Trichy Sankaran
Encyclopedia
Trichy Sankaran is an Indian percussionist, composer, scholar, and educator. He is acknowledged as one of the foremost virtuosos of the mridangam and also plays the kanjira
on occasion. Since the early 1970s, he has performed and recorded in a number of cross-cultural projects.
Sankaran has lived in Toronto
since 1971. He is the founder of the Tyagaraja Aradhana
in Toronto and is a professor of music at York University
. He has regularly performed at all leading organizations in Chennai
every December Music Season and continues to accompany a wide array of top ranked musicians. Trichy Sankaran has been conferred the illustrious title, Sangeetha Kalanidhi
, from the Madras Music Academy
for the year 2011-2012.
, India, Sankaran had his early musical training first under his cousin, the late Sri P. A. Venkataraman, and later became the star disciple of the legendary mridangam maestro, the late Sri Pazhani Subramania Pillai. He made his debut at the age of 13 in a concert given by the Alathoor Brothers at Nanrudayan Temple in the town of Thiruchirapalli
Since then he has performed with all top ranking Carnatic musicians, including Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Sri Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar, Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Sri Musiri Subramania Iyer, Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Sri G. N. Balasubramaniam, Sri Madurai Mani Iyer, Sri T. R. Mahalingam
, and others.
Winner of the All India Radio
gold medal in 1955 and the President of India
award in 1958, Sankaran is one of the world's top ranking mridangam players. In addition to being the most sought after successor to the style of Pazhani Subramania Pillai, Sankaran has cultivated and infused new dimensions to the art of performing on his instrument, thus making his style innovative, yet treading ever so finely within the confines of tradition.
He has developed over the years a unique style of accompaniment trademark to only himself for which he is highly sought after amongst musicians, percussionists, audiences and connoisseurs alike. The forte of his style includes the most superior of nadai calibration, subtle koraippu structure, innovative mora – korvai permutations and most significant of all; his innate ability to present performances in any tala combination, not compromising detail or structure. Added to his reputation are, his tala-specific renditions, highlighting patterns contouring the tala orientation. His lyrical displays of rhythmic aesthetics in mridangam playing have been the object lessons of the percussionists' logistics.
He has dedicated himself for the cause and propagation of Carnatic music in North America in more than one way: as academician, global artist, composer, and collaborator.
, the Berklee College of Music
, the University of Michigan
, the California Institute of the Arts
, the University of Illinois
, McMaster University
, Cornell University
, and Dalhousie University
. He has made valuable contributions at many scholarly conferences across North America and has also published a number of his works in the leading journals of the continent. He has also written a textbook on the mridangam, which defines the basic techniques and principles of Carnatic percussion, entitled The Rhythmic Principles & Practice of South Indian Drumming.
Sankaran is also the founder and artistic director of Kalalayam, an institution dedicated in cultivating the nuances and techniques of the Pudukkottai style of percussive embellishment. He has successfully trained many South Asian and North American students on the mridangam, kanjira, ghatam
, tabla
, and other Western percussion instruments. He was the pioneer in starting the Thyagaraja Festival in Toronto which has flourished into an annual event hosting a series of concerts featuring top ranked musicians from India, identifying and promoting talented youth in North America and endowing scholarships to students pursuing a career in music.
, Europe, the Middle East
, Australia, and North America. With over half a century of concert experience in Carnatic music, he has accompanied over five generations of musicians.
As a performing artist of international repute, Sankaran has received numerous honors and awards. The titles include:
He was also nominated as the Professional Of the Year by the executive committee of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. He has received the prestigious Palghat Mani Iyer Award from the Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore, the Chowdiah Memorial Award from the Karnataka State, and Sri Pazhani Subramania Pillai Award from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In 1998 he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Victoria
, in British Columbia
, Canada, for his achievements in the academic and professional fields. He has also held honorable positions at The Glenn Gould Foundation and Canada Council
.
, jazz, electronic, and African music ensembles, and World Drums in fusion concerts. He has performed in jugalbandhi
concerts with Ustad Vilayat Khan, V. G. Jog
, Zakir Hussain
, Hariprasad Chaurasia
, Shanta Prasad, and Swapan Chaudhuri
, to name a few. As a composer, Sankaran has to his credit numerous pieces in the genres of gamelan, jazz, traditional Western classical orchestra, and various instrumental ensembles respectively.
Sankaran has also worked in the fields of jazz, electronic music, and free improvisation with the composers David Rosenboom
, Richard Teitelbaum
, Charlie Haden
, Pauline Oliveros
, Paul Plimley
, the Jazz Orchestra of York University, Anthony Braxton
, Dave Brubeck
, Glen Velez
, Nexus
, and World Drums.
In 1996, Sankaran was commissioned by leading Canadian Bharatanatyam dancer Lata Pada, C.M., to compose a contemporary work entitled 'TimeScape', for her dance company, Sampradaya Dance Creations.
, Canada in the district of North York
. His daughter is the vocalist and pianist Suba Sankaran. A York University graduate, she is a freelance performer in Toronto and has her own group called "Autorickshaw", which specializes in contemporary and instrumental fusion themes (Indo-jazz). Suba, along with her father Trichy Sankaran and wind specialist Ernie Tollar, perform as Trichy's Trio. She also performs jazz numbers with the group Retrocity.
Trichy Sankaran has also been involved with numerous multi-cultural initiatives, such as performing at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square as a headliner of the 'desiFest' May 2007 South Asian Canadian music festival founded by youth entrepreneur Sathish Bala.
** - Forthcoming
Kanjira
The kanjira, khanjira or ganjira, a South Indian frame drum, is an instrument of the tambourine family. It is used primarily in concerts of Carnatic music as a supporting instrument for the mridangam...
on occasion. Since the early 1970s, he has performed and recorded in a number of cross-cultural projects.
Sankaran has lived in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
since 1971. He is the founder of the Tyagaraja Aradhana
Tyagaraja Aradhana
Tyagaraja Aradhana is an annual Carnatic music festival held in January and February. Many exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by thousands of ardent fans of Indian classical music....
in Toronto and is a professor of music at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. He has regularly performed at all leading organizations 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...
every December Music Season and continues to accompany a wide array of top ranked musicians. Trichy Sankaran has been conferred the illustrious title, Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi or Sangita Kalanidhi is the title awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy. This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.-----Sangeetha Kalanidhis:-External links:*...
, from the Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy
Madras Music Academy, or simply Music Academy, is one of the premier and early Music Academies in the South Indian city of Madras, now Chennai. It plays an important role in encouraging and promoting primarily the Carnatic Music south Indian art form. It also played an important role in revival of...
for the year 2011-2012.
Early life
Born on July 27, 1942 in Thiruchirapalli, Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India, Sankaran had his early musical training first under his cousin, the late Sri P. A. Venkataraman, and later became the star disciple of the legendary mridangam maestro, the late Sri Pazhani Subramania Pillai. He made his debut at the age of 13 in a concert given by the Alathoor Brothers at Nanrudayan Temple in the town of Thiruchirapalli
Since then he has performed with all top ranking Carnatic musicians, including Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Sri Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar, Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, Sri Musiri Subramania Iyer, Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Sri G. N. Balasubramaniam, Sri Madurai Mani Iyer, Sri T. R. Mahalingam
T. R. Mahalingam (flautist)
-External links:* * * *...
, and others.
Winner of the All India Radio
All India Radio
All 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...
gold medal in 1955 and the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
award in 1958, Sankaran is one of the world's top ranking mridangam players. In addition to being the most sought after successor to the style of Pazhani Subramania Pillai, Sankaran has cultivated and infused new dimensions to the art of performing on his instrument, thus making his style innovative, yet treading ever so finely within the confines of tradition.
He has developed over the years a unique style of accompaniment trademark to only himself for which he is highly sought after amongst musicians, percussionists, audiences and connoisseurs alike. The forte of his style includes the most superior of nadai calibration, subtle koraippu structure, innovative mora – korvai permutations and most significant of all; his innate ability to present performances in any tala combination, not compromising detail or structure. Added to his reputation are, his tala-specific renditions, highlighting patterns contouring the tala orientation. His lyrical displays of rhythmic aesthetics in mridangam playing have been the object lessons of the percussionists' logistics.
He has dedicated himself for the cause and propagation of Carnatic music in North America in more than one way: as academician, global artist, composer, and collaborator.
Teaching
Sankaran is the Founding Director of the Indian Music Program and a Professor of Music at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he has been teaching since 1971. In addition, he has also conducted workshops and seminars at Wesleyan UniversityWesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. He has made valuable contributions at many scholarly conferences across North America and has also published a number of his works in the leading journals of the continent. He has also written a textbook on the mridangam, which defines the basic techniques and principles of Carnatic percussion, entitled The Rhythmic Principles & Practice of South Indian Drumming.
Sankaran is also the founder and artistic director of Kalalayam, an institution dedicated in cultivating the nuances and techniques of the Pudukkottai style of percussive embellishment. He has successfully trained many South Asian and North American students on the mridangam, kanjira, ghatam
Ghatam
The ghaṭam is a percussion instrument used in the Carnatic music of South India. Its analogue in Rajasthan is known as the madga and pani mataqa "water jug"....
, tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, and other Western percussion instruments. He was the pioneer in starting the Thyagaraja Festival in Toronto which has flourished into an annual event hosting a series of concerts featuring top ranked musicians from India, identifying and promoting talented youth in North America and endowing scholarships to students pursuing a career in music.
International tours
Sankaran has performed far and wide at major festivals in India, Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, Europe, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Australia, and North America. With over half a century of concert experience in Carnatic music, he has accompanied over five generations of musicians.
Awards
- Sangeetha KalanidhiSangeetha KalanidhiSangeetha Kalanidhi or Sangita Kalanidhi is the title awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy. This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.-----Sangeetha Kalanidhis:-External links:*...
(Madras Music Academy, India) - Tala Kalai Arasu (Bharati Kala Manram, Toronto)
- Laya Sikhamani (Bhairavi, Cleveland)
- Nadha Laya Brahmam (Bharathi Vidya Bhavan, Trichy)
- Tala Vadya Prakasa (CMANA, New York)
- Sangeetha Choodamani ( Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai)
- Viswa Kala Bharathi (Bharat Kalachar, Chennai)
- Mridanga Kala Shironmani (Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore)
- Asthana Vidwan (Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, KanchipuramKanchipuramKanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
) - OCUFA teaching award (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association, Canada)
He was also nominated as the Professional Of the Year by the executive committee of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. He has received the prestigious Palghat Mani Iyer Award from the Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore, the Chowdiah Memorial Award from the Karnataka State, and Sri Pazhani Subramania Pillai Award from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In 1998 he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada, for his achievements in the academic and professional fields. He has also held honorable positions at The Glenn Gould Foundation and Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
.
Work with ensembles
In addition to his usual traditional settings, he has performed with gamelanGamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
, jazz, electronic, and African music ensembles, and World Drums in fusion concerts. He has performed in jugalbandhi
Jugalbandhi
A jugalbandi or jugalbandhi is a performance in Indian classical music that features a duet of two solo musicians...
concerts with Ustad Vilayat Khan, V. G. Jog
V. G. Jog
Vishnu Govind Jog, better known as V. G. Jog , was an Indian violinist. He was the foremost exponent of the violin in the Hindustani music tradition in the 20th century, and is credited for introducing this instrument into Hindustani music.Jog was a disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan...
, Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (musician)
Zakir Hussain , , is an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer.-Early life:Hussain was born in Mumbai, India to the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. He attended St...
, Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.-Early life:Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in...
, Shanta Prasad, and Swapan Chaudhuri
Swapan Chaudhuri
Swapan Chaudhuri is an Indian tabla player, who has accompanied several musicians of Indian classical music, including, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Jasraj....
, to name a few. As a composer, Sankaran has to his credit numerous pieces in the genres of gamelan, jazz, traditional Western classical orchestra, and various instrumental ensembles respectively.
Sankaran has also worked in the fields of jazz, electronic music, and free improvisation with the composers David Rosenboom
David Rosenboom
David Rosenboom is an American composer and a pioneer in the use of neurofeedback, cross-cultural collaborations and compositional algorithms...
, Richard Teitelbaum
Richard Teitelbaum
Richard Teitelbaum is an American composer, keyboardist, and improvisor. Born in New York, he is a former student of Allen Forte, Mel Powell, and Luigi Nono. He is best known for his live electronic music and synthesizer performance. For example, he brought the first moog synthesizer to Europe...
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros is an American accordionist and composer who is a central figure in the development of post-war electronic art music....
, Paul Plimley
Paul Plimley
Paul Plimley is a free jazz pianist and vibraphonist. He is one of the doyens of the Canadian jazz avant-garde, a co-founder of the New Orchestra Workshop Society and frequent collaborator with the bassist Lisle Ellis...
, the Jazz Orchestra of York University, Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
, Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
, Glen Velez
Glen Velez
Glen Velez is an American percussionist, vocalist, and composer, specializing in frame drums from around the world. He is largely responsible for the increasing popularity of frame drums in the United States and around the world....
, Nexus
Nexus (percussion ensemble)
Nexus is a Toronto-based percussion ensemble that performs jazz, world music, and western avantgarde music.The ensemble is made up of percussionists Bob Becker , Bill Cahn , Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger, John Wyre, and Garry Kvistad. Founding member Michael Craden died of liver cancer in 1982...
, and World Drums.
In 1996, Sankaran was commissioned by leading Canadian Bharatanatyam dancer Lata Pada, C.M., to compose a contemporary work entitled 'TimeScape', for her dance company, Sampradaya Dance Creations.
Personal life
Sankaran lives in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada in the district of North York
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
. His daughter is the vocalist and pianist Suba Sankaran. A York University graduate, she is a freelance performer in Toronto and has her own group called "Autorickshaw", which specializes in contemporary and instrumental fusion themes (Indo-jazz). Suba, along with her father Trichy Sankaran and wind specialist Ernie Tollar, perform as Trichy's Trio. She also performs jazz numbers with the group Retrocity.
Trichy Sankaran has also been involved with numerous multi-cultural initiatives, such as performing at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square as a headliner of the 'desiFest' May 2007 South Asian Canadian music festival founded by youth entrepreneur Sathish Bala.
Instrumental ensemble/fusion
- 1975 - Suitable for framing - with David RosenboomDavid RosenboomDavid Rosenboom is an American composer and a pioneer in the use of neurofeedback, cross-cultural collaborations and compositional algorithms...
and J. B. Floyd (ARC Records) - 1993 - Whirled - with Oilver Schroer (Big Dog Music)
- 1996 - Oliver Schroer and the Stewed Tomatoes - with Oilver Schroer (Big Dog Music)
- 1998 - Ivory Ganesh Meets Doctor Drums - with Paul Plimley (Songlines)
- 1999 - Catch 21: Trichy's Trio - with Suba Sankaran and Ernie Tollar (Deep Down Productions)
- 1999 - Innovative Music Meeting - with Rajesh Mehta and Rohan De Saram (True Muze Records)
- 2004 - Maza Mezé: Secrets Moon Magic - with John Wyre and Suba Sankaran (CBC)
Traditional Carnatic
- 1990 - Laya Vinyas - Mrdangam Solo (Music of the World)
- 1993 - Sunada - with Karaikudi Subramaniam (Music of the World)
- 1997 - Lotus Signatures - with Dr. N. Ramani (Music of the World)
- 2001 - The Carnatic Violin - with Prof. T. N. Krishnan (Kriyative World Music)
Released in India
- 2001 - Kutcheri: Live at Kalakshetra - with Sanjay Subramanyan (Charsur Digital)
- 2002 - Mukhari - with Chitraveena Ravikiran (Rajalakshmi Audio)
- 2005 - Gajaleela - Mridangam and Kanjira Solo (Charsur Digital)
- 2007 - Kutcheri: Live in Chennai - with Lalgudi G. J. R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijaylakshmi (Charsur Digital)**
- 2007 - Live at Music Academy Madras - with Malladi Brothers (Rajalakshmi Audio)**
** - Forthcoming
Books
- 1977 - The Art of drumming: South Indian Mridangam. Toronto: Private Edition
- 1994 - The Rhythmic Principles & Practice of South Indian Drumming. Toronto: Lalith Publishers
- 2003 - Frame Drums of South India: A Handbook on Solkattu (Rhythm Solfege). Toronto: Lalith Publishers.
External links
- Trichy Sankaran official site
- Trichy Sankaran site
- Trichy Sankaran faculty page from York University site
- Trichy Sankaran interview