Kadri Gopalnath of Mangaluru may have bagged a multitude of awards, but this year’s S.V. Narayanaswany Rao National Award from the Chamarajpet Ramaseva Mandali seems extra special to him.

“It was nearly 40 years ago that I was in the process of rediscovering and exploring the Belgian instrument for adapting it to Carnatic genre. After years of research and modifications to suit the genre, I was rearing to showcase my Carnatic experimentations when mandali founder S.V.N. Rao was open-minded to offer me a morning slot. Today, I feel rewarded to be taking an award instituted in his name,” says Mr. Gopalnath, who will receive the award during Ramothsava on May 1.

Mr. Gopalnath was at the right place at the right time, according to S.N. Varadaraj, general secretary of the mandali.

“In 1977, when some of the best Nadaswara professionals were unable to make it to the mandali, Gopalnath’s approach proved timely as audiences were exposed to a foreign instrument on a classical platform,” says Mr. Varadaraj.

Belgian instrument-maker and musician Adolphe Sax, who invented saxophone in 1840, would never have imagined that his invention would one day see Carnatic flourishes on it.

“My modifications with controlled blow, apart from altering the pads and fastening some keys for easier Carnatic oscillations helped me tackle every composition in every raga. In a way, my hard work not only helped me propagate classical Indian music on an established European instrument, but it is more rewarding to see hundreds of enthusiasts taking to the instrument in the last two decades. The instrument has gained a niche in Carnatic,” says Mr. Gopalnath.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – March 28th, 2016