Great Musical Pioneer ‘Mandolin’ U Srinivas Dies

We have learnt today of the death of the great Indian musician U Srinivas following a lung infection.

Born on February 28, 1969, he started to play the mandolin, a little-known instrument in India, when he was only six years old. Even though, at the time, the mandolin was an alien instrument in South Indian classical music, Srinivas learnt to play Carnatic ragas on the mandolin with so much ease and dexterity that his name has become synonymous in India with the mandolin and he is popularly called Mandolin Srinivas.

Real World had the honour to work with him on two albums. Rama Sreerama was a memorable live performance of traditional Carnatic compositions that took place in a candle-lit Wood Studio. Dream was the highly-experimental musical partnership with producer/guitarist Michael Brook featuring collaborations with Nigel Kennedy, Nana Vasconcelos and Jane Siberry.

A calm, gentle and mediative young man, Srinivas was surprisingly modest for an artist of such international critical acclaim, as he said “Where is the end to music? The more your learn, the more you want to know”.

By Online Editor

Published on Fri, 19 September 14

Further reading

Long-awaited release of Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté collaboration

The album is a spiritual meditation by two culture bearers of centuries-old musical traditions.

Syriana release new EP ‘H​ā​rim’ to raise funds in support of earthquake aid

Harim is a three-track 'pay what you feel' Bandcamp release.

Track of the day: ‘Steal’ by Bob Holroyd. Remixed by Luca Bacchetti

Originally released as part of the Mangled Pianos single last summer, ‘Steal’ has been reworked...

Guitarist Salif Koné demonstrates three musical styles from Mali

Rokia Koné and Les Amazones d'Afrique's guitarist demonstrates Mandigue, Bamana & Tuareg music.