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Veena Kuppayyar

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Veena Kuppayyar (1798–1860) was an exponent of Veena and a composer of Carnatic music. He was a student of the famous composer Tyagaraja. Kuppayar composed his songs in Telugu language and has left behind a number of popular kritis.

Early life

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Veena Kuppayya was born in a Telugu Brahmin family in Tiruvottiyur, near Chennai. His father Sambamoorti Sastri was a famous vocalist as well as a veena player. Kuppayyar had his initial training from his father. Later he continued his musical training under Tyagaraja and learnt the art of music composition from him. Following the steps of his guru, Kuppaiyer has composed two groups of Pancharathnams – Kālahasti Pancharathna kritis and Vénkatésha Pancharathna kritis. The Panchrathna kritis are in Telugu and bears his nom de plume “Gópāla-dāsa” – his family deity, Sri Venugopala Swamy. These Panchrathna kritis also have been bedecked with beautiful Chittaswarams - solfa passages.

Kuppayyar later moved to Chennai and sought the patronage of the local ruler Kovur Sundara Mudaliar. Kuppayyar trained a lot of disciples, who carried forward the legacy of Tyagaraja, helping to spread his krithis. Veena Kuppayar was a talented veena player. He also learnt the violin, a new instrument to Carnatic Music at that time. He composed many varnams and krithis in particular. The most famous varnam was Sami Ninne in Shankarabharanam. When he was in his height of composing, he received the title of Asthana Vidwan.

Compositions

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Composition Raga Tala Type Language
Koniyadina Na Pai Kopamu Seyanera Gadu Kambhoji Adi Kriti Telugu
Sami Ninne Kori Sankarabharanam Adi Varnam Telugu
Vinayaka Ninu Vina Brocutaku Verevaru Ra Hamsadhwani Adi Kriti Telugu
Intha Chalamu Jesithe Begada Adi Varnam Telugu
Mammu bróchu Simhendramadhyamam Adi Vénkatésha Pancharathna kriti Telugu
Nannu bróva neeku yóchana Mukhari Adi Vénkatésha Pancharathna kriti Telugu
Sarójāksha nī padamulané Saveri Adi Vénkatésha Pancharathna kriti Telugu
Nīvédikkani né nentó Darbar Adi Vénkatésha Pancharathna kriti Telugu
Bāgumīraganu nātó Sankarabharanam Adi Vénkatésha Pancharathna kriti Telugu

See also

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