Koteeswara Iyer (1870 - 1940) Biography and Works

Biography

Koteeswara Iyer is an important post-trinity composer, known for his many krithi-s in Vivadhi Raaga-s.

Koteeswara Iyer was born into a music famly. His grand father was the famous poet and composer Kavikunjara Bharati, a contemporary of the trinity. Koteeswara Iyer was initially trained by his grand father. Later he was trained by Ramnad Sreenivasa Iyengar and then by Patnam Subramania Iyer. Koteeswara Iyer's mudra, Kavi Kunjaradasan, shows his respect for his grand father, Kavikunjara Bharati.

Koteeswara Iyer penned over 200 compositions. He also composed a krithi in each of the 72 mela-s and published them in his book Kandha Gaanamritham. But he is well known for his Vivaadi raaga krith-s like Mohanakara (Neethimathi), Ma madhura sarasa (Ganamurthi) and Singara Kumari (Varunapriya). Famous vocalist S. Rajam is one of the artists who has sung a lot of Koteeswara Iyer krithi-s and popularized them

Teachers & Influences: Patnam Subramanya Iyer, Ramnad Sreenivasa Iyengar


Mudra: Kavi Kunjaradasan

Genre Carnatic: Krithi

Languages used: Tamil, Telugu


Compositions:
Adum azhaginile Kosalam Adi Krithi
Alagade Hatakambari Adi Krithi
Amboruha padame Natabhairavi Rupaka Krithi
Ananda rakshaka Jhalavarali Adi Krithi
Andharanga bhakthi Shadvidhamargini Adi Krithi
Anjaade Pavani Misra Chapu Krithi
Appa Muruga Divyamani Adi Krithi
Appane kapali HanumaThodi Rupaka Krithi
Arul shaiya Rasikapriya Adi Krithi
Ayyane atkol Kambhoji Triputa Krithi
Dasanena Gukasena Vanaspathi Adi Krithi
En maname Namanarayani Adi Krithi
Enai alayya Sankarabharanam Adi Krithi
Ganamudham Salagam Adi Krithi
Ganasudhaapanamu Jyotisvarupini Misra Chapu Krithi
Ghananayadesika Rishabhapriya Adi Krithi
Gitamudame Madhyamavathi Adi Krithi
Iha para sukha Suvarnangi Rupaka Krithi
Vachaspathi Rupaka Krithi
Isan Kanakasabhesan Begada Adi Krithi
Ka guha Shanmukha Kosalam Rupaka Krithi
Kaana kankodi vendum Chakravakam Rupaka Krithi
Kada bhakthachintamani Dharmavathi Misra Chapu Krithi
Kaikuda Latangi Jhampa Krithi
maname Ragavardhini Rupaka Krithi
Kali teera vandarul HanumaThodi Misra Chapu Krithi
Kanaka Mayura Jalarnavam Adi Krithi
Kanakangaka Kanakangi Adi Krithi
Kanakavela karunalavela Sri Adi Krithi
Kandaga karpaga taruve Syamalangi Misra Chapu Krithi
Kanjam konjam Suryakantham Rupaka Krithi
Kanparaiyya Kharaharapriya Rupaka Krithi
Karunai Kadale Dhenuka Adi Krithi
Karvaya kanda Dhavalambari Rupaka Krithi
Ma madhura sarasa Ganamurthi Adi Krithi
Mahaganapathe Kaanada Adi Krithi
Malaiyate maname Sarasangi Rupaka Krithi
Manade maravade Hemavathi Rupaka Krithi
Mane moham Saveri Adi Varnam
Mangalam mayitvaham Surutti Adi Krithi
Manojanaimaruganai Gaula Adi Krithi
Mohanakara Neethimathi Rupaka Krithi
Nada nilai Gayakapriya Jhampa Krithi
Nadanuasantanaa Vagadheeswari Adi Krithi
Nadasukham Kanthamani Adi Krithi
Nalagude Rupavathi Adi Krithi
Nambinen Aiyya Vakulabharanam Adi Krithi
Nan enna seyven Mayamalavagaula Adi Krithi
Nayen unaye Naganandini Adi Krithi
Neeye gati en thaye Harikamboji Adi Krithi
Ni than appa Charukesi Adi Krithi
Nijabhaktim Manavathi Rupaka Krithi
Ninnaikanome Gangeyabhushani Rupaka Krithi
Paramananda Vishwambhari Rupaka Krithi
Sulini Adi Krithi Parayunul Gaurimanohari Adi Krithi
Rama ravikulasoma Bhairavi Adi Krithi
Ranjitha kavi Sudha Saveri Rupaka Krithi
Sadanamndame Mecha Kalyani Adi Krithi
Sadananda Raghupriya Rupaka Krithi
Samaganalola Chitrambari Misra Chapu Krithi
Sambhosankara Mecha Kalyani Triputa Krithi
Sami Dikshita Devamanohari Rupaka Krithi
Sami ide nallsamayam Navaneetham Rupaka Krithi
Sami sadamuda Ramapriya Adi Krithi
Samidesamayam Kedaragaula Rupaka Krithi
Sanbho sadasiva Yagapriya Adi Krithi
Shentiruvelan Bhavapriya Adi Krithi
Singara Kumari Varunapriya Adi Krithi
Sri Venugopaladeva Darbar Jhampa Krithi
Sukha Vazhve Kokilapriya Rupaka Krithi
Sukhakara Dhatuvardhini Adi Krithi
Sukhame sukham Shanmukhapriya Adi Krithi
Tandi mamukha Natta Adi Krithi
Thandarul ayya Nasikabhushani Misra Chapu Krithi
Tharuve nin arul Varali Misra Chapu Krithi
Ullam ariyada Sriranjini Adi Krithi
Unnaiyillal Simhendramadhyamam Adi Krithi
Va velava va Tanarupi Jhampa Krithi
Vaaranamukha va tunai Hamsadhwani Rupaka Krithi
Varnam tarum Jhankaradhwani Misra Chapu Krithi
Velaiya dayi Saveri Adi Krithi
Velanai vere gathi Subhapanthuvarali Misra Chapu Krithi
Velava va adiyen Arabhi Rupaka Krithi
Velave va Keeravani Jhampa Krithi
Velu mayilu me Sucharitra Rupaka Krithi
Viraraghava Gavambodhi Adi Krithi
Yedum ariyene Sahana Jhampa Krithi

Subramania Bharathi (1882-1921) Biography And Works

Biography

Subramania Bharathi was born to Chinnaswaamy Aiyyar and Lakshmi AmmaaL in 1882 at Ettayapuram. He lost his mother at the age of 5. He learnt music from very young age and at 11 and was invited to a conference of Ettayapuram court poets and musicians for composing poems and songs. He accepted a challenge and composed a chindu on the model of kaavadi chindu of Annaamalai Reddiyaar. There he was given the title 'Bhaarati' for his ability to compose poems and songs.

At the age of 15 he married Cellammaal and in 1898 lost his father. At 22, he became Tamil teacher at Setupati High School in Madurai and the same year was appointed Assistant Editor of a daily newspaper called "Swadesamitran." In 1906, he was editor of a weekly magazine called "India" in Madras and the next year a friend of his, Krishnaswaamy Aiyyar received from him songs he had composed on patriotism and published them, titled "SudEsa geetangaL." In 1908 the government wanted to arrest him, but he escaped to PonDicerry (under French rule) and published "India" from there.

In 1912 he translated the Bhagavad Geeta into Tamil and composed songs on Krishna (KaNNan PaaTTu), "Kuyil," and "Pancaali Shabadam" (on Draupadi of the Mahaabhaarata).

His national integration songs earned him the title "DEsiya Kavi" (National Poet).His patriotic songs emphasize nationalism, unity of India, equality of man and the greatness of the Tamil language. He sang these himself at Congress meetings at the Madras beach. He composed tamil keertanais on love, devotion,fearlessness, mysticism.

His stepbrother C.Vishwanaata Aiyyar and V.V.S. Aiyyar tell us that he himself set his songs to music and could sing them well in a variety of raagams. In "Bharata dEviyin tiru dasangam" he used 10 raagams.

In an article "Sangeeta Vishayam" (Issues in Music), Bhaaratiyaar rebukes musicians PaTnam Subramania Aiyyar and others for singing songs of the Trinity, without knowing the meaning because the songs are all in Sanskrit or Telegu. According to him, without knowing the meaning, singers are unable to sing with proper expression. He also saysthat songs usually portray devotion and love and not other emotions like courage, anger, wonder,fear, and hatred. He emphasized that musicians should not sing songs which they don't understand and should learn from Hindustani musicians how to train their voices.

He died in an accident on September 11, 1921 at the age of just 39.

Compositions:

Appavum ponnadi Jaymanohari Adi Krithi

Bharatha samudayam Hindusthani Behag Eka Padam

Chinna chiru kiliye Bhairavi Rupaka Krithi

Dikkuteriyada HanumaThodi Adi Krithi

Endaiyam tham Kambhoji Adi Krithi

Jayamundu bhayamillai Khamas Adi Krithi

Jiva padagai Anandabhairavi Adi Krithi

Jnanappal arulvai Saramati Adi Krithi

Kaathirukunren Sama Adi Krithi

Kanavendamo Sri Rupaka Krithi

Kanene en kanavan Mecha Kalyani Adi Krithi

Kanika kondutaram Varali Eka Krithi

Karumbu thottathile Saindhavi Misra Chapu Krithi

Malai pozhidil Nadanamakriya Adi Krithi

Mannar kulathinadi Nadanamakriya Adi Krithi

Muruga Muruga Nattakurinji Adi Krithi

Nenjukku neethi Sindhubhairavi Adi Krithi

Neram mikandidu Nadanamakriya Adi Krithi

Nithyamunai vendi Chakravakam Eka Krithi

Pillai prayathile Saraswati Manohari Eka Krithi

Sakthi tanake Bhoopalam Eka Krithi

Thanjamulakinil Punnagavarali Adi Krithi

Ujjaiyini Hindolam Adi Krithi

Umayirundavar Kambhoji Adi Krithi

Unnai yenamayil Kharaharapriya Adi Krithi

Vandadum cholai Harikamboji Adi Krithi

Veene Sheshanna (1852-1926) Biography

Biography

Veene sheshanna is perhaps the most famous musician of the Mysore royal court and proponent of the famous Mysore Bani i.e. school of veena playing. He also represents the times when Mysore royal court was the cultural capital of the south.

Born into a family of musicians, he learnt from his father Bakshi Chikka Ramappa who was the court musican in the court of the Mysore king of the time Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. He was a child prodigy and gained acceptance of the court even at the age of just ten. Later he learnt vocal music under the famous vocalist Mysore Sadashiva Rao.
Apart from Veena, he was adept at playing many instruments like piono, sitar and violin. He also learnt Hindustani music and even western classical. He was also a composer.

Pallavi Sesha Iyer (1842 - 1909) Biography and Works

Biography

Pallavi Sesha Iyer (or Seshayyar) is one of the important post-trinity composers and musicians in the Tyagaraja shishya parampara.
Sesha Iyer was born in Neykkarapatti, a village about 8 miles from Salem, Tamilnadu। His father, Neykkarapatti Subbayar, was a disciple of Shri Thyagaraja. Sesha Iyer had his musical training from his father, who taught him all the Thyagaraja Krishi-s.

As a singer, he was an expert at Ragam-Thanam-Pallavi, so much so, he came to be known as Pallavi Sesha Iyer। Another of his specialities was his ability to compose and sing in rare raaga-s. He composed in many rare mela-s like Kanakangi, Manavati, Tanarupi and raaga-s like Mallikavasantam and Pushpalatika. He also set his own compositions in notation, a rarity among Indian composers.

He became a singer in the court of Mysore Maharaja, staying in Mysore and Bangalore for a number of years and teaching a large number of students. Towards the latter part of his life, he lived in Madras. His prime disciples include Manattattaai Duraiswami Aiyar, Chintalapalli Venkita Rao and Nagaswaram Krishna.

Mudra: Sheshayyar

Genre Carnatic: Krithi

Languages used: Telugu

Compositions:

Chalavalachi Manirang Tisra Eka Varnam
Chittamela italaiye Manavathi Adi Krithi
Dasarathapala Kanakangi Adi Krithi
Eduruga vachi Khamas Adi Krithi
Entapalaimpa Kedaragaula Adi Krithi
Gasi ela bettevu Ahiri Adi Krithi
Indaparakelara Kharaharapriya Adi Krithi
Inta vadam ne Vakulabharanam Adi Krithi
Jessina papamulu Mecha Kalyani Misra Chapu Krithi
Maruva nike Purvikalyani Adi Krithi
Mosamu seya Simhendramadhyamam Adi Krithi
Na paritapamu Saurashtram Adi Krithi
Namadinippudu Nayaki Adi Krithi
Namavivinimu Manirang Eka Krithi
Napunya mettido Subhapanthuvarali Adi Krithi
Ne neruganu Rama Mallikavasantam Tisra Eka Krithi
Neekela dayaradura Sankarabharanam Eka Krithi
Nenerumganu Mayamalavagaula Adi Krithi
Netala Lenura Huseni Adi Krithi
Ni kanna dikkevarura Pushpalatika Adi Krithi
Ni nannu brova Bhairavi Adi Krithi
Ni samagamu Senavathi Adi Krithi
Ninnital veta Nilambari Eka Krithi
Ninnuchala nammina Harikamboji Adi Krithi
Nipai Mohamipudu Punnagavarali Misra Chapu Krithi
Nitho jeppaka Garudadhwani Adi Krithi
Nive dayavachi Vasantha Adi Krithi
Nive najivamuni Kedaram Rupaka Krithi
Oka matada Gaurimanohari Adi Krithi
Paramananadamu Gaula Adi Krithi
Ramanemini Paras Tisra Eka Krithi
Raminidu karuna Varali Eka Krithi
Saavakaasamela Rama Navaroj Adi Krithi
Saduvela Jeraka Ratnangi Adi Krithi
Samaganalola Surutti Adi Krithi
Saminee todi Surutti Adi Varnam
Sarananu Sama Adi Krithi
Sarasu rammanave Darbar Eka Krithi
Srigananatha Natta Adi Krithi
Sripathe kripa seyar Sri Misra Chapu Krithi
Sriraghukulabdi Sudha Saveri Triputa Krithi
Sundaranga Hindusthani Behag Tisra Eka Krithi
Tattrabadha Jalara Rupavathi Adi Krithi
Udhara dhim Karnataka Kapi Adi Thillana
Uraka galkuna Narayanagaula Tisra Eka Krithi
Vadda Jesavura Dhenuka Eka Krithi
Vami nannubrova Surutti Adi Krithi
Vinta Vimataga Kokilapriya Misra Chapu Krithi
Yemanti Rama Shanmukhapriya Eka Krithi

Subbarama Dheekshithar (1839-1906) Biography and Works

Biography

Subbarama Dheekshithar was the grandson of Baluswami Dikshitar, brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. He was a great composer in his own right, but is more well known for Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini, an important book detailing works of Muthuswami Dikshitar and a reference on many other Carnatic musical concepts.

Subbarama Dheekshithar was born to Annapurni and Sivarama Iyer. Annapurni was the daughter of Baluswami Dikshitar, brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. Baluswami Dikshitar, a great musician, was at the court of Ettayapuram kings. He adopted Subbarama Dheekshithar as his own son and taught music to Subbarama Dheekshithar. Subbarama Dheekshithar began composing at the age of seventeen and became the ashtana vidhwan of the Ettayapuram kings at the age of nineteen. He composed maintaining the high style of Muttuswami Dikshitar, composing kriti-s, many varna-s, svarajati-s, and ragamalika-s. He also set to music, the Valli-Bharatam, a Tamil composition by Kadigai Namassivaya Pulavar of the Ettayapuram Court. "Ma moha lahiri" in Khamas on God Kumara at Kazhukumalai by the same Tamil scholar was also set to dance-music by Subbarama Dikshitar. He also did a Tamil translation of the Telugu Mahabharata.

Chinnaswami Mudaliar, a Superintendent at that time in the Madras Government Secretariat, was the first person to try to present Carnatic compositions using western notations.

With the help of Shishyaparampara of Shri Tyagaraja, he gathered several hundred of Thyagaraja krithi-s and published the first issue of Oriental Music. Chinnaswami Mudaliar then started working on Muthuswami Dikshitar compositions which brought him to Subbarama Dheekshithar. Subbarama Dikshitar stayed with Chinnaswami Mudaliar for a considerable period of time and taught him intricacies of carnatic music. But due to failing eye sight he could not complete his work and requested Subbarama Dheekshithar to write a book on Muthuswami Dikshitar compositions.

Due to Chinnaswami Mudaliar's persistence and influence of Ettayapuram king, Subbarama Dheekshithar, by then over 60 years of age, worked on his magnamopus for four years. But before the book was printed Subbarama Dheekshithar died at a relatively young age of 67. His plans of publishing many compositions of Thyagaraja, Shyama Shastri and Kshetragna remained incomplete.

Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini is printed in two vilumes and extends to about 1700 pages. It comprises 76 biographies of persons from Sarngadeva to those of Subbarama Dikshitar himself. Two sections are devoted to the science of music (Sangita-lakshana-prachina paddhati and Sangita-lakshana-sangraha). There is an exhaustive tabular statement of raga-s, raganga-s, upanga-s and bhashanga-s with their murcchana-s; a detailed descriptive guide in Telugu and Tamil to the gamaka-signs employed in the notations of the songs in the book and tala-signs. The main text of the work gives the 72 Mela-s and all their Janya-s with their raga-lakshana-s, explanation of their special characteristics, their lakshana-gita-s, sanchari-s and illustrative compositions; and supplements giving ragamalika-s and pieces of other composers who had lived in the previous three centuries, including 170 gita-s of Venkatamakhin, about 229 kriti-s of Muttuswami Dikshitar.

Genre Carnatic: Krithi, Varna, Svarajati, Ragamalika

Languages used: Telugu

Compositions:

Chakrakhanditanajkara Udayaravichandrika Dhruva Lakshyagita

Devi divyanama Mechabauli Rupaka Krithi

Emanipogadura Paras Tisra Eka Daru

Enamma nannu Maruva/Mareva Adi Krithi

Enta ninne Khamas Tisra Eka Padavarna

Indendu vacchitura Begada Misra Eka Krithi

Inta modi Darbar Ata Krithi

Kamtimati Karunamitra Mecha Kalyani Rupaka Krithi Kanchikamakoti Kamavardhini Ata Varna

Mamohalahari Khamas Rupaka Swarajati

Mannaru ranga Nagagandhari Rupaka Krithi

Parashakthi Sankarabharanam Rupaka Krithi

Parikkani Mecha Kalyani Tisra Eka Krithi

Sami entani Surutti Adi Krithi

Samini mahimalu Bhairavi Tisra Eka Krithi

Sankanana sambhave Sriranjini Adi Krithi

Sankaracharyam Sankarabharanam Adi Krithi

Sareku Anandabhairavi Adi Varna

Sri Kanchikamakshi Kasiramakriya Ata Krithi

Sri karadini Yadukulakambhoji Adi Daru

Sri Rajadhiraja Balahamsa Ata Krithi

Sri rajaraja Ataana Adi Varnam

Sri sivaramasramul Bhairavi Rupaka Krithi

Sri Vallipathe Nagasvaravali Eka Krithi

Tripurasundari Nattakurinji Rupaka Krithi

Vanajakshi Sahana Ata Varnam

Yema ninnu Mukhari Adi Krithi

Subbaraya Shastry (1803-1862) Biography and Works

Biography

Subbaraya Shastry was the son and disciple of Shyama Shastry, one of the famous trinity. He also has the unique distinction of being a disciple of all the three of the trinity, having also learnt from Shri Tyagaraja and Muthuswamy Dhikshithar.

Subbaraya was born as the second son of Shyama Shastry in Tanjavur. He studied music initially from his father. Later Shyama Shastry asked Thyagaraja to teach his son and sent Subbaraya to him. Thyagaraja had great respect for Shyama Shastry and gladly took Subbaraya as a disciple, who soon became one of his favourite students. After a few years Subbaraya came back and continued his studies under his father. He also had the opportunity to learn a few krithi-s from Dheekshithar. He also learnt Hindustani music from Ramadas Swami.

Later Subbaraya Shastry shifted to Udayarpalayam, whose rulers became his patrons. Since he had no sons, he adopted his nephew Annasami Sastri, who became his primary disciple and an accomplished composer. Tanjavur Kamakshi, the dancer, was one of his disciples. Legendary Veena Dhannammal was the grand daughter of Tanjavur Kamakshi.

Subbaraya Shastry composed only a couple of dozen krithi-s. But their rasa-bhava, devotion and intricacies have made them enduring and famous. Influence of all three of the trinity can be found in his compositions - words and chitha swara-s by his father, and in madhyama kaalam by Tyagaraja, slower speeds by Dhikshithar.

Mudra: Kumara

Genre Carnatic: Krithi

Languages used: Telugu

Compositions:

Janani ninnu vina - Ritigaula - Chapu

Minanayana - Darbar - Rupaka

Ninnuvina gati gana - Mecha Kalyani - Adi

Sri Kamalambika - Desya Todi - Rupaka

Vanajasana vinutha - Shri - Rupaka

Mysore Sadashiva Rao (1800-1870) Biography and Works

Biography

Mysore Sadashiva Rao was one of the most important composers and followers of musical traditions of Sri Tyagaraja.

A prominent vocalist of the Mysore court, he can be credied as the pioneer of Mysore Bani. Sadashiva Rao was born to Ganesha Rao and Krishna Bai at Girampet near Chittoor in North Arcot. They were Marathi Smartha Deshasthas. He had his musical training under Venkataramana Bhagavatar, a pupil of Thyagaraja. Two of his patrons, brought him to Mysore and introduced him to Sri Krishnaraja Wadayar III, the Mysore king at the time. Impressed by his singing, he was made a court musician.

Sadashiva Rao was also a great teacher. His disciples like Veena Sheshanna and Veena Subbanna later became legendary musicians. Sadashiva Rao has composed mostly in Telugu. He went on a pilgrimage of south India and composed krithi-s at all the temples he visited. He also composed a krithi for Thyagaraja and sung it when he visited Walajapet.

Mudra: Sadashiva

Genre Carnatic: Krithi

Languages used: Telugu, Sanskrit

Compositions:

Devadideva - Mayamalavagaula - Adi

Gangadhara Tripuraharana - Purvikalyani - Misra Chapu

Paramabhuta Maina - Khamas - Adi

Sita Lakshmana Sametha- Kambhoji - Jhampa

Sri Kamakotipeetha - Saveri - Adi