Indian Karnatic Music- Annamaacharya Kirthanas- English With English Notation)

Smt. S. Vijayalakshmi.comes from a traditional music family, very closely associated with the great musical genius Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja lyangar. Her father was a very good Veena Player. She passed the higher grade exams in 1st class in both Vocal and Veena at the age of 12.

Her Guru Smt. R. Jayalakshmi was a student and senior disciple of Sri Ariyakudi in Vocal and learnt Veena from Karakudi Sambasivalyar.

Even at an earlier age she used to sing in the Margazhi Bajans in Mylapore participated by prominent musicians of those days like Sri Papanasam Sivan and Aadhi Varadhachar. She has been teaching Vocal & Veena for the past 54 years in the classical pani of Sri Ariyakudi dynasty. She has coached many students for different levels of exams, who have passed with bright colours.

She has been regularly taking part in the singing of "Pancharathna krithies" at many Sabhas and institutions during the "Aradhana festivals every year." She is highly proficient in rendering the krithies of Sarvasri Thyagarajar. Muthuswamy Dikshidhar, Syamasastri, Swadhi Thirunal, Papanasam Sivan and other famous composers. Apart from teaching Vocal and Veena, she not only finds time to tend her family but also enthralls audiences with her occasional stage performances whenever called for.

In June 2006 she was honoured by the "TAMBRAS with the title SANGEETHA BHOOSHANAM" for her dedicated service in the field of Camatic Music. She has been bestowed with a fine Lakshiya Skill besides a good Lakshana Gnana.

She has published Theory books in Tamil and English for both Lower and Higher grade Government examinations. Besides these, now she has brought out two books, one on 'Abyasa Gana and other on 108 Krities of Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal.

In the field of Karnatic music, when we think about the holy place Thiruppathi, we automatically remember about the great Annamachariar's Kirthanaas. All his kirthanas are filled with Bhakthirasa, detailed discriptions,devine krithes, Uthsava sampradhaaya krithies etc. These different varieties of Kirthanas induse our interest, thaughts and admiration towards his creations. Thirumalai Thiruppathi Devasthanam took lot of efforts to identify thousands of his Kirthanaas. Many Musicians have started to singing those krithies frequently.

Among those Kirthanas Smt. Vijayalakshmi has selected some of the kirthanas and published them with English Notations to make them more popular to sing those kirthanas. I hope and trust the music world would be benifited very much by her efforts.

She has been conferred with the prestigious title'Sangeetha Bhushanam' by the Tamilnadu Brahmin's Association in the year 2006, acknowledging her value added service in the field of Karnatic music.

I pray the Almighty to bless her and give her good health, strength,long life and contribute her noble services towards the growth of Indian Karnatic Music.

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