Some months ago, we traced the route taken by exponents of
Carnatic music in the Vijayanagara kingdom to Tanjore, where the Maratha Nayaks
patronized them. That there were a number of music and dance forms already is
pretty clear, but with time these new systems became the norm. The new forms
flourished but with pressure from the new British rulers and missionaries, some
of the old practices were getting forced out. One of the older forms that underwent
change was what was termed Dasiattam and four brothers known as the Tanjai
nalavar got involved (together with some others) in its revival and
restructuring into what we know as today’s Bharatnatyam. However for certain
reasons they were forced to move. Let’s go to the Tanjore of those days and retrace
the steps of the famous Quartet to Travancore and their stay there.
read more at
http://maddy06.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-tanjavur-quartet.html