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Carnatic Music Terminology
Carnatic music terms are briefly described in this page. Major terms have their own separate article pages, while minor terms are defined / described here. The order of terms is from basic to related terms, rather than alphabetic. Main terms Nāda '' Nāda'' refers to music or musical sound. It also refers to the tone of a musical instrument. Anahata Nāda ''Anāhata Nāda'' refers to the naturally occurring sounds (literally not struck). Ahata Nāda ''Ahata Nāda'' refers to generated sounds or sounds made by efforts of man (literally that which is heard). It is of 6 types. 1.shareeraja - it emanates from the human throat. Example: vocal singing 2.Dhanuja - is born from string instruments. Example: Violin,veena etc... 3.Vayuja - us born when air is passed through narrow pipe like instruments. Example: Flute, nadaswaram etc... 4.Charmaja 5. Lohaja 6.Nakhaja Śruti ''Śruti'' is musical pitch. It is considered to be equivalent to tonic of western music. This is the pit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carnatic Music
Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. It is one of two main subgenres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu Texts and traditions, particularly the Samaveda. The other subgenre being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct form because of Persian or Islamic influences from Northern India. The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in ''gāyaki'' (singing) style. Although there are stylistic differences, the basic elements of (the relative musical pitch), (the musical sound of a single note), (the mode or melodic formulæ), and (the rhythmic cycles) form the foundation of improvisation and composition in both Carnati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Janya
''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a variety of features. ''Varja'' ragas Ragas that omit (varjyam, to omit in Sanskrit) one or more of the notes of the scale (''swaras'') of their parent ''melakarta'' raga, in the ascending or descending scale or in both, fall into this category. Different notes may be omitted from the ascending ''arohana'' and descending ''avarohana'' scale. Such scales are given the names listed below.''A practical course in Carnatic music'' by Prof. P. Sambamurthy, 15th edition published 1998, The Indian Music publishing house''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications vrja a * ''Sampurna'' – 7 note scale * ''Shadava'' – 6 notes * ''Audava'' – 5 notes Since these terms are applicable both to the ascending and the d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hindolam
Hindōḷaṃ is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven ''swaras'' (musical notes). Hindolam is not the same as the Hindustani Hindol. The equivalent of ''Hindolam'' in Hindustani music is ''Malkauns''''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications (or Malkosh''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras). It is known to be a rāgam that is generally beautiful and soothing to listen to. Being symmetrical in its ascending and descending scales, it lends itself very well to improvisation and is therefore popular at concerts. Structure and Lakshana ''Hindōḷaṃ'' is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain ''rishabham'' and ''panchamam''. It is a pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' rāgam in Carnatic music classification—''audava ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vivadi
In Hindustani classical music, ''vivadi'' ( sa, विवादि meaning "dissonant") refers to pitches that are not part of the ''arohana'' or '' avrohana'' of a given raga. In general, ''vivadi'' are not to be played during an improvisation on a given raga. So, for instance, if a raga had the structure S R G m P D N S', S' N D P m G R S; in that case, r, g, M, d and n would all be ''vivadi''. Although ''vivadi'' pitches are generally to be avoided during the playing of a given raga, they are occasionally added by skilled performers in order to introduce some color to an interpretation. In Carnatic music In Carnatic music, vivadi is used in ''vivadi swaram'', , ''vivadi ragam'', and by extension ''vivadi melakarta''. ''Vivadi'' term means going against the grain of thought or approach. Vivadi swaram A ''swaram'' is said to be ''vivadi'' in relationship with another swaram. There are twelve swarams in Indian classical music. But there are 16 notes. Thus some notes occupy t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vadi (music)
Vadi, in both Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music, is the tonic (root) swara (musical note) of a given raga (musical scale). "Vadi is the most sonant or most important note of a Raga."Nad Understanding Raga Music, Bagchee, Sandeep It does not refer to the most played note but it rather refers to a note of special significance. It is usually the swara which is repeated the greatest number of times, and often it is the swara on which the singer can pause for a significant time. Vadi swara in a raga is like a king in a kingdom. The specialty of any raaga depends on vadi swara and because of this, the vadi swara is also called the ''Jeeva swara'' or the ''Ansha swara''. A good artist uses vadi swara in different ways like singing vaadi swara again and again, starting a raga with vadi swara, to end a raaga with vadi swara, singing vadi swara many times in important places with different swaras or sometime singing vadi swara for a longer time in one breath. ''Vadi'' swara is al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Svara
Svara or swara (Devanagari: स्वर, generally pronounced as ''swar'') is a Sanskrit word that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave or ''saptaka''. More comprehensively, it is the ancient Indian concept about the complete dimension of musical pitch. Most of the time a ''svara'' is identified as both musical note and tone, but a tone is a precise substitute for sur, related to tunefulness. Traditionally, Indians have just seven ''svara''s/notes with short names, e.g. saa, re/ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni which Indian musicians collectively designate as ''saptak'' or ''saptaka''. It is one of the reasons why ''svara'' is considered a symbolic expression for the number seven. Origins and history Etymology The word ''swara'' or ''svara'' (Sanskrit: स्वर) is derived from the root ''svr'' which means "to sound". To be precise, the ''svara'' is defined in the Sanskrit ''nirukt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manodharma
Manodharma is a form of improvised South Indian classical Carnatic music. It is created on the spot during the performance, while remaining within the confines of musical grammar, as codified in the raga and/or the tala. Every Carnatic concert has one or many music pieces that showcases the singer's prowess and intellect in the form of Manodharma sangeetham. Often the centerpiece of a Carnatic concert will explore all the five types of manodharma. It serves as an important and integral aspect of Carnatic music. Types of Manodharma Based out of manodharma, Individual styles are developed. Manodharma has many aspects and performers develop distinct styles based on his/her musical values, interpretation and understanding. There is ample scope for manodharma when rendering raga alapana, tanam, neraval, pallavi, swaram and also kritis. There are five improvisational forms that fall under the practice of manodharma in Carnatic Music. They include: Alapana: a free flowing exploration ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Viruttam
A ''viruttam'' or ''virutham'' (Tamil) is a Hindu devotional verse sung in Carnatic music concerts. Viruttams do not possess a set tala and are solely improvised using one or more ragams. It is one of many forms of ''manodharma'' (spontaneous improvisations) in Carnatic music. A ''viruttam'' usually precedes rendition of a song. In most cases, it is sung in the same ragam as the song that follows it. Occasionally, viruttam of multiple verses are sung in different ragams, followed by a song in the same ragam as the last sung ragam of the viruttam. The artist may also sing the same verse in different ragams in different concerts. Virutham is not only used in concerts but also in traditional celebrations. Viruthams in praise of Lord Ayyappa are famous in South India. Viruthams are also sung in praise of Lord Muruga. A viruttam is called as Ugabhoga in Kannada. Ugabhogas are few set of devotional lines by the Haridasas of Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ragam Tanam Pallavi
Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP) is a form of singing in Carnatic music which allows the musicians to improvise to a great extent. It is one of the most complete aspects of Indian classical music, demonstrating the entire gamut of talents and the depth of knowledge of the musician. It incorporates '' raga alapana'', ''tanam'', '' niraval'', and '' kalpanaswara''. In more elaborate ragam tanam pallavis, a ''tani avartanam'' Kassebaum (2000), 158 may follow. Ragam "Ragam" in the context of "Ragam Tanam Pallavi" refers to ''raga alapana'' - the first component. In this form of pure melodic improvisation, the musician starts with a refrain to create the mood of raga and lays a foundation for composition to follow. Each ''Ragam tanam pallavi'' has at least one raga associated with it. Tanam ''Tanam'' is one of the most important forms of the improvisation, and is integral to the RTP. It is the second component of this composite form of improvisation. Originally developed for the veena, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kalpanaswaram
{{Use dmy dates, date=October 2011 In Carnatic Music, Kalpanaswaram (also called swarakalpana (spelt alternatively as svarakalpana), manodharmaswara or simply swaras), is melo-rhythmic raga improvisation in a specific tala. As part of swarakalpana, the musician delivers increasingly complex, improvised sequences in the Indian music solfege (sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni) within or towards the end of a composition. Swarakalpana is integral to the Pallavi portion of a Ragam Thanam Pallavi and typically follows the neraval. It is also common for seasoned artists to perform swarakalpana during recitals of various other kritis. Facts The ''kalpanaswaram'' may start at any place in the tala, but invariably the artist must end their improvisation at the first note of the first phrase of the composition, at the place in the rhythm cycle, where that note is. To arrive at that note, one has to approach it from the closest note below. There are, however, instances when ''kalpana swaras'' are rend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
