Basics of Carnatic Music

Carnatic music has two main
elements:
Raaga (Raagam) and Thaala
(Thaalam). Raaga is the mode and
Thaalam is the rhythmic cycles. There
are numerous raagas and thaalams
and with their combination you can
sing different and wonderful songs.

The major raagas are
Sankarabharanam, Mohanam, Aarabhi,
Hindolam, Kamas etc. The major
thaalams are Aadi, rupakam, dhruva,
triputa, jhampa, matya.
All the Raagas are based on Swaras.

There are seven basic swaras in
Indian Classical music. They are Sa,
Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da and Ni. With
different combination of these swaras
different ragas were created. The
group of first four swaras of the
Saptha Swaras – Sa, Ri, Ga, and Ma –
is known as the Purvanga. The group
of last three notes – Pa, Da, and Ni –
is known as Uttharanga.

DWADASA SWARASTHANAS
Out of the seven swaras, Shadjam (Sa)
and Panchamam (Pa) are constant.
They are called Achala Swaras. The
remaining five swaras admit varieties
and they are called Chala Swaras.
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...................S
u Dha
10.Chatusruthi Dhaivatham.....
........Cha Dha
11.Kaisiki Nishadham.....................
.Kai Ni
12.Kakali Nishadham.....................
..Ka Ni2

There are two basic elements for a
raaga;
the Aarohanam (the ascending
notes of raaga on scale) and the
Avarohanam (the descending notes of
raaga on scale). Arohana and
Avarohana together is called
Moorchana.
A series of swaras, beginning with Sa
and ending with Ni, is called Sthayi.
The Sthayi in which we normally sing
is the madhya sthayi.
There are Five
Sthayis:
• Anumandra Sthayi
• Mandra Sthayi
• Madhya Sthayi
• Tara Sthayi
• Ati-Tara Sthayi

THALAM(RYTHAM):-

In Indian Carnatic Music is a time
measure or rhythm cycle. As heart
beat is to life for a man, Thaalam
lends life for whole of a concert. It is
said "Sruthi Maata Laya Pitha" which
means, the drone emanated from the
Tambura is Mother to the music and
the Thaalam is like father. The
thaalam or time in Carnatic Music is
a series of counts made by wave of
hand or tap of the hand on the lap
or by using both the hands in a
manner of clap.
It is very important to understand
the following ten terms (Dasha
Pranas) related to a thaalam.

KAALAM (SPEED) :-
Each composition is rendered at
different speeds or kaalam. For
example, first speed is the slowest or
vilamba kaalam and second speed
(twice the first speed) is called
Madhyama kaalam and third speed is
called Duritha kaalam (twice the
second speed).

LAYA(TEMPO):-
Laya means speed or tempo. The
performers must maintain perfect
laya, meaning they should neither
speed up nor slow down the tempo of
a song.
There are three layas: Vilamba laya or
slow speed (also known as Chowka
kalam), Madhyama laya or medium
speed and Duritha laya or fast speed.
CONTINUED......!!!!!!