R. R. Keshavamurthy

[jeevarathna]

VIDWAN R.R. KESHAVAMURTHY

Rudrapatna is a hallowed name in the world of Karnatak classical music. It is the name of a small village on the bank of the river Cauvery in Arakalgud taluk of Hassan district. It has the reputation of having been the home of quite many a musician. Vidwan R.R. Keshavamurthy (RRK), an outstanding violin maestro, was born here (May 27,1914), his father being Ramaswamiah, who was himself an accomplished musician. He was young Keshavamurthy's first guru.

Pleasant ambience

The pleasant and peaceful ambience of Rudrapatna, surrounded by natural beauty, provided sufficient invigoration to the budding musician. It looked as though music was the be-all and end-all of everyone of the inhabitants. But you go to Rudrapatnam now. You will be utterly disappointed to notice that there is none worth his name in the musical field. Almost all the families of musicians have deserted the village and settled elsewhere, rendering the village tone-deaf!

This is not just the story of Rudrapatna. Most of the villages which were the abodes of grace, poise, piety, pleasantry and genteel poverty have lost all these qualities and only poverty is very loud and visible everywhere, with its accompanying squalor and lacklustre environment. This is the price we have to pay for the so-called modernisation and (now) globalisation.

Keshavamurthy grew up in those good old days. Like many others he came to Mysore for higher studies and to learn music. Mysore was then a cosy little beautiful city, resembling the bird's nest. Birds of diverse feathers would flock the city to imbibe its great cultural heritage and acquire proficiency in the art of their liking. In those days they would stay in Mysore and enjoy the patronage of the Princely order.

Keshavamurthy's ambition in life was to become an accomplished musician. He learnt music under Bidaram Krishnappa and Asthana Vidwan Chikkaramarao. While he learnt violin from one, he practiced vocal music under the other. Ultimately he realised that he could express himself with great facility by playing the stringed instrument. It was, as usual, a four-stringed one.

Sangeetaratna T. Chowdiah's seven-stringed violin was all the rage then. Its exuberance and haunting quality had won the hearts of many a music lover. Chowdiah needed it to express his deepest and resurgent fee-lings. Keshavamurthy was one of his admirers and he duly adopted the seven-stringed instrument and practised on it.

Handling a seven-stringed violin is not an easy task. It has a will of its own. It is an awe-some medium only persons of T. Chowdiah's stature can handle it, coax it, cajole it, tickle it and make it come round and submit itself to the will of the maestro and, at his bidding, soar to great heights of ecstasy. Keshavamurthy took up the challenge and assiduously practised playing it.

He even began to give recitals on the instrument. It is said, once he was invited to play on it as an accompanist to the famous flute maestro T.R. Mahalingam. Mali eyed him with suspicion. He doubled his ability to manage it. But towards the end of the concert he had changed his opinion. He wondered if Chowdiah himself had come in this form!

Mastering the art

RRK had mastered the art of bringing out all the external qualities of the great instrument, though one would feel that some imperceptible element which was the core of Chowdiah's dexterity and genius was missing. But one could get the feel of it. Mali liked it and complimented him for his achievement.

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), an American inventor, once said that genius is ninety-nine per cent perspiration and one per cent inspiration. RRK almost satisfied this adage, one could say though there was something lurking in the one per cent part. He gave a number of performances on the instrument at home and abroad. He acquired proficiency in vocal music also. He participated in many music conferences and seminars and delivered lectures and gave demonstrations.

After having acquired sufficient name and fame he settled in Bangalore as he felt that it provided greater opportunities. He started a school of music in the name of his guru, Bidaram Krishnappa and trained quite a large number of accomplished musicians. One of his disciples played the guitar while his teacher played on the seven-stringed violin. He became a reputed guitar artiste of international repute. He is Nikhil Joshi.

Lakshya and Lakshana

RRK's interest was not limited to the world of music alone. He mastered many languages like Kannada, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. He became deeply interested in poring over the works on music written in those languages. He became a master of both the Lakshya and Lakshana aspects of classical music and has written a number of books. He has written a primer on music in two volumes called Bala Shiksha. Another book Krithis of Vaggeyakaras deals with the work of composers. He has written twelve books on musicology.

RRK received many awards and participated as an active member of several organisations. He was a member of Karnataka Music and Dance Academy. Many titles have been conferred on him. Jagadguru of Rambhapuri honoured him with the title Sangeetha Sahitya Shiromani. Sringeri Jagadguru called him Sangeetha Vidyasagara. A few of the other titles are Sangeetha Shastra Praveena,' Sangeetha Kalaratna and Karnataka Kalatilaka.

The Chowdiah Memorial Award was presented by the Academy of Music while the Government of Karnataka conferred the Kanaka-Purandara Prashasti and Rajyothsava Award. In independent India, after the end of the rule by the Wadiyar dynasty, the State Government has been striving to keep alive its great heritage. R.R. Keshavamurthy was made a Sangeetha Vidwan on the occasion of the Dasara festivities in the year 2003.
-HSK

[rajeshnat]

RR Keshavamurthy writeup on his centenary.
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 105177.ece

May I know how RK SHrikantan and RR Keshavamurthy are related and which year RRK passed away?

[Pratyaksham Bala]

Not sure whether they are related.
But, both are Rudrapatna Sanketi Brahmins.

Shri R.R. Keshavamurthy was born on 27 May 1914 at Rudrapatna; he passed away on 23 October 2006 ‎at Bangalore.

Shri R.K. Srikantan was born at Rudrapatna on 14 January 1920; he passed away on 17 February 2014 at Bangalore.

[Sreeni Rajarao]

Nice to read about Sri RRK's centenary year celebration!

Someone had shared his music a few years back (most likely Varsha-ji) - I will dig it out and listen to it again!