| Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer |
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Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was born in 1908 at Tirukkodikaval. He hailed from a family of musicians. Violin maestro Krishna Iyer was his maternal uncle. A disciple of Semmangudi Narayanaswm Iyer, Gottuvadyam exponent Sakharama Rao, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer and Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer, he began performing in 1926.
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A vocalist with steely resolve
He may be hailed a legend. Yet, he had his share of trials and tribulations in his early days. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, in one of his interviews, recalled an event that had occurred early in his musical life.
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Books on Semmangudi
There are couple of books on Semmangudi. One is a character portrait, which attempts to follow the Western style of profile. The other, brought out by his admirers and disciples during the 80th birthday of the maestro, is more of a hagiography.
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Arabi Lover
Raga Arabi had a great lover in Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Some time in 1951, flautist Mali was holding the rasikas riveted to their chairs at a Navarathri concert in Ramakrishna Home in the now Chennai.
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Erandu Kalai kriti and Semmangudi
Artistes usually sing `oru (one) kalai’ kritis like Vathapi or Bhavanutha in Raga Mohanam. But, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer presented `erandu (two) kali’ kritis in a halting and leisurely manner.
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Young at heart
Popular vocalist Bombay Jayashri admitted that she always had a highly exciting and stunning experience while listening to Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. She felt that his audio and books were easy to follow and sing.
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Weaving a necklace...
When a Kriti is interspersed with different ragas, it is known as Ragamalika. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer had the uncanny ability to weave a garland of ragas out of a Kriti composed in just a single Raga.
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A Great Pillar
The loss of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, a legend of a personality in the Carnatic music world, is something many an artiste is unable to digest.
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Monday, Nov 23, 2009
