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Jathiswaram in ragam kalyani (tisra, rupakam)
Composer: Tanjore Quartet Ponnayya (1804-1864)
Music recording from the archives of Sathir Dance Art Trust. Recording of the early 1970s. Vocal and nattuvangam by Mohanraj.
In the 1820s, Tanjore court dance became intricately linked to four siblings engaging as naṭṭuvans. Maharajah Serfoji enlisting Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Sivanandam, and Vadivelu, collectively renowned today as the ‘Tanjore Quartet’, resulted in the further structuring and refinement of precursor courtly dance. Their exploration and experimentation with existing forms led to a fresh dance sequence, now identified as “Margam”. This sequence has displayed its enduring vitality, transcending time and evolving into its contemporary interpretation, and people continue to dance it to this day. For more read the essay 2008 by Jeetendra Hirschfeld: “Tanjavur Nāṭyam of the Tanjore Quartet: Examining Timelessness of Repertoire and Sequence”.
Access here: sathirdance.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/tanjavur-na%e1%b9%adyam-of-the-tanjore-quartet-examining-timelessness-of-repertoire-and-sequence/
Or on Academia: independent.academia.edu/jeetendrahirsch
Since 1989, Sathir Dance Art Trust has curated a vast collection of hundreds of Bharatanatyam songs. These include numerous old recordings of the Tanjore Quartet, orchestrated by nattuvanars, and some sung by hereditary dancers. Additionally, the collection includes many old and newer recordings of contemporary composers.