Sriram's talk
Eminent Music writer V Sriram delivers a talk on 'Carnatic Music and the Raj' at the British Council in Chennai March 30, 2005.
Engineer-MBA V Sriram, is an ardent follower and exponent of Carnatic music, having learnt music from the age of six. Today, even as he is the Chief Operations Officer of Broadgate Technical Services India Pvt Ltd, and handling his family business of industrial hydraulics, he still finds time to be actively involved in his passion - Carnatic music.
Sriram has set up a website, www.sanqeetham.com, in association with eminent Carnatic vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyan, which is now in its fifth year of existence and has information and articles on Carnatic Music. The popular 'Music Walks in Chennai' during the kutchery season are also authored by the same duo. Again, in partnership with Sanjay, Sriram has written a quiz book on Carnatic Music. In 2004, Sriram's book Carnatic Summer that has biographies of 20 major Carnatic music exponents was released. Married and with two children, Sriram will bring to music lovers and enthusiasts all those little unknown bits of information on the Raj & Carnatic Music.
Here are some teasers -- what is in store during Sriram's presentation on March 30th.
Did you know??
a. that the violin, which is an integral part of Carnatic concerts was unknown before the arrival of the British?
b. there are at least three ragas that owe their existence of the band music of the British army?
c. that two of the Carnatic Music Trinity, namely Tyagaraja and Muttuswami Dikshitar composed songs influenced by British tunes?
d. that Tyagaraja even used two English words in two of his songs?
e. that there are songs in Carnatic music in praise of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V and Annie Besant, not to forget Colonel Munroe whose statue stands outside the Gymkhana Club?
f. that scholars such as Fox Strangways, Margaret Cousins, HA Popley and Capt. CR Day were all passionately fond of Carnatic music and wrote books on it?
g. that the first resolution to form a Music Academy in Madras had two British signatories to it?
