Continued from here

The 27th of December was a hectic day at the Music Academy when two stars, MS Subbulakshmi and GN Balasubramaniam performed. KVR was in attendance and while praising MS, he in classic chauvinistic style decried the Academy’s stance in expecting women to perform “pallavis, swaras and other forms of Hata Yoga”, all in his view the domain of men. As for GNB, KVR praised him and predicted a bright future but commented that his Nata Bhairavi “was a triumph of surrealism: it was neither fish, nor flesh nor good red herring; it was some new monster with the head of a rhinoceros, the body of a buffalo and the tail of a yak.” If at all any artiste received wholehearted praise from KVR’s caustic pen, it was Semmangudi. The review began with the words “the suspicion engendered by some of the previous concerts as to whether the music was Carnatic after all, was set at rest last evening by Vidvan Semmangudi Srinivasa Aiyar”.

The IFAS appears to have conducted at least one event by itself. An advertisement from The Hindu has it that Oriental Dances by Gopinatha and Thangamani was performed exclusively for IFAS members at the Gokhale Hall.

The lecture demonstrations at the morning sessions were lively events by themselves. The lawyer ND Varadachariar attended these on the 24th and 26th of December, in the company of SY Krishnaswami, ICS. Here is what he observed:

24/12 – With SYK to watch the proceedings of the Music Experts Conference, discussing Raga Nata. Lively business, when each vidwan is at the other’s throats.

26/12 – At the Music Conference. A decision taken on Nata, much objected to by several people. Then they settled Asaveri with healthier unanimity, the powerful personality of Muthiah Bhagavatar telling all the time.

The discussion on the 27th, regarding Bhairavi, especially on the usage of two dhaivatams, appears to have been no less spirited. Participating in it were Ariyakkudi, Musiri, Semmangudi, Muthiah Bhagavatar, T Lakshmana Pillai and TK Jayarama Iyer, among others. The final resolution had it that chatusruti dhaivata occurred in the arohana of the raga when the sanchara was dha ni sa with the sa long, and that in all other sancharas and in the avarohana suddha dhaivata occurred.

Concluded