Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu

Summary

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu (8 November 1893 – 25 November 1964) was one of the most important carnatic music violinists of the 20th century. Naidu was partially blind. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Fine Arts in 1953.[1] Government of India conferred on him the Padma Shri Award in 1957.[2] Several members of his family are also notable Carnatic violinists.[3]

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu
Born(1893-11-08)8 November 1893
Bangalore, India
OriginAndhra Pradesh, India
Died25 November 1964 (aged 71)
GenresIndian Classical Music
Occupation(s)Violinist
Instrument(s)Violin
Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu statue at RK Beach

Early life edit

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu was born on 8 November 1893, which happened to be Deepavali day, in Bangalore, India and was raised in Visakhapatnam. His grandfather and father were both military men who played the violin as a hobby.[4] He was appointed Professor of violin in the Maharaja's Music College in Vijayanagaram, at the young age of 26, and became its principal in 1936.

Performing career edit

His first solo concert was given in Vellore in 1938. He was known for his extremely well developed soft bowing technique combined with a firm fingering technique. He wrote several articles on music, like an essay on the "Peculiar characteristics of the tambura". He cautioned his disciples against missing practice even for a day. “If you don’t practice for one day, you will notice your mistakes, if you don’t practice for two days the audience would notice your mistakes!!”. He often used to say, "Music is an audible tapas."

The four most prominent Carnatic violin players in the first half of 20-th C were : Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai, T. Chowdiah, and Papa Venkataramaiah. All of them were awarded the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title.

Yehudi Menuhin, a world-renowned violinist, was greatly impressed when he heard Dwaram play at Justice P. V. Rajamannar's house. The famous playback singer Ghantasala learned Carnatic music under Naidu. Kalaimamani SMT.Radhanarayanan is also a disciple of V.naidu. Shri Venkateshwaran, vocalist is a student of Radhanarayanan.

He played at the National Physical Laboratory auditorium, New Delhi in 1952, to raise funds for the Blind Relief Association.

Awards and honours edit

 
Naidu on a 1993 stamp of India

The Sri Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Memorial Trust was established in Chennai. Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Kalakshetram was established in Visakhapatnam.

Statues of this notable musician have been erected in Visakhapatnam and Chennai, India.

Personal life edit

Family edit

  • DVN's daughter Dwaram Mangatayaru was a violin player, and her violin duets with her father are available on the net.[5]
  • Eminent Musicologist Dwaram Bhavanarayana rao is his son.[6]
  • Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao, a Carnatic violinist and recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2014 is his grandson.[7][8]
  • Dwaram Anantha Venkata Swamy is his grandson.[9] He is a Civil Engineer working in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
  • Dwaram lakshmi is daughter of Dwaram Bhavanarayana Rao. She is a vocalist presently working as professor in Padmavathi Mahila University.[10]
  • Justice Meenakumari, is grand daughter of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu and presently working as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.[11]
  • Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao is his grandson who is also a violinist[12]
  • Sobha Naidu, an eminent Kuchipudi dancer is also a relative of Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Music Archived 16 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Final Awards.xls Archived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Footprints in the sands of time". The Hindu. 14 April 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. ^ Weidman, Amanda J (2006). Gone Native? Singing the Classical, Voicing the Modern. Duke University Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-8170463191.
  5. ^ https://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10968
  6. ^ Bhavanarayana Rao and Daram satyanarayana and Dwaram srinivasa rao and two daughters the great violinist Dwaram mangathayaru and Dwaram shamala Dwaram, Luminaries of 20th Century, Part I, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 401–2.
  7. ^ "Musicians, film-maker chosen for Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships". The Hindu. 12 June 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to UoH professor". The Hindu. 20 July 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  9. ^ Personality Profile – Mr. Dwaram A. V. Swamy (Dwaram Anantha Venkata Swamy) Archived 28 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Vizagcityonline.com. Retrieved on 2 December 2018.
  10. ^ Arts / Music : Sharp manodharma. The Hindu (20 August 2010). Retrieved on 2018-12-02.
  11. ^ "High Court of Meghalaya". Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Technically sound". The Hindu. 21 November 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Personalities: Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu". Andhra Cultural Portal. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2023.

External links edit

  • Performance of "Thanam-Kalyani” by Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu
  • Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Indian postage stamp, issued 8-11-1993
  • Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu at Musicindiaonline.co
  • The Hindu[usurped]
  • Footprints in the sands of time – The Hindu