Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கோனேரிராஜபுரம் வைத்தியநாத ஐயர்
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Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar (1880-1921) was a popular Carnatic music vocalist.
Early life, Tutelage
Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar was born in the year 1880 to Narayana Ayyar and Sitalakshmi at Marathurai (near Pandhanallur) in Tanjore district. At the age of 3, following his mother's demise, he was taken to his grandmother's place at Konerirajapuram (also known as Thirunallam) and raised there. Hence he was known popularly as Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar.
In Konerirajapuram, he learnt music from Nadhaswaram Vidwan (virtuoso) Kuzhandaivel and his son Vaidyalingam. He also learnt music for a short while from Nattuvanar (dance choreographer and conductor) Panthanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. He also learnt from Maruthanallur Kuzhandaiswami, Chinna Kuzhandaiswami, Melattur Sundara Bhagavathar and Venkata Bhagavathar. He specialized in Pallavi (a short form for Ragam Tanam Pallavi, which is multi-component improvised piece sung in Carnatic music concerts exhibiting the musical expertise of the musician) singing and got special orientation in layam (rhythm) from Pudukottai Manpoondia Pillai who was a renowned percussionist. Sathanur Panchanadam Ayyar and Talaignayar Somu Ayyar imparted to him the techniques of tanam (one of the three components of Ragam Tanam Pallavi) and swara prastaram (rhythmic and imaginative exploration of a raga using musical notes, usually sung extempore).
Musical Career
Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar's special grasp of layam meant that he composed and performed complex and intricate Pallavis in concerts which were often noted to be difficult to follow by the accompanying artists. Thirukodikaval Krishna Iyer later made him understand the importance of balanced singing to make music as a pleasant experience. Realizing it, Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar subsequently changed his style of singing. Most of his concerts used to run for five hours. He is known for his innovative usages in swara prastharas (also called as kalpanaswarams).
Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer notes that Vaidyanatha Ayyar used to sing in lower octaves (mandra sthayi) with marked ease and clarity even during the era before loudspeakers and microphones, which is a testimony to his vocal skills and practice.
Disciples
Below are the key disciples of Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar
- Gottuvadhyam Budaloor Krishnamurthy Shastri
- Coimbatore Viswanatha Iyer
- Thethiyur Krishnamurthy
- Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer
- Papanasam Sivan[1]
Death
Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar passed away due to health setbacks in 1921 at the age of forty three (43).
Links
- Tamil Isai Ilakkiya Varalaaru - Mu. Arunachalam
- About Konerirrajapuram Vaidyanatha Ayyar, Peoplepill
Footnotes
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