Carnatic Concert Pattern - The Ariyakudi Legacy

This anecdote was added by Sri. V. Aiyah in www.sangeethapriya.org forum
in topic 'The Ariyakudi Legacy.... some questions'

“During early days, the pattern of concerts was entirely different. Musicians were more concerned with the purity of music.
They will go on elaborating a Raaga for hours or indulge in Thaanam or Swara prasthara for longer duration. They were more concerned with “Nada” than “ Nadopasana’. They never bothered about Sahithya. This type of performance could be enjoyed only by those who had an intense knowledge of music and not by an average Rasika.
Sri Maha Vaidhyanatha Iyer (1844-1893) belonged to this earlier generation. He felt that some changes were necessary so that CM could be enjoyed by one and all. It looks as though it was he who conceived a new pattern in concerts which was a forerunner for today’s pattern. His contemporary artist, Sri Pattanam Subramania Iyer also contributed towards this change. This change enabled everybody to enjoy CM.
After this, further improvements and embellishments were made and the credit for this revolution goes to Sri. Ariyakudi. Thus, the present day pattern came into being. Ariyakudi marshalled the items as Varnam, Kirthanas, RTP, Raagamalika Slokas,Thukdas (Padam, Jaavali, Thillana Thirupugazh and so on)”

(Compiled from the book “Ariyakudi” by Elarvi)

V.Aiyah