11. OVERVIEW OF CARNATIC MUSIC AND NOTATIONS

 11. OVERVIEW OF CARNATIC MUSIC AND NOTATIONS

Sangeetham is an Indian term for Music. A group of musical sounds is called swaras that give melody and pleasant feelings to the ears, which is called Sangeetham. Ancient writers hold the view that vocal music, instrumental music, and dance together constituted sangeetham. Later, dance was separated from the first two.

Shruthi is a musical sound which a well trained human ear is capable of distinguishing. It is the Keynote or Adhara Shadjam; based on which all other Swaras are derived according to the raga.

Swaras: 

Swara is a musical note which is pleasing to the ears. There are seven basic swaras, known as Saptha Swaras. They are -

1. Shadjam (shortly - Sa)

2. Rishabham (Ri)

3. Ghandaram (Ga)

4. Madhyamam (Ma)

5. Panchamam (Pa)

6. Dhaivatham (Dha)

7. Nishadham (Ni)

Out of the seven swaras, Shadjam (Sa) and Panchamam (Pa) are constant. They are called Achala Swaras. The remaining five swaras change according to the raga and they are called Chala Swaras. In combination, both Achala and Chala swaras yield 12 different musical notes and they are called Dwadhasa Swarasthanas.

The Dwadasa Swarasthanas are -

1. Shadjam......................................Sa

2. Suddha Rishabam.......................Su Ri

3. Chatusruthi Rishabam.................Cha Ri

4. Sadharana Gandharam...............Sa Ga

5. Anthara Ghandaram...................An Ga

6. Suddha Madhyamam..................Su Ma

7. Prathi Madhyamam.....................Pra Ma

8. Panchamam................................Pa

9. Suddha Dhaivatham...................Su Dha

10. Chatusruthi Dhaivatham.............Cha Dha

11. Kaisiki Nishadham......................Kai Ni

12. Kakali Nishadham.......................Ka Ni2

Rishabam, Gandharam, Daivatam and Nishabam allow three variation rather than two, depending on the adjacent swaras. So 4 more swaras shall be added to get 16 swaras called Suddha Vikrita Sthanas or Shodasa Swarasthanas.

Shatsruthi Rishabam (= Sadharana Gandharam)

Suddha Gandharam (= Chatusruthi Rishabam)

Shatsruthi Davisatham (= Kaisiki Nishadham)

Suddha Nishadham (= Chatusruthi Dhaivatham)

Some basic Terminologies:

Arohana – Series of Swaras in the ascending order of pitch.

Avarohana – Series of swaras in the descending order of pitch.

Moorchana – Arohana, and Avarohana together, is called Moorchana

Sthayi – A series of swaras, beginning with Sa and ending with Ni, is called Sthayi.

There are Five Sthayis.

1. Anumandra Sthayi

2. Mandra Sthayi

3. Madhya Sthayi

4. Tara Sthayi

5. Ati-Tara Sthayi

The Sthayi in which we normally sing is the madhya sthayi. The swaras following the upper Shadjam of Madhya sthayi are in Tara Sthayi, and the swaras following upper shadjam of Tara sthayi are in Ati-Tara Sthayi. The Sthayi preceding Madhya sthayi is the Madhra sthayi, and the swaras preceding the Mandhra Stayi Shadjam are in Anumandra sthayi.

Purvanga – The group of first four swaras of the Saptha Swaras – Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma – is known as the Purvanga.

Uttharanga – The group of last three notes – Pa Dha Ni – is known as Uttharanga.

Dhathu – The swara part of the musical composition is known as Dhathu.

Mathu (Lyrics) – The sahitya part of a musical composition is known as Mathu.

Akshara Kala – Unit time in music is called Akshara Kala.

Thrikaala – Kala refers to the speed of the musical piece. There are Three Kalas,

1. Prathama Kala – First degree of speed. One note is sung in one Akshara Kala.

2. Dwitiya Kala – Second degree of speed, twice faster than Prathama Kala. Two notes are sung in one Akshara Kala.

3. Tritiya Kala – Third degree of speed, twice faster than Dwitiya Kala. Four notes are sung in one Akshara Kala.

Thourya Trikam - Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, and Dance, all the three combined together is referred to as Thouryathrikam.

Tala (/Thaalam) - Musical time or measure.

Avartha – It is the completion of a tala angas or time measure.

Lakshana of Sanchari Geetha

Geetha generally means a song. The union of Dhatu and Matu is known as Geetha, ie. The union of music and words (swara and sahitya) is said by the learned to constitute a Geetha. Geetha's are the simplest of melodies. The term Geetha literally means a song. But in music, it signifies a particular type of composition.

Geetha's are of two kinds. They are -

1. Samanya Geetha (Sanchari / Sadharana / Lakshya Geetha)

2. Lakshana Geetha

Samanya Geetha's (Sanchari Geethas) are usually in praise of God, Musical luminaries, and Acharyas.

In a Lakshana Geetha, Sahityam will describe the Lakshana of the Raga in which the Geetha is set to. There will be a small Deiva Stuthi too.