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Karnatak music (Sanskrit karnataka sangeetham ) also known as Carnatic music is the classical music of South India (as opposed to the classical music of North India called Hindustani) It is similar to Hindustani in that it is mostly improvised, but it is much more theoretical, with stringent rules. It also emphasizes the expertise of the voice rather than of the instruments. As with all Indian music, the main two components of Karnatak music are raga, a melodic pattern and tala, a rhythmic pattern.
In contrast to Northern India, the south was never successfully invaded by the Mughals and its musical forms thus represent purer Indian music. Karnatic music remained popular among the common people, and was performed as a normal spiritual ritual. The roots of the music were written between 4000 BC and 1000 BC, in texts like the Sama Veda. Instruments include a kind of oboe called a nagaswaram and a barrel drum called the tavil. The three greatest Karnatic composers are Mutuswamy Dikshitar, Syama Sastri and Tyagaraja. These are regarded with spiritual awe and are referred to as the Trimurti.
Karnatak concerts
Karnatak music performed by a small ensemble of musicians. The troupe usually has a vocalist, a primary instrument performer, a drone instrument performer and a rhythm instrument performer.
Primary instruments are string instruments like veena and violin. Drone instruments are accompanying instruments which just set an environment for the underlying melody (e.g., tambura and sruti box). Rhythm instruments are percussion instruments (e.g, mridangam, gadam, etc.). See also: Indian musical instruments.
Karnatak songs
Structure and variety
Karnatak songs are varied in structure and style, but generally consist of three verses:
- Pallavi (पल्लवि). This is the equivalent of a refrain in Western music. Two lines.
- Anupallavi (अनुपल्लवि). The second verse. Also two lines.
- Charanam (चरणं). The final (and longest) verse that wraps up the song. The Charanam usually borrows patterns from the Anupallavi. Usually three lines.
This kind of song is called a keerthanam (कीर्तनं). But this is only one possible structure for a keerthanam. Some keerthanams have a verse between the Anupallavi and the Charanam, called the Chittaswaram (चिट्टस्वरं). This verse consists only of notes, and has no words.
A Varnam is a special kind of song which tells you everything about a ragam; not just the scale, but also which notes to stress, how to approach a certain note, classical and characteristic phrases, etc. It's like reading the Bible in a foreign language. A varnam has a pallavi with many lines and a charanam with substanzas, thus:
- Pallavi
- Charanam Introductory line, then
How to sing them
This is rather complicated when written about, so to learn this properly, seek a person more knowledgeable than the author.
Sound like Chinese boxes to you? See the <A CLASS="internal" HREF="#External_links">external links</A> for more info.
The subtleties of Karnatak music were once not known to many people, but as a lot of treatises were developed and Bhakti (absolute devotion in Hinduism) flourished in India, more and more people got attracted towards it and it has earned international acclaim.
Attitudes
External links
- http://www.sangeetham.com is a premier portal site on Karnatak Music. It is a huge storehouse of information on the musical system and its personalities. Highlights include a searcheable database of compositions with lyrics and meanings, detailed information of carnatic music personalities and a very active discussion forum.
- http://www.carnatic.com/ has an introduction, lyrics, audio, information on instruments, musicians
and links.
- A Karnatak Primer is here: http://www.sambavi.com/Carnatic/a_karnatic_music_primer.htm
Footnotes
- This, some argue, makes Karnatak music more creative!