In
Carnatic music
Carnatic music, known as or in the 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 ...
, Neraval also known as Niraval or Sahitya Vinyasa is the elaboration and improvisation of melody for a particular line. Usually, just one or two lines of text from the song (from the
charanam
Charanam (meaning ''foot'') in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) is usually the end section of a composition which is sung after the anupallavi.
There may be multiple ''charanams'' in a composition which make up different stanzas, bu ...
part of the
kriti
Kriti may refer to:
Art and entertainment
* Kriti (music), a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music
* ''Kriti'' (film), a 2016 Hindi-language short film
* Kriti TV, Greek TV station
People with the name
* Kriti Bharti, Indi ...
) are sung repeatedly, but with improvised elaborations.
This elaboration remains within the framework of the original patterns of duration (
talam),
[ Randel (2003), p562] and each word in the lines of text stay set within their original place (''idam'') in the
tala cycle.
[ Viswanathan & Cormack (1998), p232] The lines are then also played at different levels of speed which can include double speed, triple speed, quadruple speed and even
sextuple
In mathematics, a tuple is a finite ordered list (sequence) of elements. An -tuple is a sequence (or ordered list) of elements, where is a non-negative integer. There is only one 0-tuple, referred to as ''the empty tuple''. An -tuple is defi ...
speed.
The neraval is one of the features in the extempore improvisation aspect (''Manodharma Sangita'') of Carnatic music, and is intended to highlight the
Raga bhava effectively. It is usually performed by the more advanced performers.
Examples
Examples of Krithis containing lines best suited for neraval:
*''
Vathapi Ganapathim'' in
Hamsadhwani
Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"), is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāga of th ...
at "Pranava Swarupa Vakratundam"
* ''Balagopala'' in
Bhairavi
Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava.
Etymology
The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is th ...
at "Neela neeradha shareera dheerathara",
*''Entara Nithana'' in
Harikambhoji at "Sheshudu Shivuniki Bushudu Lakshmana",
*''Nidhichaala Sukhama'' in
Kalyani (raga)
Kalyani is a melakarta raga (parent musical scale) in the Carnatic music. It was called Kalyan but is now more popularly called Yaman in Hindustani Music. Its Western equivalent is the Lydian mode.
Kalyani in Carnatic music
In South Indian w ...
at "Mamathabandhanayutha Narasthuthi Sukhama?" or "Sumathi Thyagaraja Keerthana Sukhama?"
*''O Rangasayee'' in
Kambhoji
Kambhoji or Kambodhi is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji.
Scale
The scale of Kambhoji is
Ascending: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
Descending: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (N3 P D2 S) ...
at "Bhuloka Vaikuntam ithiyani",
*''Ennaganu Ramabhajana'' in
Kamavardhini
Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical mu ...
at "Rama Chiluka Nokata Penchi Prema Matalalada Nerpi",
*''Pakkala Nilabadi'' in
Kharaharapriya at " Tanuvurce vandana mona ninchuchu nara" or "Manasuna"
*''Palinchu Kamakshi'' in
Madhyamavati
Madhyamavati (madhyamāvati) is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāga (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale), as it does not have all the seven musical notes (''swaras''). ...
at "Kanthamagu Peru Pondhithivi Kaarunyamurthivai jagamu",
*''Rama Rama Gunaseema'' in
Simhendramadhyamam
Simhendramadhyamam is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 57th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Sumadyuti in Muthuswami Dikshitar schoo ...
at "Munimaanasa dhama Mrughamatha Sulalama",
*''Rama nee Samanamevaru'' in
Kharaharapriya at "Paluku palukulaku tene"
*''Saroja Dhala Netri'' in
Sankarabharanam at "Sama Gana Vinodhini gunadhama Shyamakrishnanuthe",
*''Shambho Mahadeva'' in
Kamavardhini
Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical mu ...
at "Shambho Mahadeva Sharanagathajana rakshaka",
*''Jagadoddharana'' in
Kapi
Kapi, Kapı, or KAPI may refer to:
Places
* Kapi, Estonia, a village in Estonia
* Kapı, Karataş, a village in Turkey
* a possible old volcanic eruption site near Krakatoa
People
* Mari Kapi (1950–2009), Papua New Guinean judge
* Mustafa ...
at "Purandara Vithalana"
*''
Narayana Ninna Namada
Narayana Ninna Namada ( kn, ನಾರಾಯಣಾ ನಿನ್ನ್ ನಾಮದ) is a Kannada composition in Carnatic music by Purandara Dasa in the 16th century. It is set in the Shuddha Dhanyasi raga and the Khanda Chapu tala. It emphasizes ...
in
Shuddha Dhanyasi
Udayaravichandrika 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 th ...
at "Ento Purandaravithalarayana"
* ''Sri Venkateshwara'' in
Thodi at "Maarajanakam Madhavanamakam",
Notes
References
*
* Viswanathan, T. & Cormack, Jody (1998). In {{cite book, title=In the Course of Performance: Studies in the World of Musical Improvisation, last=Nettl, first=Bruno, authorlink=Bruno Nettl, author2=Russell, Melinda, publisher=
University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press is the largest and one of the oldest university presses in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including ''The Chicago Manual of Style'', ...
, location=
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
&
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, ref=NettlRussell1998, isbn=0-226-57411-3, date=15 December 1998, url-access=registration, url=https://archive.org/details/incourseofperfor0000unse
See also
*
Glossary of Carnatic music
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 term ...
Carnatic music
Carnatic music terminology