Indian musician and artist (born 1952)
Musical artist
Srirangam Kannan (born 5 May 1952) is an Indian musician and artist, known for playing the morsing. He has a degree in mathematics.
Profile
Vidwan Srirangam S. Kannan was born on 5 May 1952 in Srirangam to K Sathyamurthy and Kamalam. Growing up, he had little experience with Carnatic music.
When he was 19 years old he heard a concert where Sri Pudukkotai S. Mahadevan[1] played the morsing. Shortly afterwards, he became Mahadevan's disciple. He also learned more about laya (tempo) from Kanadukathan Rajaraman, a kanjeera and mridangam artist and a friend of Mahadevan. By age 23, Srirangam Kannan had started his career as a full-fledged morsing artist.
After graduating from university with a degree in mathematics, he joined Indian Bank, where he worked for 30 years before retiring in 2000 after having become manager.
He continues to play in concerts across India.[2] He also performs regularly for AIR Chennai.[3]
Awards and honours
Srirangam Kannan has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions, listed here.[4]
- Awarded Mannargudi Natesa Pillai Award, instituted by Sri Raagam Fine Arts, Chennai, presented by Dr. M Balamuralikrishna in 1996.
- Kalaimamani Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1998
- Best Upapakkavadhyam Award from the Music Academy, instituted by Dr. Ramamurthy, in 1998 & 2001.
- Honoured as the Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in the year 2000.
- Best Upapakkavadhyam Award from Narada Gana Sabha, instituted by Obul Reddy, in 2003.
- Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of Carnatic Music from the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 2003.
- A Top Graded artiste in All India Radio
- Meritorious Award for achievement in Carnatic Music, instituted by the Maharajapuram Santhanam Foundation, Chennai in 2005.[5]
- Vani Kala Sudhakara award for the most proficient morsing vidwan, instituted by Sri Thyaga Bhrama Gana Sabha, Chennai in 2005.
- Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of Carnatic Music from Sri Sachidananda Swamy of Datta Peetam, Mysore in 2006
- Nada Vidya Bhupathi, instituted by Nada Dweepam Trust, Chennai in 2009.
Tours and concerts
Listed here are Srirangam Kannan's tours and concerts.[6]
- 1988: Festival of India in USSR with Shri. Karaikudi R Mani and Dr. N Ramani
- 1990: Tala Vaadya Concerts in France, Italy, Belgium and the UK.
- 1990: Participated in the Collegium Instrumentale Hale, Chamber Orchestra in Germany, presented by Dr. L Subramaniam
- 1991: Tala Vaadya ensemble conducted by Zakir Hussain in Malaysia.
- 1992: Tala Vaadya ensemble organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Hungary, Germany, and the UK.
- 1997: Indian Independence Golden Jubilee Celebration at New Delhi, Tala Vaadya ensemble with Umayalpuram Sivaraman and Pt Kishan Maharaj.
- 1998: Participated in the International Music Festival, held at Helsinki, Finland
- 1998: Participated in the Telstra Adelaide Music Festival, Australia.
- 2000: Participated in the Jazz Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 2000: Participated in the World Expo, Hannover, Germany.
- 2000: Participated in the Czech Republic Day Festival, Prague, Czech Republic.
- 2001: Participated in the Fusion Music Concert by Australian Art Orchestra with Shri. Karaikudi R Mani held at the Opera House, Sydney, Australia.
- 2001: Tala Vaadya ensemble presented and conducted by Percussive Arts Society at SAMI, Sweden.
- 2001: Participated in the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music in Australia with 'Sruthi Laya' of Shri Karaikudi R Mani.
- 2002: Tala Vaadya ensemble conducted by 'Sangeetham' at Sadlers Wells UK.
- 2003: Participated in the Music Festival organized by 'Sangeetha Swaram', Malaysia.
- 2006: Participated in the Indian Council for Cultural Relations sponsored concert in Fiji Islands and Australia
