Lesson 01 - Technical Terms

• It is music

• One of the performing & fine arts

• Gives melody and pleasant feelings to ears

• Called as Sangeetham

• Vocal, instrumental, and dance was once Sangeetham but now dance is separated from the two

• The smallest interval of pitch that the human voice or a musical instrument can produce

• Key note or adhara shadja

That which is able to please of its own accord is svara.

The 7 sapasvaras are the seven basic building blocks of Carnatic music, and the other 6 svaras derive their positions in relation to Shadja.

Shadja

Rishabha

Gandhara

Madhyama

Panchama

Dhaivata

Nishada

5 svaras (Ri, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni) have to varieties. Komal (1) lower note Tivra (2) higher note. Tivra swara produced on higher svarasthana and komal on the lower svarasthana. Sa and Pa are achala svaras bc they don’t have varieties

Suddha Rishabha

Chatusruti Rishabha

Sadharana Gandhara

Antara Gandhara

Suddha Madhyama

Prati Madhyama

Suddha Dhaivata

Chatusruti Dhaivata

Kaisiki Nishada

Kakali Nishada

Achala

The order or krama in which the notes ascend in a raga.

The order in which the notes descend in a raga.

It is the range of the voice or instrument (aka octave). There are 5 sthayis in carnatic music; Anumandra, Mandra, Madhya (normal), Tara, Ati Tara.

The Svara part of the composition is Dhatu.

The sahitya is the Matu.

A complete tala. The completion of one round of angas is avarta.

Kala is the speed of the musical piece, there are 3 kalas; Prathama Kala, Dwithiya Kala, & Trityia Kala

1st degree of speed. For every anga in a tala 1 akshara kala is sung.

2nd degree of speed, twice faster than Prathama Kala. For every anga in a tala 2 akshara kalas are sung.

3rd degree of speed, twice faster than Dwithiya Kala. For every anga in a tala 4 akshara kalas are sung.

The rhythmic framework comprising framework comprising structured beats and rests that govern the timing and rhythm of a musical composition.

The 6 distinct modes used to mueasure musical time. Each of the Shadangas are associated with specific akshara kalas, which serve as the units of measurement for the respective modes. Angas are Laghu, Drutham, Anddrutam, Guru, Plutam, Kakapadam.

(Sign Ɪ), (# of Aksharas 3/4/5/7/9)

(Sign O), (# of Aksharas 2)

(Sign U), (# of Aksharas 1)

(Sign 8), (# of Aksharas 8)

(Sign Ɪ8), (# of Aksharas 12)

(Sign +), (# of Aksharas 16)

The 3 Talangas that are widely in use, Anudrutam, Drutam, & Laghu

The seven principle Talas aka the Suladi Sapta Talas (put table with tala name, sign, and akshara kala)

sign (ꞮOꞮꞮ) akshara kala (14)

sign (ꞮOꞮ) akshara kala (10)

sign (OꞮ) akshara kala (6)

sign (Ɪ7UO) akshara kala (10)

sign (Ɪ3OO) akshara kala (7)

sign (Ɪ5Ɪ5OO) akshara kala (14)

sign (Ɪ) akshara kala (4)

Only laghu has variations in number of kriyas. There are 5 Jati bedhs for Laghu in a Tala.

• Tisra Jati - 3 kriyas

• Chaturasra Jati - 4 kriyas

• Kanda Jati - 5 kriyas

• Misra Jati - 7 Kriyas

• Sankeerna Jati - 9 kriyas

Vocal music, instrumental music, and dance combined

Two types:

Ahata Nada (music made by effort of man)

Anahata Nada (music of nature).

Sariraja, Nakhaja, Dhanurja, Vayuja, Charmaja, and Lohaja

Atisukshma, Sukshma, Apushta, Pushta, Kritrima

Arohana and Avarohana together

Combination of Svara patterns in melody which has a definite foundation

Practice music meant for the initial training of a student (Sarali Varasulu, Janta Svaralu, Datu varusalu, upper sthayi varusalu, alankaras)

Music that is performed in front of an audience

One who composes the dhatu and matu of a composition.