Staff Reporter
Speakers recall interesting episodes from life of legendary musician
CHENNAI: A year-long celebration to commemorate legendary musician Semmangudi. R. Srinivasa Iyer’s birth centenary, which falls in July next, was inaugurated at Hamsadhwani here on Saturday.
Speaking at the inaugural, B.R. Kumar, station manager, Gyanvani, FM Educational Radio, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), said Semmangudi was the doyen of Carnatic music and had carved a place for himself. “He was, therefore, called the Sangita Pitamaha.”
On several occasions, Semmangudi offered valuable suggestions to him about programmes aired on the All India Radio. “He would insist that more attention be paid to the balancing of instruments’ volumes.”
Cordial ties
Veteran musician and disciple of Semmangudi P. S. Narayanaswami said his guru evinced interest in not just music, but several other areas.
The affable manner with which he dealt with different kinds of people was striking. “He was friends even with his enemies and he believed in maintaining cordial relationships with people around him.”
Recalling an episode before Semmangudi’s concert at a village, Mr. Narayanaswami said the host introduced a resident of the village to Semmangudi saying, “See, your enemy has come.” (The host was referring to the resident’s preference for another style of music to Semmangudi’s.) However, a pleasant Semmangudi said: “Oh, I have no enemies.”
That the resident later admitted that he liked all styles of music was a different matter. But, after the incident, Semmangudi is said to have remarked thus: “The only enemy I have is my voice. I battle this constraint every other day.”
Mr. Narayaswami said Semmangudi not only conquered his voice, but, when engrossed in his recital, produced unimaginably creative phrases. “That speed, precision and feel cannot be reproduced by any other voice.”
Mridangam maestro Umayalapuram. K. Sivaraman said Semmangudi encouraged accompanists and brought out the best in them. Recalling a concert in which he accompanied the stalwart, Mr. Sivaraman said he was running high temperature before the concert. “He asked me not to exert myself and take it easy. But his rendition gave me tremendous energy and at the end of the concert I found that the fever had vanished.”
In another concert of theirs, a 90-year-old Semmangudi sang his quintessential ‘Marubalga…’ in Sriranjani. “I am sure that even artists one third his age (then) cannot sing with that kind of energy and power.”
Speakers lauded Hamsadhwani for holding the year-long celebration, an idea conceived by its late founder secretary.
Hamsadhwani’s assistant secretary R. Sundar said a series of concerts and lecture demonstrations would be held throughout the year in this connection.
“We also plan to organise a few programmes in places outside Chennai such as Thiruvananthapuram, Thanjavur and Coimbatore. Shruti magazine will also partner us in the effort.”