South Asia / Video

 

AT HOME with Master Musicians of Madras

Volume IV: South Indian Classical Music House Concert with M. D. RAMANATHAN (vocalist), T.N. Krishnan (violin) and Umayalpuram Sivaraman (mridangam)

 

Madras is one of the most musical cities in the world. The largest city on India’s SE coast, Madras (or Chennai) hosts thousands of concerts of South Indian classical music every year. Most Madras musicians begin their training in the nurturing environment of the home. In this series, several top musicians are seen in family settings as they teach their children and students, discuss their views of Karnatak music and its spiritual dimensions, and demonstrate elements of this unique devotional classical tradition. 

VOLUME IV Manjapara Devesa Ramanathan appears in rare video footage recorded by Fredric Lieberman and Amy Catlin in 1977. He presents with consummate artistry a one-hour concert of carefully selected gems covering a wide range of materials in Telugu and Sanskrit by the greatest classical Karnatak composers.  Completing the trio are the esteemed accompanists Padma Bhushan T. N. Krishnan, violin, and Padma Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman, mridangam.


Manjapara Devesa Ramanathan (1923-1984), the disciple of “Tiger” Varadachariar, was a gifted vocalist and composer remembered for his uniquely creative, sensitive, and unpredictable style. "MDR" was awarded the Padma Sri by the Government of India in 1974 and the Sangit Natak Akademi Award in 1975.

 


Others in this series:

Volume I: T.N. Krishnan

Forthcoming:

Volume II: M.D. Ramanathan

Volume III: Umayalpuram Sivaraman, T. Mukta
ISBN 1-880519-17-8 © 1994 VHS Price $45 + S&H

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