In the sphere of Carnatic music, Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman is a name that is instantly associated with melody, rhythm, masterly technique In violin playing and musical excellence.

Born in the lineage of an illustrious disciple of the great saint musician Thyagaraja and meticulously trained and brought up in an atmosphere of music by his versatile father late V R Gopala Iyer, Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman inherited the essence of Carnatic music.

At the early age of 12 he started his musical career as an accompanying violinist. Being endowed with rich imagination, quick grasp, an uncommon ability for adapting to the individual styles of the leading maestros in Carnatic music while accompanying them in their concerts, he reached the forefront in rapid strides. The rich concert experience he thus gained, coupled with the strong urge to give original expression to the musical ideas surging in him, culminated in his emergence as a solo violinist of rare brilliance. He endeared himself to music lovers by his flawless and fascinating style, graceful and original, yet not divorced from traditional roots. He has made his mark also as a unique and extraordinary composer having to his credit several thillanas and varnams which are a scintillating blend of raga, bhava, rhythm and lyrical beauty.

He participated in the Edinburgh music festival in 1965. Astonished by his melody and masterly technique, Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned violinist, presented him with his Italian violin. He extensively toured the US and Canada in 1971 and gave as many as 24 concerts followed by lectures and demonstrations under the auspices of East West Exchange Programme. Subsequently he went on a cultural tour of the East European countries. The Government of India sent him to Russia as a member of the Indian Cultural Delegation. He has also performed in Singapore, Malaysia and Manila. He introduced a new concept of violin, venu and veena in 1966 and gave several outstanding concerts. His recordings submitted to the International Music Council, Baghdad, Asian Pacific Music Rostrum and Iraq Broadcasting Agency by AIR New Delhi have been adjudged as the best and accorded the first position out of 77 entries received from the various countries during 1979. He was invited to give concerts at Cologne, Belgium and France. The Government of India chose him to represent India at the Festival of India in London and he gave solo and Jugalbandi concerts in London and also in Germany & Italy that received rave reviews.

Sri Lalgudi went on a tour in the year 1984 to Oman, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain that was highly successful. He also participated in the Festival of India organised in the U S in 1985. Recently, the famous operatic ballet, ‘Jaya Jaya Devi’ composed by Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, won him a special place in the field of music as a composer. This ballet was premiered in Cleveland, Ohio State of America and then staged in more than 25 key cities all over the USA. In this connection, the Mayor of Maryland made Sri Lalgudi the honorary citizen of Maryland in 1994. Subsequently, the 2^nd of April 1994 was declared as Lagudi Day in the State of Ohio. He was honoured as "Sangita Kala Ratna’ by Bangalore Gayana Samaja in October 1997. In September 1999, Lalgudi gave a millennium concert at New York Lincoln center hosted by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to a packed house. After the scintillating concert, he was honoured with the title "Bharatha Jyothi".

LALGUDI’S AUDIO RECORDS

SOME PRESS REVIEWS

"Lalgudi offered a rare raga, kosalam which was enchanting, constructed in a queer alignment of some notes embracing a few adjacent notes thereby making its delineation rather difficult. This raga is a veritable challenge to any artiste. For Lalgudi the zig zag manoeuvers posed no problems. Needless to say the exposition was lilting". MUSIC CRITIC – THE STATESMAN

"In this Jayaraman suffers from the defect of his merits, if one may say so. The flow of the melodic cascade in such as to create the impression of a fountain turned on – continuous and steady. One wished that the artist made a slip ever, if only to underline the humanity of the source! Also, one wished for a pause now and then, if only to enable the listener to imbibe the tasteful meal, as it deserves to be taken". MUSIC CRITIC – THE TIMES OF INDIA

"Lalgudi is the major dyke that guards Carnatic music against the current tides of decadence. His recitals have a perennial interest because one notices a change in their texture and content in almost every successive performance".

MUSIC CRITIC – INDIAN EXPRESS – BOMBAY