[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               SALUTING THE ST. THYAGARAJA MUSIC FESTIVAL

                                 ______


                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, April 6, 1995
  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, in just a few days, on April 15, 1995, the 
city of Cleveland, OH, will begin the 18th annual celebration of the 
St. Thyagaraja Music Festival. The 6-day event is being held at 
Cleveland State University in cooperation with the university's Indian 
cultural studies program. I take pride in welcoming the St. Thyagaraja 
Musical Festival to my congressional district. I am pleased to share 
with my colleagues and the Nation some important information regarding 
the festival.
  The Thyagaraja Music Festival has a rich heritage that can be traced 
to the immigration of Asian Indians to the Greater Cleveland area in 
the 1960's. As Indians immigrated to Cleveland, they maintained their 
cultural and religious ties. The Thyagaraja Festival offers a musical 
homage to the saint-composer, Sri Thyagaraja. Thyagaraja, who lived 
during the same period as Beethoven, is one of the most skilled and 
best known Indian composers. The first Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival 
was held on April 8, 1978. A group of 75 individuals assembled in the 
basement of Faith United Church of Christ in Richmond Heights, to sign 
Thyagaraja's ``Five Gems of Songs.''
  Mr. Speaker, over the years the Thyagaraja Festival has grown in size 
and scope. Festival organizers were able to foster a close working 
relationship with Dr. T. Temple Tuttle, who serves as director of the 
Indian cultural studies program at Cleveland State University. Under 
the leadership of this distinguished individual, for the past 16 years, 
the Thyagaraja Festival has been held at Cleveland State. Last year, 
more than 2,000 individuals attended the festival. They came from 
across the United States, and as far away as Canada, Europe, India, 
Hong Kong, and Singapore.
  This year, the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival will welcome 22 artists 
from India. In addition, the festival will include music competitions 
in Vocal, Veena, Violin, and Mridangam. Another highlight of the 
festival is the essay-writing competition based on the theme, ``What 
The Cleveland Festival Means To Me.''
  Despite its great expansion, the Thyagaraja Festival has kept to its 
basic purposes: remembering the great composer, Thyagaraja, by the 
performance of his works; maintaining broad-based participation of 
amateur devotees; encouraging children to keep the Indian classical 
music traditions strong; providing inspirational professional concerts 
and delicious south Indian food without charge; and encouraging non-
Indians to participate, thus increasing multi-cultural understanding.
  Mr. Speaker, I take pride in recognizing the 18th annual St. 
Thyagaraja Music Festival. I also take this opportunity to commend 
Professor Tuttle and the Cleveland State University family for their 
strong support of this important effort. I am certain that the festival 
will be great success.


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