Flute Maestro Sri T.S.Sankaran – A great musician

I came to know of Flute maestro Sri T.S. Sankaran when he first came to Chicago as a visiting artist under Natyakalalaya Dance school of Chicago.  Earlier in his career, he decided to move to New Delhi. Being a direct disciple of flute maestro T.R. Mahalingam, he was greatly  respected for his scholarship and musical skills by the Carnatic music lovers  of Delhi.

During fall season, he was invited by Hema Rajagopalan for many music and dance programs conducted by Natyakalalaya and over the years he became virtually a family member of Rajagopalans.

In 1981-82 he came to attend Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam and pay his homage to the saint by a unique Nagumomu in Abheri.

I always looked for the first opportunity to know from him more about great musicians and Nadaswara vidwans of bygone days.  Being fully immersed in the Tanjore music traditions, he had lots to share with me on many anecdotes and historical details  about Thiruvayyaru Tyagaraja Utsavam and its evolution.

He used to pinpoint clearly subtle restrictions on the usage of certain notes in ragas and would argue vehemently to defend the vadi-samvadi traditions of Hindustani music that has been neglected by many Carnatic musicians.  What appealed to me most was his utter simplicity and modesty.  Luckily he has passed on some of the rarest  kritis of Saint Tyagaraja to his grandson and to some ace students in the New Delhi area.

T.E.S. Raghavan

Chairman