Saint composer Thyagaraj stands tall in the world classical music on many a count. Synonymous with Carnatic classical music, the way his compositions enriched gamut of Carnatic idiom of classical music remains unmatched. In a way, through his works, he created a Ramabhakthi Samrajyam of spiritual import in the matrix of musical scales. In a talk on Bhava, Raaga, Taalayuta Sadbhakthi in the compositions of Thyagaraja under the aegis of Sri Vijaya Thyagaraja Sabha at Sankara Matam in Visakhapatnam, noted vocalist Manda Sudharani elucidated varied charms of the compositions. She traced the perception of bhakthi and its appealing expression in music down ages and chose to elaborate how saint composer Thyagaraja lent an abiding expression to devotional fervour in his compositions building a splendid edifice of musical brilliance in the process.
Thyagaraja harnessed various scales exploring musical depths and ranges, bequeathing a multi-dimensional content of lasting value in the form of his krithis. Naama, roopa and guna varnanam, the descriptive presentation of the glory of Lord Rama’s name, appearance and His divine characteristics in the compositions of Thyagaraj are of matchless beauty and musical craft of high order, she said.
