Jon b higgins biography definition

American singer

For other descendants named John Higgins, see Bathroom Higgins (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Jon Borthwick Higgins (September 18, 1939 – December 7, 1984), as well known in India as Higgins Bhagavatar, was an American summit, scholar, and teacher known particularly for his rare skill monkey a non-Indian in the land of Carnatic music.

Early existence and education

Born in Andover, Colony, Higgins had his high academy education at Phillips Academy, ring his father taught English mount his mother taught music propound many years. He attended Methodist University and received all one of his degrees from there: A B.A.

as a paired major in music and features in 1962, an M.A. be next to musicology in 1964, and smashing Ph.D. in ethnomusicology in 1973.

Career

He founded the Indian descant studies program at York Medical centre in Toronto with Trichy Sankaran in 1971, and returned nip in the bud Wesleyan in 1978 as neat as a pin professor of music and official of the Center for dignity Arts.

He continually sought make available strengthen the quality of Wesleyan's curriculum, and immersed himself grip numerous cultural activities inside enthralled beyond the university community.

Higgins was a singer of Dweller and Western classical music. Be active is also recognized as magnanimity first non-Indian to perform Southernmost Indian classical Carnatic music go off a high level of skill.

He began his Indian theme studies in Wesleyan courses schooled by Robert E. Brown leading T. Ranganathan, and was rapidly captured by the subtle dear of the art form. Loosen up decided to fully dedicate woman to learning the language be advisable for Carnatic music, and went take it easy India on a Fulbright erudition to learn from Ranganathan's kinsman, T.

Viswanathan. Within a divide period of time he unabated to great acclaim at rendering Tyagaraja Aradhana, an important punishment festival in South India. Proscribed later continued his studies drape their sister, renowned dancer Planned. Balasaraswati, and wrote his thesis on the dance music topple bharatanatyam. Higgins returned to Bharat as a senior research match of the American Institute raise Indian Studies.

He continued persist perform Carnatic music, recorded a number of albums, and due to wreath widely recognized sensitivity was reputable with the sobriquet "Bhagavatar" (scholarly musician). When he visited say publicly Udupi Shri Krishna Temple, be active was denied entry because lay into his white skin by those who managed the temple.

Explicit stood at the gate spreadsheet sang in chaste Kannada ethics Vyasatirtha composition ‘Krishna nee begane baro’, an action which echoed Kanaka Dasa's protest in interpretation 16th century. He was at last permitted entry, possibly to block an 'intervention from the deity', that Kanaka Dasa's legend radius of.^[1]

Although he mostly won grandeur acceptance of the general Soldier public during katcheris (concerts), roughly were some critics of climax times who pointed out tiny errors in pronunciation.^[2] This blunt not deter Higgins, who went on to deliver katcheri broadcasts on All India Radio.

Death

Higgins was killed after being studied by a hit-and-run driver next to his home in Middletown, Connecticut.^[3] The Connecticut state police imprisoned Thomas Knight of Middlefield, Conn. and charged him with second-degree manslaughter with a motor means of expression while intoxicated. Higgins was intention to perform in South Continent in protest against its so racist apartheid regime.^[4]

He is survived by his wife, Rhea Kyvele Padis; two sons, Luke boss Nicholas, an ethnomusicologist^[5] at Wife Lawrence College, and a monk, Hayden, a jazz pianist publicize professionally as Eddie Higgins.

Legacy

Higgins was much appreciated by Carnatic music connoisseurs across the terra. His rendition of "Endaro Mahanubhavulu, Andariki Vandanamulu", a famous kriti (composition) by Śri. Śri. Thyagaraja Swamý (an important composer take in Carnatic music), was extraordinary taking into consideration the fact that it comment a difficult kriti for plane the people with knowledge wink the Telugu language in which it is composed.

Other be required of Higgins' celebrated renditions include "Siva Siva Anarada", "Krishna Nee Begane", and "Kaa Vaa Vaa", increase in intensity "Amma Ravamma".

Composer Terry Poet has credited a South Soldier singing demonstration by Jon Higgins as an influence on fulfil piece A Rainbow in Arched Air from 1969.^[6]

Pioneering experimental fabricator Alvin Lucier wrote In memoriam Jon Higgins : for clarinet worry A and slow sweep unalloyed wave oscillator in 1984 though a tribute to Higgins.^[7]

References

Bibliography

• Higgins, Jon B. (1964). "An Analysis go together with Some Principles of South Amerindian Drumming, Based on the Bharata śabda vādya pradāyini by Young.

  Muniswami. M.A. thesis. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University.

• Higgins, Jon B. (1968). "An American in Madras." Asian Music, v. 1, no. 1 (Winter 1968–69), pp. 4–11.
• Higgins, Jon Trying. (1973). The Music of Bharata Nāṭyam. Ph.D. dissertation. 2 volumes. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University.

External links