Meet Sr. Margaret Bastin, an academician and well-known musicologist

Sr. Margaret Bastin, the recipient of the Musicologist Award 2024.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sr. Margaret Bastin is an academician and well-known musicologist with specialisation in Tamil music. She is a vocalist and veena player and has studied the Bharatanatyam margam.

Sr. Margaret graduated in classical music from Queen Mary’s College, and went on to secure three Masters degrees – M.A. in Guidance and Counselling from Mother Teresa University, M.A. in Human Excellence in Yoga from Bharathiar University, and M.A. in Indian Classical Music from the University of Madras — as well as an M.Phil and a Doctorate from there.

Sr. Margaret belongs to the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ). She is the first nun in South India to receive a Doctorate in South Indian classical music.

After serving as Principal of Kalaikaviri College of Fine Arts, Tiruchirapalli, for 14 years, she took over as Principal of St. Joseph’s Arts and Science College for Women at Singampunari, in Sivagangai district, from 2018 to 2023. She is at present its secretary. She has also assumed charge as Pro-Chancellor of World Tamil University, registered in the state of Virginia, the U.S., from 2023.

Sr. Margaret has served as a research guide of Indian music and has groomed 13 research scholars.

A much sought-after scholar, Sr. Margaret has presented more than 80 lecture-demonstrations in India and abroad, having toured the U.S., Europe, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

She is a prolific writer in Tamil and has authored several books on music such as Innisai Cilambu, Innisai Yazh, Isai Tamizh Thiram, Kalai Charal, Tamizhar Isai Iyal, Silambu Ennum Isai Natiyakkalanjiyam.

Recognition for contribution to Carnatic music

H.K. Narasimhamurthy, the recipient of The Music Academy’s TTK Award 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Vidwan H.K. Narasimhamurthy is a well-known violinist, an eminent accompanist and a guru. He was born on May 4, 1946. After learning from many teachers at Holenarasipura, Hirisave and Chennarayapatna in Hassan district, he went to Mysuru to pursue his formal education and music, where he learnt to play the violin from Muthanna and T. Puttaswamiah (violin maestro T. Chowdiah’s brother).

It was during this time that he got to listen to the music of stalwarts and was drawn to the violin playing of Parur M.S. Gopalakrishnan. When Narasimhamurthy approached him, MSG accepted him as a student and he moved to Chennai.

Vidwan Parur Sundaram Iyer (MSG’s father) trained Narasimhamurthy in the Parur bani. He also learnt from MSG’s brother M.S. Anantharaman. Narasimhamurthy completed the Sangeeta Vidwan course at the Central College of Music, Chennai, where he came under the tutelage of stalwarts such as T.M. Thyagarajan and T.N. Krishnan.

Along with his wife vidushi H.N. Rajalakshmi, Narasimhamurthy has trained several youngsters including those from economically weaker families. His son H.N. Bhaskar is a well- known violinist.

Among Narasimhamurthy’s contributions to the cause of music is his role in founding Sri Thyagaraja Sangeeta Sabha in Mysuru.

Thiruvaiyaru Brothers

The Tiruvaiyaru Brothers, S.T. Narasimhan and S. Venkatesan.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The Tiruvaiyaru Brothers have carved a place for themselves in the field of Bhagavata Mela.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The Thiruvaiyaru Brothers, S.T. Narasimhan and S. Venkatesan, are accomplished Carnatic vocalists who have carved a place for themselves in the field of Bhagavata Mela. They are proud to trace their musical lineage to Tyagaraja, as their grandfather Venkatakrishna Iyer and father Subramania Iyer belonged to the Tillaisthanam sishya parampara.

The musical journey of the brothers commenced under the tutelage of their grandfather, who was popularly known as Vembu Bhagavatar. Narasimhan had the privilege of also learning for a while from Chittoor Subramania Pillai. After their grandfather’s demise in 1976, the brothers continued their training under their father.

The brothers enrolled for the Sangeeta Siromani diploma course at Rajah’s College, Thiruvaiyaru, and honed their skills under the guidance of Srirangam Krishnamurthy Rao (Head of the Dept.) and Thanjavur L. Venkatesa Iyengar (visiting professor). Narasimhan had to discontinue his diploma course as he joined the Indian Overseas Bank. However, Venkatesan completed the course and went on to become an assistant professor at the Music College, Thiruvaiyaru. Subsequently, he pursued an M.A. in Music and earned a Ph.D in ‘Musical Forms of Melattur Bhagavata Mela’. Their entry into Bhagavata Mela was a turning point in their lives. They were groomed in its music by G. Krishnamurthy Sarma.

In 1990, during the golden jubilee year of the Bhagavata Mela Natya Nataka Sangam, the brothers set to tune many natakams such as Seeta Parinayamu, Krishna Jananam Kamsa Vadham, and Harihara Leela Vilasamu under the guidance of T.G. Srinivasaraghavan. The brothers have now trained their sons in the tradition.