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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
- 1969-06-011969-06-011969-06-01
- 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)