Lakshminarayana Subramaniam,Ambi Subramaniam, Indiaand trio "Loyko", Russia
Dr. Lakshminarayama Subramaniam – acclaimed Indian violinist, composer and conductor, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, musical pedagogue, the major representative and performer of the classical Carnatic music tradition (one of two main sub-genres of Indian classical music, spread in the south of India) that he has inherited from his father and guru, Professor V. Lakshminarayana. Subramaniam is renowned for his virtuoso playing techniques and has earned critical acclaim as "Paganini of Indian classical music" and "The God of Indian Violin".
Maestro Subramaniam’s insatiable musical curiosity made short shrift of all kinds of technique, of all types of forms (apart from being an Indian classical musician, he has composed music for several western classical orchestras, films and ballets). He has popularized the Indian violin and Carnatic music for the Western world and at the same time has worked in such different as it may seem genre as jazz fusion, establishing himself as a force that is strongly Indian, but universal in nature and approach.
Subramaniam developed a passion for music as well as science from a young age, studying Medicine at Madras Medical College – that is why he is called Dr. Subramaniam. He registered as a General Practitioner before deciding to pursue music full-time. He has a Master’s degree in Western classical music, which he acquired at the California Institute of the Arts.
Since the early 70s, he has performed and made historic collaborations and more than 200 recordings with artists around the world from a number of musical backgrounds and genres, including Yehudi Menuhin, Stephane Grappelli, Jean-Pierre Rampal, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Jean Luc Ponty, Larry Coryell, Billy Cobham, Ravi Coltrane and many others.
Dr. L. Subramaniam is the founder and director of the biggest global music festival in India – Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, established in 1992 together with Viji Subramaniam, in the memory of his late father and guru Professor V. Lakshminarayana. The festival provides a platform for different styles of music; it has presented Indian Classical (Carnatic and Hindustani), Jazz, Rock, Western Classical, Orchestral, Indian Folk, Ghazals, Hindi Film music, and different Classical and Folk styles from 5 different continents. LGMF has its own award - The Lakshminarayana International Award, instituted in the year 1997 and awarded to individuals who have made momentous contributions to their respective artistic domains. The first award in 1997 was given to Lord Yehudi Menuhin, and was presented to him by the President of India His Excellency K.R. Narayanan. Till date, Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival has been held in 55 cities across 22 countries and has received tremendous support from the press and public alike, hosting audiences of up to 200,000 people at a single event.
L. Subramaniam is also the founder of the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA), a global institute in Bangalore that imparts a high level of music education to students from all over the world, and The Subramaniam Foundation – a charitable trust that deals primarily with the promotion of performing arts and culture.
He has received several awards and honors, including the coveted Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for “The Most Creative Artist” from the President of India. He has been awarded the “Nada Chakravarti” (Emperor of Sound) from H.H Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swami-ji. In recognition of his contribution to the World of Music, he has been conferred with Honorary Doctorates (D Litt.) by Bangalore University, University of Madras and Sheffield University.
In 2012 L. Subramaniam was included into Limca Book of Records – Indian equivalent to the Guinness Book of World Records with emphasis on unique achievements of Indians within the country and abroad.
“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.” (Yehudi Menuhin)
Dr. L. Subramaniam is the serenity of an Indian musician combined with the magnetism of a western star.
Ambi Subramaniam, son of Dr. Subramaniam, at the age of 19 already has a number of major accomplishments under his belt. His greatest musical inspiration remains his father and guru Dr. L. Subramaniam, with whom he tours the world, giving solo and duet performances. Ambi gave his first performance at the tender age of 7 and has already performed in several venues in India and abroad. Hailed as the new king of Indian classical violin, Ambi plays Western and Indian violin with equal ease, and has already appeared for the Associated Board Royal School of Music's violin exams and has been ranked first, securing distinctions and special awards. Apart from the violin, Ambi also received distinctions in Piano and Western music theory exams. Ambi was part of a special performance at the Gateway of India in 2003, featuring violin greats Dr. L. Subramaniam and Jean Luc Ponty. He also performed at a special open-air millennium concert on new year's eve 1999 for over two hundred thousand people as well as numerous musical festivals in India and throughout the world.
In Voronezh, Dr. Subramaniam with his talented son Ambi and two masters of percussion playing on traditional Indian instruments will play Carnatic classical Indian ragas.
With the music of the Russian band LOYKO L. Subramaniam got acquainted in 1995. Years after LOYKO were invited to perform at Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival in India where they have jammed altogether and made some recordings.
LOYKO
Recognized all over Europe and America, LOYKO are masters of improvisation – they are sure that in order to possess the skills of improvisation one should be on the road as often as he can. And so they do – for more than 13 years they roam from one world famous concert venue to another, being the honored guests of the best world music festivals all over globe.
The founder of the trio – Sergey Erdenko – is the descendant of the famous Gipsy family which history totals more than three hundred years. Exactly at that time – 300 years ago – Gypsy virtuoso violinist Loyko Zobar wandered in Russia and by his playing made the folk cry and laugh at the same time. Loyko violin lives nowadays – but in hands of modern Roma musicians, that decided to call the band in the honor of that legendary character. For years the band’s lineup went through several changes, which of course reflected their style. Today LOYKO’s sound can be considered as gypsy alternative – a mixture of many ethnic traditions, classical, jazz and rock, gypsy songs covers, blues, old ballads.
Living outside Russia during 10 years, LOYKO performed and were recorded with a lot of outstanding musicians, including Ronni Wood ("The Rolling Stones" guitarist). The greatest musicians of the century – Yehudi Menuhin and Gidon Kremer many times had invited LOKO to be the part of their concert programs and festivals such as "The World's Best Violinists", where LOYKO played with such geniuses as Stephan Grappelli, Ravi Shankar, Dr. Subramaniam, Ezma Radzhapova. Beginning with 1993 and for 3 seasons LOYKO had been opening and closing the famous European show «Magneten», that gathers Gypsy musical bands throughout the globe. In total the band appeared 200 times in this show!
Up to this day "LOYKO" had released more than 10 solo albums and DVDs in Great Britain, Russia, Germany, Belgium and Holland. By the opinion of the European Musical critics, "LOYKO", were titled the best group in World Music and in 2006 its founder Sergey Erdenko was chosen as one of five best Gypsian musicians (Roma Opre); nowadays he is not only the eminent musician, whose deep emotional and virtuoso technique could hardly let anyone indifferent, but also the producer and organizer of the international festivals, who opens to the listener unknown names in the world of music.
Voronezh listeners will discover the musical heritage of the South India and Roma music through one musical instrument – violin, that unites East and West. “The World of Violin” – this is the concept of their future collaboration at Platonov Arts Festival in Voronezh, - “This is the musical bridge from the ancient Indian music to contemporary European music and only through improvisation you can feel the differences, similarity and mastership of these two schools. There are only 7 notes in music, but it is enough to build a spiritual temple, were the violin reigns,” – says Sergey Erdenko.
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