UW Ethnomusicology Archives video recordings: Film session with T. Brinda, T. Vega, T. Ranganathan, 1969-06-01

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Washington Ethnomusicology Archives
Title
UW Ethnomusicology Archives video recordings: Film session with T. Brinda, T. Vega, T. Ranganathan
Dates
1969-06-01
Quantity
1 items  :  1 vct (VHS, stereo, color); WD - 1 DVD (digital, stereo, color); Duration: 00:29:00
Collection Number
2001032
Summary
Filmed at the University of Washington, 6/1/69.
Repository
University of Washington Ethnomusicology Archives
University of Washington
Ethnomusicology Archives
Box 353450
Seattle, WA
98195-3450
Telephone: 2065430974
ethnoarc@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Access is restricted.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

T Brinda (1912-1996) was one of the representatives of the Veenai Dhanammal school of Carnatic Music. She was primarily a vocalist, although she also played the Veena. She is affectionately referred to as 'Brindamma', by her fans. Brinda had much of her initial training from her mother Kamakshi. This training was in the Veenai Dhanammal style, a style of Carnatic Music known for its unhurried, alluring movements, as also for its use of intricate gamakas (graces) in the handling of ragas. Additionally, Brinda trained for a substantial length of time under Kanchipuram Naina Pillai, whose style of music was marked by agility and robustness in laya (rhythm). After her training under Naina Pillai, Brinda learnt from her aunt Lakshmiratnam. Veenai Dhanammal, who was also Brinda's grandmother, herself taught her some compositions. Brinda absorbed both the sublime and intricate Dhanammal style and Naina Pillai's fast paced masculine music and blended them seamlessly into her singing. Her peers and music connoisseurs regarded her as a person of superlative musical knowledge. She was an expert at rendering ragas that featured complex patterns and subtle gamakas, such as Begada, Mukhari, Sahana, Suruti, Varali and Yadukulakambhoji. She was a repository of Kshetrayya padams and javalis (romantic compositions rich in musical content) and many rare compositions of the Trinity of Carnatic Music and Patnam Subramania Iyer. Many talented and popular musicians were attracted by Brinda's musical scholarship and expertise, and trained under her. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi and R K Srikanthan have learnt from her. The musicians Ramnad Krishnan, Aruna Sairam, Chitravina Ravikiran, B. Krishnamoorthy Chitravina Ganesh, K. N. Shashikiran, Kiranavali Vidyasankar,Geetha Raja and B. Balasubrahmaniyan have been Brinda's full-time students. Her grandson and direct disciple Thiruvarur S. Girish is also an accomplished Carnatic musician. In her earlier years, Brinda performed extensively with her younger sister, T. Muktha and in her later years, with her daughter Vegavahini Vijayaraghavan. Brinda did not wish to record commercially, hence only private recordings of her performances are available.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Brinda

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Performers: T. Brinda/voice and vina; T. Vega/voice and vina; T. Ranganathan/mridangam.

Video copy of original unpublished 16mm film footage produced in the UW Ethnomusicology Archives.

Original audio recordings correspond to footage as follows: 69-2.1 (S-020/a) includes T. Brinda and T. Vega/voice, T. Ranganathan/mrdangam; 69-5.1 (S-021 SI) includes T. Ranganathan/mrdangam solo; 69-6.1 (S-022 SI) includes T. Brinda and T. Vega/vina, T. Ranganathan/mrdangam, [?] Wood/tambura; note on original archive sheet for 69-6.1: "The first 2' 28" of this tape goes with S-020 B plus 30" test of sound."

Contents (chapters as identified on DVD copy):

Ch. 1 - (S-020) - Brinda & Vega/voice, Ranganathan/mrdangam: Kriti: Merusamana (Tyagaraja); Raga - Mayamalavagaula; Tala - Adi

Ch. 2 - (S-020) - Brinda & Vega/vina (short scene)

Ch. 3 - (S-021) - Ranganathan/mrdangam solo

Ch. 4 - (S-022) - Brinda & Vega/vina: Keertana (Raga: Sriraga; Tala: Adi; Form: Varnum; Composer: Pallavi Gopala); Raga: [?] (Tala: Adi; Form: Kriti; Composer: Poniah Pillia)

Ch. 5 - Conversation

Transferred to video 10/01; digital copy of VHS copy produced 7/2015 (2001-32.1 WD)

Documentation: Film log

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Description Dates
2001032-0001: T. Brinda, T. Vega, T.Ranganathan
1 optical media : DVD - unpublished; Tracks: 1
1969-06-01

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Classical Music--Carnatic
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Video recordings in ethnomusicology

Geographical Names

  • Asia
  • India--Asia--South Asia
  • Seattle (Wash.)
  • South India

Form or Genre Terms

  • Video recordings

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Brinda, T. (performer)
    • Ranganathan, T. (performer)
    • Vega, T. (performer)