N. Ramani
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| Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Padmashree Dr. N. Ramani | |
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 Renowned Carnatic flutist
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| Born | October 15, 1934 Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India |
Nadesan Ramani, Padmashri Dr. N. Ramani (also known as Flute Ramani, b. 1934) is a renowned Carnatic flautist from Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India. A disciple of the legendary T. R. Mahalingam (commonly known as "Mali," who first popularised the Carnatic flute to the world of Indian music, Ramani was born in what Carnatic followers consider the sacred sanctuary of Carnatic music, the city of Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu (the birthplace of the "trinity" of Carnatic composers, who laid the foundation for the tradition: Saint Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Shastri).
In a city known for its musical traditions, the young Ramani was exposed to many aspects of Carnatic music. Ramani's grandfather, Sri Aazhiyur Narayanaswami Iyer, was his first guru and was a well known flute artist and singer himself. Aware of young Ramani's keen interest in the Carnatic flute, Ramani's initiation to Carnatic music began at the age of five.
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[edit] Origin of the Carnatic flute
Until the late 19th century, the Carnatic flute (better known in Tamil as the pullanguzhal), a 9-hole bamboo flute, the South Indian equivalent of the North Indian 8-hole bansuri flute, had never been used in Carnatic concerts. Sharaba Shastri has been characterized by his followers as a Brahmin genius after experimenting and creating the Carnatic flute. He is also known for bringing the Carnatic flute to the fore of Carnatic music concerts as an influential instrument. He perfected the Carnatic flute to achieving all the seven swaras of Carnatic music that is proven to great accuracy by both scientific and musical notations.[citation needed]
The Sharaba Shastri style or bani of playing was established and was carried on by his disciple Sanjeeva Rao, the self-taught "Mali" brought a revolution in popularising Carnatic flute and whose legacy was carried on by Dr. Ramani and other national and international disciples of Mali.
[edit] Achievements
Although Palladam Sanjeeva Rao was Sharaba Shastri's successor, it was "Mali" and Dr. N. Ramani, who brought international attention to the Carnatic flute both in their own distinct flute playing techniques, with the latter improvising the former's methods.
The "Mali" bani encompassed facial expressions and movement of the head and body to bring a type of style into the playing of the Carnatic flute that unlocked the gamakas of Carnatic vocal music by altering the position of especially the lip and the head to play a specific note which can only be delivered vocally in previous times as compared to the dominating still and stationery style of Sharaba Shastri. As Mali was self-taught, his skills became fundamental in vocalising the playing of the Carnatic flute.
Bringing out more of the tradition Mali introduced in the playing of the Carnatic flute, Ramani's distinctive style is the transformation of the Carnatic flute into the voice of a proficient Carnatic vocalist. Stressing such importance on the emphasis of vocal style of playing, he displayed an characteristics of the human voice in his concerts often observed in his fast paced yet melodious performances.[citation needed]
In 1996, he gained the most prestigious title/award in Carnatic music, Sangeetha Kalanidhi.
[edit] International acclaim
As a regular performer and an 'A' grade artist on All India Radio (AIR), his style and improvisations in the rendition of many compositions of Carnatic music brought him instantaneous fame from state level to national level and famous musicians from all walks of classical Indian music praised his genius including the world famous sitar player Ravi Shankar, who was so impressed and mesmerised with Ramani's unique and brilliant control of sruthi and laya made a personal visit all the way to Ramani's home in South India the very next day to praise Ramani and requested Ramani to stage the world's first Carnatic flute jugalbandhi concert (a North-South collaboration of Indian classical music).[citation needed]
Such concerts continually received international popularity and demand with the Carnatic flute, and with Dr. Ramani rendering both Carnatic and Hindustani ragas, he was the first Carnatic flautist to create the transparency between Hindustani and Carnatic music across India and in the world.
Today, Dr. Ramani is considered the world's greatest master of the Carnatic flute and a burnished exponent in the field of Carnatic music.[citation needed]
[edit] Contributions to Carnatic music
Considered an ace jugalbhandi flautist in the local and international arena, Dr. Ramani's contributions to the world of the Carnatic flute are immensely popular, especially the introduction of the duet flute concerts which have gained popular appraisals. He also introduced the long bass flute to increase the reach in the lower octaves. In addition, he introduced the 2.5 pitch flute, which is ideal for violin and veena concerts, keeping the strict tradition of Carnatic music.
At present, Ramani is also actively involved in improving flute playing techniques by experimenting with the sizes of the instrument's finger holes and the length of the flutes, especially in the area where fast tempo ragas can be delivered with ease and ultimately improving the quality and diversity of Carnatic music pieces delivered by the flute.
Beyond Carnatic music, his proficiency in Hindustani classical music pioneered the playing of the North Indian bansuri flute in Carnatic music concerts.
Scientifically, he is also actively involved in music research, especially in the effects of Carnatic music on improving the quality of new flutist by exposing the music to the young, and also the possibilities of curing diseases or improving immunity against diseases in humans by exposing to Carnatic music.
[edit] Honours and accolades
Dr. N. Ramani's performances in All India Radio (AIR) have received numerous praises from renonwned Hindustani and Carnatic musicians alike and his performances overseas had been recognised with numerous awards.
Some of the highlights include the Sangeetha Kalanidhi, awarded by the Music Academy in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, the Sangeetha Acharya award from Wasser College, USA, the honorary citizenship status in Maryland, Ohio, USA, and the Padma Shri Award from the President of India. He holds a cultural doctorate from the World University of Arizona.[1]
[edit] Legendary teacher
Dr. N. Ramani is also an innovative teacher. He founded the Ramani Academy of Flute to promote the Carnatic flute to anyone who is interested in learning, regardless of age. As a teacher, Ramani believes that the practical mastery of any art is more important than receiving certificates. As a result, Ramani Academy of Flute does not offer certificates to students except with the rare opportunity to learn under the tutelage of Dr. Ramani. This learning policy has made his students well versed in the proficiency of the Carnatic flute and some of them being famed individuals and teachers located around the world.
Ramani's son, flautist Thiagarajan Ramani, is also a noted flautist. He has equally performed with his father and has delivered a record of more than 2000 concerts all over the world. He has a large student following in India.
Flute trio and flute ensemble concerts have been introduced recently, and two of Dr. Ramani's grandchildren, R. Athul Kumar and T. Suresh, are also noted as promising young flautists.
Among his numerous students in the Ramani Academy of Flute, one of his most prominent students Tiruchy L. Saravanan also carries on his legacy and is now a resident tutor at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society.
[edit] External links
[edit] Dr. N. Ramani
- Dr. N. Ramani official site
- MusicalNirvana - N Ramani.
- Austinifa.Org - Dr. N. Ramani.
- A Student's Description.
- Meeting of the Legends
