Question

Which of the following composers is considered the earliest known creator of sankirtanas in praise of Lord Venkateshwara?

• A. Annamacharya
• B. Thyagaraja
• C. Muthuswami Dikshitar
• D. Purandaradasa

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Annamacharya

Key Figures in Carnatic Music: Annamacharya (15th century): A Hindu saint and the earliest known composer of sankirtanas—devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara, a form of Vishnu. His compositions greatly influenced the structure of Carnatic music. Purandaradasa (1484): Revered as the Carnatic Sangeeta Pitamaha (Father of Carnatic Music), he introduced the Malavagowla scale as the fundamental scale for music instruction. Venkatamakhin: Developed the system of 72 Melakartas (parent scales), which later enabled Thyagaraja to create numerous ragas. The Musical Trinity (1750–1850): The birth of Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Shyama Sastri in Tiruvarur marked a transformative period in Carnatic music, coinciding with the era of Western composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, and Haydn. Forms of Carnatic Music: Some of the primary musical forms in Carnatic tradition include Gitam, Varnam, Jatiswaram, Kirtanam, Pada, Tillana, Pallavi, and Tanam.