From: sp2@cec2.wustl.edu (Sundara Pandian)
Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.classical
Subject: Carnatic Music : A brief introduction of its basic concept
Date: 9 Apr 1992 00:18:02 -0500
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis Mo.
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

    Carnatic Music: A brief introduction of its basic concept
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 [ I posted an article of the same title sometime ago ,without
   acknowledging the author's name. I just picked it from an old
   record and I had no idea who had written it. Thanks to Muthu Krishnan,
   who kindly sent me an e-mail after reading that article, I understand
   now that the article in question was penned by Dr.L.Subramaniam. As
   Mani is one of my favourite Carnatic violinists, I am very glad to 
   post that article again ( I've cancelled the previous articles )
   acknowledging Dr.L.Subramaniam. I hope that the readers of this net
   would forgive me for my silly error in my previous posting.
                                                       - S.Pandian.] 
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     The roots of Indian music are found in the oldest texts of the Hindu
 religion - the vedas,which date back to several thousand years .The
 fervent belief is that this music has been evolved and handed down to us
 by the celestial Gods, and with the same music we can reach spiritual
 fulfilled and attain salvation.
     Only as lately as 600 years ago,the tradition of Indian music got
 divided into two major systems - the Hindustani( North Indian ) and the
 Carnatic ( South Indian ). The essence and the greatness of Carnatic
 music lies in its delicate quarter-tones,graces, sliding and slurring
 subtleties, which are not to be found in any other part of the world.
     The ancient temples, the religious festivals,the princely courts,and
 the present day concert halls have played a very important part in the
 several stages of the development of Carnatic music system.Carnatic music
 is rendered extempore,without the aid of any notion created before your
 very eyes,for the pleasure of your ears,and to touch your very heart and
 soul.
     This non-preconceived improvisation and creative rendering of Carnatic
 music is the unique quality,rich in its form of melody and rhythm. Except
 for the song (while  rendering which the musician follows a certain basic
 pattern evolved and suggested by the original composer himself,that too
 with a lot of embellishments and variations spontaneously created by the
 performer), the other features of Carnatic music are entirely original in
 conception  and execution by the artist.
     Indian music is built on Ragas which are melodic forms and are based
 on parent scales known as Melakartha Ragas, each different from the other,
 numbering 72 in all. Each Melakaatha Raga has its own set of all the seven
 notes which occur both in the ascending and descending form.There are also
 model scales known as Fanya Ragas which are based on and derived from the
 Melakartha ragas. These Fanya ragas are numberless, affording many
 variations ( with new ones still being created ) with
   [1] the ascending and descending structure having the same missing notes
       in between;
   [2] the descending notes differing from that of the ascendinga;
   [3] instead of being in a straight run and order,the ascending and
       descending structure having a zig-zag pattern
 etc.,( The ascending and descending structure is known in its musical term
 as Arohanam and Avarohanam respectively. ) And most important of all,each
 and every Raga thus has its own regulated boundary which has to be
 strictly adhered to. And,each raga has its own character,color,and mood,
 which helps to build an atmosphere to the time, day or night,season or
 occasion.
    It is generally quoted that Sruthi (melody) is the mother of Indian 
 music and Laya (the rhythm) its father. The varieties of Talas are 
 numerous -108 of them in rare of use and a few in common practice. As far as
 the language of the songs in Carnatic music is concerned, the original 
 compositions are mainly in Sanskrit, Telugu ,or Tamil.The songs are mostly
 of a devotional type- glorifying Gods, praising their personalities and
 beseeching their blessings.
                                                  - Dr.L.Subramaniam
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  Sundara Pandian.
 [sp2@cec1.wustl.edu]
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