List of Carnatic composers

List of composers of Carnatic music, a subgenre of Indian classical music. Chronologically they can be grouped into 4 different Eras: Pre-Trinity Era, Trinity Era, Post Trinity Era and Modern Era. Composers are listed here based on this classification and their birth years are provided to the extent available.

Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Pre-Trinity Era Composers (17th Century and Prior)

These are early stage composers that created the rules and foundations of classical music.

  1. Allama Prabhu (12th century)
  2. Andal (9th century)
  3. Arunagirinathar (b.1480)
  4. Bhadraachala Raama daasu (1620-1688)
  5. Jayadeva, (12th Century) - Composed Gita Govinda
    1. Prathama Vaggeyakara(First poet-composer) of Carnatic and Hindustani music forms to compose art music (in contrast to traditional bhakti poems) involving ragas; he is praised for his contributions to dance and music by his contemporary and later musicologists in their musical treatises
  6. Kanakadasa (1509-1609)
  7. Karaikkal Ammeiyar (7th century)
  8. Kshetrayya (1600-1680)
  9. Madhwacharya (12th century)
  10. Manikkavasagar (10th century)
  11. Muthu Thandavar (1525-1625)
  12. Naraharitirtha (1250-1333)
  13. Narayana Teertha (1650-1725)
  14. Padmanabha Tirtha (12th century)
  15. Papanasa Mudaliar (1650-1725)
  16. Paidala Gurumurti Sastri (17th century) - Composed over 1000 geethams
  17. purandaradasa (1484-1564)
  18. Raghavendra Swami (1595-1671)
  19. Sarangapani (1680-1750)
  20. Sripadaraya (1404-1502)
  21. Sundaramurti (7th century)
  22. Thirunavukkarasar (7th century)
  23. Tallapaka Annamacharya (1408-1503)
  24. Vadirajatirtha (1480-1600)
  25. Vijaya Dasa (1682-1755)
  26. Vyasatirtha (1460-1539)

Trinity Era Composers (18th Century)

Composers of 18th Century started a new era in the history of Carnatic music with the introduction of new ragas, krithis and musical forms that are widely adopted and laid foundation for what we know today as Classical music. Trinity are the biggest contributors of this era even though there are a large number of musicians and composers that left their mark during this period.

  1. Arunachala Kavi (1711–1788)
  2. Ghanam Krishna Iyer (1790–1854)
  3. Gopala Dasa (1722–1762)
  4. Iraiyamman Tampi (1782–1856)
  5. Jagannatha Dasa (1728–1809)
  6. Kaiwara Sri Yogi Nareyana (1730–1840)
  7. Krishnarajendra Wodeyar III (1799–1868)
  8. Marimutthu Pillai (1717–1787)
  9. Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835)
  10. Mysore Sadasiva Rao (b. 1790)
  11. Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi (1700–1765)
  12. Pacchimiriam Adiyappa (early 18th century)
  13. Sadasiva Brahmendra (18th century)
  14. Thyagaraja Swami (1767–1847)
  15. Tiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai (1798–1852)
  16. Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817)
  17. Syama Sastri (1762–1827)

Post-Trinity Era Composers (19th Century)
  1. Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu (1864–1945)
    1. Primary contribution is in the area of Hari katha. Also created several krithis as part of the hari kathas he authored
  2. Ambi Dikshitar (1863–1936)
    1. Propagated Muthuswami Dikshitar compositions and helped bring them into modern era
    2. Also used the mudra of guruguha for about 10 compositions we have available at this time
  3. Anai Ayya brothers
  4. Annamalai Reddiyar (1865–1891)
  5. Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri (1810–1900)
  6. Chittor Subrahmanya Pillai (1898–1975)
  7. Dharmapuri Subbarayar
    1. Composed more than 50 Javalis
  8. Ennappadam Venkatarama Bhagavatar (1880–1961)
  9. Gopalakrishna Bharathi (1811–1896)
  10. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar (1919–1974)
  11. Kavi Kunjara Bharati (1810–1896)
  12. Koteeswara Iyer (1870–1940)
    1. Composed in all 72 melakarta raagas
  13. Kotthavaasal Venkatarama Ayyar (1810–1880)
  14. Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer (1844–1893)
    1. Composed Mela raga maalika
  15. Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar
  16. Mayuram Viswanatha Sastri (1893–1958)
  17. Muthiah Bhagavatar (1877–1945)
  18. Mysore T. Chowdiah (1894–1967)
  19. Mysore Vasudevacharya (1865–1961)
  20. Neelakanta Sivan (1839–1900)
  21. Pallavi Seshayyar (1842–1905)
  22. Papanasam Sivan (1890–1973)
  23. Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845–1902)
  24. Pattabhiramayya (b. 1863)
  25. Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (1860–1919)
  26. Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma (1893–1979)
  27. Subbarama Dikshitar (1839–1906)
  28. Subbaraya Sastri (1803–1862)
    1. Son of Shyama Shastri and First generation disciple of Tyagaraja
  29. Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar (1882–1921)
  30. Shuddhananda Bharati (1897–1990)
  31. Swathi Thirunal || (1813–1846)
  32. Thanjavur Quartet (1801–1856)
  33. Tiger Varadachariar (1876–1950)
  34. Tiruvottriyur Tyagayya (1845–1917)
    1. Son of Veena Kuppayya
  35. Veena Kuppayya (1798–1860)
    1. First generation disciple of Tyagaraja
  36. Veene Sheshanna (1852–1926)

Modern Era Composers (20th Century and beyond)

Pre-Trinity composers (Born in 17th Century or earlier)
ComposerYearsLanguagesApprox. number of compositionsSignature
(Insignia)		Other Info
Naraharitirtha1250? – 1333)SanskritNarahariComposed Dasara Padas
Sripadaraya1404–1502Kannada, SanskritRanga VittalaComposed Dasara Padas
Tallapaka Annamacharya1408–1503Telugu, Sanskrit36,000 compositions were composed, out of which around 12,000 are only available as of todayVenkatachala, venkatagiri, venkatadhri, venkatesuCalled as Telugu pada-kavita pitamaha; composed in themes srungara (love), adhyatma (bhakti) and philosophical in 100 ragas; also the author of the musical text Sankeertana Lakshana
Vadirajatirtha1480–1600)Kannada, SanskrithundredsHayavadanaComposed Dasara Padas in his Ramagadya, Vaikunthavarnane and Lakshmisobanehadu
Arunagirinathar1480–Tamil760Composed Tiruppugazh
Purandara Dasa1484–1564Kannada, Sanskrit475,000, of which only around 2000 have come down to usPurandara VittalaSet the Carnatic music in its present form; composed basic exercises for practice like sarali and janta varisai, and thus known as 'Karnataka Sangeetha Pithamaha', meaning the Grandfather of Carnatic music.
Kanaka Dasa1509–1609Kannada300Adi KeshavaComposed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga and wrote 5 classical Kavya epics poems in Shatpadi
Muthu Thandavar1525–1625Tamil165
Kshetrayya or Kshetrajna or Varadayya1600–1680Telugu100MuvvagopalaComposed immortal padams which are even popular today in Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi. Also the oldest composer whose tunes are available
Bhadraachala Raama daasu1620–1688Telugu500BhadradriComposed devotional songs
Narayana Teertha or Tallavajjhala Govinda Sastry1650–1745Telugu, Sanskrit200Vara Naaraayana TeerthaComposed Krishna leelaa Tarangini
Papanasa Mudaliar1650–1725Tamil
Sarangapani1680–1750Telugu220Venugopalu
Paidala Gurumurti Sastri17th centuryTelugu, SanskritComposed mainly geetams, many of which have since been lost
Vijaya Dasa1682–1755Kannada25,000Vijaya VittalaComposed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga
Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi1700–1765Tamil, Sanskrit600Composed in complex talas like Sankeerna Matyam and Misra Ata. Also an early composer of Navavarana kritis. He was the pioneer of the Madhyama Kala Prayoga. Had knowledge of ancient Tamil tags system too. His Sapta Ratnas were the precursors to Thyagaraja's pancharatnas. His kritis often used complicated madhyamakala systems.
Arunachala Kavi1711–1788Tamil 320
Marimutthu Pillai1717–1787Tamil42
Gopala Dasa1722–1762Kannada10,000Gopala VittalaComposed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga
Pacchimiriam Adiyappaearly 18th centuryTeluguComposed the immortal Viriboni bhairavi ata tala varnam
Sadasiva Brahmendra18th centurySanskrit95
Jagannatha Dasa1728–1809Kannada260Jagannatha VittalaComposed Dasara Padas, and the Kavya poems Harikathamritasara in the native shatpadi and Tattva suvvali in the native tripadi meters
Kaiwara Sri Yogi Nareyana 1730–1840 Kannada & Telugu 172 Amaranareyana Composed 20 Kannada Keerthanam and 152 Telugu Padas, and the Kavya poems on various gods
Ramaswami Dikshitar 1735–1817 Telugu, Sanskrit Thyageshwara Composed many varnams, padams, and kirtanas; popularly considered the inventor of Hamsadwhani

Trinity-Age composers (Born in 18th century)

These composers lived during the time of the Trinity and there are recorded instances of their interaction with the Trinity.

ComposerYearsLanguages Signature(Insignia)Approx. Number of CompositionsOther Info
Syama Sastri1762–1827Telugu, Sanskrit Shyama Krishna400Eldest of the trinity. He came from a family of priests at the Bangaru Kamakshi temple in Thanjavur, he composed on many devi temples in the region. He is famous for his use of chitta swara sahityam and complicated talams, as well as modernizing Ananda Bhairavi raga
Thyagaraja Swami1767–1847Telugu, Sanskrit Thyagaraja24000 of which only 700 are available todayMost famous of the trinity, composed many kritis on lord Rama, and also a few group kritis at temples for Shiva and Parvati. He composed the famous ghanaraga pancharatna kritis, and was famous for the use of ragas such as Kharaharapriya and Ritigowla.
Muthuswami Dikshitar1775–1835Sanskrit Guruguha400Youngest of the trinity, famous for his use of madhyamakala sahityams, raga mudra, and Sanskrit rhyming. He composed multiple group kritis.
Iraiyamman Tampi1782–1856Malayalam, Sanskrit Padmanabha40
Ghanam Krishna Iyer1790–1854Tamil Muthu Kumara85
Tiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai1798–1852Tamil Vedapura
Thanjavur Quartet1801–1856Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit
Kavi Kunjara Bharati1810–1896Tamil Kavi Kunjaran200
Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri 1810-1900 Sanskrit, Telugu Chengalvarayadasa 1000
Swathi Thirunal1813–1846Sanskrit, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Braj Bhasha Padmanabha, Sarasinabha, etc. 300+

19th century Composers
ComposerYearsLanguagesApprox. Number of Compositions Signature(Insignia)Other Info
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar1882–1921Tamil230
Annamalai Reddiyar1865–1891Tamil40
Anai Ayya brothers19th centuryTelugu, Tamil20 Umadasa
Dharmapuri Subbarayar19th centuryTelugu50 DharmapuriComposed many javalis
Ennappadam Venkatarama Bhagavatar1880–1961 Venkataramana[1]
Gopalakrishna Bharathi1811–1896Tamil395 Balakrishnan
Koteeswara Iyer1870–1940Tamil, Sanskrit200 KavikunjaradasanComposed in all 72 Melakarta raagas
Krishnarajendra Wodeyar III1799–1868Sanskrit
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar 1919-1974 Sanskrit 70 Srividya
Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer1844–1893Sanskrit, Tamil100 GuhadasaComposed 72-Melakarta raaga maalika
Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar19th centuryTelugu, Tamil50 VenkatesaCousin and disciple of Thyagaraja
Mayuram Viswanatha Sastri1893–1958Tamil, Sanskrit160 Vishwam, Vedapuri
Muthiah Bhagavatar1877–1945Tamil, Kannada Sanskrit390 HarikeshaComposed many famous songs, including a set of 108 songs on goddess Chamundeshwari at the behest of the kings of Mysore
Mysore Sadasiva Raob. 1790Telugu, Sanskrit100 Sadashiva
Mysore Vasudevacharya1865–1961Telugu, Sanskrit250 Vasudeva
Neelakanta Sivan1839–1900Tamil300 Nilakantha
Pallavi Seshayyar1842–1905Telugu75 Shesha
Papanasam Sivan1890–1973Tamil535 Ramadasan
Patnam Subramania Iyer1845–1902Telugu100 Venkatesha
Pattabhiramayyac. 1863Tamil Composed javalis
Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar1860–1919Telugu100 SrinivasaComposed varnams,javalis and krithis including the famous mohanam raga varnam ninnu kori.
Shuddhananda Bharati1897–1990Tamil, Sanskrit1090
Subbarama Dikshitar1839–1906Telugu50 Grandson of Baluswami Dikshitar, younger brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. Author of the important Telugu musical treatise Sangeetha sampradaya pradarshini
Subbaraya Sastri1803–1862Telugu12 KumaraSon of Syama Sastri
Tiruvottriyur Tyagayya1845–1917Telugu80 VenugopalaSon of Veena Kuppayya
Veena Kuppayya1798–1860Telugu100 GopaladasaDisciple of Thyagaraja
Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu1864–1945Telugu100 Composed in all 72 melakarthas and a geetha-malika in 90 ragas in manjari meter called Dasha Vidha Raga Navati Kusuma Manjari; also composed in rare talams like Sankeerna chapu

Modern-age Composers (Born in 20th century and beyond)
ComposerYearsLanguagesApprox.

Number of Compositions

 Signature(Insignia) Other Info
G. N. Balasubramaniam1910-1965Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil250 NoneDid not use a mudra; Ranjani Niranjani, Saraswati Namostute, and Sri Chakra Raja Nilaye are popular compositions.
Ambujam Krishna1917-1989Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil600 NoneDid not use a mudra; Her songs have been set to tune by leading Carnatic musicians.
M. D. Ramanathan1923-1984Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil, Malayalam300 varadasaComposed in all popular ragas; Used signature "Varada dasa"; Disciple of Tiger Varadachariar
Kalyani Varadarajan 1923-2003 Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil 1000 + kalyani Composed in all 72 Melakarta raagas; Used signature "Kalyani"

Composed songs on many deities, mainly Sholinganallur Narasimhar, Sholinganallur Anjaneyar, Thayars, and most all Devis.

M.Balamuralikrishna1930-2016Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil400 muraliComposed in all 72 Melakarta raagas; Used signature "Muraligana";

Created several ragas, with 4 notes and 3 notes; Invented a new Tala system;

Disciple of Parupalli Ramakrishnayya Pantulu,

a direct descendant of the shishya parampara (lineage of disciples) of Tyagaraja.

Lalgudi Jayaraman1930-2013Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil100 NoneHis sparkling thillana are especially popular and a staple of Carnatic music concerts.
Mahesh Mahadev present Sanskrit, Kannada Sri Skanda Created many new ragas [2] and composed kritis, varnams and devaranama [3][4][5]
Mysore Manjunath present Instrumental Manjunath has created many New ragas including Yaduveera Manohari, Bharatha.[6]

Other composers

Other composers in Mysore Kingdom
See also: Musicians of Mysore Kingdom

Other composers—Bhakti Saints

In addition to the above composers, various Bhakti saints of medieval India also composed devotional hymns, verses and songs. First six composer used ancient Tamil music [pannicai] which later evolved to the Carnatic musical tradition over the centuries.

See also

References
  1. "Music — different perspectives". 2 January 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. Mary, S. B. Vijaya (5 August 2021). "Mahesh Mahadev's experiments with ragas". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. Pinto, Arun (19 January 2023). "Sri Tyagaraja - a New Raga in Carnatic Music by Mahesh Mahadev". News Karnataka. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. "Bengaluru composer creating new ragas". Deccan Herald. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  5. Balachandran, Logesh. "Mahesh Mahadav and Priyadarshini salute Saint Tyagaraja with a new raga named after him". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. p, shilpa (26 June 2016). "'Yaduveer raga' for Mysuru royal wedding". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  7. "rallapallisharma". sites.google.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.