Yella venkateswara rao biography of martin

I have trained nearly 2,000 students,” he informed.[1]

The impact an artist makes in his field is best determined by the parampara he leaves behind.Whether it is his time in the music department or establishing his own Music academy or teaching his own family, Yella Venkateswara Rao garu is an instrumentalist for the books.

No one could anticipate his playing as it is always dynamic and rooted in Nadam.

The nuances of the Tala, tonal ability – it was just not a traditional Tani avartanam. Padma Sri Yella Venkateswara Rao garu is one such. He also sits in the syndicate of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and the senate of the University of Madras and is a visiting professor of Banaras Hindu University.

Rao has composed music for three Telugu movies; Sapthapadi, Viswamitra and Bhadram Koduko.

His accompaniment to a vocal artist was different from how he plays for a Veena artist. His handling of the Eda(left), Gumki is a trademark in itself. He has accompanied the concerts of many renowned musicians on mridangam and has performed jugalbandis with musicians such as Sivamani, Zakir Hussain, Alla Rakha and T. H. Vinayakram. There were only two systems of mridangam playing then and the other notable vidwan in those days was Palani Subramania Pillai,” said Venkateswara Rao.

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In a significant but telling story, Dwaram garu visited the family household one day. YVR always had something new and different for each concert.

He is a personality par excellence in performing both solo and in accompaniment. He wanted to popularize the Nadam aspects and importance of Mridangam as a Solo concert in India and abroad.

Young YVR receiving award in 1961 from then President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

He adds, “Accompaniment in its true sense is a challenge.

I learnt something every time I performed, especially with great artistes and also with upcoming ones,”

Indeed, he has given a great deal to the world of classical-music. [3, 269]

 “I learnt the art of playing mridangam from my guru Yella Somanna, disciple of Palakkad Mani Iyer. To cite an example, he used to accompany with Mridangam for Unchavritti at Thiruvaiyaru Thyaga Brahma festival.

among others. He was adopted by his uncle Yella Somanna, an accomplished mrdangist himself. Congenial and contemporary, he is nevertheless rooted in tradition and is a hallmark for artistry.

In many respects, he has shown the way in how to revive faltering mass interest in classical music. Due to his friendship with the then Chief Minister, he persuaded NTRto formulate Fine Arts syllabi for Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and to start courses there.