Biḍāram Śrī Krishnappa (1866-1931)

Biḍāram Krishnappa was a prominent Mysore court musician and composer whose career illustrates the cosmopolitan musical life of the Wodeyar darbār. Trained in local traditions and patronised by the royal household, Krishnappa absorbed music from his Guru Vīṇa Sēśannā, and was a well-respected musician and teacher; historical profiles show him contributing both as performer and as a mentor to younger players in the Mysore ecosystem. He composed in Kannaḍā, Telugu and Samskṛtam, and his musical endeavours spanned vocal, violin and harmonium practice. As a teacher of the violin and singing tradition in Mysore, Krishnappa’s pedagogy helped shape accompanists who later associated with leading instrumentalists like T. Chowdiah and others. His career is often cited in regional music histories of Mysore as an example of the court musician who combined composition and teaching—a role critical in translating Tyāgarāja-influenced repertoire into local stylings.