Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao

Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao (alternatively spelled Dwaram Durga Prasada Rao)[1] is an Indian violinist of Carnatic music style, guru and music teacher from the state of Andhra Pradesh. For over fifty years, he has performed solo and as an accompanist in several music concerts. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India's highest award in the arts, for his contributions to Carnatic music.

Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao
OccupationViolinist
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award (2014)

Early life

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Rao is from Vizianagaram.[2] He has a brother, Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao [te], who is also a violinist.[3]

Career

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Rao is an exponent of violin in Carnatic music style[4] for at least 70 years as of 2016.[5] He studied with Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao [te].[6] When he was 17 years old, Rao won a Carnatic music competition held by All India Radio.[3] He accompanied his brother in several performances[3][7][8] and also performed solo.[9] He is a guru and teaches music.[10][11] His violin playing was generally received favourably among critics and connoisseurs alike.[11][9]

He worked as a lecturer for 22 years and later as the principal of Maharajah's Government College of Music and Dance[12] in Vizianagaram for 18 years. For a brief time period, he had an apprenticeship with painter Antyakula Pydiraju [te].[1]

Awards

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Rao was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India's highest civilian award in the field of arts,[13] for the year 2014 in the Carnatic instrumental music category by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, overseen by the Government of India.[4]

Family

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Durga Prasad Rao hails from a family of violinists.[14] His grandfather Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu was one of the most important Carnatic music violinists of the 20th century.[3][14][8] Other renowned violinists include Naidu's brothers Dwaram Narasinga Rao Naidu [te][15] and Dwaram Venkata Krishnaiah, daughter Dwaram Mangatayaru [te],[16] son Dwaram Bhavanarayana Rao; Bhavanarayana Rao's daughter Dwaram Lakshmi;[17] and Durga Prasad Rao's brother Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao [te].[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Touched by Melody". The Hans India. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Treat in store for classical music lovers". The Hindu. 8 July 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sumadhura (5 June 2019). "Violin programme enthrals audience". The Hans India. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Musicians, film-maker chosen for Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships". The Hindu. 12 June 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. ^ Subrahmaniam, Velcheti (23 December 2016). "Memories of Mangalampalli". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Silence of the strings". The Hindu. 30 October 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ^ "VMDA's 7-day Music and Dance Festival from Aug 8". The New Indian Express. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b Balantrapu, Prasuna (22 November 2018). "A fitting tribute to Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Waves of music". The Hindu. 24 October 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  10. ^ "A treat for musical lovers". The Hindu. 20 March 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b "A treat in classicism". The Hindu. 4 August 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  12. ^ Weidman, Amanda J. (18 July 2006). Singing the Classical, Voicing the Modern: The Postcolonial Politics of Music in South India. Duke University Press. p. 299. ISBN 9780822336204.
  13. ^ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to UoH professor". The Hindu. 20 July 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Technically sound". The Hindu. 21 November 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Faithful to the legacy". The Hindu. 19 September 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Footprints in the sands of time". The Hindu. 14 April 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Sharp manodharma". The Hindu. 20 August 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 January 2023.