Concerts of Chembai

The Concerts of Chembai were the performances given by Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar (1896–1974), an Indian Carnatic music vocalist. Chembai's career contributed to the rise of Carnatic music in South India.^[1]

Arangetram and First Paid Concerts (1904)

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar debuted in 1904, with a two-hour concert alongside his brother, Subramanian.^[2] In 1905, the brothers held their first paid concert at a temple festival in Ottapalam, a town in the Palakkad district of Kerala.^[3] At a later concert at Kandallur Parthasarathy Temple, Anantha Bhagavatar played the violin, and Chokkanathapuram Ayya Bhagavatar played the mridangam.^[4]

Vaikom and Guruvayur Performances (1907)

In the brothers' early career, they performed a concert at the temple festival in Vaikom, known for its annual musical performances. At this concert, their father played the violin. Vaidyanathan and Subramanian absorbed their father's knowledge of music from an early age, as well as the family's tradition of religious life.^[5] Thereafter, Chembai sang at the Vaikom festival every year.^[6] After the Vaikom concert in 1907, Anantha Bhagavatar took the boys to Guruvayur, another significant temple town, where they performed another concert. Much like Vaikom, Guruvayur also became a regular part of Chembai's annual concert schedule.^[7]

A Year with Kaliakudi Natesa Sastri (1909)

Kaliakudi Natesa Sastri of Tiruvarur, an exponent of Harikatha (musical discourse), visited Chembai village in 1909. Anantha Bhagavatar and his family attended the programs, and the boys joined Sastri's troupe. Their concert took place in Tiruvarur (in Thanjavur district) at a guru puja festival, where Natesa Sastri gave a discourse. It was notable because Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai, an exponent of the mridangam and kanjira, heard the boys for the first time.^[8] During their time with Natesa Sastri, they performed in various places and listened to performances by musicians such as Namakkal Narasimha Iyengar, Kallidaikurichi Vedanta Bhagavathar, Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar, Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer, Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar, Madurai Pushpavanam, Tirukodikaval Krishna Iyer, Malaikkottai Govindaswamy Pillai, and Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai whenever possible. These experiences furthered the brothers' training and, after just one year, the brothers returned to Chembai in 1910 as more experienced musicians.^[9]

Karur Concert (1913)

Pethachi Chettiar, a patron of the arts and artists, lived in Karur near Trichy. He organized a festival featuring music concerts by leading musicians. Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar, a well-regarded musician and composer (vaggeyakara), was in charge of the festival arrangements. Chembai wanted to attend this music festival, so he and his brother traveled to Karur. He met Muthiah Bhagavatar and expressed his desire to perform at the festival, but Muthiah Bhagavatar explained that the performance schedule had already been finalized and could not be changed.

Chembai was disappointed, but when the violin accompanist for a jalatarangam concert failed to arrive, he offered his services to the artist, who accepted. The concert was a great success, and Chembai was paid for his contribution. However, he stated that his only intention had been to sing and that he valued the opportunity to perform before such a large audience more than monetary payment. Deeply impressed by his sincerity, Muthiah Bhagavatar and Pethachi Chettiar promised him a performance slot for the following day, where Chembai sang to the appreciation of the audience.^[10]

Pondicherry Concert (1915)

Chembai was invited to sing at a wedding for the family of Jnanaprakasa Mudaliar in Pondicherry. Until then, the brothers had given concerts mostly in and around Chembai. They had been to several places with Natesa Sastrigal and sung at his discourses, but these mini concerts were more like interludes. The performance in Pondicherry resulted in Chembai becoming known widely, leading to more concert opportunities.^[11]

Ernakulam Concert (1915)

Chembai secured a similar opportunity in 1915, when T.A.Duraiswami Iyer, a prominent citizen of Ernakulam, conducted an annual Tyagaraja festival, which attracted notable performers and listeners.^{[citation needed]} Chembai went to Ernakulam and requested Duraiswami Iyer for a chance to sing, and Duraiswami Iyer agreed. Chembai sang for the allotted time and was about to leave, when the audience requested one more song, and he obliged. Here he befriended T.G. Krishna Iyer (Duraiswami Iyer's nephew), whose compositions he later set to classical music and popularized.^[12]

Thiruvavaduthurai Concert (1915)

Chembai had heard about 'Sreelasree' Ambalavana Desikar (pontiff of the Tiruvavaduturai matha) and his knowledge of music. He wanted to sing before him and proceeded to Tiruvavaduthurai with his brother. At Desikar's suggestion, Chembai rendered in viruttam form the verse Kanduka madakkariyai vasamai nadattalam. Desikar prompted Chembai about the ragas he should sing, and Chembai responded. Desikar then ordered that a katcheri (concert) by Chembai be held the next day. The concert featured Azhagianambi Pillai on the mridangam.^[13]

Palakkad Ramanavami Concert (1916)

A significant event in Chembai's early career was his concert at the Ramanavami festival in Palakkad in 1916.^{[citation needed]} Pudukkotai Dakshinamurthy Pillai attended the concert and, after the festival, returned to Trichy to meet the violinist Govindaswamy Pillai. He shared his impressions of Chembai's music, leading to the arrangement of a concert by Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar in Trichy. Govindaswamy Pillai played the violin while Dakshinamurthy Pillai accompanied on the mridangam. The concert met with Govindaswamy Pillai's approval, and Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar subsequently performed at various venues, with the two Pillais often providing the musical accompaniment of the concerts.^[14]

First Concert in Madras (1918)

Chembai's first concert in Madras took place in 1918 at the Triplcane Sangeeta Sabha. News of the young vidwan's performance led to high demand for tickets. As the concert began, the hall was full, and many listeners were unable to enter. The audience became loud prompting the organizers to open the entrance doors. The concert featured Govindaswamy Pillai on the violin, Azhagunambi Pillai on the mridangam, and Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the kanjira.^[15]

First Concert with Chowdiah and Palghat Mani Iyer (1924)

T. Chowdiah was a violinist who invented the seven-stringed violin and became popular playing it. Chembai befriended him after meeting at a friend's house in 1924. Chembai performed with Chowdiah in the Jagannatha Bhakta Sabha. It was at this concert that Chembai introduced young Palghat Mani Iyer to an audience. At a similar concert in 1926, he also introduced Palani Subramaniam Pillai, a disciple of Pudukottai Dakshinamurthi Pillai.^[16]

Inaugural performance at Madras Music Academy (1927)

Main article: Madras Music Academy

The 1927 meeting of the Indian National Congress was held in Madras. Music concerts were arranged, and it was decided to establish an institution to promote classical music in South India. Thus, the Madras Music Academy was founded, and Chembai was invited to give one of the inaugural concerts.

Reception

Palghat Anantharama Bhagavatar attended a concert in Sekharipuram in 1911 and noted the brothers' musicianship. He complimented Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar's voice and predicted a bright future for him.^[17] Scholars such as philosopher Susanne K. Langer described the concerts as not just musical performances, but expressions of deep devotion.

See also

• Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
• Carnatic Music
• South India
• Kerala
• Indian Classical Music