Handel Manuel

hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (July 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten. Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows Wikipedia's norms and is inclusive of all essential details. (July 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help if you can. (July 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Handel Manuel (27 April 1918 – 22 October 1994) was an Indian pianist, organist, conductor, composer and accompanist. He helped to make western classical music popular in Chennai, the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Biography[]

Handel Manuel was born in Tuticorin, India, on 27 April 1918,^[1] and was named after the composer Handel. He was educated at the Madras Christian College, but he did not study music there. He was a self-taught composer.^{[citation needed]}

At the age of 23 Manuel became the first Indian conductor of the Madras Musical Association. He also served for over 50 years as the organist and choirmaster at St Andrew's Church, Chennai (known as The Kirk) and was the founder director of the Madras Philharmonic and Choral Society.^{[citation needed]}

Handel Manuel taught as music teacher in C.S.I Bain's School towards the end of his career. Handel Manuel was the person who wrote and augmented the western musical notes, including the characteristic semi-tones, for National Anthem of India. He was the Station Director Western Music of All India Radio, Madras which is known as A.I.R. and he was in charge of Children's program. His son is Vijay Manuel who played the keyboard for Ilayaraja, Film Music Composer and Director. Manuel died on 22 October, 1994.

Honours and awards[]

• He is the only Indian to be invited to the International Tchaikovsky Competition held in Moscow.
• He was elected Honorary Life Member of the Royal School of Church Music, London.
• He was appointed Producer Emeritus, All India Radio.
• He was awarded the Padmashri in 1983.
• He was also awarded the award from Rotary.
• Alan Hovhaness, the American composer, dedicated two pieces to Manuel: the "Arjuna" Symphony and an Organ Sonata.^[2]

Legacy[]

At the request of several choristers who had sung under Manuel, Sharada and Surender Schaffter founded the in 2003. Surender is the younger brother of Handel Manuel. This non-denominational choir has thirty members and specializes mostly in church music of the Baroque and Classical periods. They have performed at Egmore Wesley, St George's Cathedral, the Emmanuel Methodist Church and St. Andrew's Church, Bangalore.

His son, has been acknowledged as the best pianist and bass player in India and has performed for over forty years consistently for acclaimed Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja.^[3] Viju Manuel died in August 2015.^[4]

References[]

External links[]

• www.classichymns.in
• www.chennaibest.com
• www.thekirk.in