Elder statesman of Carnatic music
LALITHAA KRISHNAN
SEMMANGUDI SRINIVASA IYER — Life and Music: Centenary Commemoration: V. Subrahmaniam, V. Sriram; Westland Ltd., 571, Poonamalle High Road, Aminjikarai, Chennai-600029. Rs. 750.
Among the classical greats who left their distinctive footprints on Carnatic music’s walk of fame, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer’s name features prominently. Tracing the fascinating trajectory of his life and music, this book is co-authored by V. Subrahmaniam (Part II - Music) senior musician and long-time disciple of Semmangudi and music historian V. Sriram (Part I - Life), with a foreword by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.
From humble beginnings in Sempongudi village (later known as Semmangudi), which soon became a household name, the ace musician’s meteoric rise to fame and his lifelong commitment to upholding the highest ideals of classicism ensured that his own star shone bright in a galaxy already aglitter with contemporaneous musical luminaries. A worthy inheritor of his maternal uncle, the renowned violin vidwan Tirukkodikkaval Krishna Iyer’s musical legacy and that of his gurus, Semmangudi was a staunch traditionalist. The deep-seated conviction that music was his destiny led the young boy to apply himself with touching dedication, whether it was in practice sessions, writing notations or perfecting autographs! There were no lean years in Semmangudi’s portfolio.
Creative bounty
Musically verdant, his world overflowed with creative bounty stemming from a rich harvest of teaching, tuning, performing and administering. Even when obliged to abstain from singing post-tonsillectomy, he put the time to good use by immersing himself in the demanding task of resurrecting Maharaja Swathi Tirunal’s compositions, his appointment as the Principal of the Swati Tirunal Academy of Music at the behest of Maharani Sethu Parvathi Bayi coming as a boon. It was a fruitful association, resulting in the unearthing and extensive propagation of the great composer’s works — yeoman service, which the deeply appreciative royal family of Travancore recognised by conferring a special title on him. With a steady stream of encomiums and awards decorating his career, he went from strength to strength.
V. Sriram is known as a chronicler whose writings are based on events recorded in archival material. The tone is admiring without being unctuous, the encompassing scope of the meticulously compiled narrative making for a page turner, as you marvel, chuckle and ponder your way through the biography. Armed with a native shrewdness that turned situations to his advantage, Semmangudi’s natural wit and affability served as his passport to society’s charmed circles, winning him wealthy patrons and influential friends.
Vintage moments
Often accused by his detractors of masterminding Machiavellian intrigues, the “Pitamaha” did attract his share of controversies. While outlining these, the author’s carefully worded explanations tend to skim the surface, presenting the facts and a ready defence while diplomatically sidestepping the task of examining the other side of the coin. V. Subrahmaniam’s in-depth analysis of his guru’s music offers valuable insights.
Though Semmangudi was destiny’s favoured child, it was not simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time, as you learn about his struggles to tame a recalcitrant voice, and the determination and toil that went into crafting a performing style that succeeded not because of but despite his voice. Energetic and ebullient, his every concert, backed by meticulous planning, was an unqualified success marked by a sustained dynamism from start to finish. His own guru bhakti coupled with his generosity towards disciples and command over lakshana and lakshya aspects made him the ideal guru.
With photographs that capture moods and vintage moments and sketches by cartoonists Mali and Sama adding a lively touch, the authors have recreated the saga of an eminent musician who was the elder statesman of music — one who left a lasting legacy to musicians and music lovers. The enclosed free audio CD of selected masterpieces from his concerts is the icing on the cake.
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