Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar (1890-1967)

Dates 19-May-1890 to 1967 Genre Carnatic Instrument Vocals   Profile   Discography   Articles   Related Artists   Links

Profile

Sangeeta Ratnakara Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar is the most significant and influential Carnatic musician of the 20th century. Modern Carnatic cutcheri format that he pioneered is the universally accepted norm today. For nearly half a century, he was the most sought after concert artist in the carnatic music world.

Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar was born in a small village called Ariyakudi in Tamilnadu on 19th May, 1890. He was the third son of Thiruvengadam Iyengar and Chellammal. Astrology was their family profession. But, since according to the stars his father thought Ariyakudi was destined to be a musician, he decided to get him trained in music. He first trained under Malayappa Iyer, then Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar and finally under a well known musician and composer Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar, famous as Poochi Iyengar.

By 1920s he established himself as a front ranking vocalist and had settled down in Madras. In the next half a century as he matured as an artist, he came to dominate the music scene and pioneered the format of the modern day cutcheri. He set a structure as to the order of krithis to be taken up in a concert and the kind of variety that needs to be presented. A traditional conservative musician, he was still able to bring modernity to his music and able to adapt to the changing needs of the society. He effectively exploded the myth and illusion which were prevalent for a long time that traditional music was not pleasing to the ear. His format and presentation that everyone else followed brought classical music closer to the common man and made it popular with even the layman. Classical music moved from the royal darbar and temples on to the public platform.

Many awards naturally followed the master. Vellore Sangeeta Sabha conferred on him the title Sangeeta Ratnakara in 1932, Sangeetha Kalanidhi by Madras Music Academy in 1938 and Gayaka Shikhamani by Mysore Durbar. His principle disciples were B. Rajam Iyer and K. V. Narayanaswamy.

Related Artists

Teachers & Influences	Malayappa Iyer, Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar, Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar of Ramnad
Disciples & Followers	B. Rajam Iyer, K. V. Narayanaswamy, Varadaraja Iyengar
Similar Artists	Musuri Subramanya Iyer, Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, Madurai Mani Iyer, G N Balasubramaniam, Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar
Worked With	Palghat Mani Iyer, T. Chowdaiah, T. N. Krishnan

Links

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• Essay on Concert Tradition by Ariyakudi
• Ariyakudi's address to Music Academy in 1938
• A home page at narada.org
• Streaming Concert at narada.org