Ranjani and Gayatri are two sisters who perform as a Carnatic vocal and violin duo. They have also appeared as soloists, accompanists, composers, and educators of Indian Classical Music. Their work includes studio recordings; television, radio, and festival appearances; live concerts; and lecture demonstrations.[1]
Early life
Ranjani and Gayatri were born to N. Balasubramanian[2] and Meenakshi (a Carnatic vocalist as well). Born into a Tamil Brahmin family deeply involved in classical music, Ranjani and Gayatri's musical talents were discovered at a very early age. Gayatri could identify over a hundred ragas when she was barely two and a half and Ranjani could delineate complex rhythm patterns at age five. They started their violin training at the early age of nine and six respectively from Sangita Bhushanam Prof. T.S. Krishnaswami at the Shanmukhananda Sangeet Vidyalaya, Mumbai.
As violin duet artists
Ranjani and Gayatri started their musical journey as violinists before they reached their teens, performing in sabhas (music organizations) around India and abroad. Besides playing the violin duet, they have also performed with musicians such as Smt.D.K.Pattammal, Sri M Balamurali Krishna, T.Vishwanathan.
As vocal artists
Ranjani-Gayatri Live Concert in 2011.
The sisters have given vocal concerts since 1997, after they became students of Padma BhushanSangeeta Kala AcharyaP. S. Narayanaswamy.[3] Ranjani and Gayatri perform songs in languages including Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati, in the genre of traditional "Carnatic" music.[4]
As composers
Ranjani and Gayatri also compose music. Most of the Abhangs they sing at the end of their concerts have been set to music by the sisters. They have also set many other thukkada pieces, including bhajans. Here is a list of some of the songs set by the sisters:[citation needed]
