Syama Sastri

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Syama Sastri was born in 1762 in Tiruvarur, in present-day Tamil Nadu, and died in 1827. He was a composer of Carnatic music, the classical music of South India. His birth name was Venkata Subrahmanya Iyer. He was educated in the Vedas, astrology and other traditional subjects and learned music from his uncle and later from Adiappayya, a well-known court musician from Thanjavur.

Music and breakthrough

Syama Sastri is regarded as the eldest of the Trimurti of Carnatic music, alongside Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar. He composed about three hundred pieces, fewer than his two contemporaries. His works have nevertheless remained well known for their literary, melodic and rhythmic qualities. His texts, mainly addressed to the goddess Kamakshi, are written in a formal Telugu that borrows heavily from Sanskrit. He signed his compositions with the name Syama Krishna. He wrote kritis, varnams and svarajatis. He was probably the first to make svarajatis in such a way that they could be sung or played without dance. His three most famous, Kamakshi Anudinamu, Kamakshi Padayugame and Rave Himagiri Kumari, are together called Ratnatrayam.

Influence

His name stands for rhythmic refinement: he was known for his ability to compose in very complex talas. Pupils such as Alasur Krishna Iyer and Porambur Krishna Iyer kept his work alive. For world music he is a key figure from a musical tradition that began long before pop music.

Listening

Mentioned in other articles

• Carnatic music GenreAround 1800 Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Sastri wrote the classics of the repertoire.