Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Ilaiyaraaja
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question links Indian film music with Western classical music institutions. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London is one of the world best known orchestras, and composing a full symphony for it is a rare honour. An Indian music director who mainly worked in film music achieved this distinction and is often mentioned in general knowledge questions about music and culture.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The institution in question is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London.- The question refers to the first Asian who composed a full symphony for this orchestra.- The options list well known Hindi film music director duos and two individual composers.
Concept / Approach:
The key is to connect the idea of a symphony and Western orchestral work with an Indian composer who is known for deep classical training and orchestral experimentation. While several composers wrote highly melodic film scores, only a few ventured into large scale symphonic composition for international orchestras. Remembering that Ilaiyaraaja, a legendary composer from South India, wrote a symphony performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra gives a direct route to the answer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
- Step 1: Recall that Ilaiyaraaja is widely respected for his integration of Indian classical, folk and Western classical elements.- Step 2: He composed a full length symphonic work which was recorded and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.- Step 3: Scan the options. The only name that matches this historic collaboration is Ilaiyaraaja.- Step 4: Nadeem Shravan, Anand Milind and Shiv Hari are notable film music duos but they do not have this specific symphonic association.- Step 5: A R Rahman is also internationally acclaimed, but this particular first full symphony for the Royal Philharmonic is attributed to Ilaiyaraaja.
Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is to remember time line and region. Ilaiyaraaja career includes thousands of songs and background scores in Tamil and other Indian languages, and he received recognition abroad for his orchestral writing. Many standard music general knowledge books mention that he was the first Asian to compose a complete symphony for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The other composers in the options are linked more with film songs than with formal Western symphonic pieces.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nadeem Shravan are known for popular Hindi film soundtracks of the nineteen nineties but are not associated with composing a symphony for the Royal Philharmonic.Anand Milind also worked extensively in Hindi cinema but have no such symphonic collaboration in their record.Shiv Hari is a duo of classical musicians Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia who composed for films like Silsila and Chandni, yet they are not credited with being first Asian symphonic composers for the London orchestra.A R Rahman has composed for Broadway and Hollywood and collaborated with many orchestras, but this specific first symphony milestone belongs to Ilaiyaraaja.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often mark A R Rahman simply because of his global fame and Academy Award recognition, overlooking earlier pioneers. Another pitfall is ignoring South Indian composers in standard general knowledge preparation and focusing only on Hindi cinema names. To avoid errors, aspirants should prepare a balanced list of major composers from all regions and note their unique achievements.
Final Answer:
The music director who first composed a full symphony for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London is Ilaiyaraaja.
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