Music Academy founders?

ramarama · Post by **ramarama** » 01 Jan 2007, 19:38

Does anyone here know who were the founding members of the Music Academy - I gather some sort of Founder's Day event is scheduled to happen soon?

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 01 Jan 2007, 21:01

i presume it was founded by TT Krishnamachari and CP Ramasamy ayyar. only their picures adorn either side of the stage like dwarapalaka!

ramarama · Post by **ramarama** » 01 Jan 2007, 23:39

But there must have been an inaugural committee including many other luminaries who served in the first years of its operation, yes?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 01 Jan 2007, 23:43

You can find more details at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_Music_Academy

The official version is at the academy's own website: http://www.musicacademymadras.in/mabw_org.html

Hope this helps.

ramarama · Post by **ramarama** » 01 Jan 2007, 23:46

Nope - had already checked out those sites and others before asking this erudite group here at rasikas.org.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 01 Jan 2007, 23:50

The website says the following:

"A meeting of the Reception Committee of the Conference held on the 5th March, 1928 elected a provisional Executive Committee to organise the Academy. In pursuance of that resolution, the Music Academy, Madras, was founded the same year.

In April, 1928, an Experts Committee consisting of some of the leading musicians and scholars was also elected to advise the Academy on all technical matters including music education on correct and modern lines. The members of the committee were Sarvashri Bidaram Krishnappa, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Palladam Sanjeeva Rao, Dakshinamurthi Pillai, Professor Venkatasami Naidu, Jalatarangam Ramaniah Chetti, Zamindar of Seithur, M. S. Ramaswami Aiyar,W. Doraiswami Iyengar, Rao Bahadur C. Ramanujachariar, T.L. Venkatarama Iyer, T.V. Subba Rao and P. Sambamurthia galaxy indeed."

Not sure what else you might be looking for.

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 02 Jan 2007, 01:34

I have a souvenir booklet from the Academy and it states that Dr. U.Rama Rao was the founder-president of the Academy, followed by K.V.Krishnaswami Iyer, T.L.Venkatarama Iyer, T.S.Rajam, and K.R.Sundaram.
Here is an excerpt regarding the origins:

A large number of well wishers and lovers of classical music had expressed a desire that effective steps should be taken to stimulate interest in indeigenous music in this part of the country and to develop musical culture along sound lines. It was felt that an Academy should be established in Madras for the purpose. A preliminary meeting was was held on 7th January 1926 at Soundarya Mahal with T.S.Seshagiri Iyer in the chair.
The meeting was well attanded and among those present were: Dr.U.Rama Rao, Mrs. Margaret Cousins, Rev. H.A.Popley, Messers Satyamurti, W.Doraiswami Iyengar, C.D.Rajaratna Mudaliar, C.R.Srinivasa Iyengar, Rao Bahadur C.Ramanujachariar, R.Krishna Rao Bhonsle and Dewan Bahadur Salla Guruswami Chetty.
The following resolution was adopted unanimously:
"that this meeting considers that aMusical Academy be started to develop and encourage indigenous music and the same shall be known as the South Indian Academy of Music"
However this took a definite shape only in 1927.
The session of the Indian National Congress held at Madras in December 1927 included an All-India Music Conference at the conclusion of which a resolution was passed urging the formation of a permanent institution to promote the cause of music. In pursuance of that resolution, the Music Academy, Madras, was founded by the executive committee of the Reception Committee and was formally inagurated by Sir. C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer in the autumn of 1928. Ever since, the Academy has been ceaselessly working for the advancement of the science and art of music.

ramarama · Post by **ramarama** » 02 Jan 2007, 10:11

thanks a lot, Mahavishnu and Lakshman. I was curious about the composition of that "executive committee" - perhaps the listing from Lakshman's excerpt from the souvenir is a partial list of that committee? But the "expert committee" listing is also very interesting of course - thanks for pointing that out from the sabha's website.

meena · Post by **meena** » 05 Jan 2007, 02:10

Looking back at the Academy
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meena · Post by **meena** » 08 Jan 2007, 11:42

The peregrinating Academy
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mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 09 Jan 2007, 05:10

>>Subbulakshmi, whose first concerts were at the Academy, had been banished from its portals when she joined the Tamil Isai movement.

T.T. Krishnamachari, who had played a signal role in the banning, was equally instrumental in bringing her back to the Academy's stage and getting her to sing for the benefit of the Academy's auditorium. The auditorium was named after him in 1974.<<

(Excerpt from the article on Peregrinating Music Academy in The Hindu, Jan 8, 07)
My goodness! You denigrate a person first and then fall at her feet for help. Even Machiavelli wouldn't have thought of it. TTK was one veritable scheming person who would resort to anything. It shows how money and male chauvinism can wreak havoc in society. Kalki Krishnamurthy also supported the Thamizh isai movement. But TTK couldn't move a finger against him. Amidst all this MS kept her dignity in tact and was forgiving.

knrh05 · Post by **knrh05** » 09 Jan 2007, 07:49

'Sangeeta vidvat sabha jayati - Namanarayani' audio request

meena wrote:Looking back at the Academy
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/01/05/stor ... 440700.htm

This article mentions Dr Raghavan's song in Namanarayani. I think coolkarniji had uploaded this several months ago - sung by Balamuralikrishna for the golden jubilee.

Can someone re-upload the song?

Thanks in advance!

knrh05

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Jan 2007, 21:26

mahakavi wrote:Kalki Krishnamurthy also supported the Thamizh isai movement. But TTK couldn't move a finger against him. Amidst all this MS kept her dignity in tact and was forgiving.

While MS sang in the Tamil Isai concerts with the blessings of Kalki, Kalki was very careful to not indulge in 'koDunntamizh' in the name of language chauvinism...this is very nicely explained in the Intro to the english transliteration of Kalki's immortal 'ponniyin Selvan'.

If anyone has a reocrded version of Smt MSS's first concert for Tamil Isai, please u/l it.

meena · Post by **meena** » 19 Jan 2007, 10:23

How natyam danced its way into Academy: Dance has come a long way at the Music Academy, where it made a tentative entry 75 years ago.

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meena · Post by **meena** » 12 Feb 2007, 10:21

`Banished' or not?

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vijay · Post by **vijay** » 12 Feb 2007, 11:29

The article accuses the Academy of being "parochial" - who is parochial - those who insist on singing Tamil Songs or those who insist on musical merit irrespective of language? I don't know if the Academy "banned" Tamil Songs but even if it did, it still banned only one of the languages in which CM is sung whereas the Tamil Isai movement banned at least 3.

Thank heavens the Tamil Isai "movement" never got farther than it did, although I suppose we owe to it, Papansam Sivan's brilliant compositions..

baboosh · Post by **baboosh** » 12 Feb 2007, 18:20

mahakavi wrote:>>Subbulakshmi, whose first concerts were at the Academy, had been banished from its portals when she joined the Tamil Isai movement.

T.T. Krishnamachari, who had played a signal role in the banning, was equally instrumental in bringing her back to the Academy's stage and getting her to sing for the benefit of the Academy's auditorium. The auditorium was named after him in 1974.<<

(Excerpt from the article on Peregrinating Music Academy in The Hindu, Jan 8, 07)
My goodness! You denigrate a person first and then fall at her feet for help. Even Machiavelli wouldn't have thought of it. TTK was one veritable scheming person who would resort to anything. It shows how money and male chauvinism can wreak havoc in society. Kalki Krishnamurthy also supported the Thamizh isai movement. But TTK couldn't move a finger against him. Amidst all this MS kept her dignity in tact and was forgiving.

While MS and TS forgave the MA,it was not without a price.While all artistes were paid Rs.250 for a concert,TS demanded Rs.2000 for a concert by MSS after rapproachment.That the MA paid and then TS and MS declined any remuneration for Academy concerts is another story.

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 12 Feb 2007, 19:35

i've my own reservations about Kalki's obsession for Tamil Isai. He was probably caught in a Tsunami of athesim hatred and language chavunism in his times and i do not subscibe to his views on many things. for example he was a hard critic of 'orumaiydan ninadhu' of Chembai for his bad pronounciation; this went to the extent of not taking cognizance of Chembai's most delightful rendition.
if somebody compels a performer to sing only in the language which is known to him i would think he has a closed mind. i would rather prefer to learn the language not known to me to appreciate the music in it better.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 12 Feb 2007, 20:13

I think the argument is being twisted here. The Thamizh isai movement is separate from the banishment of Thamizh songs in Carnatic music concerts. That the MA banished Thamizh songs is beyond one's comprehension. My question is WHY? The approach here is NEGATIVE.

But starting a separate movement like Thamizh isai where the organizers insist only Thamizh songs to be sung is not. The approach here is POSITIVE. If you are not willing to sing only Thamizh songs (which is the charter for the movement) you are free to stay away. Nobody is forcing you to come and sing Thamizh songs. It is not a concentration camp. Nor the Thamizh isai movement is demonstrating against CM in other languages. I don't see the problem here.

As for Kalki's comments about Chembai's pronunciation it was his personal predilection. I would go further that anybody who sings any song in any language should first learn the pronunciation exactly as it is in that language. Subbudu used to tear all (most) musicians to pieces. It was his trademark. Sure Subbudu faced the wrath of many musicians but there was also a positive side to all his scathing commentaries. Only small-minded people would resort to putting a price on his head for that (as so many people did in Chennai).

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 12 Feb 2007, 20:44

Yikes, it's that tyranny thingy again, rearing its ugly head!

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 12 Feb 2007, 21:31

MMDandapani Desikar happened to sing in Thyagaraja Aradhana once and he started with a Tamil song 'Siddhi Vinayakane'. Ariyakkudi got very angry and refused to sing in the aradhana......

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 12 Feb 2007, 21:36

The approach here is POSITIVE

How I wish your were true! Please take a look at http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1189 Post # 3

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 12 Feb 2007, 22:10

my 2 cents.

Two wrongs dont make a right. If what I read is right, MA was dead wrong to begin with. The tamizh isai movements response is a case of reverse discrimination - a not too uncommon reaction, but one that isnt right either. An inclusive response done with perseverance may have proven to be more effective.

Arun

(also, are we sure that the under-currents of discrimination behind all thse - have they really gone away? Or have they simply gone relatively dormant

?

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 12 Feb 2007, 23:47

vgvindan wrote:
The approach here is POSITIVE
How I wish your were true! Please take a look at http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1189 Post # 3

vgvindan:
I am not speaking for those fringe elements who decry Telugu music in Tiruvaiyaru. Those are politically motivated forces. The official Thamizh isai movement does not give their blessings for such protests. If those elements used Thamizh isai cover it is a generic title they used--not the organization which goes by that name. The prestigious Thamizh isai organization which conducts music concerts is POSITIVE for Thamizh and NOT negative against Telugu, etc. By the way what is wrong in preserving and fostering one's own ethniciy without decrying others. Those who proclaim otherwise are just hypocrites. It is definitely possible to love your language and not hate other languages.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 13 Feb 2007, 00:27

By the way what is wrong in preserving and fostering one's own ethniciy without decrying others.

Absolutely nothing wrong. I never implied so. I love Tamil more than Telugu because I was educated in Tamil, though Telugu is my mother tongue.

To smear the walls of town of Tiruvaiyaru with posters condemning singing in Telugu during Aradhana and organising a parallel function while Aradhana is on - may not termed as fringe elements. One can organise such a function immediately before or after Aradhana so that the peace is not disturbed.

Hypocrites are the Vice President and Secretary of Aradhana who, while Aradhana is still on, go to the parallel function and entertain them with Film music.

Thyagaraja was son of the soil of Tiruvaiyaru - his only 'crime' is to sing in Telugu which was his mother tongue. The abhorrance of language chauvanism or any other chauvanism is to be seen through the eyes of minority - I am one such. Therefore, Your opinion may not match with mine.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 13 Feb 2007, 02:09

vgvindan:
I concur with you on the rights of minority wherever they are. I will defend the right of the Aradhana folks to conduct their function in peace but not when my life will be at peril. Discretion is the better part of valor. While I condemn the protests, you have to recognize that these are intolerant folks and can be bought by the dozens to be used for political purposes. They do not think in terms of a wider nation. To them Tiruvaiyaru is their own (majority). Then they claim democracy by majority rule. I repeat these are fringe elements if you notice the number of people who protest versus the population of the area. It is better to put up with the nuisance rather than trying to fight it. That is my position. You can bring police force but that will only incite more violence. Let the sleeping (although barking while sleeping) dogs lie!

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Feb 2007, 11:38

Oops, I could almost foresee the responses ! Subramanian sir, I do agree that the origin of the movement may have been positive but we can see how easy it is for mischievous element to walk away with the movement. Today, when I think of the Tamizh Isai Movement I think, not of Papanasam Sivan's music (which, as the highest example of art music, transcends language barriers) but of the mobs mentioned by Govindanji.

Another tangential thought - my position is that the first language that I owe allegiance to, is that of music - for me, lyrics will always secondary, at times completely unimportant but at other times, capable of complementing my enjoyment of the music. For the most part Thyagaraja's Telugu eludes me completely, Deekshitar's esoteric Sanskrit fares only slightly better...I can understand most Tamil kritis but any poetic genius is lost on me. Sometimes, however, such as in Thyagaraja's Nattai pancharatna, or in Deekshitar's Thyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam - the poetic/literary elements are glaringly evident but for the most part, I am neutral to the lyrical content unless it is obviously banal. As a result, I am also fairly tolerant towards poor pronunciation...

Many of my friends who dislike carnatic music complain that they are not able to understand the lyrics - my response is that that classical music does not require comprehension of the lyrics - it is the music, swara and laya, that are paramount, not the words...

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 13 Feb 2007, 21:11

No more comments, lest it should prolong ad infinitum

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 13 Feb 2007, 23:52

vijay wrote:The article accuses the Academy of being "parochial" - who is parochial - those who insist on singing Tamil Songs or those who insist on musical merit irrespective of language? I don't know if the Academy "banned" Tamil Songs but even if it did, it still banned only one of the languages in which CM is sung whereas the Tamil Isai movement banned at least 3.

Thank heavens the Tamil Isai "movement" never got farther than it did, although I suppose we owe to it, Papansam Sivan's brilliant compositions..

Sorry to go against "no comments" declaration in my previous post.

Here is some contradiction. On the one hand there is this statement "....who insist on musical merit irrespective of language?" and then immediately following it " even if it did it banned only one of the languages..."

So, banning one of the languages in which numerous CM songs are available is OK? And that too by a torchbearer music organization?

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 14 Feb 2007, 00:17

- my response is that that classical music does not require comprehension of the lyrics - it is the music, swara and laya, that are paramount, not the words...

Aha, a rasika close to my heart...! Please see 'The tyranny of sahityam!' thread (now closed perhaps?) for a whole raft of discussion we have had on this topic.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Feb 2007, 10:22

Yes there is a logical inconsistency there Sub sir - I am not for banning any language, least of all Tamil - if it was done, it was wrong, no 2 opinions on that....

Jayaram - I do remember the tyranny thread and was silently in agreement for the most part!