagavathar. The teacher prayed for a disciple who would blend his unmatched expertise with a divine voice and Pushpavanam was the answer and gift to him. Pushpavanam was a musical discovery, a treasure-trove. The 'Flower Garden' which the name of the vocalist means, was a veritable garden of raga, tana, pallavi, kriti and swara and he was a master of concerts with few to challenge; but unfortunately, he passed away too soon leving an undying name and fame. His daughter, Rajam was a vocalist and Sangita Kalanidhi Madurai Mani Ayyar was his nephew.


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