The
Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC)
The Origins of Tamil Classical Music
It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a discussion
on the above subject, organized by the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture
(CSTC).
Date: Saturday 20
April
Time: 6pm-7.30pm
Venue: Visitors
Briefing Room
Lobby
Level
National
Library Board
Synopsis
The history of music and the social history are
intertwined, as Naaladiyar (நாலடியார்) revealed. Ancient Tamil texts like cankam and post-cankam
texts as well as ancient Sanskrit texts, along with the archaeological evidence
found in musical inscriptions in Kudiyanmalai dating back to approximately 8th
century C.E., help us to trace the origins of Tamil classical music. While evidence
from these early sources are essentially non-controversial and in fact complement
each other, differences of opinion by Pro-Tamil Music scholars who tend to
ignore the Sanskrit music sources and pro-Carnatic Music scholars who,
vice-versa, tend to ignore the Tamil Music sources in the post-colonial era,
have given rise to subjective overtones that compromise or even fudge the
facts.
In the midst of such controversy, the arrival of
Christian missionaries and the introduction of Western music and performances
in the courts of South Indian Kings imposed the western style
division between western classical and folk music in Tamil Music. As a result, the
complementary roles played by both Tamil and Sanskrit sources were drowned by all
these ‘noises’.
The evidences to trace the Origins of Tamil
Classical Music are the ancient texts and archeological evidences like
inscriptions. While the dating of the ancient texts in Tamil and Sanskrit
continue to be controversial with a range of few centuries between the
earliest and latest estimation, the dating of the inscription is
mostly non-controversial.
Interestingly all the ancient musical inscriptions are found only in Tamilnadu. Also, the musical pillars are found only in the ancient temples in and around Tamilnadu.
As a result, most of the treasures of the ancient music that could help to develop marketable music products continue to remain untapped. Fortunately, with the digital revolution, most of the controversial claims are now subjected to computer-based investigations, which may lead to peaceful resolving of all the controversies, and to tap the vast treasures of the ancient Tamil Music and Carnatic Music to meet the ever-increasing music demands in the world market.
Interestingly all the ancient musical inscriptions are found only in Tamilnadu. Also, the musical pillars are found only in the ancient temples in and around Tamilnadu.
As a result, most of the treasures of the ancient music that could help to develop marketable music products continue to remain untapped. Fortunately, with the digital revolution, most of the controversial claims are now subjected to computer-based investigations, which may lead to peaceful resolving of all the controversies, and to tap the vast treasures of the ancient Tamil Music and Carnatic Music to meet the ever-increasing music demands in the world market.
Our guest speaker
on this subject is Dr S A Veerapandian. More details on him below:
Brief Bio of
S.A.Veerapandian (www.drvee.in )
After completing M.Sc
(St.Joseph’s College, Trichy, India) in Physics with Electronics as the special subject,
Dr.Vee joined St.Xaviers’s College, Palayamkottai in 1971 as a
faculty member in Physics. He was later later selected for teaching in Government
Colleges in Tamilnadu, India. He retired as Reader in Physics from Presidency
College, Chennai in 2002, after which he held several positions such as Principal
of Sudharsan College of Arts & Science, Pudukkottai, Professor in the
School of Computing, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, & currently Project Consultant
for R & D Project (Music & Building Architecture) at National
Institute of Technology, Trichy.
Academic Background:
Dr Vee holds an M. Sc
(Physics with Electronics as the special subject),
M. Phil (Applied Physics), P.G.D.J (Mass Communication),
M. Phil (Applied Physics), P.G.D.J (Mass Communication),
P.G.C.S (Sociological Theories), and a Ph.D in the Physics of
Tamil Music.
As the member of the ‘Board of Studies’ in music at the University of Madras, he devised the syllabus & course materials for ‘Physics of Music’ and ‘Computer Music’. He also introduced ‘Music Information Technology’ to B.Tech at SASTRA & NIT-T.
Dr Vee is widely published
in many journals including
Links:
The history of a city and the history of music of the city are
intertwined;
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2012/08/history-of-city-and-history-ofmusic.html
Pitch Problems in Indian Classical Music -
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2014/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
A New Discovery - Pentatonic Dimension of GOD Shiva;
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2013/02/normal-0-false-false-false_20.html
The history of a city and the history of music of the city are
intertwined;
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2012/08/history-of-city-and-history-ofmusic.html
Pitch Problems in Indian Classical Music -
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2014/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
A New Discovery - Pentatonic Dimension of GOD Shiva;
https://musicdrvee.blogspot.com/2013/02/normal-0-false-false-false_20.html
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