| L. Subramaniam | |
|---|---|
L. Subramaniam performing at a 2003 concert in Chennai |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Subramaniam Lakshminarayana |
| Born | 23 July 1947 Chennai |
| Genres | Classical, Carnatic, fusion, jazz, world music |
| Occupations | Violinist, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, record producer, pedagogue |
| Instruments | Violin, percussion, synthesizers, vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
Dr. Lakshminarayana Subramaniam (born on 23 July 1947) is an acclaimed Indian violinist, composer and conductor, trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition and Western classical music, and renowned for his virtuoso playing techniques and compositions in orchestral fusion.
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Subramaniam was born to V Lakshminarayana, and Seethalakshmi, both accomplished musicians of Tamil descent.
He lived in Jaffna during his younger years, taking up music studies before the age of five.[1] He began training in violin under the tutelage of his father, Professor V. Lakshminarayana. “Mani”, as he is fondly known by fellow musicians and his family, gave his first public performance at the age of six.
His brothers are also acclaimed musicians, and include the well-known violinist-composers L. Shankar (alias. Shenkar), and L. Vaidyanathan. He has released recordings with both.
Subramaniam developed a passion for music as well as science from a young age, studying Medicine and acquiring his M.B.B.S. at Madras Medical College. He registered as a General Practitioner, before deciding to pursue music full-time.[1] He has a Master’s degree in Western classical music, which he acquired at the California Institute of the Arts.[1]
Since 1973, Subramaniam has amassed over 200 recordings to his credit, releasing several historic solo albums, recording collaborations with musicians Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli, Ruggiero Ricci and Jean-Pierre Rampal, further to making albums and performing with Ruggiero Ricci, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke and several others.[2]
He has accompanied highly regarded vocalists in Carnatic music on stage including Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, K. V. Narayaswamy, Dr. Pinakapani, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna and M. D. Ramanathan. He has also performed many concerts with the venerable Palghat Mani Iyer on the Mridangam, in addition to collaborating with musicians of North Indian Hindustani music and artists of other music systems.[2]
Subramaniam has written works for orchestras, ballets and Hollywood film scores, and written books on music - such as Euphony - in addition to composing symphonys and Carnatic pieces.[2][3]
In 1983, he composed a Double Concerto for violin and flute which combined western scales with micro intervals. Another release, “Spring – Rhapsody” was a homage to Bach and Baroque music. Creations with orchestras that have followed include Fantasy on Vedic Chants with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Zubin Mehta, Turbulence with The Swiss Romande Orchestra, “The Concert of Two Violins” with the Oslo Philharmonic, and Global Symphony with the Berlin State Opera (broadcast live to 28 nations) among others.[3] He has also performed a concert tour of China, with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra in Beijing.
His compositions have been used in stage presentations of leading dance companies such as the San Jose Ballet company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Subramaniam composed the piece “Shanti Priya” for the Mariinsky Ballet.
The release of his albums, including Global Fusion in 1999 have brought Subramaniam widespread critical acclaim, and popularity for his advanced playing. He founded and directs the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, a festival based in India. In 2004, he completed a world tour with the festival, including concerts in the US (Lincoln Center, New York), the Asian Pacific region including in Perth, Australia, at the Esplanade, Singapore, the Sri Dewan Penang Hall in Penang and the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Performing with Subramaniam at the festival in January 2005 were violin maestro Arve Tellefsen, the Oslo Camerata, jazz legends Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Earl Klugh and Ravi Coltrane.
More recently, in September 2007, Subramaniam premiered and played “The Freedom Symphony” with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Warrenton Chorale and Carnatic percussionists, which led to a strongly favourable ovation and an encore piece “Flight of the Humble Bee”. He was at Muscat for the first time where he played with leading musicians on February 7 at the Muscat Intercontinental. Subramaniam is on the advisory board of composer A. R. Rahman's KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam, Chennai.
The renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin said of Subramaniam:
| “ | I find nothing more inspiring than the music making of my very great colleague Subramaniam. Each time I listen to him, I am carried away in wonderment.”[2] | ” |
He composed the film scores for the films Salaam Bombay (1988) and Mississippi Masala (1991) directed by Mira Nair, in addition to being the featured violin soloist in Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha (1993) and Cotton Mary (1999) of Merchant-Ivory productions.[2]
Throughout his career L. Subramaniam has won several awards and accolades. Declared "Violin Chakravarthy" – Emperor of Violinists by the Governor of Madras,[1] he received a Grammy nomination in 1981. In 1996, he received the "Best Composer Award/Commission" from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK P2 radio channel. Subramaniam received a Special Medal of Honour from HH King Birendra of Nepal in 1997, following a performance celebrating 25 years of the king's reign. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988 and Padma Bhushan in 2001. In recognition of his contribution to music, the University of Madras in 2004, the Bangalore University in 2003 and the University of Sheffield in 2008, all conferred him with Honorary Doctorates.
Subramaniam was married to Viji Subramanian, who died on 9 February 1995 and since November 1999 has been married to the Indian playback singer Kavita Krishnamoorthy. He continues to perform pieces with his daughter Seetaa Subramaniam, violin duets with his son, Ambi Subramaniam, a featured soloist in “Astral Symphony,” and has further recorded and given several concerts with Krishnamoorthy. His elder son Narayana is studying medicine and performs duets with his mother, Kavita Krishnamoorthy. His daughter Seetaa Subramaniam got recently married in Kerala [Palakkad] with Mr.Premsai a software professional.
l.subramaniam ,mani and co \milestone,1986\