Performances of Carnatic music Carnatic music

1 performances of carnatic music

1.1 instrumentation
1.2 contemporary concert content
1.3 audience
1.4 festivals
1.5 artists

performances of carnatic music

carnatic music performed small ensemble of musicians, sit on elevated stage. consists of, @ least, principal performer, melodic accompaniment, rhythm accompaniment, , drone.

performances can musical or musical-dramatic. musical recitals either vocal, or purely instrumental in nature, while musical-dramatic recitals refer harikatha. irrespective of type of recital is, featured compositions form core of genre of music.

instrumentation

the tambura traditional drone instrument used in concerts. however, tamburas increasingly being replaced śruti boxes, , more commonly, electronic tambura. drone integral part of performances , furnishes stability – equivalent of harmony in western music.

in vocal recital, concert team may have 1 or more vocalists principal performer(s). instruments, such saraswati veena and/or venu flute, can found rhythmic accompaniment, usually, vocalist supported violin player (who sits on his/her left). rhythm accompanist mridangam player (who sits on other side, facing violin player). however, other percussion instruments such ghatam, kanjira , morsing accompany main percussion instrument , play in contrapuntal fashion along beats.

the objective of accompanying instruments far more following melody , keeping beats. accompaniments form integral part of every composition presented, , closely follow , augment melodic phrases outlined lead singer. vocalist , violinist take turns while elaborating or while exhibiting creativity in sections raga, niraval , kalpanaswaram.

unlike hindustani music concerts, accompanying tabla player can keep beats without following musical phrases @ times, in carnatic music, accompanists have follow intricacies of composition since there percussion elements such eduppu in several compositions.

some concerts feature bit of interaction lead musicians , accompanists exchanging notes, , accompanying musicians predicting lead musician s musical phrases.

contemporary concert content

a contemporary carnatic music concert (called kutcheri) lasts 3 hours, , comprises number of varied compositions. carnatic songs composed in particular raga, means not deviate notes in raga. each composition set specific notes , beats, performers improvise extensively. improvisation occurs in melody of composition in using notes expound beauty of raga.

concerts begin varnam or invocatory item act opening piece. varnam composed emphasis on swaras of raga, have lyrics, saahityam. lively , fast audience s attention. invocatory item may follow varnam.

after varnam and/or invocatory item, artist sings longer compositions called kirtanas (commonly referred kritis). each kriti sticks 1 specific raga, although composed more 1 raga; these known ragamalika (a garland of ragas).

after singing opening kriti, usually, performer sings kalpanaswaram of raga beat. performer must improvise string of swaras in octave according rules of raga , return beginning of cycle of beats smoothly, joining swaras phrase selected kriti. violin performs these alternately main performer. in long strings of swara, performers must calculate notes accurately ensure stick raga, have no awkward pauses or lapses in beat of song, , create complex pattern of notes knowledgeable audience can follow.

performers begin main compositions section called raga alapana exploring raga. in this, use sounds aa, ri, na, ta, etc. instead of swaras elaborate notes , flow of raga. begins , builds crescendo, , establishes complicated exposition of raga shows performer s skill. of done without rhythmic accompaniment, or beat. melodic accompaniment (violin or veena), expounds raga. experienced listeners can identify many ragas after hear few notes. raga established, song begins, lyrics. in this, accompaniment (usually violin, veena) performs along main performer , percussion (such mridangam). in next stage of song, may sing niraval or kalpanaswaram again.

in concerts, main item @ least have section @ end of item, percussion perform solo (called tani avartanam). percussion artists perform complex patterns of rhythm , display skill. if multiple percussion instruments employed, engage in rhythmic dialogue until main performer picks melody once again. experienced artists may follow main piece ragam thanam pallavi mid-concert, if not use main item.

following main composition, concert continues shorter , lighter songs. of types of songs performed towards end of concerts tillanas , thukkadas – bits of popular kritis or compositions requested audience. every concert last of day ends mangalam, thankful prayer , conclusion musical event.

audience

the audience of typical concert have understanding of carnatic music. typical see audience tapping out tala in sync artist s performance. , when artist exhibits creativity, audience acknowledge clapping hands. experienced artists, towards middle of concert, requests start flowing in. artist sings requests, , helps in exhibiting artist s broad knowledge of several thousand kritis in existence.

festivals

various music festivals featuring carnatic music performances held in india, , throughout world.

with city of chennai (then known madras) emerging locus carnatic music during 19th century, musicians founded tyagaraja aradhana festival in 1846. aradhana festival annual death-anniversary celebration of prolific carnatic music composer, tyagaraja. held in city of thiruvayaru, thousands of musicians attend festival perform compositions. since inception, other festivals started in similar manner throughout india , abroad, such chembai sangeetholsavam in indian city of guruvayur, , aradhana in city of cleveland.

the city of chennai holds six-week-long grand music season , has been described world s largest cultural event. music season started in 1927, mark opening of madras music academy. used traditional month-long carnatic music festival, since has diversified dance , drama, non-carnatic art forms. concert organisers feature own carnatic music festivals during season. thousands of performances held hundreds of musicians across various venues in city.

artists

carnatic music artists have have had several years of intense training , practice before being qualified musicians can perform on stage.