Handel Manuel
Encyclopedia
Handel Manuel was an Indian pianist, organist, conductor, composer and accompanist. He helped to make western classical music popular in Chennai
.
. He was educated at the Madras Christian College
, but he did not study music there. He was a self-taught composer.
At the age of 23 Manuel became the first Indian conductor of the Madras Musical Association. He also served for over 50 years as the organist and choirmaster at St Andrew's Church, Chennai
(known as The Kirk) and was the founder director of the Madras Philharmonic and Choral Society.
Manuel worked as a music teacher in C.S.I Bain's School towards the end of his career.
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
Early life
Manuel was born in Tuticorin, India, on April 27, 1918, and was named after the composer HandelGeorge Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
. He was educated at the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
, but he did not study music there. He was a self-taught composer.
At the age of 23 Manuel became the first Indian conductor of the Madras Musical Association. He also served for over 50 years as the organist and choirmaster at St Andrew's Church, Chennai
St Andrew's Church, Chennai
St. Andrew's Church in Egmore, Chennai was built to serve the Scottish community in Chennai. Its design was modelled on St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Building started 6 April 1818 and the church was consecrated in 1821.-Tradition:...
(known as The Kirk) and was the founder director of the Madras Philharmonic and Choral Society.
Manuel worked as a music teacher in C.S.I Bain's School towards the end of his career.
Honours and Awards
- He is the only Indian to be invited to the International Tchaikovsky CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
held in MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. - He was elected Honorary Life Member of the Royal School of Church MusicRoyal School of Church MusicThe largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. - He was appointed Producer Emeritus, All India RadioAll India RadioAll India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
. - He was awarded the Padmashri in 1983.
- He was also awarded the For The Sake of Honour award from Rotary.
- Alan HovhanessAlan HovhanessAlan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...
, the American composer, dedicated two pieces to Manuel: the "Arjuna" Symphony and an Organ Sonata.