Chennai: “Post institutionalising music that happened during the early 20th century, it led to the rise in number of musicologists in India. However, I believe one should be a musician first and then a musicologist,” said The Music Academy, Advanced School of Carnatic Music academic coordinator, Dr Ritha Rajan.
To honour her meritorious service to musicology, Dr Ritha Rajan was awarded on the occasion of Dr S A K Durga Memorial Lecture, second edition, organised by the Centre for Ethnomusicology and The Study Circle on Musicology. The musician-cum-musicologist also delivered a lecture on ‘Developing the future musician-musicologist — challenges and responses.’
Speaking during the event, Dr Ritha Rajan said, “When the theory of art was regulated to teach in educational institutions, inspired by the Britain-way of system, it created imbalance among experts in the field. It was not accepted when it was in its nascent stage. However, over time, attitudinal change was witnessed; musicians realised the importance of being a musicologist and is widely being preferred course in recent times.”
“However, the artistes were of the opinion that the move of institutionalising music would not help in practising the art and the artiste felt that practical art must be taught by musicians,” she added.
She went on to say that when the syllabus was restructured to kindle interest, it was a bit problematic to musicologists of the period.
“Teaching of allied ragas like Hamir Kalyani and Yamuna Kalyani were made part of the course structure. As musicologists, who did not have prior experience in practical music, they found it difficult to sing and explain the minute difference from the parent raga,” she pointed out.
The gradual acceptance of music being formally inducted in colleges led to hosting several discussions and academic research.
“Music-related discussions and articles published in the conference journals helped a better understanding of the art on an academic level. Writings of a few musicians like Hulugur Krishnachar, Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer and Sandhyavandanam Srinivasa Rao are very relevant to the point even now,” observed the artiste.
It has to be noted that there are several musicians pursuing academic studies; however, she notes that they are ridden with the issue of describing the analysis in theory and are known to write at length.
Sanmar group vice-chairman, Center for Ethnomusicology director, S A Murali Prasad, convenor, Dr Shobana Swaminathan, The Music Academy secretary, Dr Sumathi Krishnan, were present.