Guitar Prasanna
Encyclopedia
Prasanna is a South Indian Carnatic
musician who plays the south Indian musical art form of Carnatic music
on the electric guitar
. He is the second musician to take the guitar to the carnatic classical stage after Sukumar prasad
. He not only plays carnatic music but is also a jazz
musician. Some also categorize Prasanna's music under world fusion.
. He studied with violin
ist A. Kanyakumari. Around this time, he performed several concerts in the sabhas in Chennai
.
Today Prasanna is seen as a pioneer in performing Carnatic (south Indian classical) music on the guitar as well as an accomplished performer/composer in jazz and film music.
As a composer, Prasanna also scored the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary Smile Pinki
, as well as several scores for feature films and contemporary dance theater, and he orchestrated A.R. Rahman’s title score for the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan.
After studying engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Prasanna earned an
honors degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Prasanna is the founder President of Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, India's first professional college for contemporary music.He is part of "Tirtha" project with pianist Vijay Iyer
.
in Naval Architecture
from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1992. In 1999, He was awarded an Honours Bachelor's degree from the Berklee School of Music majoring in Classical Composition
and Jazz Composition. Author of Ragamorphism a carnatic guitar instruction DVD released on January 20, 2004.
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
musician who plays the south Indian musical art form of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
on the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. He is the second musician to take the guitar to the carnatic classical stage after Sukumar prasad
Sukumar prasad
Sukumar Prasad is a South Indian guitarist who was the first Carnatic musician to play the south Indian musical art form of Carnatic music on the electric guitar. He not only played Carnatic music on guitar but was a skilled mridangam artist who accompanied stalwarts including Alathur Srinivasa...
. He not only plays carnatic music but is also a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician. Some also categorize Prasanna's music under world fusion.
Early Years
Prasanna began learning guitar when he was ten years old and studied with Dr C.G.Shanmugaraj Phd(Raj Echo Orchestra) and then Samuel Thangadurai. After learning quite a few things on his own, in 1984, he started formal instruction with Tiruvarur Balasubramaniam. In 1989, he gave his first professional Carnatic music concert at the Madras Music AcademyMadras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
. He studied with violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist A. Kanyakumari. Around this time, he performed several concerts in the sabhas in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
Today Prasanna is seen as a pioneer in performing Carnatic (south Indian classical) music on the guitar as well as an accomplished performer/composer in jazz and film music.
As a composer, Prasanna also scored the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary Smile Pinki
Smile Pinki
Smile Pinki is a 39-minute documentary directed by Megan Mylan. The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip...
, as well as several scores for feature films and contemporary dance theater, and he orchestrated A.R. Rahman’s title score for the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan.
After studying engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Prasanna earned an
honors degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Prasanna is the founder President of Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, India's first professional college for contemporary music.He is part of "Tirtha" project with pianist Vijay Iyer
Vijay Iyer
Vijay Iyer is a jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, producer, electronic musician, and writer based in New York City.-Biography:Born in 1971 and raised in Rochester, New York, Vijay Iyer is the son of Indian Tamil immigrants to the US. He received 15 years of Western classical training on violin...
.
Education
Prasanna received a Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Naval Architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1992. In 1999, He was awarded an Honours Bachelor's degree from the Berklee School of Music majoring in Classical Composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and Jazz Composition. Author of Ragamorphism a carnatic guitar instruction DVD released on January 20, 2004.
Awards and achievements
- Life Time Achievement Award, 2003 from Shankaracharya Shri. Jayendra SaraswathiJayendra SaraswathiSri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is the 69th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham....
swamigal of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham - The Berklee College of Music-Composition Achievement Award
- Prasanna is an acclaimed film composer having scored for feature films and the 2009 Oscar award winning documentary film Smile PinkiSmile PinkiSmile Pinki is a 39-minute documentary directed by Megan Mylan. The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip...
. - Prasanna has worked regularly on multi-platinum Indian film soundtracks for such top composers as Illayaraja and Oscar winner A.R. Rahman. His orchestration and arranging credits include the title score of the Oscar nominated Bollywood film Lagaan.
Discography
Prasanna performed with several jazz artists and has also given several Carnatic concerts. Below are some of his albums:- Jazz
- Be The Change with Victor WootenVictor WootenVictor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
and other Grammy Awards winners. - Peaceful
- Guitars with the Belgian band Aka MoonAka MoonAka Moon is a Belgian avant-garde jazz band. Saxophonist Fabrizio Cassol, bassist Michel Hatzigeorgiou, and drummer Stéphane Galland are the founding members of the core trio...
- Echo - a fusion album of Sathya Sai BabaSathya Sai BabaŚri Sathya Sai Baba , born as Sathyanarayana Raju was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist, and educator. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a spiritual saint and miracle worker who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and...
Bhajans - Summa cum Jazz
- Raga Bop Trio - 2010 album featuring Steve Smith, Prasanna and George Brooks
- Be The Change with Victor Wooten
- Carnatic
- Shakthi The OmniPotent
- Natabhairavi
- Apoorva
- Roots
- Guitar - Indian Style
- Spirit of Youth / Classical Music of India
- Guitar Meets ThavilThavilThe thavil or tavil is a barrel shaped drum from South India. It is used in temple, folk and Carnatic music, often accompanying the nadaswaram. The thavil and the nadaswaram are essential ingredients of traditional festivals and ceremonies in South India.The thavil consists of a cylindrical shell...
/ Vibrant Aesthetics - Evergreen Classicals on Guitar
- Evergreen Melodies on Guitar
- Raa Rama
- Live in Sedona - from 2008 US Tour, Live concert DVD
- Other
- Electric Ganesha Land - A tribute to Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. - Ragamorphism - A carnatic guitar instruction DVD.
- Electric Ganesha Land - A tribute to Jimi Hendrix