The UK's most eminent carnatic music theorist and specialist in Tamil Literature, 82year-old Dr John Marr received the Padma Shree award this year.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articl ... 61860.html
He is definitely one of the most fascinating individuals I have ever known... with an indepth knowledge of Indian archaelogy, carnatic music, languages, particularly Tamil literature, space science, botany...the list is endless really.
This is a man who, many years ago, drove all the way from London to India with his pregnant wife to have his child there!
From the Daily Excelsior:
"A Graduate in Tamil and Sanskrit from the University of London, Dr Marr had also carried out research in Early Tamil Sangam Literature in Annamalai and Madras Universities. He learnt music from renowned vocalist Chittoor Subramaniam and Mudikondan Venkatarama Iyer, then Principal of the Music Academy Madras's College.
He had been a lecturer in Tamil in the UK from 1955 to 1992. From September 1973 he regularly visited India with groups of tourists as Guest lecturer for Swan Hellenic (a division of P & 0 Cruises), and also attended most of the International Tamil Conferences in India and elsewhere.
He had written a number of books with his principal publications being a thesis on Sangam literature, The Eight Anthologies, published in Madras in 1985, and long articles on Tamil texts used in royal ceremonies in Thailand and on the narrative frieze at Darasuraram."
Dr John Marr received the Padma Shree
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arasi
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Nick H
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I am so pleased to hear this 
Of course, as an ex-student of London's Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan I know him. He had retired, I think, from being a professor at Lonodon University's famous SOAS --- School of Oriental and African Studies, but was Academic Director at BVB. He also lectured in Tamil language and Carnatic music theory. He is popular and supportive to all the children there, of whatever age.
His brain is a library of Indian culture, and especially carnatic music. He is one of the few who I am not too sorry to see give a speech at the end of a concert; it will always be to the point and informative about the music one just heard. He can pinpoint compositions, performances, styles, nuances, across decades and talk about them as if he was there just yesterday.
I once asked him where how he had first come to know carnatic music: I was surprised to know that veena music had been regularly broadcast by the BBC what must now be more than sixty years ago!
At a function in celebration, I think, of fifty years of involvement with India, I recall him saying how, as a youngster, he first set foot in India with no idea at all of what lay ahead of him, of how it would become his life.
I'm absolutely thrilled and delighted to hear of this award. Thank you for such good news.
Of course, as an ex-student of London's Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan I know him. He had retired, I think, from being a professor at Lonodon University's famous SOAS --- School of Oriental and African Studies, but was Academic Director at BVB. He also lectured in Tamil language and Carnatic music theory. He is popular and supportive to all the children there, of whatever age.
His brain is a library of Indian culture, and especially carnatic music. He is one of the few who I am not too sorry to see give a speech at the end of a concert; it will always be to the point and informative about the music one just heard. He can pinpoint compositions, performances, styles, nuances, across decades and talk about them as if he was there just yesterday.
I once asked him where how he had first come to know carnatic music: I was surprised to know that veena music had been regularly broadcast by the BBC what must now be more than sixty years ago!
At a function in celebration, I think, of fifty years of involvement with India, I recall him saying how, as a youngster, he first set foot in India with no idea at all of what lay ahead of him, of how it would become his life.
I'm absolutely thrilled and delighted to hear of this award. Thank you for such good news.
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sunaada
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Im really happy to share this news.
Nick- I love his reviews at the end of concerts as well... Im sure most performing musicians are pleasantly surprised at his informative and discerning thoughts. I remember Balamurali sir saying at the end of his performance last year, that one has to keep in mind while singing at the bhavan that John Marr 'gaaru' is listening so intently
Mattur Krishnamoorthyji from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan also received the Padma Shree this year.
Nick- I love his reviews at the end of concerts as well... Im sure most performing musicians are pleasantly surprised at his informative and discerning thoughts. I remember Balamurali sir saying at the end of his performance last year, that one has to keep in mind while singing at the bhavan that John Marr 'gaaru' is listening so intently
Mattur Krishnamoorthyji from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan also received the Padma Shree this year.
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Nick H
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Ahh, so official eyes were cast in that direction then! No matter: whatever attracted them, the award is just as deserved and just as good news.Mattur Krishnamoorthyji from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan also...
Arasi, the credit for bringing me to Chennai is in the hands of my guruji --- but BVB has been a big part of the picture.
Rama Varma also has great respect for Dr Marr. The man really is an encyclopaedia!
More than that, though... he has worked hard for BVB in London for decades, and I'm sure that the award recognises that he is almost an honorary Indian ambassador. It is quite likely that, without him, London BVB would not be the institution that it is today. Having been teaching arts and musics to thousands of students over the years, it is now even possible to enrol for a degree in Indian music there.
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gn.sn42
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An interview with John Marr has been posted on YouTube in five parts. Part 1 is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHlxGaAHk_E
Edit: a slightly better link, with all five parts more clearly visible:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeisglorious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHlxGaAHk_E
Edit: a slightly better link, with all five parts more clearly visible:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeisglorious
Last edited by gn.sn42 on 28 Mar 2009, 05:59, edited 1 time in total.
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Nick H
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jagadeesan
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devi
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gn.sn42 wrote:An interview with John Marr has been posted on YouTube in five parts. Part 1 is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHlxGaAHk_E
Edit: a slightly better link, with all five parts more clearly visible:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeisglorious
What wonderful interview. Thank you for the youtube link!
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srkris
- Site Admin
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Nick H
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Dr Marr has the "filing cabinet" memory of the lifetime academic; he is able to put his finger on facts, figures, quotes, songs even, over several decades, as if he encountered them only yesterday.
I have no idea how his physical filing system is --- maybe he himself would be interested in the photo and write up!
I have no idea how his physical filing system is --- maybe he himself would be interested in the photo and write up!