Old world charm wafts out from letters
[ad_1]
The Chettinadu area has all the time patronised classical music and musicians. Weddings, temple festivals and different capabilities featured the concert events of the very best musicians of the time. A treasure trove of letters written by musicians themselves reveals attention-grabbing particulars of the remuneration for his or her efficiency.
“I collect old magazines, stamps and books and found these letters among them. The Chettiar families normally keep these letters tagged with their response as records,” stated an antiques vendor who needs to be nameless.
The oldest letter within the assortment was written by nagaswaram participant P.S. Rathinam, who had organized a efficiency of a ‘chinna melam’ (Bharatanatyam troupe) in 1931. He had knowledgeable the organisers that the troupe would carry out provided that it was paid ₹300 and never ₹250.
Nagaswaram maestro Rajarathinam Pillai had requested ₹350 for a live performance in 1935. “I will play for both the wedding and procession of the deity from the temple. In fact, the amount is very less,” he had stated in a letter.
Andankoil A.V. Karuppaiah Pillai, one other nagaswaram participant of nice reputation, had knowledgeable an organiser in 1945 that his minimal charge was ₹200.
Organisers of concert events by Karukurichi P. Arunachalam must pay a princely sum of ₹1,000 in 1955.
“If you are ready to pay the amount, I will perform,” Arunachalam had written to K.A. Angamuthu Mudaliar, secretary of the Hindu Traders’ Association at Karaikudi.
M.M. Dhandapani Desikar had written to Angamuthu Mudaliar in 1961. He needed ₹1,001 for himself and his troupe, together with a violinist, a mridangam participant and a kanjira participant.
Vocalist and playback singer Sirkazhi Govindarajan had additionally written to Angamuthu Mudaliar, expressing his willingness to carry out at an occasion to mark the Tamil New Year in 1961.
In his letter to Natarajan Chettiyar in 1964, Madurai Mani Iyer had stated he would attain Karaikudi with violinist M.S. Gopalakrishnan and mridangam participant Umayalpuram Sivaraman. “Book rooms in the municipality rest-house. For me, book a big room with an attached bathroom,” he had stated within the letter, written by T.S. Vembu Iyer on his behalf.
In 1960, clarinet maestro A.K.C. Natarajan had written to Rajamanickam Chettiyar at Karaikudi, recommending Kumbakonam K.A. Thangavel Pillai for the thavil accompaniment.
Nagaswaram participant Thiruvidaimarudur P.S. Veerusami Pillai had instructed the organisers to e book Nachiyarkoil Raghava Pillai or another person as particular thavil.
You have reached your restrict at no cost articles this month.
