Syama Sastri, whose birth name was Venkata Subrahmanya, was born on 26 April 1762 in a Telugu Brahmin family.[3] He was also known as one of the trinity of carnatic music.[4][5] To later generations, he is better known by his adopted name Syama Sastri or by his musical mudra (signature) Syama Krishna.[6] He was born in Tiruvarur, in what is now the state of Tamil Nadu. He received his instruction in the vedas, astrology, and other traditional subjects early on and learned music from his maternal uncle. He was later trained in music by Adiappayya, a noted durbar musician of Thanjavur.[7]
Although Śyāma Śastri did not compose as many kritis as his two prolific contemporaries, his compositions are still well known due to the literary, melodic and rhythmic proficiency observed in them. It is said that he composed about three hundred pieces in all.[8]
He did not have many disciples to propagate his compositions, nor was the printing press widely accessible during his time. More importantly, the scholarly nature of his compositions made them more appealing to the learned than to the lay. Additionally, they feature a more formal form of Telugu which borrows heavily from Sanskrit. In contrast, Tyagaraja composes in generally more colloquial dialect of Telugu.[citation needed]
There are also a number of krithis in Tamil attributed to him. Most of his compositions propitiate the Goddess Kamakshi.[8]
He composed kritis, varṇa(s) and svarajati(s) with the ankita or mudra (signature) Śyāma Krishna. He was probably the first to compose in a new form of the svarajati musical genre, where the compositions could be rendered solely in a singing or instrumental manner. Prior to this, the svarajati was primarily a dance form, and was close in structure to the dance Varṇaṃ (padavarṇaṃ).[9]
His set of three famous svarajati(s) are intended to be sung in concert rather than danced, and are sometimes referred to as "Ratnatrayam" (Three jewels). They are Kāmākṣhī Anudinamu, Kāmākṣhī Padayugamē, and Rāvē himagiri kumāri, composed in the ragasBhairavi, Yadukula kambhoji and Todi respectively. The former two are set to Miśra Cāpu Tāḷa, while the third is set to Ādi Tāḷa.[citation needed]
He is known for his ability to compose in the most complex of tāḷas.[10]
Legacy
Sastri had a number of disciples who excelled at the art. Alasur Krishna Iyer became a musician at the royal durbar in Mysore. Porambur Krishna Iyer popularised many of his guru's works. Another disciple, Talagambadi Panchanada Iyer also made his mark as a composer. Another disciple named Dasari gained fame as a noted nāgaswaram player.[7]
^ abFoltinek, Herbert (2005). "Imagination All Compact. How did Charles Dickens Compose His Novels?". doi:10.1553/0x0007eaf1. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^V, Sriram (18 July 2019). "Songs in praise of Kanchi Varada". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
^Madan Gopal (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 231.
Sources
"Śyāma Śāstri". The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India. Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN9780195650983. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
Fuller, C. J.; Narasimhan, Haripriya (11 November 2014). Tamil Brahmans: The Making of a Middle-Class Caste. University of Chicago Press. ISBN978-0-226-15288-2.
External links
Compositions of Syama Sastri
April 15, 2023
syama, sastri, telugu, iast, Śyāma, Śāstri, april, 1762, 1827, shyama, shastri, musician, composer, carnatic, music, oldest, among, trinity, carnatic, music, tyagaraja, muthuswami, dikshitar, being, other, bornvenkata, subrahmanya, 1762, april, 1762thiruvarur,. Syama Sastri Telugu శ య మ శ స త ర IAST Syama Sastri 26 April 1762 1827 or Shyama Shastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar being the other two 2 Syama SastriBornVenkata Subrahmanya 1762 04 26 26 April 1762Thiruvarur 1 Thanjavur Maratha kingdomDied1827 aged 64 65 Other namesSyama KrishnaOccupationCarnatic music composer Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Legacy 3 Compositions 3 1 Svara Jati 3 2 Kriti 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksEarly life and career EditSyama Sastri whose birth name was Venkata Subrahmanya was born on 26 April 1762 in a Telugu Brahmin family 3 He was also known as one of the trinity of carnatic music 4 5 To later generations he is better known by his adopted name Syama Sastri or by his musical mudra signature Syama Krishna 6 He was born in Tiruvarur in what is now the state of Tamil Nadu He received his instruction in the vedas astrology and other traditional subjects early on and learned music from his maternal uncle He was later trained in music by Adiappayya a noted durbar musician of Thanjavur 7 Although Syama Sastri did not compose as many kritis as his two prolific contemporaries his compositions are still well known due to the literary melodic and rhythmic proficiency observed in them It is said that he composed about three hundred pieces in all 8 He did not have many disciples to propagate his compositions nor was the printing press widely accessible during his time More importantly the scholarly nature of his compositions made them more appealing to the learned than to the lay Additionally they feature a more formal form of Telugu which borrows heavily from Sanskrit In contrast Tyagaraja composes in generally more colloquial dialect of Telugu citation needed There are also a number of krithis in Tamil attributed to him Most of his compositions propitiate the Goddess Kamakshi 8 He composed kritis varṇa s and svarajati s with the ankita or mudra signature Syama Krishna He was probably the first to compose in a new form of the svarajati musical genre where the compositions could be rendered solely in a singing or instrumental manner Prior to this the svarajati was primarily a dance form and was close in structure to the dance Varṇaṃ padavarṇaṃ 9 His set of three famous svarajati s are intended to be sung in concert rather than danced and are sometimes referred to as Ratnatrayam Three jewels They are Kamakṣhi Anudinamu Kamakṣhi Padayugame and Rave himagiri kumari composed in the ragas Bhairavi Yadukula kambhoji and Todi respectively The former two are set to Misra Capu Taḷa while the third is set to Adi Taḷa citation needed He is known for his ability to compose in the most complex of taḷas 10 Legacy EditSastri had a number of disciples who excelled at the art Alasur Krishna Iyer became a musician at the royal durbar in Mysore Porambur Krishna Iyer popularised many of his guru s works Another disciple Talagambadi Panchanada Iyer also made his mark as a composer Another disciple named Dasari gained fame as a noted nagaswaram player 7 Compositions EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The below sections mention some of his compositions Svara Jati Edit Composition Raga Taḷa Language DescriptionKamakṣhi anudinamu maruvakane క మ క ష అన ద నమ మర వకన Bhairavi Misra Capu TeluguKamakṣhi ni padayugame sthiramanine Yadukulakamboji Misra Capu TeluguRave himagiri kumari ర వ హ మగ ర క మ ర Todi Adi TeluguKriti Edit Composition Raga Taḷa Language DescriptionSaṅkari Saṃkuru candra mukhi Sanskrit शङ कर श क र चन द र म ख Telugu Script శఙ కర శ క ర చన ద ర మ ఖ Saveri Adi Tisra Gati SanskritpAlayAshu mAM paradEvatE Arabhi Sanskritkanaka saila vihariṇi Sanskrit कनक श ल व ह र ण Telugu Script కనక శ ల వ హ ర ణ Punnaga Varaḷi Adi SanskritBirana varalicci brōvaveబ ర న వర ల చ చ బ ర వవ Kaḷyaṇi Adi Tisra Gati TeluguDevi brōva samayamu ద వ బ ర వ సమయమ Cintamaṇi TelugukAmAkSi lOka sAkSiNi madhyamAvati SanskritHimadri sute pahimaṃ హ మ ద ర స త ప హ మ Kaḷyaṇi Adi SanskritMayamma yani ne pilacite మ యమ మ యన న ప లచ త Ahiri Adi TeluguMari vere gati evvaramma మర వ ర గత ఎవరమ మ Anandabhairavi Misra Capu TeluguNannu brōvu lalita నన న బ ర వ లల త Lalita Misra Capu TeluguO jagadamba nannu ఓ జగదమ బ నన న Anandabhairavi Adi TeluguParvati ninu ne nera nammiti ప ర వత న న న న ర నమ మ త kalkaḍa TeluguSarōja daḷa netri himagiri putri సర జ దళ న త ర హ మగ ర ప త ర saṃkarabharaṇaṃ Adi TeluguTalli ninnu nera namminanu vinave తల ల న న న న ర నమ మ న న వ నవ Kaḷyaṇi Misra Capu TeluguPahi Sri Girirajasute Karuṇakalite Anandabhairavi Rupakaṃ Telugu SanskritDevi Mina Netri Brōva Shankarabharanam Adi TeluguEnneramum un Namam என ன ரம ம உன ந மம Purvikalyani Misra caapu TamilKamakshi Bangaru క మ క ష బ గ ర Varali Misra caapu TeluguEnneramum un Pada Kamalam என ன ரம ம உன ப த கமலம Punnagavaraḷi Misra Capu TamilSee also Edit India portal Music portalList of Carnatic composersNotes EditReferences Edit Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana Archived from the original on 14 January 2016 Retrieved 15 November 2015 P Sambamoorthy 1962 Great Composers Indian Music Publishing House pp 69 94 SYAMA SASTRI 1762 1827 PART 1 Archived from the original on 1 December 2021 Retrieved 2 October 2022 Rajagopalan N 1994 A Garland A Biographical Dictionary of Carnatic Composers and Musicians Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan p 264 Ramakrishna Lalita 2003 Musical Heritage of India Shubhi Publication p 176 ISBN 978 81 87226 61 1 SMA Article Shyama Shastri A Blessed Composer a b OEMI SS a b Foltinek Herbert 2005 Imagination All Compact How did Charles Dickens Compose His Novels doi 10 1553 0x0007eaf1 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help V Sriram 18 July 2019 Songs in praise of Kanchi Varada The Hindu ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 19 January 2023 Madan Gopal 1990 K S Gautam ed India through the ages Publication Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India p 231 Sources Edit Syama Sastri The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India Oxford University Press 2011 ISBN 9780195650983 Retrieved 20 September 2018 Fuller C J Narasimhan Haripriya 11 November 2014 Tamil Brahmans The Making of a Middle Class Caste University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 0 226 15288 2 External links EditCompositions of Syama Sastri Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Syama Sastri amp oldid 1149465485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
