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Carnatic music, also known as is one of the two styles of Indian Classical Music , the other being Hindustani Music . The present form of Carnatic music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th - 16th centuries CE and thereafter. From the ancient Sanskrit works available, and the several epigraphical inscriptional evidences, the history of classical musical traditions can be traced back about 2500 years. Carnatic music is completely or melodic formulæ, and , the rhythmic cycles. ORIGINS AND HISTORY Like all art forms in Indian Culture , Carnatic Music is believed to have a divine origin - it is believed to have originated from the Gods. However, it is also generally accepted that the natural origins of music were an important factor in the development of Carnatic music. Ancient treatises describe the connection of the origin of swaras to the sounds of animals and birds, and man’s keen sense of observation and perception that tried simulating these sounds - after hearing and distinguishing between the different sounds that emanated from bamboo reed when air passes through its hollows, man designed the first flute. In this way, music is venerated as an aspect of the supreme ()http://www.hindu.com/seta/2005/01/13/stories/2005011300111500.htm. Folk music is also said to have been a natural origin of Carnatic music, with many folk tunes corresponding to certain Carnatic ''ragas'' (discussed later). The Veda s are generally accepted as the main probable source of Indian music. The Sama Veda is said to have laid the foundation for Indian music, and consists mainly of hymns of Rigveda , set to musical tunes which would be sung using three to seven musical notes during Vedic sacrifices.1 The Yajur-Veda , which mainly consists of sacrificial formulae, mentions the '' Veena '' as an accompaniment to vocal recitations during the sacrifices.2 References to Indian classical music are made in many ancient Religious Texts , including Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata . The '' Yajnavalkya Smriti '' mentions "''Veena vadhana tathvangna sruti, jathi, visartha talanjaaprayasena moksha margam niyachathi''" ("The one who is well versed in veena, one who has the knowledge of srutis and one who is adept in tala, attains salvation without doubt.")3 Carnatic music is based on music concepts mentioned in Bharata 's '' Natya Shastra ''.4. The Natya Shastra mentions many musical concepts (including '' Swara '' and '' Tala '') that continue to be relevant to Carnatic music today. Both Carnatic and Hindustani music shared a common history. Since the late 12th and early 13th centuries, as a result of the increasing Persian influence (and as a result of the Islamic conquest) in North India , Hindustani Music started evolving as a separate genre, while Carnatic music was relatively unaffected by these Arabic and Iranian influences.Carnatic music. (2007). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online. In Carnatic Music (which was based in South India ), the pan-Indian Bhakti Movement laid a substantial basis as far as the use of religious themes are concerned, while major developments post 13th century also contributed to its divergence from Hindustani music.6 Carnatic music saw renewed growth during the who is known as the ''Sangeeta Pitamaha'' (the grandfather of Carnatic music) laid out the fundamental tenets and framework for teaching Carnatic music. Theory of Music , Vasanthamadhavi P.183. Venkatamakhin is credited with the classification of ragas in the Melakarta System and wrote his most important work; ''Chaturdandi Prakasika'' (c.1635 CE) in Sanskrit. Govindacharya expanded the Melakarta Scheme into the Sampoorna Raga system, which is the system in common use today. Even though the earlier writers Matanga, Sarangadeva and others also were from Karnataka , the music tradition was formally named ''Karnataka Sangeetha'' for the first time only in the 13th Century when the Vijayanagara Empire was founded.7 COMPOSERS There are many composers in Carnatic music. Purandara Dasa (1480 - 1564) is known as the father ''(Pitamaha)'' of Carnatic music due to his pioneering contributions to Carnatic music. Purandara Dasa is renowned for formulating the basic lessons of Carnatic music. He structured graded exercises known as ''Swaravalis'' and ''Alankaras'', and at the same time, introduced the '' Raga '' Mayamalavagowla as the first scale to be learnt by beginners. He also composed ''Gitas'' (simple songs) for novice students. Although only a fraction of his other compositions still exist, he is said to have composed around 475,000 compositions in total. Galaxy of composers The Sangeetha Moomoorthigal Right to left: Muthuswami Dhikshithar Thayagaraja Swamigal, Shyama Shasthri]] The contemporaries Tyagaraja ( 1759 ? - 1847 ), Muthuswami Dikshitar , ( 1776 - 1827 ) and Syama Sastri , ( 1762 - 1827 ) are regarded as the Trinity Of Carnatic Music due to the quality of Syama Sastri 's compositions, the varieties of compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar and Tyagaraja 's prolific output in composing '' Kriti s''.http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/31/stories/2006033100510300.htm http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/31/stories/2006033100510300.htm Prominent composers prior to the Trinity Of Carnatic Music include Muthu Thandavar (1525-1625), Annamacharya , Narayana Theertha , Bhadrachala Ramadas , Arunachala Kavi (1712-1779), Marimuttha Pillai (1717-1787), Sadasiva Brahmendra and Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi . Other prominent composers are Swathi Thirunal , Gopalakrishna Bharathi , Neelakanta Sivan , Patnam Subramania Iyer , Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar , Mysore Vasudevachar , Koteeswara Iyer , Muthiah Bhagavathar , Subramania Bharathiyar , Papanasam Sivan , Periyasaamy Thooran and N. S. Ramachandran . A unique development in the art of instrumental carnatic music took shape under the patronage of the kings of the Kingdom Of Mysore in the 18th through 20th centuries. The instruments the composers used to play their compositions were Veena , Rudra Veena , Violin , Tambura , ghata, Flute , Mridangam , nagaswara, swarabhat. Some instruments such as Harmonium , Sitar and Jaltarang , though uncommon to the southern region came into use and the English influence popularised the Saxophone and Piano . Even royalty of this dynasty were noted composers and proficient in playing musical instruments, solo or in concert with others.Pranesh (2003), p54-55, p92, p162-163, p225-226 Some famous instrumentalists were Veena Venkata Subbiah (1750)Pranesh (2003), p77, Veena Shamanna (1832-1908)Pranesh (2003), p93, Veena Padmanabiah (1842-1900)Pranesh (2003), p99, Veena Sheshanna(1852-1926)Pranesh (2003), p108, Veena Subbanna (1861-1939)Pranesh (2003), p128 and others. Composers of Carnatic music were often inspired by religious devotion and were usually scholars proficient in one or more of the following languages Kannada , Sanskrit , Tamil , Malayalam and Telugu . They usually included a signature, called a '' Mudra '', in their compositions. For example, all songs by Tyagaraja (who composed in Telugu ) have the word ''Thyagaraja'' in them, all songs by Muthuswami Dikshitar (who composed in Sanskrit) have the words ''Guruguha'' in them, songs by Syama Sastri (who composed in Telugu) have the words ''Syama Krishna'' in them, Purandaradasa , who composed in Kannada, used the signature ''Purandara Vittala'' and Gopalakrishna Bharathi and Papanasam Sivan who composed in Tamil , used the signatures ''Gopalakrishnan'' and ''Ramadasan'' respectively. IMPORTANT MUSICAL TREATISES These are books on Carnatic music considered authoritative and necessary for a serious study of Carnatic music and its evolution. Most of them are in Sanskrit, and some even date from before the Christian era.
NATURE OF CARNATIC MUSIC There are many aspects of Carnatic music. Compositions Carnatic music is taught and learned through compositions, which can be classified into one the forms: Geetha, Swarajati, Varna, Taana Varna, Pada Varna, Padajati varna, Keerthana, Kriti, Pada, Javali, Thillana, Virutha, etc. Each of these forms emphasize various aspects and encode musical expression at various levels. Although, learning music was a oral tradition, sophisticated notations have been developed by stalwarts of carnatic music, to preserve the details better. In contrast to the Hindustani Music of northern part of India, the carnatic music system developed around the compositions, which encode enormous amount of musical details, also providing scope for free improvization. Nearly every rendition of a carnatic music composition is different, and it has elements of the composers vision, as well as the musician's interpretation, which makes carnatic music very unique. Śruti See Also: Śruti (music) |
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