Semmengudi Srinivasa Iyer (b. 1908)

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Profile

Srinivasa Iyer was the third son born to Radhakrishna Iyer and Dharmasamvardhini Ammal. Born on 25th July 1908, he grew up in the village of Semmengudi which is in the cradle of Carnatic music, Tanjavur District, South India.

Semmengudi had the opportunity to learn music under four distinguished musical stalwarts. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer started learning music in 1916, at the age of eight from Semmangudi Narayaswamy Iyer. He was then under the tutelage of Gottu Vadhyam Vidwan Tiruvidaimurudur Sakharama Rao for a few years. Later he went to Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer from whom he learnt any number of Thyagaraja songs. Semmengudi also had training from the acclaimed vocalist, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer whom he supported in many concerts.

Semmangudi's first music recital was in 1926 at the Kumbakonam Nageswaraswami temple.

Although a traditionalist, he introduced many novelties in the works of composers ranging from Swati Tirunal to Ambujam Krishna. He also popularised rare ragas such as Bhavapriya, Salaghabhairavi and Narayanagowla.

Among his rare distinctions is the great qualitative contribution he has made to the development of M.S. Subbulakshmi's transporting music, and the fact that she acknowledges him as her guru. Also his joining the Sri Swati Tirunal College of Music, Trivandrum, to edit and make ready for publication the kritis of Maharaja Swati Tirunal which turned out to be a milestone in the history of South Indian music,as, More and more of Swati Tirunal's songs came to be sung in concerts from then on.

Semmangudi has been showered with awards including the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan conferred by the Government of India

His prominent disciples include t Prof. T. N. Krishnan (who accompanied him on violin in many concerts) and T. M. Thiagarajan and also P. S. Narayanaswamy.

Discography

In alphabetical order of the title

Title	Nature	Music / recording	Contents	Label	Other Artists	Year
All India Radio Recordings			Begada, Ritigowla, Subha Panthuvarali	EMI India	P S Narayanaswami, Vocal Support; T N Krishnan, Violin; S V S Narayanan, Mridangam
Divine Unison			Ragas Abhogi, Todi, Harikambhoji, Hemavathi, Kambhogi, Bhairavi, Dhenuka, Nilambari, Kharaharapriya, Saindavi, Tarangini, Chechuriti	EMI India	Vocal M S Subbulakshmi
Sangita Kalanidhi			Arabhi, Mohanam, Karaharapriya	Oriental	L Shankar, Violin; Palghat T S Mani Iyer, Mridangam
The Doyen of Carnatic Music 2 CD Set			Kshinamaitiruga, Birana Brovayithe, Vinarada Na Manavi, Dwaitamu Sukhama, Dewa Dewa, Padavi Ni, Srinivasa, Kanakamaya, Parulannamatta; 2 CD Set	Oriental	L Subramanium, Violin; Guruvayoor Dorai, Mridangam; V R Krishnan, Vocal Support
Vocal			Mayamalava Gowla, Kambhoji, Shanmuka	EMI India	V Subramanium ,vocal support; Dr L Shankar, violin; palghat TS Mani Iyer
Vocal			Mayamalava Gowla, Karnataka Behag, Gopika Vasantham, Karaharapriya, Madhyamavati, Vasantha, Kalyani	AVM

Links

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