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Lalgudi Jayaraman

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Lalgudi Jayaraman
Jayaraman in 2004
Jayaraman in 2004
Background information
Born(1930-09-17)17 September 1930
Edayathumangalam, Trichinopoly District,
Madras Presidency,
India
(now Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India)[1]
Died22 April 2013(2013-04-22) (aged 82)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
GenreIndian classical music
OccupationsViolinist, composer,
InstrumentViolin
Years active1942–2013

Lalgudi Gopal Jayaraman (17 September 1930 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. He is commonly grouped with M.S. Gopalakrishnan and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin trinity of Carnatic music. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2001.

His disciples included his two children Lalgudi G. J. R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi; Harikatha exponent Vishaka Hari; Carnatic vocalist Saketharaman; Vittal Ramamurthy; film music composer Girishh G; and Bombay Jayashri Ramnath.[citation needed]

Early life and background

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Lalgudi Jayaraman is the fourth generation musician in the Shishya parampara of Sri Thyagaraja. Lalgudi Jayaraman's disciple lineage to Sri Thyagaraja traces back to his father Lalgudi V.R.Gopala Iyer, who learnt from Valadi Radhakrishna Iyer, who was a disciple of Lalgudi Rama Iyer, one of the direct disciples of Sri Thyagaraja.

He was trained in Carnatic music by his father, V.R.Gopala Iyer, under whose guidance he studied the traditions and techniques of the art form.[2]

Career

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At the age of 12, he started his musical career as an accompanying violinist to Carnatic musicians before rising as a prominent soloist.[3][4]

He expanded the style of violin playing by inventing a new technique that is designed to suit the needs of Indian Classical Music and establishing a unique style that came to be known as Lalgudi Bani. Jayaraman composed several 'kritis', 'tillanas' and 'varnams' and dance compositions, which are a blend of raga, bhava, rhythm and lyrical beauty. Lalgudi's instrumental talent comes to the fore in the form of lyrical excellence. He brought vocal style into violin, and his renditions exhibit knowledge of lyrical content of the compositions.[5][6][7] Lalgudi actively and scientifically learned to self-critique his performances and dutifully wrote detailed reviews after each concert, a habit encouraged by his father and guru.[2] He was loath to experiment on stage in his solo concerts and almost always planned to the last detail, leading a certain critic to tout them as being intellectual rather than emotional in spirit, but Lalgudi's spontaneity and innate musical genius were often seen when he accompanied leading vocalists.[2]

He was always in great demand for accompanying vocalists, and has accompanied vocal virtuosos including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, M. D. Ramanathan, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G. N. Balasubramaniam, Madurai Mani Iyer, Alathur brothers, Voleti Venkateswarulu, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, K. V. Narayanaswamy, Maharajapuram Santhanam, D. K. Jayaraman, M.Balamuralikrishna, T. V. Sankaranarayanan, T. N. Seshagopalan and flute maestro N. Ramani. He was forbidden from accompanying female artistes by his father, a promise that he kept.[8] He has given concerts extensively in India as well as abroad. The Government of India sent him to Russia as a member of the Indian Cultural Delegation.

He was the first to bring international attention to the Carnatic style of violin playing. He also introduced a new concept of musical ensemble with violin, venu (flute) and veena in 1966.

After inviting him to play the Edinburgh Festival in 1965, Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned violinist, impressed by Lalgudi's technique and performance, presented him with his Italian violin. Lalgudi presented Menuhin with an ivory dancing Nataraja when Menuhin visited India.[9]

He has also performed in Singapore, Malaysia, Manila and East European countries. His recordings submitted to the International Music Council, Baghdad, Asian Pacific Music Rostrum and Iraq Broadcasting Agency by AIR New Delhi have been adjudged as the best and accorded the first position out of 77 entries received from the various countries during 1979. He was invited to give concerts at Cologne, Belgium and France. The Government of India chose him to represent India at the Festival of India in USA, London and he gave solo and 'Jugalbandi' concerts in London and also in Germany and Italy that received rave reviews. Sri Lalgudi went on a tour in the year 1984 to Oman, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, which was highly successful. He composed the lyrics and music for the operatic ballet Jaya Jaya Devi, which premiered in 1994 at Cleveland, Ohio (US) and was staged in many other cities in the United States. In October 1999, Lalgudi performed in the UK under the auspices of Sruthi Laya Sangham (Institute of fine arts). After the concert, a dance drama Pancheswaram, composed by Lalgudi, was staged.[10]

His biography, An Incurable Romantic, by Lakshmi Devnath, was released posthumously in 2013. It contains a foreword by sitarist Ravi Shankar, and charts his 70 years in the music industry.[11]

Awards

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Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship-2009 to Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman for his outstanding contribution to Carnatic music

Jayaraman earned several titles, such as 'Nada Vidya Tilaka' by Music Lovers’ Association of Lalgudi in 1963, 'Padma Shri' by the Government of India in 1972, 'Nada Vidya Rathnakara' by East West Exchange in New York, 'Vadya Sangeetha Kalaratna' by Bharathi Society, New York; 'Sangeetha Choodamani' by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai in 1971; State Vidwan of Tamil Nadu by the Government of Tamil Nadu and Sangeetha Natak Academy award in 1979 etc. The First Chowdaiah Memorial National-Level award was given to Sri Jayaraman by the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He also received honorary citizenship of Maryland, US in 1994 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2001.[12] He won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film Sringaram in 2006. In 2010, Jayaraman became a fellow of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.[13]

Personal life

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Lalgudi Jayaraman was married to Smt Rajalakshmi and had two children, son G.J.R.Krishnan and daughter Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. Both follow the footsteps of their father and are famous in their own right. Jayaraman had three sisters Padmavathy, a vainika, Rajalakshmi and Srimathi, both violinists. Srimathi learned violin from him as well. The renowned veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh is his sister Smt Rajalakshmi's daughter.[citation needed]

Jayaraman died on 22 April 2013 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Chennai.[14][15]

Compositions

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Most famous for his thillanas and varnams, Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman is considered one of the most prolific composers of modern times. His compositions span four languages (Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit), as well as a whole range of ragas not conventionally used for varnams or thillanas. Characteristic of his style, the melody of his compositions camouflages subtle rhythmic intricacies. His compositions are very popular with Bharathanatyam dancers, even as they have become a standard highlight of every leading Carnatic musician's repertoire. His compositions include:[citation needed]

Varnams

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Compositions Raga Language
Pugalvaay Neyallal Puvitannil Amritavarshini Tamil
Thirumaal Marugaa     Andolika Tamil
Jalajaaksha Nee Paadamé Asaveri Telugu
Raamanai Raghunaathanai Atana Tamil
Entho Prematonu Bahudari Telugu
Arunodayamé Anbin Vadivamé Bowli Tamil
Devi un paadamé Devagandhari Tamil
Parama karuna Garudadhvani Telugu
Innum Tamadaméno Dayapariyé Hamirkalyani Tamil
Engum Nirai Déivamé Hamsavinodini Tamil
Kannanai Manivannanai Kanindu Huseni Tamil
Unnai yandri Verar Ulaginil Kalyani Tamil
Inta Tamasamela Kannada Telugu
Neevégaani Mandari Telugu
Vallabhai nayaka Mohanakalyani Tamil
Karunai Puriya Vénum Kamakshi Mohanam Tamil
Neevé gatiyani Nalinakanthi Telugu
Tarunam En Taye Saama Tamil
Parivudan Bhakthargal Anaivarayum Shankarabharanam Tamil
Naadaswaroopini Unn Padam Panivom Saraswathi Tamil
Chalamu séyanéla Valaji Telugu
Nambum Anbarkkarulum Varamu Tamil

Pada Varnams

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Compositions Raga Language
Innam En Manam Charukesi Tamil
Senthil Nagar Mevum Neelambari Tamil
Devar Munivar Tozhum      Shanmukhapriya Tamil
Angayarkanni Anandam Kondale Ragamalika (Navarasa pada varnam)

Ragas: Bilahari, Huseni, Valaji,

Saranga, Sucharitra, Athana, Rasikapriya, Sahana, Nadanamakriya

 Tamil

Thillanas

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Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman also tuned the Swathi Thirunal thillana 'Gitu Dhunika Taka Dhim' in Raga Dhanashree and set the compositions in its current form, which then went on to become hugely popular

Krithis

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Krithi Ragam Talam Language
Sri Jagadeeshwari Durga Ahir Bhairav Adi tala Sanskrit
Nee Dayai Seyyavidil Begada Adi tala Tamil
Vinayakunnadeva Dharmavati Adi tala Telugu
Ten Madurai Vazh Annaye Hamsaroopini Adi tala Tamil
Kandan Seyalandro Nattakurinji Roopakam Tamil
Tavarizhaippadhu En Iyalbandro Ragavardhini Adi tala Tamil
Unnaiyandri Veror Pughazhum Undo Saramati Adi tala Tamil
Kumara Guruguham Shanmukhapriya Adi tala Sanskrit

Other Compositions

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Composition Ragam Talam Language
Jathiswaram - Neeye dayai puriya tarunam Behag Adi (2 Kalai) Tamil
Pushpanjali - Jeku jeku jham tom tom ta dhim Gambhiranattai Adi
Jathiswaram Rasikapriya Adi
Jathiswaram - Mahishan Maindhan annai Sindhu Bhairavi Adi (Tisra gathi)

Apart from these compositions, Sri Lalgudi jayaraman was a much sought after tunesmith who set tunes to numerous songs and compositions including several krithis of Ambujam Krishna.

References

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  1. ↑ "Lalgudi G. Jayaraman". Sangeet Natak. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Srinivasan, Meera (15 October 2013). "Lalgudi: a true love story". The Hindu.
  3. ↑ "Music". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Lalgudi Jayaraman's varnams for posterity too, thanks to DVD release". The Hindu. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Award for Lalgudi Jayaraman". The Hindu. 15 January 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 September 2016.[dead link]
  6. ↑ "Carnatica honours Lalgudi G. Jayaraman". The Hindu. 11 November 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 September 2016.[dead link]
  7. ↑ "Honour for Lalgudi Jayaraman". The Hindu. 1 April 2006. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 September 2016.[dead link]
  8. ↑ "Lalgudi Days". timescrest.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Ashok Roy. (2004) Music Makers: Living Legends of Indian Classical Music. Rupa Publications
  10. ↑ Priyamvada, Arita (2007). Encyclopaedia of Indian music. Anmol
  11. ↑ "Life of Lalgudi Jayaraman chronicled". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Declaration of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2009" (Press release). Ministry of Culture. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "Lalgudi Jayaraman passes away". The Hindu (Press release). 22 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  15. ↑ "Carnatic violinist-composer Lalgudi G Jayaraman passes away in Chennai". The Times of India. 22 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
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