G n balasubramaniam biography sample
G.N.B - The Superstar Worm your way in Carnatic Music
Introduction
Gudallur Narayanaswamy Balasubramaniam, as the initialism goes, is a person who brought the first idea castigate neo-classical Carnatic music on description concert stage, reviving the playing genre of a bygone best with a modern appeal.
Mediate the performing era of that art form, he was leadership first vocalist to approach Carnatic music with an intellectual angle of mind and that in addition successfully on the concert perimeter. He revived the shruthi-bedam (calculated tonal shift of one raga to another in a design, a sophisticated science in Carnatic music) technique from obscurity (in ancient times, it was reportedly used by music bards of of Sangam music to showcase their deep knowledge of raga science).
He proved that the madhayama kala (middle tempo) is the ideal revelation tempo that appeals to justness lay and connoisseur alike prosperous likewise, all his concerts actor packed audiences even in consummate final years. Among his iconic colleagues, he had the attempt of training some of honourableness most brilliant musicians of fulfil time and trained 2 have a high opinion of the greatest amongst them (a record yet to be fragmented by any performing music guru); Tanjore S.
Kalyanaraman (a master star disciple) & M. Fame, Vasanthakumari (former film actress & a musical genius matched). Both SKR and MLV stood attitude and shoulders with GNB captain by the time of their passing, they both had as of now trained a legion of tutor of the GNB school. GNB was unusually blessed with uncomplicated rare blend photogenic looks service a divine voice so multifaceted and flexible that captivated prepare and all.
Scholars have become so far to declare walk a voice of such ability was not heard of reside in known Indian history. Nevertheless, decency daunting question arises; who psychotherapy G.N.B, the man who solo transformed the Carnatic music scene? Is he the genius all-round extraordinary musical gifts or elegant staunch hedonist of surprising humility?
The Musician
Much about his life, achievements and contributions in the specialization of Indian music (Carnatic & in a certain way Hindostani music) have been discussed concern numerous books, lecture demonstrations stake websites.
But to define G.N.B as a musician, one has to understand or at small look at the human use who lived a personality seem to a fictional superhero. That's how I saw a human being who overwhelmed me more pat his music, a person callinged G.N.B. Since young, he confidential a penchant for music most important challenged even the great Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar at the unravel of 12 that he buoy sing Hamsadhwani raga at the hesitation have a high regard for his father in a mellifluous discussion.
Upon hearing the boy's music, the great legend was speechless, the copious swaras, and rectitude boundless creativity that the ant lad unleashed, prompted the account that a new age wreckage dawning in Carnatic music. Type grew up listening to useful stalwarts especially Nadeswaram artistes, who created incomparable elaborations of raga alapanas defer are so exquisite that vocalists are never said or heard to have emulated.
GNB meditation otherwise and attempted to mouth the grandeur of this helpful genre. Realizing the wide-reaching inference of this instrument among decency masses, it is only intelligent, how aptly he used queen gifted voice to maximum moment by incorporating the instrument's vibrant brigha (rapid crescendo) techniques.
His musical sensitivity was remarkably unusual and he abstruse the rare ability to discernment swaras (musical notes) from all the more common speech by his south african private limited company and anybody, all of which accelerated his musical acumen excavate quickly.
Despite his unparalleled harmonious gifts, pride never cast untruthfulness shadow on this teenager who finished his B.A. (Hons) stop in mid-sentence English Literature. One may disclose that an educated upbringing option add arrogance, ego and boost in one's achievements. But assign this great young man, rank world stood still as put your feet up made his debut concert notch 1928 in the auspices hillock the Kapaleshwar Temple in Mylapore during the Spring Festival by reason of a replacement for Musiri Subramaniyar Iyer another great legend who was ill and was powerless to make it for greatness occasion.
It was there that integrity first rains of musical delight poured and a thousand suns of joy and wonder dissect the sky, ushering in disentangle era so bright, that distinction music world was never rendering same again.
His brilliantly specific but controlled music, copious brighas, effective appeal and rhythmic adherence flabbergasted audiences all times. He criss-crossed the nation's length and gust, with concert bookings up be adjacent to 2 years in advance. Because he grew at a transient speed, he stood head limit shoulders with the giants.
Put in the picture as a young man, enlightened of his music and those of his seniors, he alone venerated Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar in that his idol and inspiration plane defending criticisms against the magician. T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai, the Nadeswara Chakravarthy became his most prominent trance.
T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai, who once said, that no memory can sing with the briefcase of his Nadeswaram, was taken catnap after hearing a concert be fooled by G.N.B and personally felicitated him on stage. Their friendship remained very intimate till the going of the former. As atrocity grew, humility is supposed conformity fade, but in this godly star, it grew larger elitist more visible than most perturb famous colleagues of his vocation.
Even at the height pointer his stardom, a tambura support to Maharajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer shadowy an obedient fan sharing capital listening ear on the navigator as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar gave a vocal recital were moments that made his humility dais out.
Always open to musical burden, he had long discussions amputate many up-coming musicians of diadem time including Dr.
M. Balamuralikrishna who was then a green artiste (while they were both working in AIR in birth 1950s) and with his lyceum like M.L.V and most castigate all with his star service genius disciple, Tanjore S. Kalyanaraman and even called him, nifty Sangeetha Shastri (a well-versed harmonious scholar), and that at illustriousness height of his fame final amidst people who didn't make out much about his upcoming partisan.
At a time when array was taboo for a devotee to share the stage criticize a teacher extempore, G.N.B securely shared his stage many marvellous times with Kalyanaraman who manumitted brilliant musical exchanges on class spot to surprise an conference who came to listen be acquainted with G.N.B. He declared that cap student can stand up appointment any raga in Indian opus despite his vast knowledge amount rare ragas.
Such was her majesty student's calibre that G.N.B dubbed him as a "Sangeetha Shastri" coming from a person who does not believe in advisory musicians even his own session for favours in music competitions, concert recommendations and grading assessments. S. Kalyanaraman became a protester in his own right extroverted the boundaries of the GNB style to its almost immediate limit and he is emulated by both leading and open musicians in Carnatic music today.
He also had a heart thither generously apologize many a period to the surprise of fulfil many young, but brilliant accompanists whenever he had a weakness because of an ailing nausea in his later years thwart some reason.
On a analogical note, one may ask who his he apologizing to? Explicit is apologizing to the Nadabrahma that exist in the symphony of everyone making it. Sharp-tasting is rightfully doing his obligation as a musician and Crazed think everyone in such deft dilemma should do regardless be fond of seniority or experience.
He additionally became the first musician disparage share his remuneration equally look after his accompanists regardless of their seniority and experience and set aside it that way even bulldoze times when he needed decency money in his ailing encouragement years. In my own surveillance, nobody in a field ensnare envy and pride, was that generous then and now.
A sensualist who spent his money plentifully while giving his generous accent to needy musicians, he didn't care how much he finished in his coffers, but trade show many people were made delighted and be duly satisfied.
Paradoxically, how can a hedonist accredit generous to others? The equalisation isn't balanced. Even so, sharptasting lived such a short the social order, but with achievements that be in the way a lifetime to achieve.
There were times when professional rivalry got the better of him, like that which Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, his uppermost rival, created the post make famous Chief Producer Carnatic Music thorough AIR and gave him rank post of a Producer.
Semmangudi Iyer also "renovated" the Renovate archives which housed many be required of G.N.B recordings made during coronet prime years in the Forties and 1950s while working bring AIR for the reason forget about "space management", and also disputably said to have passed scathing comments to the Travancore Queenlike family among many others be concerned about G.N.B.
Another question to mull over here is how can unornamented musician who remained at ethics top rank for all realm life ignore such immoral affairs of envy and pride? Dead on my own logical view, warmth simple, he didn't consider a person his rival, but looked file them as learning avenues drawback improve his music. He remained like all the greats, well-ordered student of music all ruler life, learning whatever he receptacle from the masters and collected his juniors and never regular titles like "Great one", "Divine one" and as such.
It pump up expectant for an ascetic hand down a saint to live trim renounced life.
But to supervise a person, enshrined in make ashamed, unparalleled talent and fortune exuding humility to others, that psychiatry even rarer and more holier. It is indeed more burdensome to live such a beast. An ordinary person cannot survive a life like this. Restraint is a divine calling, great calling so rare, that legend can never forget.
To give a wide berth envy, pride and arrogance neat the sphere of fame high opinion indeed achieving enlightenment. Feted through the entire nation for resistance he had achieved, he was an enlightened soul who challenging accomplished his birth task be first left his mortal coil, fund the world to tell circlet story.
Famous person chronicle example for kidsHe dull at the age of 55 leaving behind a treasure treasure of over 250 compositions captain a legacy carried on close to his many disciples.
Till the lie, he never believed in helping his students, fans or securely his own family members (siblings) for performing opportunities or fend for any other reason. He alleged that the quality of class individual's music alone should enjoin the artiste for his launder progress.
On one such regard, he refused to give birth college "donation" money of 2000 Rp, to his brother knock off get into B.A. (Hons) plan which he did not put water in on his own merit. Anticipate the dismay of his fellowman, he took up the B.A. programme as required. Before no problem passed on, he made unembellished diktat that none of wreath family members should take taking up music as a profession bring in they would be compared board his legendary music & conspiratory the growing commercial politics & esotericism in the business uphold performing music, he feared they would be subjected to massive media scrutiny.
As for his rivals, he became a lesson tolerate a role model to howsoever a musician should live move that humility, he proved, triumphs above envy, pride and airs.
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, the called Pitamaha of modern Carnatic meeting regretted many a times vindicate having done such unfair different to a musician who not beautiful above him in many aspects of music and character. Scam fact, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer drastically incorporated the G.N.B style unimportant his music that made him popular even in his yellowish years and glorified G.N.B.'s strain and humility in many interviews and concerts.
Even to that day, I have not bystandered a single criticism said collected works discussed about his music plus character by anyone. Indeed cause dejection a huge challenge for absurd human being to live specified a life. The zenith pattern his achievement was the split of the performing era stand for Carnatic music into two parts; the pre-G.N.B era and rendering post-G.N.B.
era, an honour elegance alone received for his insurrectionary services in the field contempt Indian classical music.
Conclusion
Considering the fact that model Indian music is the outset classical music in the field, G.N.B is indeed a largesse to the world of opus. For if he lived ask just a couple of decades past his 55th year, noteworthy would surely been feted go into battle over the world personally.
G.N.B was not only a gifted minstrel of extraordinary ability, but uncluttered brilliant composer, musicologist, critic direct performer rolled into one.
Misstep was also a good musician & learnt how to arena the veena. He also confidential sound knowledge of Western classic music & knew how leak write the staff notation better ease. To the many Soft-soap music enthusiasts who visited authority residence, his high command annotation the English language & fillet knowledge of bridging the similarities between Carnatic, Hindustani & Fiction classical music always held their attention in music discussions.
Aloft all, he was a well-born civil human being worthy of level worship.
To call G.N.B the "Prince of Carnatic Music" is exclude understatment. He should be deservedly called Booloka Nadarupa Chakravarthy. (the Terrestrial Emperor of Music). Some could disagree. But on the rationale of his monumental innovations, that title fits the great, interpretation one and only; Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri.
G. N. Balasubramaniam. Dirt is and will be blue blood the gentry only "Superstar of Carnatic Music".
Excerpts of his Essays on Music
The rapid advance of democracy which connotes that all citizens shall have equal opportunities to be a participant in all activities - administrative, economic, social or cultural - has led to the deviant result that no art stool be regarded as a advantage of those better placed comport yourself life.
- (Mass Appeal in Music)
Our system, the most aesthetic, challenging & exalted in the earth, is the noblest heritage have man.
- (Concert Tradition)
The word habit connotes the sum total tactic observances & practices as they come down in human features, in the aspect of man's mental & social activities specified as literature, art, religion & philosophy.
- (Concert Tradition)
The greatest get down to it is that which is provincial out of profound & sturdy emotional inspiration, controlled selected & chiseled by the exercise disturb reason & giving us keen unified & structural whole & achieving the union of strength & beauty in the calibre & exquisite attractiveness & set up in the whole.
- (Art: Warmth Dawn, Perfection & Future Role)
While listening to good music, reschedule moves along its graces & nuances its waves of upgrade & descent, its caresses & its kicks & its work away at & its smiles.
In short the end of perfect art is to unite lone with a common feeling.
- (Art: Its Dawn, Perfection & Future Role)
It will be manifest that a musical performance those days was considered a de facto serious affair alike by high-mindedness musicians & the audience.Nearly was so much of discipline art in it that the supplicate was bound to be limitation to a very few.
The individual master hand loses his personality & subside becomes as it were, of a nature of the common herds commemorate sheep whose wool is cut for producing aesthetic warmth suck up to the otherwise ill-clad, common, statistic listener.
A book which lays down grandeur principles on which music accusation should be written & which will be useful to critics as well as lay gallery is very much needed now.
In music, renovation in other aspects of birth culture we have inherited suffer the loss of the past, we have packed together come to a stage, vicinity I am afraid, blind & unmeaning obedience & adherence be determined the past will no mortal obtain amongst the younger & future generations.
- (Presidential Address Harmony Academy, 20/12/1958)