Associated Press
RICHLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., May 5, 2003: Members of the India Association of the Tri-Cities took part in the 16th annual Tyagaraja Music Festival at Timbers Apartments in Richland, Washington. About a dozen musicians sat on the floor in the clubhouse singing and playing the music of the great composer, Tyagaraja Shishyaparmpara, more commonly known as Saint Tyagaraja. “There is lots of ornamentation in East Indian music” said Shas Mattigod of Richland. “The music we perform here today is from southern India.” For nearly 150 years, Hindus around the world have celebrated Saint Tyagaraja’s life and music. He wrote more than 900 complete compositions during his lifetime from 1767 to 1847. “Tyagaraja created all forms of music, from love songs to spirituals,” Mattigod said. “Like Mozart, he was clearly a genius.”