Flow | Moods, feelings and colours

Colours, moods and feelings have been favourite subjects in the context of raga, literally “colour, beauty, pleasure, passion and compassion”.1 Explore this wonderful realm in imaginative ways – always in accordance with your own creativity and feelings Suggestions for widening the scope for the “Flow”-exercises offered in this course: To get going, click on “Details” … Read more

Bhava enables the transmission of experience of thoughts and emotions – Narayana Vishwanath

We are aware that the ultimate aim of every composer and musician is to achieve the coalescence, the essential factors of classical music namely bhava, raga and tala. We know bhava literally means, expression, the expression of existence. In a composition, bhava encompasses the aspects rasa, raga1 and laya and for a musical composition to … Read more

Find a copy of The Oxford Illustrated Companion to South Indian Classical Music

Used as textbook for this course, The Oxford Illustrated Companion to South Indian Classical Music is readily available. For order details please visit the publisher’s websites. Critical acclaim from India and beyond:“Pesch’s sumptuous Illustrated Companion is a delight”, “the most thorough study of Carnatic music”, “a marvellous work”, “a thorough, and scientifically accurate companion to our classical … Read more

A brief introduction to Carnatic music

Whatever one’s personal background and aspirations may be, Carnatic music bamains a quest for undiluted aesthetic experience (rasa).1 Three basic concepts are essential for daily practice as well as proper appreciation: rāga (tuneful rendition with minute intervals and rich in embellishments), tāla (rhythmic order marked by mathematical precision), and bhāva (expression of thoughts and emotions). To … Read more

Flow | Exercises, related resources & tips

Whether you learn singing, practice a melody instrument or seek a better understanding of your favourite music – it’s the proverbial saptasvara “seven notes” that provide the key to the Unity in Diversity that sets Carnatic music apart:1 sa ri ga ma pa dha ni One point to remember in the present context is that musicians … Read more