Whatever one’s personal background and aspirations may be, Carnatic music remains a quest for undiluted aesthetic experience (rasa). Three basic concepts are essential. Read the brief introduction for more! Also read the course overview if you prefer a more systematic approach.
Category archives: Course topics
Mahakavi Bharati: The Man, His Poetry, Those Times
Video lecture on the occasion of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati’s 100th death anniversaryplay the facebook zoom recording (no fb-registration needed) In commemoration of the 100th death anniversary of poet C. Subramania Bharati, join us on this virtual event as we celebrate the life and works of Mahakavi Bharati. Usha Rajagopalan is a writer, translator, and lake …
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“Only a tambura can bring in a tranquil aura”: Musicians comment on the convenience and compromise of digital tanpura
South Indian Tambura | Experience | Instruments >> The four strings of the tambura that provide sruthi or the basic swara (pitch) for musicians are considered the life force for any melodic exercise. Fixed in jack wood to enhance the naada, yesteryear musicians were stuck to this pitch provider because there were no alternatives. […] While …
Flow | Mela practice – number patterns (3 counts)
Rūpaka tāla (3 counts/syllables) Lesson 4: “ta ki ta“- trikāla = 3 speeds Full lesson: Practice four widely used Carnatic talas >> a = middle octave (madhya sthayi)’sa = higher octave (tara sthayi) The above svara pattern may be sung, hummed or practiced silently with any svara variants: those you are already familiar with (e.g. raga …
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Flow | The right tempo or “kalapramanam”
If there is a single feature of Carnatic music to account for its mesmerizing effect on listeners it may well be a feature known as kalapramanam: practicing rhythm (laya) ((‘”The sense of rhythm gives us a feeling of freedom, luxury, and expanse. It gives us a feeling of achievement in molding or creating. It gives …