They were the rst to formalise the performance formally codi ed into a structured performance in the

pattern of bharatanatyam, and codify lessons eighteenth century by the four brothers from Tanjavur,
called adavus (basic steps and the di erent well-known as the Tanjore Quartet─Ponniah,
categories of rhythm patterns). Chinniah, Sivanandam, and Vadivelu.

They were the ones to plan and set the order

of the di erent items of the repertoire in The four brothers formally trained in Carnatic
performance. The order they set is as follows. music from the renowned Muttuswami
Melaprapti, alarippu, jatiswaram, sabdam, Dikshitar of the Musical Trinity for seven
swarajati, chauka varnam, ragamalika, padam, years. They debuted in the royal court of
javali, and tillana. Tanjavur. They composed several
tanavarnams, kirtanas with their signatures:
Guruguhadasa, Gurguhabhakta, and
Gurguhamurti.

The compositions were in Telugu, their

mother tongue, and they addressed their
family deities, Sri Brihadisvara and
Brihannayaki, as well as the kings and
ministers who patronised them and also the

Vadivelu, the youngest brother of the Quartet,

served in the royal court of Travancore, under the
patronage of Maharaja Swati Tirunal. His
The four brothers were master-conductors contribution was foremost in the eld of
(nattuvangam) of Bharatanatya recital and instrumental music. Swati Tirunal honoured him
had a large student following. with an ivory violin which still decorates the
ancestral house of the Quartet in West Main
Road, Tanjavur.
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