BASIC LESSONS IN CARNATIC MUSIC & ITS SIGNIFICANCE-PART 2

SWARAVALI VARISAI     

*It is the practice that Ragam Mayamalava Gowla has been chosen for the initial Swaravali Exercises by all in Carnatic Music.

*The Swaras taken by this Ragam are, Shadjam, Sudda Rishabam, Anthara Gandaram, Sudda Madyamam, Panchamam, Sudda Daivatham, Kakali Nishadam, Shadjam [ Tara Sthayai]

*The learning of the Swara Exercise in this Ragam will be easier by vidyarthis as there are four sets of Swaras of two each ,which sound in adjacent  Swarasthanas. In other words, Shadja and Sudda Rishaba are adjacent Swaras. Anthara Gandara and Sudda Madyama are adjacent Swaras, Panchama and Sudda Daivatha are adjacent Swaras, Kakali Nishada and Tarasthayi Shadja are adjacent Swaras.

* Mayamalavagowla Ragam is a Sampoorna Ragam or Mela Kartha ragam { No 15} . There are no  Swaras with dual names.  This Raga is found to be suitable for applying Jandai Prayogas, Duritha Kala Prayogas, Chowka Kala Prayogas, and Dhattu Prayogas. It is possible to learn the difference between the Achala Swaras and Kampitha Swaras at the initial stage of Music Training. Hence our Poorvacharyas have  recommended this Raga for  basic Carnatic Music training.

*Poorvanga and Utharanga of Arohana and Avarohana are symmetrical from the physical position of Swaras and also on Raga Bhava point of view and hence called ‘ perfectly symmetrical tetra chords’.

* There are only semi tonal difference exists between the two notes of each of four pairs.

* Mayamalava gowla Raga evokes Bhakthi Rasa and Karuna Rasam.

* There are about 16 to 18 exercises being taught  as  the initial practical exercises and their format being recognized by all. All these exercises contain Swara pattern that are found similar in popular Kritis in this Raga. In other words, these exercises are found to be sancharies  either in full or part of certain Avartha  found in these  Kritis.

 Some of the popular kritis are,

Meru samana  of Sri Thyaga Raja Swami

Thulasi Dala of Sri Thyagaraja Swami

Vidulaku  of Sri Thyaraja Swami

Sri Naadadhi  of Sri Muthuswami Dikshthar

Mayadeetha Swarupini of Ponnaiya

Deva Deva of Swath Thirunal Maharaja

Aadikondar of Muththuthandavar

BASIC LESSONS OF CARNATIC MUSIC & ITS SIGNIFICANCE PART1

BASIC LESSONS OF CARNATIC MUSIC AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE- PART 1

It is the practice in the world of Carnatic Music  learning to follow a format  during initial training, with specific chapters  as  listed below.

1 SWARAVALI VARISAI IN MAYAMALAVA GOWLA  RAGAM

2 JANDAI VARISAI

3 TARA STHAYI AND MANDARA STHAYI VARISAI

4 ALANKARAS

5 GEETHAM

6 SWARA JATHI

7 JATHISWARAM

8 NOTTU SWARA SAHITHYAS

Further analysis in subsequent postings……………

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PART 2

Musical Instrument Part 2

Roll of Musical Instruments in Carnatic Music Concerts

It will be interesting to make an analysis on how the Musical instruments are finding its place in Carnatic Music Concerts:

Veena-----------------------as Main Instrument

Violin-----------------------as Main Instrument as well as accompaniment

Guitar-----------------------as Main Instrument

Mandolin-------------------as Main Instrument

Thambura------------------as Supporting Instrument

Nadaswaram---------------as Main Instrument

Clarionet--------------------as Main Instrument

Saxophone-------------------as Main Instrument

Flute---------------------------as Main Instrument

Mukaveena------------------as Main Instrument

Mrudangam-----------------as accompaniment

Kanjeera----------------------as accompaniment

Ghatam------------------------as accompaniment

Thavil--------------------------as accompaniment

Jalatharangam---------------as Main Instrument

Cymbal-------------------------as accompaniment

Konnakol-----------------------as accompaniment

Morsing-------------------------as accompaniment

R.V RAO

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

Musical Instruments occupy an important position in field of Carnatic Music. It is to be noted that selected Instruments only are in strong position in the world of Carnatic Music. Since Carnatic Music is Krithi based art form,Kritis are played in Musical Instruments too, similar to Vocal rendition.. Of course, the Monodharma component of the Music are introduced at appropriate places during the concert. One cannot expect exact reproduction of Voice in the Musical Instrument playing and vice versa. Both styles are having their own individuality which are fine and graceful on their own. As mentioned earlier, Carnatic Music is Kriti based, Vocal rendition or Instrument playing are combined with Alapana, Niraval, Swara Kalpna , which are Monodarma or impromptu improvisation component of the Music.

Some of the instruments are played as main instrument in the concerts and some are as accompaniments only. There are some instrument which are played as both main and accompaniment ones.

The Musical Instruments are classified as:

            String Instruments

            Wind Instruments

            Percussion Instruments

            Other types of Instruments.

String Instruments: Veena, Violin, Chitra Veena,Guitar, Mandolin Thambura

Wind Instruments: Nadaswaram,Clarionet, Saxophone,Flute, Mukaveeana

Percussion Instruments: Mrudangam, Kanjeera, Ghatam,Thavil
Other Types of Instruments: Jalatharangam,Cymbal,[Konnakaol]

Other types of Instruments: Jalatharangam, Morsing, [Konnakol]

MUSIC APPRECIATION PART 2

            In  one sense the Rasikas of Carnatic Music are also musicians because by their continuous listening of many professional artist’s performances, and their rich musical knowledge acquired due to the above.

            Keeping their interest in mind, this posting and many more to follow has been aptly titled as MUSIC APPRECIATION.

            To start with, various elements and aspects of Carnatic Music has been listed below and they are discussed in the subsequent postings.

1. Kriti
2. Keerthana
3. Virutham
4. Katcheri
5. Pakka Vadyam.
6. Sabha
7. Rasika
8. Vidwan
9. Vocal Rendering
10. Musical Instruments and Playing Techniques
11. Samanya Sangeetham
12. Pamara Sangeetham
13. Folk Music
14. Cinema Music
15. Goshti Ganam
16. Vaadya Vrundha
17. Aalapanai
18. Sangathi
19. Niraval
20. Geetham
21. Swarajathi
22. Jathiswaram
23. Nottu Swara Sahithyas
24. Varnam
25. Ragam
26. Raga Malika
27. Ragam Thanam Pallavi
28. Thalam Nadai or Gathi
29. Thala Malika
30. Vaggeyakaras
31. Thani Aavarthanam
32. Composers
33. History of Music
34. Thillana
35. Padham
36. Jaavali
37. Bhajan
38. Sampradaya Sangeetham
39. Divyanama Sangeetham
40. Devara namas
41. Kavadi Chindu
42. Patriatic Songs
43. Thukkada
44. Thambura
45. Sruthi
46. Mallari
47. Kalpana Sangeetham
48. Kalpitha Sangeetham
49. Chittai Swaras
50. Saadakam
51. Bhakthi Bhavam
52. Arangetram

Etc