MusicalNirvana - Articles on T. N. Krishnan

Articles on T. N. Krishnan

Taken from Keertana, the newsletter of Carnatic Music Circle (CMC), Melbourne
Reproduced here for educational purposes only

Padmabhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi Professor T.N.Krishnan, popularly known as T.N.K., is one of the most respected, renowned and reputed classical musicians of India. As a violinist, he has been at the very pinnacle of his field for several decades. Indeed, 1997 marks his sixty second year of service as a classical musician! T.N.Krishnan hails from an illustrious family of musicians. He was born on 16 October 1928 in Parur (Kerala) and was noted, even in his formative years, for his musical abilities and precocious talents. He gave his first concert at the age of eight and was featured on All India Radio from the age of ten. He had his initial training from his father Sri A. Narayana Iyer and later on, from K.Parthasarathy Iyengar. Later, he was tutored by the legend, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. His aesthetically rich style also draws inspiration from the renowned violinist, Papa Venkataramiah.

From a young age, T.N.Krishnan had the opportunity to accompany to accompany several acclaimed vocalists such as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Musiri Subramania Iyer, Chembai Vaidhyantha Iyer, and Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer.

Later on, he played for stalwarts like Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G.N.Balasubramaniam, and M.D.Ramanathan, and so on. He has accompanied these maestros and others in inumerable concerts. More recently he has featured as a soloist and also gives violin (duo and trio) concerts with his daughter, Viji and son, Sriram.

Sri T.N.Krishnan has performed extensively as a violin accompanist and as a solo violinist. He is a widely travelled musician and has been on several concert tours of North America, Great Britain, the USSR, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. He last visited Australia and gave concerts in this country in 1979 when he was chosen to preside over the Asian Music Symposium. He has performed at prestigious International Festivals including the Winter Fest (Vienna), Festival of India (USSR), and the inaugural Winter Music Festival (Sarajevo). He has been featured in several commercial recordings (either as a solo violinist or as an accopanying violinist) and has recorded on most leading record labels. His programs have been aired by many radio and television stations including All India Radio, BBC, Radio Germany, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Doordarshan.

Over his extensive career he has been awarded many prestigious awards and titles. Here, we present a small collection of these: Vayuleena Ratna (1950) — Tenali Sangeetha Sabha; Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1974) — Sangeet Natak Academy, Delhi; Asthana Vidwan (1977) — Tirumal Tirupati Devasthanams; Honours (1980) — Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt; Sangeetha Kalanihi —The Music Academy. Madras (1980); Chowdiah Memorial National award — The Academy of Music, Bangalore; Sangita Kala Nipuna — The Mylapore Fine Arts Club; Padma Sri and Padma Bhushan (1992) — The President of India; Sangeeta Kala Sikhamani (1993) — Indian Fine Arts Club, Madras; Sangita Kala Sagara (1994) — CMANA, USA.

In addition, during his illustrious career, Sri T.N.Krishnan has occupied many distinguished positions all over the world. He was the Chairman of the Audition Board of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (deputed by AIR, New Delhi). He was Professor of Violin of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College from 1964 to 1978. Later, from 1978 to 1985, he was also the Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College. He was the Professor and Head of Carnatic Music section of Delhi University from 1986 to 1992. He was a Member of the Experts Committee of The Music Academy Madras. He was an Executive Board Member of The Sangeet Natak Academy and from 1992 he was its Chairman. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Centre for World Music, University of Berkeley.

"There is vibrant, emotional warmth, technical precision and perfection in his delightful melodic rendition. The serenity and tonal virtuosity are soothing and endearing. Evocative improvisation and nuances, tantalising subtlety with clarity providing absorbing interest in the listener mark his concerts. His impeccably smooth bowing blends severe classicism with depth and fluency with polish", SVK (the reputed critic for The Hindu newspaper) once noted, "His notes glisten with Carnatic lustre and every phrase in the alapana stands dipped with Carnatic sweetness. The use of the full bow produces deep-toned music enriched with gamaka-s with resultant ganduer and grace. Above all, there is his dignified presence on the stage, free from any tinge of mannerism, exuding confidence, cultured decorum and robust refinement — a personification of perfected knowledge.