TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Carnatic Musicians
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RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by RSR »

https://karnatik.com/co1130.shtml
Tiger Varadachariar - Tiger Varadachariar hailed from a musical family of unique distinction. His father Ramanujachariar was a musical discourser, brother K.V. Srinivasa Ayyangar was a renowned musicologist while another brother K.V.Krishnamachariar was a veena player. In fact, Tiger used to say that he learnt much from the singing of his sister. Varadachariar was born on August 1, 1876 at Kolathur. Varadachariar's receptive ears and musical instincts drew inspiration and knowledge from street dramas, bhajans and even from occasional contacts such as with Fiddle Ramachandrayyar. He was big, burly and unprepossessing. This exterior housed a genial and lovable man, a brilliant musicologist, a musical artiste and an acknowledged teacher of renown. Music was not then prosperous from the economic view-point and the father wanted to keep his sons - all mad with music - away from it. But the inevitable happened. Photo Masilamani and Pedda Singaracharyulu encouraged Varadachariar in his musical pursuits and Varadachariar was with the venerable Patnam Subramania Ayyar for three years from the age of fourteen. Constraints of family forced young Varadachariar to enter the Survey Department at Calicut on Rupees twelve per mensem. Survey of lands did not deter the youth's pursuit for excellence and survey of music.

When he was at Mysore, he attracted the attention of Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who honoured him with the title of 'Tiger' and presented him with a 'thoda'. It was unique that in spite of a gruff voice, the 'Tiger' strode like a colossus for decades and extracted respect and honour with his superlative knowledge and universally accepted teaching acumen. As a musician, his voice lacked melody, ring and delicacy. But one can see in him 'a treasure house of varied musical gems of rare brilliance'. His flights of imagination were unlimited. His deep singing produced massive effect on the audience. Brikas, gamakas and graces would bristle out defying his unresponsive voice. He was a good composer of varnams, gitam, kritis, etc.

'Nidu Charanamule' (Simhendramadyamam) under the signature of Tyagaraja is actually a composition of the 'Three musketeers of Kaladipet', the Tiger Brothers. ( ? )
Mudra:

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by RSR »

Here is a more detailed article on 'Tiger' Varadhachariyar
https://hamletram.blogspot.com/2014/03/ ... -lion.html ( with a number of photos)
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For Tiger Varadachari,the music maestro, it was a journey from one Kutcheri to another Kutcheri.He was,at 23, a clerk in the survey department at Calicut Mananchira Huzur Kutcheri.
Tiger had come from Madras to Calicut because of financial constraints and worked in the office at a salary of Rs 12/- a month.Out of office,he began to sing in marriage and other ceremonies.His name spread and an invitation came from Mysore Palace to sing in Dussehra celebrations.Maybe,Mysore Varadachar,his close friend interfered on his behalf.It changed his life.He became Tiger there.
Tiger Varadachari

Tiger Varadachari(1876-1950) was born in Kolathur, Chengalpet.He was the son of Tamil,Telugu and Sanskrit scholar Sriman Kandadai Ramanujachari.He had two younger brothers.Veena Krishnamachari and Musicologist K V Srinivasa Iyengar.But Tiger has said he learnt much from his sister.All the three who were musically mad were disciples of Patnam Subramanya Iyer(1845-1902).Iyer was resident of Tiruvaiyar when they began studies and moved with him to Madras.Tiger was with Iyer for three years from age 14.They learnt from Thatchur Singaracharya Brothers too.In Madras they stayed in Kaladipet and were called Three Musketeers of Kaladipet.Tiger drew inspiration from street dramas,bhajans and stray contacts like Fiddle Ramachandrayyar.Photo Masilamani and Pedda Singaracharyalu encouraged Tiger in musical pursuits.Krishnamachari was taught veena by Kalahasthayya.
At Patnam Subramanya Iyer's house,Mysore Vasudevachar was also a disciple.When the invitation came from Mysore King Krishna Raja Wodeyar to sing on Mahanavami day,Tiger took leave from the Calicut office for the whole week,reached a day early and stayed with Vasudevachar.He composed an intricate pallavi in praise of the King in Raga Poornachandrika.On the morning,he found his throat filled with phlegm and drank boiled water.His voice became trim and he sang the pallavi for four hours,was conferred the title,Tiger.He was invited to the Court of Mysore; he resigned his job in Calicut.

Not the cap alone;Tiger was seen with the caste mark on forehead,a coat and upper cloth,an umbrella in hand and betel case made of coconut leaves.Vasudevachar in his memoirs,Na kanda Kalavidharu has called Tiger an unparallelled genius.Tiger left for Madras after a decade.
There he became Principal of the Teachers College of Music started by the Madras Music Academy.After five years,he became Head,Department of Music,Madras University;
Principal,Music College,Annamalai University and finally Principal,Music section,Kalakshetra.It was there MDR became his disciple.Tiger used to drink-MDR once commented it was not liquor,it was his Raga,Toddy!
Tiger

.

He had sung Begada at a concert in 1937 during a marriage ceremony in Veena Dhanammal's house.She was a harsh critic known for her knowledge and intolerance of mediocrity.Though he had to catch up a train to reach Chidambaram,he went on at the encouragement of Dhanammal who was in the audience.Not only that,a solid foundation for ragaprasthara had been laid after ragam,thanam and niraval.After the kutcheri he told Dhanammal:"Dhanamma! I have been singing myself hoarse.Did you really have to ask me to sing before you?".Dhanammal presented him a silver trophy filled with sugar candy.



According to S Y Krishna Swamy,Tiger felt it is "pure music which is important in a Pallavi,it depended very little on words".

MDR,in honor of his guru,adopted Varadadasa as signature in his compositions.
MDR was by Tiger's side when he breathed his last;MDR was asked to sing,Entharane of Tyagaraja during those last moments.He did it with tears in his eyes,in a choked voice.

shankarank
Posts: 4043
Joined: 15 Jun 2009, 07:16

Re: TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by shankarank »

The first article here by Sri S.Y Krishnaswamy says words didn't matter for Tiger.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rvzkjxwrfujl5 ... 5.pdf?dl=0

But it also further says part of the rAgA lakshna , the selection of notes didn't matter for him.

If somebody can transcend lakshana of rAgA itself like that, they also transcend words. Else words are music as much as rAgAs are.

aravind_suresh
Posts: 11
Joined: 21 Dec 2020, 11:37

Re: TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by aravind_suresh »

Sanjay Subrahmanyan often performs a varnam I am told is by him (I am not sure). 'Sariyo nee' in Begada. Tried as I have, I could not find lyrics or notation to it anywhere online.

Lakshman
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Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52

Re: TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by Lakshman »

Lyrics are:
sariyO nI seyyum (tv). rAgA: bEgaDa. Adi tALA. Tiger Varadachariar.

P: sariyO nI seyyum tAmadam enpAl sahikka idennAl AmO
A: maraiyOr mA munivargaL pugazh mA vETkaLam urai pAshupatIshanE
C: unaiyallAl gati vErillai

The notations can be found in this book which can be downloaded.
http://musicresearchlibrary.net/omeka/items/show/2598

aravind_suresh
Posts: 11
Joined: 21 Dec 2020, 11:37

Re: TIGER VARADHACHARIYAR

Post by aravind_suresh »

@Lakshman sir, thanks a lot!

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