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Re: Karnatic musicians & AzhwAr's poetry

From the Bhakti List Archives

Parthasarathy Ranganathan • November 17, 1996 


V. Sadagopan said:
> I have however  some observations on Your comments 
> for further discussions on the  of the lack ofDivya Prabhandhams 
> being tuned and sung by our musicians, past and present.
....
>
> In summary , I think that the twin twains of Concert based sangeetham and 
> paasurams arising from the intenses bhakthi of Azhwaars will go their
> separate ways and will occasionaly meet in the viruttham section
> of the concert . The efforts of the disciple of late Sri V.V. Sadagopan 
> at Melkote are commendable starts since it seems to be the first serious
> attempt to tune the Paasurams of AzhwArs and teach them to willing
> students .

The Tamizh Isai Mandram in Madras, in its annual music festival during
December, organizes concerts (though in the non-prime slots) to encourage
"Prabhandam isai". I recall Prof. Vasudha Narayanan was very interested in
this (the setting to music of the Naalayiram Divya Prabandham). Maybe, she
can share some of her thoughts with us. Personally, I have some cassettes
of the Divya Prabhandam verses, set to music by Sri. Venkata Varadan, and
have found them a delight to hear. I would be happy to send a copy of my
tapes to anyone who is interested.

-- Partha

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Parthasarathy Ranganathan		Graduate Student
Dept of ECE, MS 366			Office: A211 Abercrombie
Rice University				email : parthas@rice.edu
Houston TX 77251-1892			Phone : 713-527-8101 x3222
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