colonial interlude: western airs of muthuswamy dikshitar, july 1, chennai by kanniks

jun 21st, 2009

kanniks is a great guy. in addition to his strong contributions to music, his website on the temples of india (templenet) is absolutely awesome. after years of email contact i finally met him in person at the panIIT earlier this year at IIT madras. alas, i don't know enough about music to appreciate what he is saying.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kanniks 

 

The Association Of British Scholars Chennai

cordially invites you

to

Colonial Interlude

(Western Airs of Muthuswamy Dikshitar)

presented by Kanniks Kannikeswaran

on

July 1, 2009

 

Mr.N.Murali,

Managing Director, The Hindu

presides

 

Mr.Chris Gibson,

Director British Council, South India

offers special remarks

 

 

                                                                                                    P.M.Belliappa IAS (Retd)

                                                                                                              (President)

 

Venue :  British Council, 737 Anna Salai, Chennai – 2                   

Refreshments :  6 pm

Programme    :  6.30 pm                                                          

________________________________________________________________________

Colonial rule has had an irreversible impact on several world cultures, India being no exception. 'Colonial Interlude' is a gripping multimedia presentation that explores the 'nottusvara sahityas', a genre of music that was born when the venerated composer Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835) wrote Sanskrit lyrics to folk tunes played by the bands of the EastIndia Company. Approximately one in ten compositions of Dikshitar is based on a western tune.  Dikshitar's stay in Manali and his visits to Fort St. George underscores the role Madras in his introduction to Western music.

________________________________________________________________________

Kanniks Kannikeswaran, a graduate of IIT Madras is a  musician, composer, educator with several recordings, productions and scores to his credit. As the Founding Director of the American School of Indian Art, he seeks to unite East and West by establishing commonality between diverse peoples and cultures. This evening's presentation brings to life the genre of Indo-Western music that was born during the colonial period in South India at the hands of Muthuswamy Dikshitar.