Chitravina
N Ravikiran

Contributions

  • Inspired numerous artistes and parents since being presented at age of two
  • Created a new concept in world music – Melharmony, bridging aspects of the Indian melodic system with the Western harmonic system
  • Has introduced over 100 ragas and several compositions of Tyagaraja, Muttuswami Dikshitar, Shyama Shastri, Swati Tirunal etc to Western Orchestras and World Music Ensembles
  • First to introduce Melharmony & Indian music to School Orchestras and Youth Symphonies in USA, Germany etc 
  • Perhaps the most prolific frontline composer  today with over 1050 music, dance and orchestral compositions to his credit
  • Inventive composer of Music-Dance Operas such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Lakshmi Prabhavam, Savitri, Vinayaka Vaibhavam, Almighty Trinity 
  • First to have composed on each one of the 108 Divya Deshams (divine abodes) of Vishnu 
  • First to have composed in each one of the 35 talas of Carnatic music 
  • One of a select few to have composed in each one of the 72 melakartas (Principal Scales) of Indian Classical music 
  • Introduced and/or developed unique concepts such as Schematic Swarakshara compositions, Seamless Korvais, Illusory Korvais, Mrdanga & Vedamadhyama (Damaru) Yati Korvais, and Multi Yati Blended Korvais, to name a few.
  • Has mentored numerous award-winning and sought after vocal, violin, veena, chitravina, flute, keyboard, guitar and clarinet performers as well as sought after art-educators
  • Initiated Tele-Teaching, the first distance learning program in Indian Music in 1996 which has since been embraced across the field; a number of his lessons are now available at Acharyanet.com 
  • A champion of Rural Empowerment through Arts Education since 1990s, composed songs, produced DVDs and authored a book for the largest Rural Music Education Camp in India in which over 30,000 children participated  
  • Designed the new instrument, Nava Chitravina, a 20-stringed slide (an adaptation of the traditional Chitravina). Introduced Teflon in place of traditional slide materials, like bison horn, ebony, stone and glass
  • Has unearthed nearly 500 compositions of the iconic Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi (1700-65) 
  • Founded the International Foundation for Carnatic Music and the environmental advocacy, Planet Symphony 
  • Initiator of Musopathy – a cutting edge scientific approach to healing using sound frequencies  and Tonation Breathing Techniques (TBT) which helped numerous patients especially during the Covid pandemic. 
  • First to have taken Carnatic music to countries such as Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia
  • Created a first-of-its-kind Carnatic music ensemble, Vintage Virtuosos to popularise masterpieces
  • Authored books like Appreciating Carnatic Music, Perfecting Carnatic Music – Level I and II, Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi – Life and Contributions, Navavaranams and Saptaratnas of Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi, Compositions of Tanjavur Shankara Iyer and Inaiyatra Innishai; has penned numerous articles for leading publications and academic journals 
  • Has raised substantial funds for Health, Educational and Environmental initiatives; initiated the Musicians’ Covid Relief Fund and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund.