The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A Carnatic music ready reckoner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 06, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A Carnatic music ready reckoner

Ranjani Govind

The ‘Directory of Karnatak Musicians’ has 2,598 listings, with addresses

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Many contacts: H. S. Sudhindra with the ‘Directory of Karnatak Musicians’ .

Bangalore: With 2,598 listings, the “Directory of Karnatak Musicians” is a treasure trove for music lovers.

Everyone, however remotely connected to Carnatic music, finds a mention in this comprehensive directory, which is complete with addresses and cellphone numbers.

Categories

Organised meticulously into nearly 60 categories, the directory, produced by the Suswaralaya College of Music, lists vocalists and instrumentalists; CD and cassette dubbing venues; sound systems and music shops; websites and magazines; photographers and videographers; instrument dealers and repairers; critics and musicologists; concert halls and recording studios; competition lists and percussion ensembles and even hotels and travel agents for the artistes’ perusal.

Percussionist H.S. Sudhindra, principal and managing trustee of the Suswaralaya College of Music, speaks of how the directory came to be: “I used to meticulously note down addresses of my co-artists wherever I went. When I found myself with six fat diaries of details, I decided it was time to get the information into order in a professional manner so that it could be used by everyone. That set the ball rolling for what became a massive project. I am glad my address-hunting habit has landed me with three editions of this exhaustive directory.”

So thorough has Mr. Sudhindra been that he even has a listing of 300 important sabhas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Pune.

“Some regular music sabha aficionados are also listed so that organisers can contact these connoisseurs with programme details,” says Mr. Sudhindra.

Senior music critics, scholars and performing artistes have appreciated the herculean effort behind the 160-page directory, the first of its kind in Karnataka.

The eight-year old Suswaralaya College of Music, which has been involved in teaching Carnatic music and in promoting the artsthrough annual programmes and lectures, is now gearing itself to release the 4th edition of the musicians’ directory early next year.

For details, call 26545655 or 94480 59595.

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