Sr. Margaret Bastin, recipient of the Musicianship Award 2024. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sr. Margaret Bastin is an educationist and renowned musicologist with expertise in Tamil music. She is a singer and veena player and has studied Bharatanatyam Margam.
Sr. Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in classical music from Queen Mary College, and earned three master’s degrees – an MA in Guidance and Counseling from Mother Teresa University, an MA in Human Excellence in Yoga from Bharathiar University, and an MA in Indian Classical Music from the University of MA. from Madras – and also obtained M.Phil and Doctorate degrees from there.
Sr. Margaret belongs to the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ). She is the first nun in South India to receive a doctorate degree in South Indian classical music.
After serving as the Principal of Kalaikaviri College of Fine Arts, Tiruchirappalli for 14 years, she took over as the Principal of St. Joseph’s Arts and Science College for Women, Singampunari in Sivagangai district from 2018 to 2023. She is currently its Secretary. , He has also held the charge as the Pro-Chancellor of the World Tamil University, registered in the state of Virginia, USA, from 2023.
Sr. Margaret has served as a research guide on Indian music and has produced 13 research scholars.
A much-acclaimed scholar, Sr. Margaret has presented more than 80 lecture-demonstrations in India and abroad, visiting the US, Europe, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
She is a prolific writer in Tamil and has written several books on music inisai silambu, Inisai Yaz, Christian Tameez Thiram, wrist variable, Tamizhar Isai Iyal, Silambu ennum isaai nathiakkalanjiyam.
Honor for contribution to Carnatic music
HK Narasimhamurthy, recipient of the Music Academy’s TTK Award 2024. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Vidwan HK Narasimhamurthy is a renowned violinist, an eminent accompanist and a guru. He was born on May 4, 1946. After learning from several teachers in Holenarasipura, Hirisave and Chennarayapatna in Hassan district, he moved to Mysuru to further his formal education and music, where he learned to play the violin from Muthanna and T. Puttaswamyya. Brother of violinist T. Chaudiya).
During this time, he got to hear the music of greats and was attracted towards the violin playing of Parur MS Gopalakrishnan. When Narasimhamurthy approached him, MSG accepted him as a student and he moved to Chennai.
Vidwan Parur Sundaram Iyer (father of MSG) trained Narasimhamurthy at Parur Bani. He also learned from MS Anantharaman, brother of MSG. Narasimhamurthy completed the Sangeet Vidwan course at the Central College of Music, Chennai, where he came under the tutelage of stalwarts such as TM Thiagarajan and TN Krishnan.
Along with his wife Vidushi HN Rajalakshmi, Narasimhamurthy has trained many youth including those from economically weaker families. His son HN Bhaskar is a renowned violinist.
Narasimhamurthy’s contributions to the field of music include his role in establishing the Sri Tyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha in Mysore.
Thiruvaiyaru Brothers
Thiruvaiyaru Brothers, ST Narasimhan and S Venkatesan. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Thiruvaiyaru brothers have carved a niche for themselves in the Bhagavata Mela arena. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Thiruvaiyaru Brothers, ST Narasimhan and S Venkatesan, are accomplished Carnatic singers who have carved a niche for themselves in the Bhagavata Mela arena. He is proud to link his musical lineage to Tyagaraja, as his grandfather Venkatakrishna Iyer and father Subramaniam Iyer were from the Tilaisthanam disciple tradition.
The brothers’ musical journey began under the tutelage of their grandfather, known as Vembu Bhagavathar. Narasimhan also had the privilege of learning from Chittoor Subramaniam Pillai for some time. After their grandfather passed away in 1976, the brothers continued their training under their father.
The brothers enrolled for the Sangeetha Siromani Diploma course at Raja College, Thiruvaiyaru, and studied under Srirangam Krishnamurthy Rao (head of the department) and Thanjavur L. Refined his skills under the guidance of Venkatesh Iyengar (Visiting Professor). Narasimhan had to discontinue his diploma course after joining Indian Overseas Bank. However, Venkatesan completed the course and became an assistant professor in the music college of Thiruvaiyaru. Subsequently, he pursued an MA in Music and earned a PhD in ‘Musical Forms of the Melattur Bhagavata Mela’. His entry into the Bhagwat Mela was a turning point in his life. His music includes G. It was prepared by Krishnamurthy Sarma.
In 1990, during the golden jubilee year of Bhagwat Mela Natya Natak Sangam, the brothers composed the tunes of several plays, such as Sita Parinayamu, Krishna Jananam Kansa VadhamAnd Harihar Leela Vilasamu Under the guidance of TG Srinivasaraghavan. The brothers have now trained their sons in this tradition.
published – December 31, 2024 12:44 PM IST
