July 21, 2005
Late K.K. Murthy and N. Dharam Singh (Ex-CM) celebrate
the birthday of then KPCCI President Mallikarjuna Kharge
[Courtesy: THE HINDU - Photo: K. Gopinathan]
Late K.K. Murthy and N. Dharam Singh (Ex-CM) celebrate
the birthday of then KPCCI President Mallikarjuna Kharge
[Courtesy: THE HINDU - Photo: K. Gopinathan]
Readers can recall, that as our blog continued to progress, we often continued to reflect on the inspiring activities of the Chowdiah Memorial, that unique building consecrated to the memory of the great Violinist T. Chowdiah by the late K.K. Murthy ( younger brother to K. Srikantiah and youngest son of Sri. K. Puttu Rao).
Nov 24, 2012
India's Union Labor Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge and Academy of Music Members are seen with award winners: Pt. Vasanth Kanakapur, Mysore Nagaraj, Mysore Manjunath and T.K. Murthy at the K.K. Murthy Memorial Music Festival in Bangalore.
[ Courtesy : The Hindu ]
India's Union Labor Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge and Academy of Music Members are seen with award winners: Pt. Vasanth Kanakapur, Mysore Nagaraj, Mysore Manjunath and T.K. Murthy at the K.K. Murthy Memorial Music Festival in Bangalore.
[ Courtesy : The Hindu ]
As an exercise in “lateral thinking”, we also drew parallels with our many experiences of an Alice Tully Hall (in Manhattan), of a Washington Smithsonian and of the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), so perfect within their individual identities.
We often reflected, also, on the many touches that a distinguished memorial like the Chowdiah memorial could do more with, as acts of ‘right’ embellishment.
These were things, that were easily within the reach of a “pro-active” citizenry of music patrons, and not necessarily dependent on any government agency’s help.
We often felt that a few deft touches would render a more complete identity to the man, Chowdiah, who once bestrode the landscape as a colossus armed but solely with a Violin, a man of towering musical knowledge and the command of a giant personality.
We often reflected, also, on the many touches that a distinguished memorial like the Chowdiah memorial could do more with, as acts of ‘right’ embellishment.
These were things, that were easily within the reach of a “pro-active” citizenry of music patrons, and not necessarily dependent on any government agency’s help.
We often felt that a few deft touches would render a more complete identity to the man, Chowdiah, who once bestrode the landscape as a colossus armed but solely with a Violin, a man of towering musical knowledge and the command of a giant personality.
Nov 24, 2012
Mridangam’s great Vidwan T.K. Murthy is seen once again, honored with the K.K. Murthy Award by Union Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge and Academy office bearers.
[Courtesy: The Hindu]
Mridangam’s great Vidwan T.K. Murthy is seen once again, honored with the K.K. Murthy Award by Union Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge and Academy office bearers.
[Courtesy: The Hindu]
(1) As starters, we had felt earlier that the building, recognized as a performing arts museum dedicated to Chowdiah’s illustrious name, needed indeed to house his famous violin for all to view permanently.
We remember having spoken about this and emailed even some people who would hear us out, from time to time. We are not sure , if any “wind” carried our message to any of the powers to be, but a recent report from The Hindu does gladden our hearts.
The Chowdiah Memorial now finds itself in the possession of the famous man’s violin ( click ).
We remember having spoken about this and emailed even some people who would hear us out, from time to time. We are not sure , if any “wind” carried our message to any of the powers to be, but a recent report from The Hindu does gladden our hearts.
The Chowdiah Memorial now finds itself in the possession of the famous man’s violin ( click ).
R. Subbaraj Urs, Secretary, Academy of Music: “…Chowdiah’s violin would be under the safe custody of the academy. After all, the hall was designed after his violin..."
Readers will note that T. Chowdiah’s instrument was unveiled earlier, in “Parvathi”, Mysore on April 15, 1970 in the distinguished presence of Karnataka Governor Dharma Vira and Minister Rajasekhara Murthy.
Violin Virtuosos! Vidwan Manjunath and Vidwan Nagaraj celebrate being honored with the KK Murthy awards.
[ Courtesy: The Hindu ]
[ Courtesy: The Hindu ]
(2) As we have come to believe with some research, Chowdiah had in his lifetime of seven decades, provided for a staggering number of concerts. He had criss-crossed many a geographical boundary, and squeezed time and space sufficiently, to render many a performance even in a single day.
Granted that not all of his performances were recorded (he passed away in 1967 when the country had barely come to grips with tape recorders), it would still be a safe bet that many a recording by him probably lies scattered somewhere, largely uncared for , in worn out tapes junked in some ancestral holding.
It draws a parallel somewhat , with the findings of the notes of the mathematical genius Ramanujan; the accidental finding of scattered notes in a relative’s abandoned trunk; which discovery became instrumental in sparking a worldwide interest in Ramanujan!
Granted that not all of his performances were recorded (he passed away in 1967 when the country had barely come to grips with tape recorders), it would still be a safe bet that many a recording by him probably lies scattered somewhere, largely uncared for , in worn out tapes junked in some ancestral holding.
It draws a parallel somewhat , with the findings of the notes of the mathematical genius Ramanujan; the accidental finding of scattered notes in a relative’s abandoned trunk; which discovery became instrumental in sparking a worldwide interest in Ramanujan!
The grass root patrons of music need to provide an 'all around call' for people to release any recordings that they may have of T. Chowdiah into a central custody at the memorial, so that an audio-visual display of a musical era can be dedicated to the legend and his peers in the open foyer of the memorial.
The permanent exhibit should be on anything related with T. Chowdiah: photographs, tapes, writings, compositions, notebooks with each item preserved, tagged and the names of donor persons acknowledged. The recordings should be cleaned and amplified and a playing booth created so that people may hear them at their leisure.
Then only, can a future generation, be made to understand the footprints of a cherished past and the value in a heritage associated in someone’s name.
The permanent exhibit should be on anything related with T. Chowdiah: photographs, tapes, writings, compositions, notebooks with each item preserved, tagged and the names of donor persons acknowledged. The recordings should be cleaned and amplified and a playing booth created so that people may hear them at their leisure.
Then only, can a future generation, be made to understand the footprints of a cherished past and the value in a heritage associated in someone’s name.
We hope that another “gust” of the wind will carry our plea to the like minded preservers of the heritage.
Vidwan Vasant Kanakapur conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award
