CARNATIC MUSIC
Indian music has been in existence since time immemorial. Nowhere in the world
has music played such an important role as seen in India, be it as an instrument
to facilitate spiritual attainment, to celebrate or to sing or to express myriads of
moods. Carnatic music is one such system of music commonly associated with
Southern part of the India mainly Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu. It came in 5th Century. It has five melodic varieties of scales:
Chatusra, tisra, khanda, misra and sankirna. Mainly the emphasis is on
singing. Musicians such as Purandara Dasa and the holy Trinity of Carnatic
Music– Thyagaraja, Syama Sastry and Muthuswami Dikshitar―are mainly
credited with developing the kriti- a form developed between the 14th and 20th
centuries through which compositions are sung.
Basically Carnatic music has been composed for singing. Every musical piece
reflects upon the personality of the singer, and hence the improvisation by the
artist brings in a personal touch. A typical Carnatic music performance has a
principal performer felicitated by melodious accompaniments (Raaga and
Taala) that have to follow the intricacies of the composition since there are
instrumental elements such as eduppu in several compositions.
DID YOU KNOW…
Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni are the abbreviations of Shadjam, Rishabham,
Gandharam, Madhyamam, Panchamam, Dhaivatam and Nishaadam
INSTRUMENTS USED IN CARNATIC MUSIC
Thambura/Tanpura: It is a long-necked plucked lute (a stringed instrument). Its Tanpura
shape somewhat resembles that of the sitar, but it has no frets- and the strings
are played open.
Ottu: It is a double reed wind instrument, used to provide a drove
accompaniment to the similar nadasvaram obol. Ottu is a large conical
instrument, some 2. 5 feet long.
Ottu
Morsing: It is a metal ring which looks like a horseshoe with two parallel forks
and a metal piece (tounge-shaped) in the middle, between the forks, fixed to the
ring at one end, which helps in vibrating the instrument.
Morsing
Mridangam: It is a percussion instrument used as an accompaniment in Carnatic
vocal and instrumental music.
Veena: It is the most popular instrument in South Indian music, having a large
Mridangam
body hollowed out of a thick black wood (generally jackwood).
Violin: The violin is an integral part of Carnatic music. It is mostly played as an
accompaniment.
Veena
DID YOU KNOW…
Carnatic music is considered one of
the oldest systems of music in the
world.
Can you name another interesting
old classical music system? Violin
Activity
1. Identify which instruments mentioned below are percussion, wind,
or string instruments.
a) Flute
b) Veena
c) Violin
d) Tanpura
e) Mridangam
f) Harmonium
2. Identify the famous personalities:
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3. How many types of Raagas and Taalas are in Carnatic music. What
are the main differences between Hindustani music and Carnatic
music?
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4. Draw your favourite instrument used in Carnatic music
Theory credits: Chaudhury, D. and A. Pasricha (2007). “Classical Music” in Incredible India. GoI: Department of India,
New Delhi; http://www.indianmelody.com
