Marriage concert Nadaswaram

[thanjavooran]

I had an opportunity to attend a Marriage at Pollachi on 21 08 2016.
Shri D. Kadhiresan a Nadaswara vidwan from Pollachi with his team comprising of Artistes S/Shri Nataraja sundaram on Thavil , Meenakshi sundaram associating on Nadaswaram and C.S.K Guruprasad on Thavil kept us all in a very good musical atmosphere for the entire day. In the morning Meenakshi sundaram of Pazhani Dhandayudhapani Music college and Guruprasad of Annamalai University played few kritis of different composers. In the evening the same team with Guruprasad on Nadaswaram and Meenakshi sundaram on Thavil surprised me with their skills. In my casual talk with the artistes I learnt that they have taken up option on thavil and Nadawaram as ancillary. This was the first time I listen to a Nadaswara vidwan playing thavil and vice versa. Shri D Kadhiresan an AIR artiste who was leading the team mentioned that few vidwans show interest in playing thavil , but avoid continuous venture as the fingers will get hard inconveniencing for performing nadaswaram. The two young lads in their early 20s are taking lessons from the senior Artiste for handling concerts. Both are having good patantharam and bright future. Their knowledge in carnatic based Cine music is to be admired. In the leisure I could notice their interest in listening to Nadasaram in their gadgets.
Thanjavooran
22 08 2016

[RaviSri]

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[RaviSri]

It is nAgaswaram, not nAdaswaram, please. Dikshitar has mentioned as such in his srI rAgam song, tyAgarAja mahAdwajArOha:

"nAgaswara madhalAdi vAdhyam"

Carnatic music rasikas and vidvans should write and pronounce the name of the instrument correctly.

[MaheshS]

It is nAgaswaram, not nAdaswaram, please. Dikshitar has mentioned as such in his srI rAgam song, tyAgarAja mahAdwajArOha:

"nAgaswara madhalAdi vAdhyam"

Carnatic music rasikas and vidvans should write and pronounce the name of the instrument correctly.

Is there any other reference to the name other than by MD?

[RaviSri]

I am sorry, but I dont understand why you need a greater authority than Dikshitar in this matter. Dikshitar's father it was who organised the nAgaswara offerings at the Tiruvarur temple and Dikshitar himself, a resident of Thanjavur region, should surely know better than others.

Anyway, if you look at the Music Academy souvenir/programme books/journals, you'll find this instrument referred to as Nagaswaram only and not as Nadaswaram. But the latter name which is wrong has unfortunately, due to ignorance, found wide acceptance and practise

[MaheshS]

I am sorry, but I dont understand why you need a greater authority than Dikshitar in this matter. Dikshitar's father it was who organised the nAgaswara offerings at the Tiruvarur temple and Dikshitar himself, a resident of Thanjavur region, should surely know better than others.

I wasn't questioning MD's authority, however the instrument itself is far older. So was wondering if there are any historic references. For example Silapadikaram mentions an instrument called "vangiyam" the structure of which is similar to nagaswaram.

Just asking out of curiosity.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

In Kerala too 'Nadaswaram' is common. I don't know what's the position in Andhra / Karnataka.
May be people like the vaadyam closer to Naadam than Naaga(Serpant)!

In the north nobody knows about this mangala vadyam -at least not to the extent we are familiar with the Shehnai!

However 'Nagaswaram' is correct.

[pvs]

Interesting debate. Does the etymology of Nagaswaravali help in clearing this? Just a thought...

[thanjavooran]

Shri Sivaramakrishnan,
' May be people like the vaadyam closer to Naadam than Naaga(Serpant)!'

I agree. S/S Kasim bros in a program few years back in Podhigai carefully answered this question.
" The word Nadha is very pleasant, apt and suits well than Naga. Let us not dispute on this instead, listen and enjoy the chaste Carnatic Music "
Shri Ravisri,
Thanks for the observation.
BTW any precedent of Nadaswara vidwan playing Thavil and the otherway about ?
Just curious.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
25 08 2016

[shankarank]

Ravisri - avargalE - ga->da - is there a pANiNi rule that we can use ? . At least dukkrinkaraNE should save us (rakshati) in such matters?

Musicology comes to rescue - ga is samvAdi of da! - or imagine in madyama Sruti!

And we seem to be proficient enough to add rules eh?

[sankark]

I am sorry, but I dont understand why you need a greater authority than Dikshitar in this matter.

With all due respect to MD and his scholarship/authority, he was human and bound to be fallible. https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority

[kvchellappa]

Pedantry is bypassed by a living language and usage overrules etymology and even grammar.

[Sivaramakrishnan]

S
BTW any precedent of Nadaswara vidwan playing Thavil and the otherway about ?
Just curious.

Though not in concerts, I have seen Nagaswara vidwans playing the Tavil in temples in Tamilnadu 'in times of need'!