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L. Subramaniam | |
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 L. Subramaniam performing at concert inBhopal October 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Subramaniam Lakshminarayana (1947-07-23)23 July 1947 (age 78) |
| Genres | Classical,Carnatic,jazz fusion,Indo jazz,world fusion,Western music |
| Occupations | Violinist, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, record producer,pedagogue, doctor |
| Instruments | Violin, percussion, synthesizers, vocals |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Relatives |
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Dr. Subramaniam Lakshminarayana (born 23 July 1947)[1] is an Indian violinist, composer and conductor, trained in the classicalCarnatic music tradition andWestern classical music.[2]
Subramaniam was born inMadras,Madras Presidency,British India,[1] toV. Lakshminarayana Iyer and Seethalakshmi, both accomplished musicians.[3]
He lived inJaffna during his younger years, taking up music studies before the age of five.[4] He began training in violin under the tutelage of his father, Professor V. Lakshminarayana. "Mani", as he is fondly known by fellow musicians and his family, gave his first public performance at the age of six.
His uncles includeRamnad Raghavan andRamnad Krishnan.[5] His brothers are also acclaimed musicians, and include the violinist-composersL. Shankar (alias. Shenkar), and the lateL. Vaidyanathan.[6] He has released recordings with both.
Subramaniam developed a passion for music as well as science from a young age, studying Medicine and acquiring his M.B.B.S. atMadras Medical College. He registered as a General Practitioner, before deciding to pursue music full-time.[4] He has a master's degree in Western classical music, which he acquired at theCalifornia Institute of the Arts.[4]
Since 1973, Subramaniam has amassed over 200 recordings to his credit, releasing several solo albums, recording collaborations with musiciansYehudi Menuhin,Stéphane Grappelli,Ruggiero Ricci andJean-Pierre Rampal, further to making albums and performing withRuggiero Ricci,Herbie Hancock,Joe Sample,Jean-Luc Ponty,Stanley ClarkeJohn Handy,George Harrison[7] and several others.[8]
He has accompanied highly regarded vocalists inCarnatic music on stage includingChembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar,K. V. Narayanaswamy,Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer,M. Balamuralikrishna,M. D. Ramanathan, andAlathur Srinivasa Iyer. He has also performed many concerts with the venerablePalghat Mani Iyer on theMridangam, in addition to collaborating with musicians of North IndianHindustani music and artists of other music systems.[8] He was among the early South Indian classical musician to perform a jugalbandhi with a Hindustani musician when he played with UstadAli Akbar Khan in the late '70s.[9]
Subramaniam has written works fororchestras,ballets and Hollywoodfilm scores, and written books on music – such asEuphony – in addition to composing symphonies and Carnatic pieces.[8][10]
In 1983, he composed aDouble Concerto for violin and flute which combinedwestern scales withmicro intervals.[11] In 1985, he composed the immensely popularFantasy on Vedic Chants which was premiered with theNew York Philharmonic conducted by MaestroZubin Mehta (in September '85) and later performed with theMariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Djemal Dalgat. Subramaniam's first symphonic piece,Spring – Rhapsody, composed in 1986, was a homage toBach andBaroque music. He then composedTurbulence which was performed withThe Swiss Romande Orchestra, "The Concert of Two Violins" performed with theOslo Philharmonic, andGlobal Symphony that theBerlin State Opera performed (broadcast live to 28 nations).[10] He has also performed a concert tour of China, with theBeijing Symphony Orchestra in Beijing. Till date, he has composed ten symphonies and most of his orchestral works have been published bySchott Music.[12]
His compositions have been used in stage presentations of leading dance companies such as theSan Jose Ballet company and theAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Subramaniam composed the piece "Shanti Priya" for theMariinsky Ballet in 1988.
The release of his albums, includingGlobal Fusion in 1999 have brought Subramaniam widespread critical acclaim, and popularity for his advanced playing. He founded and directs the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, a festival based in India. In 2004, he completed a world tour with the festival, including concerts in the US (Lincoln Center, New York), the Asian Pacific region including in Perth, Australia, at theEsplanade, Singapore, theSri Dewan Penang Hall in Penang and thePutra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Performing with Subramaniam at the festival in January 2005 were violin maestroArve Tellefsen, theOslo Camerata,jazz legendsStanley Clarke,George Duke,Al Jarreau,Earl Klugh andRavi Coltrane.
In September 2007, Subramaniam premiered and played "The Freedom Symphony" with theFairfax Symphony Orchestra, Warrenton Chorale and Carnatic percussionists, which led to a strongly favourable ovation and an encore piece "Flight of the Humble Bee". Subramaniam is on the advisory board of composerA. R. Rahman's KM Music Conservatory inKodambakkam, Chennai.
In 2011, he was invited to perform at the United Nations. On 24 October 2012, he performed as a Special Guest Artist withStevie Wonder at the latter's message of peace concert at the UN.Yehudi Menuhin said of Subramaniam:
I find nothing more inspiring than the music making of my very great colleague Subramaniam. Each time I listen to him, I am carried away in wonderment."[8]
When asked about his musical accomplishments, Subramaniam has always said,
Music is a vast ocean and no one can claim to know it all. The more you know, the more you realise how little you know. It is an eternal quest.
He composed the film scores for the filmsSalaam Bombay (1988) andMississippi Masala (1991) directed byMira Nair, in addition to being the featured violin soloist inBernardo Bertolucci'sLittle Buddha (1993) andCotton Mary (1999) of Merchant-Ivory productions.[8]
The Lakshminarayana World Music Festival concert was first initiated by his brother,L. Shankar in 1991 in memory of their father V. Lakshminarayana, who died in 1990.[13] The BBC film‘Bombay and All That Jazz’(1992) was based on the tribute concert that took place in Bombay on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1992, which featuredDon Cherry,L. Shankar,TH Vinayakram,Trilok Gurtu and many others.[13]
Subsequently, on January 11, 1992,Vijayashree and Subramaniam launched theLakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) in Madras (Chennai).[14]
Artists have included the Subramaniam family,Al Jarreau,George Duke,Solo Cissokho,Miya Masaoka,Mark O'Connor,Loyko,Jean-Luc Ponty,Ustad Bismillah Khan,Larry Coryell,Arve Tellefsen,Pandit Jasraj,Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna andCorky Siegel.[15][16]
The festival has centred around special concepts such as Violins for Peace, Visions of India and Sounds of India.[15]
HonourLokmatSur Jyotsna National Music legends Award 2024.[17]
In 2007, the Subramaniam Foundation, a charity run by Subramaniam and his wife set up a music school called the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA), in Bangalore, India.[18]
Subramaniam was married toViji Subramaniam (née Vijayashree Shankar), who died on 9 February 1995. Since November 1999 he has been married to the Indian playback singerKavita Krishnamurthy. He has four children with Viji —Gingger Shankar,Bindu Subramaniam,Dr. Narayana Subramaniam andAmbi Subramaniam.
He continues to perform pieces with his daughter singer/songwriter Bindu Subramaniam,[19] violin duets with his son, Ambi Subramaniam,[20]” and has further recorded and given several concerts with Krishnamurthy. Their collaborations have earned them the nickname Subramaniam Gharana.[21] He also performs with his eldest son Dr. Narayana Subramaniam.[22]
•Padma Vibhushan award by government of India (2025)
SeeFilmography
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| 1st generation | |
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| 2nd generation | |
| 3rd generation | |
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