Maharajapuram Santhanam
N.Lakshminarayanan,Auburn Univ. AL36849
From what little I have heard of Santhanam's music, I should say for
sure that his rendition of compositions was easily one of the best
numbered few among those of musicians contemporary and of the recent past
(ie.whose music is on record)--he rendered them with a spirit which
can only be the product of a good amount of inspiration and not a
bland,lacklustre perspective which is what one usually gains.
A loss indeed.
Ln.
S.N. Muthukrishnan
The sad demise of Maharajapuram Santhanam has left the music world devoid
of one of the classiest exponents of Carnatic music.
A gifted musician, Maharajapuram Santhanam has held several respected
positions and has received numerous awards. He was bestowed with honors from
His Highness the Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt.
His renedition were of great style. Augmented by the "ganeer" of his voice
he rose to fame in the 70's and stayed at the pinnacle. Undeterred by
criticisms, he continued to live a lifestyle many were bothered about.
He has several records and albums to his credit. His recent recording of the
confluence of Orchestra (of M.S. Viswanathan) and Carnatic music is a treatise
by itself. The cassette named Sangamam was released recently in India. His CD's
of the recenet past, and his records are still memories of a great musician.
I hope the tradition of Carnatic music as seen by Santhanam, will be carried on
by his sons and the future generations to come.
May his soul rest in peace.
Muthukrishnan
S. N. Muthukrishnan mu...@mecad.uta.edu (NeXT mail)
sr...@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca
also one of the few Classical musicians, who had great respect and
appreciation for Tamil compositions as well as for the traditional
compositions. He often included compositions of aazhvaars and naayanmaars as
well as the compositions of modern Tamil composers like, Papanasam Sivan,
ooththukkaadu Vekatasubbaiyer, in his concerts. In some concerts, he has
rendered the main piece itself in Tamil. His own compositions, mostly in Tamil
also reflect his desire to popularize Tamil compositions among Carnatic music
lovers.
Of late, he has been spending every summer in North American concerts.
His demise is a great loss to Carnatic music lovers in and outside India.
K. Srinivasan sr...@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca
Nallanthighal Venkata C
... I went to his concerts at Hyderabad for couple times.
Very informative and presents a new dimension to most of the
common ragas....
... I do not understand this kind of sudden death of this great
musician...
Venkat Nallanthi
Shiva Shivakumar
>well as the compositions of modern Tamil composers like, Papanasam Sivan,
>ooththukkaadu Vekatasubbaiyer, in his concerts. In some concerts, he has
>
Ooththukkadu Venkatasubbaiyer is a pre-Thyagaraja composer.
Jagadisan Shivakumar
Shiva Shivakumar
>
>Thanks very much for the information. A few of his songs like 'alai paayudhE'
>in kaanada are famous since a long time. But many are being popularized only
>recently. T. N. Seshagopalan has given 2 cassetes full in 1991 and 1992.
>Bombay sisters and Maharajapuram Santhanam both have given one each in 1991/2.
>They are simple, rhythmic and are particularly suited for Bharatanatyam.
>
>If you know of his history please do post it.
>
>Srinivasan K.
Recently more and more Tamil songs are being 'accepted' into Carnatic music.
For a long time, Tamil songs got an unfair (IMHO) treatment in the hands of
Carnatic musicians - who were largely Tamilians. But many of these musicians
are not accepted/unheard of in Andhra and Karnataka for 1) their alleged mispronounciation
of Telugu and Sanskrit and 2) a tendency to promote
local artists. Also very rarely have Carnatic musicians from these states
sung any Tamil kritis. All this must have helped SOME musicians and music
lovers realize that 'ooraar payirai ooti vaLarkkum ' tendency hurts you
when 'oraar' criticize your 'vaLarppu' and also do not consider your payir
unmusical.
Jagadisan Shivakumar