List of Carnatic composers

Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

List of composers of Carnatic music, a subgenre of Indian classical music. Chronologically they can be grouped into 4 different Eras: Pre-Trinity Era, Trinity Era, Post Trinity Era and Modern Era. Composers are listed here based on this classification and their birth years are provided to the extent available.

Pre-Trinity Era composers (17th century and prior)

These are early stage composers that created the rules and foundations of classical music.

  1. Allama Prabhu (12th century)
  2. Andal (9th century)
  3. Tirugnana sambandar (7th century)
  4. Annamayya ( b.1408)
  5. Arunagirinathar (b.1480)
  6. Bhadraachala Raama daasu (1620–1688)
  7. Jayadeva, (12th Century) - Composed Gita Govinda
    1. Prathama Vaggeyakara(First poet-composer) of Carnatic and Hindustani music forms to compose art music (in contrast to traditional bhakti poems) involving ragas; he is praised for his contributions to dance and music by his contemporary and later musicologists in their musical treatises
  8. Kanakadasa (1509–1609)
  9. Karaikkal Ammeiyar (7th century)
  10. Kshetrayya (1600–1680)
  11. Madhwacharya (12th century)
  12. Manikkavasagar (10th century)
  13. Muthu Thandavar (1525–1625)
  14. Naraharitirtha (1250–1333)
  15. Narayana Teertha (1650–1725)
  16. Padmanabha Tirtha (12th century)
  17. Papanasa Mudaliar (1650–1725)
  18. Paidala Gurumurti Sastri (17th century) - Composed over 1000 geethams
  19. Purandaradasa (1484–1564)
  20. Raghavendra Swami (1595–1671)
  21. Sarangapani (1680–1750)
  22. Sripadaraya (1404–1502)
  23. Sundaramurti (7th century)
  24. Thirunavukkarasar (7th century)
  25. Tallapaka Annamacharya (1408–1503)
  26. Vadirajatirtha (1480–1600)
  27. Vijaya Dasa (1682–1755)
  28. Vyasatirtha (1460–1539)

Trinity Era Composers (18th Century)

Composers of 18th Century started a new era in the history of Carnatic music with the introduction of new ragas, krithis and musical forms that are widely adopted and laid foundation for what we know today as Classical music. Trinity are the biggest contributors of this era even though there are a large number of musicians and composers that left their mark during this period.

  1. Arunachala Kavi (1711–1788)
  2. Ghanam Krishna Iyer (1790–1854)
  3. Gopala Dasa (1722–1762)
  4. Iraiyamman Tampi (1782–1856)
  5. Jagannatha Dasa (1728–1809)
  6. Kaiwara Sri Yogi Nareyana (1730–1840)
  7. Krishnarajendra Wodeyar III (1799–1868)
  8. Marimuttha Pillai (1717–1787)
  9. Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835)
  10. Mysore Sadasiva Rao (b. 1790)
  11. Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi (1700–1765)
  12. Pacchimiriam Adiyappa (early 18th century)
  13. Sadasiva Brahmendra (18th century)
  14. Thyagaraja Swami (1767–1847)
  15. Anai Ayya brothers (1776–1857)
  16. Tiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai (1798–1852)
  17. Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817)
  18. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1813-1846)
  19. Syama Sastri (1762–1827)

Post-Trinity Era composers (19th century)

  1. Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu (1864–1945)
    1. Primary contribution is in the area of Hari katha. Also created several krithis as part of the hari kathas he authored
  2. Ambi Dikshitar (1863–1936)
    1. Propagated Muthuswami Dikshitar compositions and helped bring them into modern era
    2. Also used the mudra of guruguha for about 10 compositions we have available at this time
  3. Annamalai Reddiyar (1865–1891)
  4. Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri (1810–1900)
  5. Chittor Subrahmanya Pillai (1898–1975)
  6. Dharmapuri Subbarayar
    1. Composed more than 50 Javalis
  7. Ennappadam Venkatarama Bhagavatar (1880–1961)
  8. Gopalakrishna Bharathi (1811–1896)
  9. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar (1919–1974)
  10. Kavi Kunjara Bharati (1810–1896)
  11. Koteeswara Iyer (1870–1940)
    1. Composed in all 72 melakarta raagas
  12. Kotthavaasal Venkatarama Ayyar (1810–1880)
  13. Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer (1844–1893)
    1. Composed Mela raga maalika
  14. Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar
  15. Mayuram Viswanatha Sastri (1893–1958)
  16. Muthiah Bhagavatar (1877–1945)
  17. Mysore T. Chowdiah (1894–1967)
  18. Mysore Vasudevacharya (1865–1961)
  19. Neelakanta Sivan (1839–1900)
  20. Pallavi Seshayyar (1842–1905)
  21. Papanasam Sivan (1890–1973)
  22. Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845–1902)
  23. Pattabhiramayya (b. 1863)
  24. Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (1860–1919)
  25. Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma (1893–1979)
  26. Subbarama Dikshitar (1839–1906)
  27. Subbaraya Sastri (1803–1862)
    1. Son of Shyama Shastri and First generation disciple of Tyagaraja
  28. Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar (1882–1921)
  29. Shuddhananda Bharati (1897–1990)
  30. Thanjavur Quartet (1801–1856)
  31. Tiger Varadachariar (1876–1950)
  32. Tiruvottriyur Tyagayya (1845–1917)
    1. Son of Veena Kuppayya
  33. Veena Kuppayya (1798–1860)
    1. First generation disciple of Tyagaraja
  34. Veene Sheshanna (1852–1926)

Modern Era composers (20th century and beyond)

Pre-Trinity composers (born in 17th century or earlier)

Composer Years Languages Approx. number of compositions Signature
(Insignia)		 Other Info
Naraharitirtha 1250? – 1333) Sanskrit Narahari Composed Dasara Padas
Sripadaraya 1404–1502 Kannada, Sanskrit Ranga Vittala Composed Dasara Padas
Tallapaka Annamacharya 1408–1503 Telugu, Sanskrit 36,000 compositions were composed, out of which around 12,000 are only available as of today Venkatachala, venkatagiri, venkatadhri, venkatesu Called as Telugu pada-kavita pitamaha; composed in themes srungara (love), adhyatma (bhakti) and philosophical in 100 ragas; also the author of the musical text Sankeertana Lakshana
Vadirajatirtha 1480–1600) Kannada, Sanskrit hundreds Hayavadana Composed Dasara Padas in his Ramagadya, Vaikunthavarnane and Lakshmisobanehadu
Arunagirinathar 1480– Tamil 760 Composed Tiruppugazh
Purandara Dasa 1484–1564 Kannada, Sanskrit 475,000, of which only around 2000 have come down to us Purandara Vittala Set the Carnatic music in its present form; composed basic exercises for practice like sarali and janta varisai, and thus known as 'Karnataka Sangeetha Pithamaha', meaning the Grandfather of Carnatic music.
Kanaka Dasa 1509–1609 Kannada 300 Adi Keshava Composed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga and wrote 5 classical Kavya epics poems in Shatpadi
Muthu Thandavar 1525–1625 Tamil 165
Kshetrayya or Kshetrajna or Varadayya 1600–1680 Telugu 100 Muvvagopala Composed immortal padams which are even popular today in Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi. Also the oldest composer whose tunes are available
Bhadraachala Raama daasu 1620–1688 Telugu 500 Bhadradri Composed devotional songs
Narayana Teertha or Tallavajjhala Govinda Sastry 1650–1745 Telugu, Sanskrit 200 Vara Naaraayana Teertha Composed Krishna leelaa Tarangini
Papanasa Mudaliar 1650–1725 Tamil
Sarangapani 1680–1750 Telugu 220 Venugopalu
Paidala Gurumurti Sastri 17th century Telugu, Sanskrit Composed mainly geetams, many of which have since been lost
Vijaya Dasa 1682–1755 Kannada 25,000 Vijaya Vittala Composed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga
Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi 1700–1765 Tamil, Sanskrit 600 Composed in complex talas like Sankeerna Matyam and Misra Ata. Also an early composer of Navavarana kritis. He was the pioneer of the Madhyama Kala Prayoga. Had knowledge of ancient Tamil tags system too. His Sapta Ratnas were the precursors to Thyagaraja's pancharatnas. His kritis often used complicated madhyamakala systems.
Arunachala Kavi 1711–1788 Tamil 320
Marimutthu Pillai 1717–1787 Tamil 42
Gopala Dasa 1722–1762 Kannada 10,000 Gopala Vittala Composed Dasara Padas in native metrical forms such as Suladi and Ugabhoga
Pacchimiriam Adiyappa early 18th century Telugu Composed the immortal Viriboni bhairavi ata tala varnam
Sadasiva Brahmendra 18th century Sanskrit 95
Jagannatha Dasa 1728–1809 Kannada 260 Jagannatha Vittala Composed Dasara Padas, and the Kavya poems Harikathamritasara in the native shatpadi and Tattva suvvali in the native tripadi meters
Kaiwara Sri Yogi Nareyana 1730–1840 Kannada & Telugu 172 Amaranareyana Composed 20 Kannada Keerthanam and 152 Telugu Padas, and the Kavya poems on various gods
Ramaswami Dikshitar 1735–1817 Telugu, Sanskrit Thyageshwara Composed many varnams, padams, and kirtanas; popularly considered the inventor of Hamsadwhani

Trinity-Age composers (born in 18th century)

These composers lived during the time of the Trinity and there are recorded instances of their interaction with the Trinity.

Composer Years Languages Signature(Insignia) Approx. Number of Compositions Other Info
Syama Sastri 1762–1827 Telugu, Sanskrit Shyama Krishna 400 Eldest of the trinity. He came from a family of priests at the Bangaru Kamakshi temple in Thanjavur, he composed on many devi temples in the region. He is famous for his use of chitta swara sahityam and complicated talams, as well as modernizing Ananda Bhairavi raga
Thyagaraja Swami 1767–1847 Telugu, Sanskrit Thyagaraja 24000 of which only 700 are available today Most famous of the trinity, composed many kritis on lord Rama, and also a few group kritis at temples for Shiva and Parvati. He composed the famous ghanaraga pancharatna kritis, and was famous for the use of ragas such as Kharaharapriya and Ritigowla.
Muthuswami Dikshitar 1775–1835 Sanskrit Guruguha 400 Youngest of the trinity, famous for his use of madhyamakala sahityams, raga mudra, and Sanskrit rhyming. He composed multiple group kritis.
Iraiyamman Tampi 1782–1856 Malayalam, Sanskrit Padmanabha 40
Ghanam Krishna Iyer 1790–1854 Tamil Muthu Kumara 85
Tiruvarur Ramaswami Pillai 1798–1852 Tamil Vedapura
Thanjavur Quartet 1801–1856 Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit
Kavi Kunjara Bharati 1810–1896 Tamil Kavi Kunjaran 200
Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri 1810–1900 Sanskrit, Telugu Chengalvarayadasa 1000
Swathi Thirunal 1813–1846 Sanskrit, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Braj Bhasha Padmanabha, Sarasinabha, etc. 300+

19th-century composers

Composer Years Languages Approx. Number of Compositions Signature(Insignia) Other Info
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar 1882–1921 Tamil 230
Annamalai Reddiyar 1865–1891 Tamil 40
Anai Ayya brothers 19th century Telugu, Tamil 20 Umadasa
Dharmapuri Subbarayar 19th century Telugu 50 Dharmapuri Composed many javalis
Ennappadam Venkatarama Bhagavatar 1880–1961 Venkataramana [1]
Gopalakrishna Bharathi 1811–1896 Tamil 395 Balakrishnan
Koteeswara Iyer 1870–1940 Tamil, Sanskrit 200 Kavikunjaradasan Composed in all 72 Melakarta raagas
Krishnarajendra Wodeyar III 1799–1868 Sanskrit
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar 1919–1974 Sanskrit 70 Srividya
Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer 1844–1893 Sanskrit, Tamil 100 Guhadasa Composed 72-Melakarta raaga maalika
Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar 19th century Telugu, Tamil 50 Venkatesa Cousin and disciple of Thyagaraja
Mayuram Viswanatha Sastri 1893–1958 Tamil, Sanskrit 160 Vishwam, Vedapuri
Muthiah Bhagavatar 1877–1945 Tamil, Kannada Sanskrit 390 Harikesha Composed many famous songs, including a set of 108 songs on goddess Chamundeshwari at the behest of the kings of Mysore
Mysore Sadasiva Rao b. 1790 Telugu, Sanskrit 100 Sadashiva
Mysore Vasudevacharya 1865–1961 Telugu, Sanskrit 250 Vasudeva
Neelakanta Sivan 1839–1900 Tamil 300 Nilakantha
Pallavi Seshayyar 1842–1905 Telugu 75 Shesha
Papanasam Sivan 1890–1973 Tamil 535 Ramadasan
Patnam Subramania Iyer 1845–1902 Telugu 100 Venkatesha
Pattabhiramayya c. 1863 Tamil Composed javalis
Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar 1860–1919 Telugu 100 Srinivasa Composed varnams,javalis and krithis including the famous mohanam raga varnam ninnu kori.
Shuddhananda Bharati 1897–1990 Tamil, Sanskrit 1090
Subbarama Dikshitar 1839–1906 Telugu 50 Grandson of Baluswami Dikshitar, younger brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar. Author of the important Telugu musical treatise Sangeetha sampradaya pradarshini
Subbaraya Sastri 1803–1862 Telugu 12 Kumara Son of Syama Sastri
Tiruvottriyur Tyagayya 1845–1917 Telugu 80 Venugopala Son of Veena Kuppayya
Veena Kuppayya 1798–1860 Telugu 100 Gopaladasa Disciple of Thyagaraja
Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu 1864–1945 Telugu 100 Composed in all 72 melakarthas and a geetha-malika in 90 ragas in manjari meter called Dasha Vidha Raga Navati Kusuma Manjari; also composed in rare talams like Sankeerna chapu

Modern-age composers (born in 20th century and beyond)

Composer Years Languages Approx.

Number of Compositions

Signature(Insignia) Other Info
G. N. Balasubramaniam 1910–1965 Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil 250 None Did not use a mudra; Ranjani Niranjani, Saraswati Namostute, and Sri Chakra Raja Nilaye are popular compositions.
Ambujam Krishna 1917–1989 Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil 600 None Did not use a mudra; Her songs have been set to tune by leading Carnatic musicians.
M. D. Ramanathan 1923–1984 Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil, Malayalam 300 varadasa Composed in all popular ragas; Used signature "Varada dasa"; Disciple of Tiger Varadachariar
Kalyani Varadarajan 1923–2003 Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil 1000 + kalyani Composed in all 72 Melakarta raagas; Used signature "Kalyani"

Composed songs on many deities, mainly Sholinganallur Narasimhar, Sholinganallur Anjaneyar, Thayars, and most all Devis.

K. Ramaraj 1936-2009 Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit 200+ ragamudra Did not use a composer mudra; Vaggeyakkara who composed both the lyrics and the tune; specialised in less popular and vivaadhi ragas
M.Balamuralikrishna 1930–2016 Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil 400 murali Composed in all 72 Melakarta raagas; Used signature "Muraligana";

Created several ragas, with 4 notes and 3 notes; Invented a new Tala system;

Disciple of Parupalli Ramakrishnayya Pantulu,

a direct descendant of the shishya parampara (lineage of disciples) of Tyagaraja.

Lalgudi Jayaraman 1930–2013 Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil 100 None His sparkling thillana are especially popular and a staple of Carnatic music concerts.
Mahesh Mahadev present Sanskrit, Kannada Sri Skanda Created many new ragas [2] and composed kritis, varnams and devaranama [3][4][5]
Mysore Manjunath present Instrumental Manjunath has created many New ragas including Yaduveera Manohari, Bharatha.[6]

Other composers

Other composers in Mysore Kingdom

See also: Musicians of Mysore Kingdom

Other composers—Bhakti Saints

In addition to the above composers, various Bhakti saints of medieval India also composed devotional hymns, verses and songs. First six composer used ancient Tamil music [pannicai] which later evolved to the Carnatic musical tradition over the centuries.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Music — different perspectives". The Hindu. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ^ Mary, S. B. Vijaya (5 August 2021). "Mahesh Mahadev's experiments with ragas". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ Pinto, Arun (19 January 2023). "Sri Tyagaraja - a New Raga in Carnatic Music by Mahesh Mahadev". News Karnataka. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Bengaluru composer creating new ragas". Deccan Herald. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  5. ^ Balachandran, Logesh. "Mahesh Mahadav and Priyadarshini salute Saint Tyagaraja with a new raga named after him". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. ^ p, shilpa (26 June 2016). "'Yaduveer raga' for Mysuru royal wedding". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b "rallapallisharma". sites.google.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.