Bidaram Krishnappa
Encyclopedia
Bidaram Krishnappa was a musician and composer of Carnatic
Indian music in the court of King Chamaraja Wodeyar
IX (1862–1894) and King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV
(1884–1940) of the Kingdom of Mysore
.
Bidaram Krishnappa was a Konkani
-speaking Gowda Saraswath Brahmin and a native of Nandalike
in modern Udupi district
, Karnataka
. When he was a boy he had a chance encounter with a rich businessman who loved music. This happened when hungry Krishnappa, who came from a poor family, was singing a devotional song (devaranama) in a local temple. Impressed with his voice, the merchant sponsored Krishnappa to train under the guidance of a musician called Ramaswamy. He later came under the influence of Tammayya and Veena Sheshanna. Bidaram Krishnappa is credited with having popularised the singing of Kannada devaranama on stage. He adapted certain concepts of Hindustani music into his Carnatic compositions. For his scholarship in music, he earned the titles "Shudda Swaracharya", "Pallavi Krishnappa" and "Gana Visharada". One of his disciples, T. Chowdiah, went on to become a music legend. Krishnappa was most famous for writing and rendering devaranama and kirtan
s.
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
Indian music in the court of King Chamaraja Wodeyar
Chamaraja Wodeyar
Chamaraja Wadiyar X was the ruling Maharaja of Mysore between 1881 and 1894.-Adoption and accession:Chamaraja was born at the old palace in Mysore on February 22, 1863, as the third son of Sardar Chikka Krishnaraj Urs, of the Bettada-Kote branch of the ruling clan. His father died about a week...
IX (1862–1894) and King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV
Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV
Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV , also known popularly as Nalvadi Krishna Raja Wadiyar , was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore from 1902 until his death in 1940. He is regarded as one of the most celebrated rulers among the Indian States when India was still under British rule...
(1884–1940) of the Kingdom of Mysore
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire...
.
Bidaram Krishnappa was a Konkani
Konkani people
Konkani people , form a group of people mainly found in the Konkan Coast of western India whose mother-tongue is the Konkani language....
-speaking Gowda Saraswath Brahmin and a native of Nandalike
Nandalike
Nandalike is a village in Karkala taluk of Udupi District in India. It is approximately 16 km east of Padubidri and about 15 km from Karkala town.Nandalike is the Birth place of Great Poet Muddana....
in modern Udupi district
Udupi district
Udupi district , ಉಡುಪಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ) in the Karnataka state of India was created in August 1997. The three northern taluks, Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal, were separated from Dakshina Kannada District to form Udupi district. Udupi district is surrounded by Uttara Kannada district in north, Dakshina Kannada...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. When he was a boy he had a chance encounter with a rich businessman who loved music. This happened when hungry Krishnappa, who came from a poor family, was singing a devotional song (devaranama) in a local temple. Impressed with his voice, the merchant sponsored Krishnappa to train under the guidance of a musician called Ramaswamy. He later came under the influence of Tammayya and Veena Sheshanna. Bidaram Krishnappa is credited with having popularised the singing of Kannada devaranama on stage. He adapted certain concepts of Hindustani music into his Carnatic compositions. For his scholarship in music, he earned the titles "Shudda Swaracharya", "Pallavi Krishnappa" and "Gana Visharada". One of his disciples, T. Chowdiah, went on to become a music legend. Krishnappa was most famous for writing and rendering devaranama and kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
s.
Well-known disciples
- Tirumakudalu ChowdiahTirumakudalu ChowdiahTirumakudalu Chowdiah was a violin maestro from India in the Carnatic classical tradition.-Early Years:Chowdiah, was born in Tirumakudalu village on the banks of the river Kaveri near Mysore....
- R. R. KeshavamurthyR. R. KeshavamurthyRR Keshavamurthy was an Indian violinist of great repute and precision. RRK, as he was popularly known specialised in the seven stringed violin. RRK was a student of Bidaram Krishnappa, the Guru of the violinist Mysore T. Chowdiah. He was a legend of seven stringed violin, and the only performing...
- Rallapalli Anantha Krishna SharmaRallapalli Anantha Krishna SharmaSangita Kalanidhi Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma was a noted composer of Carnatic music, singer as well as a writer.-Life:...