Chandra Courtney
| Chandra (Chandrakantha) Courtney | |
|---|---|
_Courtney.jpg) | |
| Birth name | Nada Chandrakantha |
| Born |
Feb. 2, 1954 Machilipatnam, AP, India |
| Nationality | USA |
| Field | Indian Music |
| Training | Government College of Music and Dance (Vijaywada) |
| Awards | Cultural Jewel of India (ICC - 2009) |
| Website | http://chandrakantha.com |
Chandra Courtney (née N. Chandrakantha) is a vocalist, composer, and teacher of Indian music.
Chandra began her career as a child singing for local cultural organizations in Vijaywada. She then became a child artiste with All India Radio (Vijaywada). It was during this period that she enrolled in the Government College of Music and Dance and began to study classical Indian vocal under the late J.V.S.Rao.[1]
Later she moved to Hyderabad and started working with All India Radio (Hyderabad) as well as the Hyderabad Doordarshan (TV). During the 1970s she was a frequent performer with both of these institutions. In fact when The Hyderabad TV station first came on air, her song was chosen to be the first song broadcast.[2]
In 1977, she was part of a cultural delegation to South Africa.[3] This was almost unheard of because India was boycotting South Africa at the time due to its racial policies.
It was also during this period that she was part of a major cultural delegation to Mauritius.[4]
During this period she married her husband David R. Courtney. He was a US citizen so in 1980, they moved to the United States. David Courtney is a professional tabla player and music composer.
Since 1980 she has resided in Houston Texas. There she has contributed music for films, CDs and stage performances. She is the co-author of "Elementary North Indian Vocal"[5] and was a contributor to the sitar method book/CD "Learning the Sitar".[6]
She has taught many students in the Houston area. One of the most famous of her students was Mauli Dave of SaReGaMaPa fame.
She has received a number of awards, including: "Cultural Jewel of India",(ICC-2009)
She is presently living in Houston Texas, with her husband and two children.
Chandra Courtney is member of the group Vani, a musical group of Texas, which she toured with in Europe.
She performed in, and co produced the short experimental film Gayatri Mantra In Nava Raga - Rain. In 2011 this experimental film won a Bronze award at the "Worldfest - Houston International Film Festival" in the "Film and Video Art" category.
Discography
- Amrit - Sur Sangeet Services
- Mi Andara Ki Sai Ram - from film Sudha Binduvulu
- Devi Sthotra Kadamba Mala - Smt. Chandrakantha Courtney and Dr. Kalpalatha Guntupalli - Sur Sangeet Services
- Gayatri Mantra in Nava Raga - Cosmic Echo Productions
- Sacred Sounds of Meditation and Yoga -
- Sri Ram Chandra
- Kavita O Kavita
- Live at the SYDA
- Live: at the Stafford Civic Centre
- Bhairagi Bhairav
- Bhajans from HAWT
- Gazal-e-Hyderabad - along with K.Surendra
- Realm of Raga Rock - Along with the fusion group Vani
- The Refuge CD - Along with the Houston Grand Opera
Filmography
- Mana Mahatmuddu (1978)
- Dancing in Twilight (2005)
Bibliography
- Elementary North Indian Vocal - 1995 Sur Sangeet Services
External links
- David and Chandrakantha Courtney's Homepage
- David and Chandra Courtney, Inside World Music, 12/18/98
- Realm of Raga Rock, Homepage of the fusion group 'Vani'
- The Refuge CD
References
- ↑ Sishurvethi Pashurvethi Vethi Ganarasam Phani -Hyderabad, Udayam August 1987
- ↑ An Interview with Chandrakantha Courtney; http://chandrakantha.com/biodata/twain_interview.html
- ↑ Nagaram Lo Chandrakantha, Devaru Ku Sanmanam - Hyderabad, Vendithera July 23, 1978
- ↑ Artistes Felicitated - Hyderabad, Cineherald, July 26, 1978
- ↑ 1995 Elementary North Indian Vocal, Houston TX: Sur Sangeet Services.
- ↑ 2009; Learning the Sitar; Mel Bay Publications. David Courtney and Srinivas Koumounduri