The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Notes of greatness from a legendary musician

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Notes of greatness from a legendary musician

Staff Reporter

Speakers reminisce about Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

CHENNAI: Interesting anecdotes, fond memories and inspiring stories shared at the birth centenary celebration of legendary musician Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer took the audience down the memory lane.

“He taught us not only music but also etiquette and the tricks of the trade,” said violin maestro T.N. Krishnan at the function organised by Hamsadhwani here on Wednesday.

Reminiscing about his Gurukulavasam under Semmangudi, Mr. Krishnan said that as a 13-year-old boy, he was given the responsibility of keeping flowers ready for his teacher’s daily prayers. “He would wake me up and ask me to play at 5.30 a.m. and then go for a walk. When he came back, he would check whether I was still playing and start classes immediately. He would lose himself in music and continue teaching for hours on end, forgetting everything else,” Mr. Krishnan recalled.

Speaking of his guru’s magnanimity and affection, he said: “He treated us like a family and expected nothing in return. His family was very loving and cared for all the disciples as if we were their children.” “What is not there in Semmangudi’s music is not there in music itself,” said Mridangam wizard Umayalapuram K. Sivaraman.

Highlighting the legend’s humility, he said: “He had once said that ‘If I’m born as a musician again, I want to sing like Ariyakudi.’ Such was his modesty.”

‘Name street after him’

In order to pay a fitting tribute to Semmangudi, the government could name the street he lived in after him, Mr. Sivaraman said. He urged universities to organise annual guest lectures in his name and suggested that the Sangeet Natak Academy awards be instituted in his honour.

“A colossus”

N. Murali, Managing Director, The Hindu, and president, The Music Academy, said: “We bow our heads in tribute, honour, admiration and reverence for an artist who strode the world of music like a colossus. With the sheer magnitude of his vidwat and repertoire, he enthralled generations of rasikas.”

He described Semmangudi as the “ideal guru” who trained several students who are now torchbearers of the Semmangudi bani.

Mr. Murali commended Hamsadhwani for having thought of commencing the legend’s birth centenary celebration a year ago. Speakers fondly recalled the contributions of Hamsadhwani’s founder-secretary R. Ramachandran who had been instrumental in the organisation’s growth.

Secretary of the sabha R. Sundar said the celebration included a five-day programme featuring concerts and thematic presentations, highlighting Semmangudi’s contributions.

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