Forgotten Musicians– Isaikalaimani , Vidwan
Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan and Musician
Shri.T.B.Gnanasabapathy.
In recent times I started writing about mine and my close relative’s ancestors and
their services to the society. In the process I have come across a book in my own library “ MATERIA MUSICA - FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUTH INDIAN OR KARNATIC MUSIC
IN A NUTSHELL “ written by a
close relative , Shri. E.M.Ramakrishnan., in '60s.
Let me tell about how I got my short time association with that great person. He was my sister-in-law’s grandfather ( My
younger brother Sri.M.D.Ramesh’s wife
Smt.Pramodhini’s ) and father of
Smt.Bamini Rajaram ( wife of Prof. Shri.V.Rajaram ). He lived in Thyagaroya
Gramani Street , North Thyagaroya Nagar,
Chennai -17, when my brother got married.
Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan was
known among our relatives as a great Jalatharangam Musician . But I found more
about him in his book.
·
Composer - Director – Teacher of Indian music (
for the musical broadcast production of ) Lutheran Centre,Madras,1954 to 1966
·
Jalatharangam – Musician, Gemini Studios ,
Madras, 1942 to 1957
·
Music-Maker of certain Indian Documentary
Films,1956 to 1958
·
Guest artist for jalatharangam to the New York
Little Orchestra for the world premiere of HENRY COWELL’s Thirteenth Symphony (
Madras Symphony ) under the direction of THOMAS SCHERMAN , in Madras , 1959.
Following additional details are available in his book:
EXTRACT from “ THE MAIL ‘ newspaper dtd.September 20,1966
page 3
The title of “ Isai
Kalaimani “ was conferred on Vidwan E.M.Ramakrishnan,Music Composer by the
Luthern Centre, Nungambakkam, at a function got up to bid farewell to
Mr.Ramakrishnan on his retirement from service.
Felicitation to
Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan on his retirement
by Shri.B.W..Chelladurai,Chairman,Executive Committee dtd.19th
Sep.’66.
Mr.E.Ramakrishnan who
has worked in this institution as Music Composer for the past several years
retired from service on 9th September, ’66. He is very proficient in
Carnatic music and has composed original music to about 300 lyrics. He is good
at classical and light music as well.
He is a brilliant
Jalatharangam player. He also plays several other instruments. He has been an
asset to this institution and has contributed a great deal to the development
of religious and secular music.
I wish him all
happiness and God’s blessings in the days to come.
(Sd.)
B.W.Chelladurai,Chairman,Executive Committee.
Another perusable from Prof.P.Sambamoorthy, Head of the
Department of Indian Music, University of Madras and Director of Sangita
Vadyalaya, Madras. President , Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Madras.
His Certificate dtd.
22nd July ‘65 : I know Sri Vidwan E.M.Ramakrishnan for a long time.
He is a good musician and plays on the Jalatharangam. ( Sd.) P.Sambamoorthi,
Director Sangita Vidyalaya , Annamalai Manram, Esplanade, Madras-1
Henry Cowell was a
great music composer whose Thirteenth Symphony ( Madras Symphony ) was
premiered by The New York Little Orchestra under the direction of THOMAS
SCHERMAN , in Madras in 1959.
He wrote from Shady,
N.Y., U.S.A , on May 24th , 1959 :
Dear Mr.Ramnakrishnan:
May I offer my thanks
to you for your splendid playing of the Jalatarang part in my Thirteenth
Symphony? I have heard the record, and enjoyed your performance very much
indeed. It is good of you to have taken the time and effort to have done this,
and it is a very deeply appreciated.
Sincerely,
(Sd.) Henry Cowell
About him and his book in his own words – in the Preface of
the above said book ( 18-3-1967 )
"I have written in a nutshell this book on music for those interested in but require brief and simple
tution on the fundamentals of South Indian or karnatic music. The essential
materials presented in the book in response to the pressing requests from
several students, friends and institutions are the result of my amateur musical
experience during my academic years in the Madras presidency and Christian
colleges, 1926 to 1930 ( the year 1930 diverted me from the B.A.class 0 and of
years of practical experience as a professional performer ( on Jalatharangam or
water-bowls organ ) , teacher, composer and director of south Indian or
karnatic ( also titled ) music.
I have designed this book with appropriate charts to make
understanding most easy for the inlanders and foreigners alike.
Materia Musica, is the general title with the symbol Sakaraa borne by bevery one of my books on
music including this.
My sincere thanks are due to my daughters who encouraged and
assisted me in fair-writing my manuscripts and correcting the typescripts."
Dynamic Printers, Madras -18 , carried out the printing of
his book.
I am lucky enough to have a copy of the book , gifted to me
by Prof. Shri.V.Rajaram ( son-in-law of Shri.E.M.Ramakrishnan )
In this context I would also want to say few lines of another
musician , my grandfather ( my mother, Janaki Devarajan’s father ) ,
Shri.T.B.Gnanasabapathy .
There is no history available in any document. By the
word of mouth through my mother I know his talents as a musician, music
teacher , Harmonium player for street plays , a photographer and by profession a Draftsman , worked in Government of India , Survey
department. He lived in Mandavelli and we used to visit him when we were young. He is a story teller too.A group photo of him along with
British stalwarts in Survey dept. is in my archive collections along
with a Drafting Compass and a glass cutter , he used for his photography.
I wish to emphasize
that our ancestors were really great personalities to remember for their services to the society in some
form and share their life and times to our descendants.
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