Kanyakumari (violinist)
Encyclopedia
Avasarala Kanyakumari is a renowned female Carnatic music
violin
ist from South India
.
and has been living in Chennai
for more than 4 decades.She belongs to a family of musicians.Her parents Sri Avasarala Ramarathnam and Smt.Jayalakshmi encouraged her immensely to pursue music.
She was fortunate to be a sishya (disciple) of 3 great legendary gurus, Ivaturi Vijeswara Rao, M. Chandrasekaran
and M. L. Vasanthakumari
.
Listening to her sparkling brighas and intricate sangatis while she had just started to tread her musical journey, the respected music critic Subbudu compared her music to the ever glittering diamond stud in the nose ring of the goddess Kanyakumari. Ever since she has received innumerable accolades and praise from audiences worldwide and discerning critics for her innovation, accompaniment and solo performances while at the same time strictly adhering to the Carnatic music tradition. Needless to say it is her dedication and sincere hardwork along with the able guidance of her gurus Ivaturi Vijeshwara Rao, M. Chandrasekharan and M. L. Vasanthakumari which have groomed her into a front ranking violinist.
Her extensive experience spanning more than 4 decades combined with a sharp acumen and fine sense of creativity has earned her a distinct place.She has evolved her own style of melodious playing and silken bowing which closely resembles vocal music rhapsodising audiences all over.
Innovations and Challenging Feats
She has many successful creative innovations to her credit.
"Vadya Lahari" her brain child is a new combo of the violin, veena
and Nadaswaram
.
"Tristhayi sangamam" Confluence of 3 violins playing in different octaves portraying a special dimension.
"Carnatic Music Ensembles" of 25, 50, 75 and 100 violins as well as 100 instrument ensemble commemorating the millennium
A music piece "100 ragamalika swarams" which exposes her dexterity in bringing out the raga
swaroopam in just one avarthana each.
29 hours non stop marathon performance
She has dedicated her life to music and is grateful to the Almighty, gurus, parents, students, sabhas, critics and rasikas for their continued support.
She was selected for Limca Book of Records 2004 for her various achievements in music as a versatile woman violinist.
She has also released Violin Lessons Tutorial VCD's for students who do not have access to learn directly from a guru.
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...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist from South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
.
Profile
Kanyakumari is a native of Vijayanagaram, Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and has been living in Chennai
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...
for more than 4 decades.She belongs to a family of musicians.Her parents Sri Avasarala Ramarathnam and Smt.Jayalakshmi encouraged her immensely to pursue music.
She was fortunate to be a sishya (disciple) of 3 great legendary gurus, Ivaturi Vijeswara Rao, M. Chandrasekaran
M. Chandrasekaran
M. Chandrasekaran is an eminent Carnatic classical violinist from Chennai , Tamil Nadu. He the recipient of the 2005 Sangita Kalanidhi award from the Madras Music Academy.- References :...
and M. L. Vasanthakumari
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...
.
Listening to her sparkling brighas and intricate sangatis while she had just started to tread her musical journey, the respected music critic Subbudu compared her music to the ever glittering diamond stud in the nose ring of the goddess Kanyakumari. Ever since she has received innumerable accolades and praise from audiences worldwide and discerning critics for her innovation, accompaniment and solo performances while at the same time strictly adhering to the Carnatic music tradition. Needless to say it is her dedication and sincere hardwork along with the able guidance of her gurus Ivaturi Vijeshwara Rao, M. Chandrasekharan and M. L. Vasanthakumari which have groomed her into a front ranking violinist.
Her extensive experience spanning more than 4 decades combined with a sharp acumen and fine sense of creativity has earned her a distinct place.She has evolved her own style of melodious playing and silken bowing which closely resembles vocal music rhapsodising audiences all over.
Innovations and Challenging Feats
She has many successful creative innovations to her credit.
"Vadya Lahari" her brain child is a new combo of the violin, veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
and Nadaswaram
Nadaswaram
The nadaswaram, also spelt nadhaswaram, and also called nagaswaram , is one of the most popular classical musical instruments in the South Indian culture and the world's loudest non-brass acoustic instrument...
.
"Tristhayi sangamam" Confluence of 3 violins playing in different octaves portraying a special dimension.
"Carnatic Music Ensembles" of 25, 50, 75 and 100 violins as well as 100 instrument ensemble commemorating the millennium
A music piece "100 ragamalika swarams" which exposes her dexterity in bringing out the raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
swaroopam in just one avarthana each.
29 hours non stop marathon performance
She has dedicated her life to music and is grateful to the Almighty, gurus, parents, students, sabhas, critics and rasikas for their continued support.
Awards and honours
Many prestigious awards and titles have been bestowed uon her.Some of them include- Kalaimamani from Govt. of Tamil Nadu
- Ugadi Puraskarfrom Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
- Top Rank by A.I.R
- Honarary citizenship of the state of Maryland,U.S
- TTK Award from the Music Academy,Chennai
- Asthana Viidushi of Sringeri Sarada Peetam,Ahobila Mutt and Avadhoota Peetam
- "Saptagiri sangeetha vidwanmani from Sri Tyagaraja Festival Committee if Tirupathi.
- Dhanurveena Praveena, a title bestowed on her by M.S. Subbulakshmi, commemorating Kanyakumari's 25 years in concerts
- Sangeeta Kala Nipuna, from the Mylapore Fine Arts Club, 2002
- Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
, 2003
She was selected for Limca Book of Records 2004 for her various achievements in music as a versatile woman violinist.
Teaching
She is a dedicated teacher and has taught numerous students in India and abroad, many of whom are very popular artists. She teaches without a price tag and generously encourages students to participate in full measure.She has also released Violin Lessons Tutorial VCD's for students who do not have access to learn directly from a guru.