Reconnecting with Mysuru’s classical roots

Two global events unfolding simultaneously on Tuesday — International Day of Yoga and World Music Day — have relevance in Mysuru given their association with the city and the patronage they received from the erstwhile rulers of the princely state.

While International Yoga Day has captured public imagination and hogs the media limelight, World Music Day receives a passing mention, if at all. But the Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University has planned a day-long programme at the Jaganmohan Palace auditorium to mark the occasion, reiterating the city’s close association with classical music.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor Sarvamangala Shankar said there would be concerts by students and eminent artistes, besides demonstrations and lectures on both Carnatic and Hindustani music and a Bharatanatyam performance by danseuse Vasundhara Doraswamy. The programme is open to all.

Underlining the relevance of the event for Mysuru, Ms. Shankar said the erstwhile princely state had patronised music and arts, and as a result, Mysuru is associated with all things classical. “We plan to observe World Music Day to draw home the connection and reiterate the close association of music with Mysuru,” she said.

The Wadiyars were great patrons of all forms of music and this is evident in the great names in the annals of Carnatic and Hindustani music who flourished here, she added.

The Mysore Gazetteer notes that there were high-calibre musicians in the court of Kanthirava Narasaraja Wadiyar, while Chamaraja Wadiyar’s court musician Chikka Devaraya was the author of the musical treatise ‘Geetagopala’.

The musicians who flourished in Mysuru or at least trace their roots to the city include the likes of Mysuru Sadashiva Rao, Veene Sheshanna, Patnam Subramanya Iyer, Muthaiah Bhagavathar, Bidaram Krishnappa, Karim Bakshi (Sarangi) and Pitilu Chowdaiah. The last maharaja — Jayachamaraja Wadiyar — himself was a prolific composer.

The rich collection of artefacts at the Jayachamaraja Art Gallery in the city includes century-old musical instruments, some of which belong to palace musicians.