raagarasika

Episode 50: Special Rasikas’ Voice With Listener Renditions -- Part 1

Happy Deepavali! We have received an excellent response to our call for listener submissions. We really appreciate your involvement and enjoyed listening to each submission. Given the response, we will be spreading the submissions as well as our discussion on each selected entry across the next few episodes. In Part I, we feature submissions by: Kum. Ashraya Ananthanarayan who sent in a Tyagaraja composition in Bangala raaga, Adi tala and Smt. Durga Krishnan who submitted a thanam on veena in two raagas -- Hamsanandi and Kalyani.

Episode 49: Relevance of Arohanam and Avarohanam in Defining a Raaga's Structure

We wrap up our introductory series on Arohanam and Avarohanam with a discussion on whether or not raagas are entirely and solely defined by their corresponding ascending and descending scales. Using examples of raagas such as Reetigowlai, Madhyamavati, and Hamsaroopini, Vidya highlights the varying degrees in which textbook definitions of Arohanam and Avarohanam may (or may not) help understand the form of individual raagas.

Episode 48: Carnatic Music Terms Defined: Types of Raagas – Audava, Shadava, Sampoorna, Krama, Vakra

We continue our discussion regarding arohanam and avarohanam, and define several terms commonly used in Carnatic music to describe raagas. With several examples and illustrations, Vidya elaborates on terms such as Audava, Shadava, Sampoorna, Krama, Vakra, Varja, Melakarta and Bhashanga, and describes how a raaga can frequently represent a combination of these attributes.

Episode 47: Carnatic Terms Defined: Arohanam and Avarohanam

In this episode, we discuss two very familiar terms in Carnatic music: Arohanam refers to the ascending scale and avarohanam refers to the descending scale. Vidya shares some examples of raagas to discuss kinds of arohanam and avarohanam in terms of number of swarams and the impact of this on the phrases that are permitted. Finally, we discuss how the importance of the arohanam and avarohanam varies from one raaga to another as raagas continue to evolve over time.

Episode 46: Introduction to Chapu Talams

We conclude our introductory series on talams, with a discussion on two chapu talams: misra chapu talam and kanda chapu talam. Vidya illustrates these talams using snippets from concert recordings of master musicians Smt. Brinda and Smt. Mukta; and Smt. D. K. Pattammal.

Episode 45: Introduction to Adi tala and Rupaka tala

We continue our discussions of talas from the previous episode and name the seven basic talas in Carnatic music. Vidya highlights two very common talas: Rupaka tala and the Adi tala. She then explains the angas that make up these talas, and illustrates these with snippets from concert recordings of master musicians Sri G. N. Balasubramaniam and Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi.

Episode 44: Carnatic Music Terms Defined -- Laya, Kala, and Tala

In this episode, we introduce the fundamentals of rhythm. Vidya explains how rhythm manifests itself in Carnatic music and discusses terms such as laya, kala, and tala. We finish this episode by defining the basic constituents of tala, called "angas".

Episode 43: Featured Composition -- Maamava Meenakshi Part II

In this segment, we look at the some more of the highlights of this short yet marvelous composition. Vidya uses this composition to showcase some of the salient phrases of this raaga and also illustrates the concept of improvisation known as “Neraval” in Carnatic music.

Episode 42: Featured Place — Madurai & Featured Composition -- Maamava Meenakshi Part I

In this episode, we feature a popular composition "Maamava Meenakshi", by Sri. Muthusamy Dikshithar in the Raaga Varali. We begin this episode by talking about the history of the temple town of Madurai in South India -- known for the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. Vidya walks us through the structure and meaning of this brilliant piece.

Episode 41: Analysis of a Ghana Ragamalika Thanam – Part V – Varali Ragam

We finish our analysis of Smt. Veena Dhanammal's Raagamalika thanam, by covering the remaining ghana raaga, Varali. Vidya explains how Smt. Dhanammal uses the two common notes between Sri (the previous raaga in the thanam) and Varali to transition from one to the other. Vidya also sings an improvisational segment to illustrate such a transition in sharp detail. Finally, Vidya highlights some of the salient aspects of Varali including the unique gandharam.