S. R. Janakiraman
Encyclopedia
S. R. Janakiraman is a Carnatic
vocalist and a musicologist. He was born in Lalgudi
, Tamilnadu on July 12, 1928 to Rangaswami Iyer and Gowri Ammal.
He started learning Carnatic music in 1938 and learnt several compositions and under Thanneerpalli Krishnamurthi at Trichirapalli.In Chennai, he continued his musical training from masters including Tiger Varadachariar
, Tiruppamburam Swaminatha Pillai and T Brinda. Other stylistic influences include teachers such as Musiri Subrahmanya Iyer and Kalpakam Swaminathan
. On the side of musicology he was trained by Prof.Sambamoorthy and P.K.Rajagopala Iyer.
He began his career teaching musicology at Madanapalli and Tirupati in Andhrapradesh.He headed the Dept. of Musicology
at Sri Venkateswara College of Music, Tirupati. After retirement, he served as a research scholar and was part of the Experts committee
at the Madras Music Academy
.He also served as the Principal at the Teachers College of Music in the footsteps of his guru.
He is well-known for his lecture demonstrations and a unique presentation style combining knowledge of lakshana and theory with the ability to practically demonstrate them. He is also known for his wide and varied repertoire which includes rare and complex
tana varnas, some of the rarer compositions of Muttusvami Dikshitar and Subbarama Dikshitar
, Compositions of Annamacharya.
Like his teacher Tiger Varadachariar
he belongs to the school of musicians who believes that ancient and medieval ragas can be resurrected successfully and does not believes in vivadi dosha and includes several vivadi ragas as part of his repertoire.
He is a recipient of several awards including the Sangita Kala Acharya (The Music Academy)
,Kalaimamani from the Tamilnadu Government and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award of the Government of India and the Padma shri
72-Mela ragamalika of Mahavaidhyanatha Iyer
Pearls of South Indian Ragas - A CD from Brhaddhvani
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...
vocalist and a musicologist. He was born in Lalgudi
Lalgudi
Lalgudi is a town in Tiruchirapalli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Lalgudi is a town located around 20KM from Tiruchirapalli on NH227 Tiruchirapalli-Chidambaram. Lalgudi lies close to Coleroon River...
, Tamilnadu on July 12, 1928 to Rangaswami Iyer and Gowri Ammal.
He started learning Carnatic music in 1938 and learnt several compositions and under Thanneerpalli Krishnamurthi at Trichirapalli.In Chennai, he continued his musical training from masters including Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar was a famous Carnatic music vocalist who hailed from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. M. D. Ramanathan was his student.-Early life:...
, Tiruppamburam Swaminatha Pillai and T Brinda. Other stylistic influences include teachers such as Musiri Subrahmanya Iyer and Kalpakam Swaminathan
Kalpakam Swaminathan
Kalpakam Swaminathan was a vainika of Carnatic music.-Profile:Kalpakam was born in Sethalapathi village in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. Her mother Abhayambal initiated her into the world of Carnatic music when she was eight years of age...
. On the side of musicology he was trained by Prof.Sambamoorthy and P.K.Rajagopala Iyer.
He began his career teaching musicology at Madanapalli and Tirupati in Andhrapradesh.He headed the Dept. of Musicology
at Sri Venkateswara College of Music, Tirupati. After retirement, he served as a research scholar and was part of the Experts committee
at the Madras Music Academy
Madras 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 also served as the Principal at the Teachers College of Music in the footsteps of his guru.
He is well-known for his lecture demonstrations and a unique presentation style combining knowledge of lakshana and theory with the ability to practically demonstrate them. He is also known for his wide and varied repertoire which includes rare and complex
tana varnas, some of the rarer compositions of Muttusvami Dikshitar and Subbarama Dikshitar
Subbarama Dikshitar
Subbarama Dikshitar was a Carnatic music composer. He was the grandson of Baluswami Dikshitar, a brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. He was a great composer in his own right, but is more famous for his Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini, a book detailing the works of Muthuswami Dikshitar and a reference...
, Compositions of Annamacharya.
Like his teacher Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar
Tiger Varadachariar was a famous Carnatic music vocalist who hailed from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. M. D. Ramanathan was his student.-Early life:...
he belongs to the school of musicians who believes that ancient and medieval ragas can be resurrected successfully and does not believes in vivadi dosha and includes several vivadi ragas as part of his repertoire.
He is a recipient of several awards including the Sangita Kala Acharya (The Music Academy)
,Kalaimamani from the Tamilnadu Government and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award of the Government of India and the Padma shri
Compositions
He is also a composer and has composed varnams, Jatisvarams and Lakshana gitams in various ragas including Vandanadharini, Saraswathi and Amrtavarshini and Gopriya.Publications
- Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini - English translation of Lakshana Sangraha and Pracina Paddhati, 2010
- Sangita Sastra Saramu - A musicology text in Telugu
- Raga Lakshanas - A publication of the Music Academy Madras
- Ragas of Saramrta - A publication of the Music Academy Madras
- Essentials of Musicology - A short concise text dealing with the key elements of musicology
- Lakshana Gitas - Editor - A publication of the Music Academy Madras
- Ragas at a glance - A publication of Carnatica
Papers
- The significance of the divisions of Pallavi, Anupallavi and Caranam JMAM
- Desi Suladi of Annamacarya, JMAM
- Pratimadhyama and its evolution
Audio Visual Presentations
Varnas through the ages72-Mela ragamalika of Mahavaidhyanatha Iyer
Pearls of South Indian Ragas - A CD from Brhaddhvani