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Durga Prasad born in a family of rich
musical tradition, he was initiated into the niceties of music
at an early age of nine by his father Shri. ALLAM KOTESWARA
RAO who is a great and well-known Gottuvadyam Vidwan retired
from the service of All India Radio, Chennai. Later he had
his rigorous training in this instrument from his Guru Late.
SHRI. KALASIKHAMANI A.NARAYANA IYER. He rapidly climbed the
ladder of excellence with his awareness, sense of tonal quality,
precision in handling the instrument and also trained in vocal
music in the Music Academy under the renowned late Shri. SANDHYAVANDANAM
SRINIVASA RAO.
* Completed Teachers Training Course (Vocal) in Music Academy,
Chennaiin the Year 1981.
* Completed 'Vadya Praveena' Course (Gottuvadyam) in Shri.Venkateswara
University, Tirupathi, in the year 1984.
Experience:
The attractive features in his playing are tonal purity and
rhythematic balance. As a performer Durga Prasad's approach
to music is orthodox and as well as creative with rich experience
of over 20 year's. He has performed at various prestigious
sabhas, Organisations and music festivals all over the country
and abroad and won great appreciation from Listeners and Critics.
He has also taken part in Film music by playing Gottuvadyam
to many reputed music directors like Ilayaraja, A.R.Rehman,
Deva and many others.
At an early age he had the privilege of great Mridangam Stalwarts
accompanying to his concerts like Shri. Karaikudi R.Mani,
Shri. Guruvayur Durai, Shri. Vellore Ramabhadran, Shri.Ylla
Venkateswara Rao and others.
Performance in India and Abroad:
He has performed at various music sabha's like Music Academy
- Chennai, Shanmukhananda Sabha - Mumbai, Sangeeta Nataka
Academy - Delhi and also performed in Radio Sangeeth Sameelan's,
Doordarshan National Programmes & Private Television Channels.
He has also performed various music festivals held in abroad
at SriLanka, Australia, Singapore.
Present Status: Durga Prasad as an 'A' grade performer,
of a staff member of "vadya vrinda"-the orchestral
group of ALL INDIA RADIO, Chennai.
Credits:
Recently he has been venturing on 'Unique Combination’
of Gottuvadyam and Flute Duet, a novel approach inspired by
the mridangam maestro Shri. Karaikudi R.Mani. His recording
career has also been equally impressive as in reflected in
cassettes and CDs he has to his credit.
Innovation:
Durga Prasad is not only traditional but is also very innovative
to new ideas. After years of pains taking research to make
several changes in the design of the instrument in order to
improvise its tonal quality and versatility. He minimised
the length of the instrument from its original form and also
altered the traditional pitch 'G' to pitch 'C' with an inbuilt
pickup for better resonance, sustain, portability and named
it as "ATHICHITRAVEENA".
Achievement:
It is more difficult to gain mastery over this instrument,
yet capable of bringing out finer nuances if played by expert
hands. Durga Prasad is one of such very few musicians to handle
this rare instrument at ease.
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