Indian musicologist
Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship to Shri R. Sathyanarayana, at the investiture ceremony of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards-2013, at Rashtrapati Bhavan
R. Sathyanarayana (9 May 1927 – 16 January 2020) was a musicologist and dance scholar from Mysore, India. In 2018, Sathyanarayana received the Padma Shri civilian honour from the President of India for his contribution to the field of music.[1][2]
Education
Dr R Sathyanarayana or Mahamahopadhyaya Dr R Sathyanarayana, as he was known in the scholarly circles, was erudite. His degrees ranged from a Master's in chemistry from the University of Mysore to a PhD and multiple D.Litt. degrees from various universities, including (but not exclusively) Mysore University, Hampi University (Honoris Causa) and Gangubhai Hangal Music University of Mysore.[3]
Career
Between 1949 and 1984, he taught chemistry at the Sarada Vilas College, and also taught Karnataka music. He wrote treatises in Sanskrit language on dance and music. Pundarikamala, Shruti: The Scalic Foundation, Suladis and Ugabhogas of Karnataka Music, and Karnataka Sangeetha Vahini were some of his notable works. He was a public speaker on Indological disciplines, and was an active participant in Government of India sponsored music festivals and international seminars. He was the President of the Indian Music Congress.[2][4]
Books written
Critical edition of Samskrita treatises on music and dance
- Abhinava Bharata Sarasangraha of Mummadi Chikkabhupala
- Sangeetharatnakara of Sharngadeva
- Sangeethasudhakara of Haripaladeva */**
- Ragarathnakara of Gandharvaraja */**
- Chaturdandi Prakashika of Venkatamakhin
- Ragalakshanam of Mudduventkatamakhin
- Veenalakshana of Parameshvara
- Sadragachandrodaya of Pandarika Vitthala
- Ragamala of -“-
- Ragamanjari -“-
- Nartananirnaya -“-
- Hridayaprakasha of Hridayanarayanadeva **
- Hridayakautukam of -“-
- Vivekachitamani[chapter on music]of Nijagunashivayogi **
- Sangeetha Samayasara of Parshvadeva +
- Kohalamatam of Kohala */+ - “ -
- Kohala Shiksha */+ - “ -
- Kohala Dattilam */+ - “ –
- Hanumadbharatam of Hanuman */**
- Sadashivabharatam of Sadashiva */+
- Brahmabharatam of Brahma */+
- Svaramelakalanidhi of Ramamatya [rev, IInd ed.]
- Brihaddeshi of Sri Matangamuni
- BHARATANATYA - A CRITICAL STUDY
Original works
- Nishanka Hridaya
- Pundarikamala
- Bharatanatya: A Critical Study
- Suladis and Ugabhogas of Karnataka Music
- Veenalakshana Vimarshe
- Chikkadevaraya Saptapadi Mattu Geethagopaladalli Sangeetha
- Shruti: The Scalic Foundation
- Music of the Madhva Monks of Karnataka
- Studies in Indian Dance
- Studies in Music Education
- Karnataka Sangeetha Vahini (II rev. enlarged edn)
- Ela: A Musicological Study
- Karnatakadalli Kalegalu : Sangeetha
- Bharatiya Sangeethadalli Paribhashaprayoga
- Mridanga: A Critical Study +
- History of Music in Karnataka +
- Srutibedha : Principles and Practice
- Nadayoga: principles and Practice
- You and Karnataka Music +
- Research Problems in Karnataka Music +
- Percussive Instruments of Karnataka Music +
- Makhi Hrdaya
- Karnataka Music as Aesthetic Form
- Dharmika Samskaragalalli Sangita
- Music Criticism: Principles and Practice
- Kohala Matam * In Kannada and English (under print)
- Sangita Sudhakara* Under Print
- Srividya Shodashika: Chitkala Part I, Part II and part III
- Naalku Sangita Rajaru
- Bharata Chatushthaya * (under print)
- The Mela Triad of Venkatamakhi *
- Ragalakshanam of Muddu Venkatamahin.
Translations and commentary
- Sangitaratnakara of Sharngadeva [Kannada]
- Chaturdandi Prakashika of Venkatamakhin [ “ ]
- Veenalakshana of Parameshvara [“]
- Sadragachandrodaya of Pandarika Vitthala [“]
- Ragamala - “ – [“]
- Ragamanjari – “ – [“]
- Nartananirnaya – “ – [“]
- Moorusangeethopanyasagalu [“]
- Hridayaprakasha of Hridayanarayanadeva [eng.]**
- Hridayaprakasham – “ –
- Nartananirnaya of Pandarikavitthala [eng.]
- Svaramelakalanidhi of Ramamatya [“]
- Sangeetha Samayasara of Parshvadeva [“]
- Hanumadbharatam [“] **
- Sadashivabharatam [“] **
- Brihaddeshi of Sri Matangamuni [Kannada]
- Sangeetha Sudhakara of Haripaladeva
- Sangeetha Chudamani of Jagadekamalla
- Suryanamaskara of Sri Raghavendra Swamiji [Kannada]
- Pranayama for Body and Soul – “ – [eng. & Kannada]
- Upanayana (Trans. of History of Dharma Shastras, P.V.Kane)
- Vivaha (Trans. of History of Dharma Shastras, P.V.Kane)
- Shraddha Karma (Trans. of History of Dharma Shastras, P.V.Kane)
- Anyeshthi (Trans. of History of Dharma Shastras, P.V.Kane)
- Kohalamatam of Kohalamuni (in Kannada and English-international editions)
- Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara
- Svaramela Kalanidhi of Ramamatya in Kannada
Work in editing
- Vedic Octave and Extracts from Abhinava Bharata Sara Sangraha
- Kudumiamalai Inscriptions on Music [Vol.1]
- Souvenir: Silver Jubilee Commemoration, Seethasadana, Mysore
- ‘Nandanavana’: Felicitation Volume dedicated to Sri Raghavendra Swamiji
- Souvenir: Vishnudigambar Paluskar Centenary Seminar on Hindusthani Music
- Suryanamaskara [Kannada] of Sri Raghavendra Swamiji
- Pranayama - “ –
- Shatkarmavidhi - “ –
- Angamardhana - “ –
- Dehaswasthyakkagi Yogasanagalu - “ –
- Rishi Gandharva : Commemorative Volume on Sangeetha Rathna Kanchana Venkatasubrahmanyam
- Historiography of Indian Arts [Music and Dance]: Insights
- Nadabharathi
Miscellaneous work
More than 170 research papers on various aspects on music and dance presented at conferences, seminars, congresses etc., and others published in periodicals.
More than 200 articles on music, dance, education, philosophy, yoga, tantra, mantra and other Indological disciplines.
Total publication exceeds some 20,000 printed pages. Music, dance and cognate Indological fraternity have treasured these publications to perform, propagate and preserve the culture and traditions of the country.
