A century of memories
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On this centenary year of the legendary Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Gayana Samaja organises a weeklong music festival, beginning July 20
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MAESTRO Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer at a performance at the Gayana Samaja
Ayoung man from Semmangudi
in Tamil Nadu,
all of 14, had shown a
radiant presence on the
Gayana Samaja platform in
Bangalore, nearly eight decades
ago. Gayana Samaja was
also in its teens then, overflowing
with energy and zeal
to bring in the best of musicians
from all over the
country for Bangaloreans to
revel in. The childhood musician
was none other than
Srinivasa Iyer who had already
shown sparks of his
budding mastery. So proficient
was the young master
that the vocalist gradually
came to be referred to as
`Semmangudi' itself. Just as
Srinivasa Iyer was regarded
as an institution by himself, it
is for the propagation of such
serious `gayana' that Gayana
Samaja had been established,
and the persistent efforts to
sieve the best of talents year
after year was what helped
the institution celebrate its
centenary in 2005.
It is only too thoughtful of
the 103-year-old sabha to
commemorate the grand old
legend of Carnatic Music,
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer,
who etched the path to the
grand Semmangudi school,
an approach and style that is
time-honoured. As this year
happens to be Semmangudi's
birth centenary, Gayana Samaja's
homage will bring a
melody special dedicated to
the maestro. Scheduled from
July 20 to 26, it will be followed
with the Samaja's Annual
Conference and Music
Festival (with morning and
evening sessions) from July
27 to August 3.
Says H. Kamalanath, President,
Gayana Samaja: "In our
homage to the master from
Semmangudi, we will have
music and dance presentations
where in compositions
of Swati Tirunal composed by
Srinivasa Iyer will be taken
up. There will be a photographic,
video and multimedia
presentation on the life
and achievements of Iyer,
some audio clips of his live
concerts, and lecture demonstrations
from eminent musicians
closely associated
with the master and his
school on various aspects of
his life and passion."
No words needed
Reminiscing the maestro
who was known for his quick
repartee, Kamalanath says:
"When we requested him to
formally inaugurate the fullyfurnished
auditorium of
Gayana Samaja on K.R. Road
in 1994, he had instantly said:
`Let it be a musical dedication
to Goddess Sharada,' don't
have speeches and ribboncuttings,'
and the musician
went on to take to the stage
directly with music without a
word or lecture. He was
straightforward, but practical
and down to earth. As he was
associated with the Royal
family of Travancore and had
popularised the Swati Tirunal
kritis, we thought some of
them could be highlighted
too. We had conferred the
`Gayana Sarvabhouma' on the
master, a rare honour from
the Samaja bestowed on two
musicians only till now."
Gayana Samaja is into its
104th year of service, perhaps
the oldest institution in India
to have uninterrupted yearly
programmes from 1905. How
did the effort mature into a
colossal establishment in
Karnataka where the all-time
maestros from all over the
country have illuminated its
dais? Recalls Kamalanath: "It
all began in 1905 with a group
of ardent music lovers going
from house to house collecting
funds and these 100-odd
years have seen the Samaja's
musical history grow from
Ekambara Sahuji Hall in
Chikpet and Hall of London
Mission High School whose
headmaster K. Ramachandra
Rao played an important role
for the Samaja's formation.
Later, the old Sanskrit
College in Chamarajpet and the
Shankaraiah Hall constructed
by Chief Justice K.S. Chandrashekhara
Iyer was of
immense help, before the Samaja
could afford a building
of its own in 1962. It was M.S.
Subbulakshmi's personal
contribution and funds collected
out of her benefit concerts
that increased the
reserves enormously to see
the building take shape."
Long journey
The modest-yet modern
hall with good acoustics on
K.R. Road today has close to
2,000 members. From the oldest
Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar,
Mysore Vasudevacharya,
Muthiah Bhagavathar, Veena
Seshanna to Omkarnath Thakur
and Bade Ghulam Ali
Khan. the accomplishment
has seen a delicious spread.
Known for its `no-language
and regional restrictions' the
Samaja has Carnatic, Hindustani,
dance, gamaka, musical
features and drama, just as its
spread of youth festivals,
competitions and conferences
go on. A book on the history
of the Samaja and a
reference guide of Carnatic
compositions is on the cards.
(Call 26506049 for programme
details)
RANJANI GOVIND
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