Structure of Varnams

Tālam & Layam related topics
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Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Post by Nick H »

Thank you Mohan.

Six speeds? yes... I have a CD where L. Subramaniam fills the entire CD with Hamsadvani varnam. I'm afraid even counting how many speeds are there always defeated me :(

mohan
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 16:52

Post by mohan »

That's true - I think I lost count/interest after the 3rd speed as well!

shishya
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007, 20:02

Post by shishya »

And then some artists sing the pallavi anupallavi and muktAyiswaram in trisra gati if the pallavi, anupallavi and muktAyiswaram are 2 avartanams each. For instance, I sing trisram for abhogi varnam evari bodhana. Again, this is not a rule but a variation.

arunk
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Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 21:41

Post by arunk »

wow! tiSra gati - that would be interesting. I vaguely remember coming across some doing tiSra gati mEl kAlam - is that true?

Me - struggling just to get the 2 speeds in catusra gati right. The quitter in me thinks often "the varnams sound so nice in slow speed - why cant we just stick to that" ;);)

Arun

shishya
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007, 20:02

Post by shishya »

Arun,

Usually one sings slower tempo trisra gati after the first speed chaturasra gati and then takes up second speed chaturasra gati after trisra gati... sort of like how artists do trisram while singing RTPs. With practice, this is fairly easy. If one were to sing trisra gati faster speed, that would require pretty good command over one's voice. I do practice it but from performance point of view, I think it would be an overkill in the beginning of the concert.

arunk
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Joined: 07 Feb 2010, 21:41

Post by arunk »

ok. Yes i would agree that it would overkill for performance but would be a very tough and good training exercise i would imagine

Suji Ram
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Post by Suji Ram »

Link to L Subramanian playing ninnukOri in "n" speeds. Lost count after 8...

http://www.udbhava.com/udbhava/songs.jsp?id=527

A good nattakurinji
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/J4b ... As1NMvHdW/

ninjathegreat
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Joined: 25 Oct 2005, 22:07

Post by ninjathegreat »

Suji,

It's 16 speeds... phew! I find it difficult to do 4!!!!!

Cheers
Ninja

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Post by Nick H »

16 speeds!

We have to applaud the incredible ability to comprehend that, let alone play it.

But for how many of those speeds does he succeed in having musical beauty?

ninjathegreat
Posts: 301
Joined: 25 Oct 2005, 22:07

Post by ninjathegreat »

nick,

I could not make out the musical structure after the 10th speed. There seems to be such a rush to get to the next swara. It is a magical gimmickry on the senses, and a mathematical miracle, no less, but the beauty of the music is lost because of the seeming hurry.

Of course, this is just me. And I am nowhere close to a musical genius!!!!

Cheers
Ninja

sshankar_1970
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Joined: 22 Oct 2007, 10:28

Post by sshankar_1970 »

There is a LP of L Subramaniam where he plays Nattakurinji varnam in different speeds (Tisra , Khanda , Misra , Sankeerna apart from Chatusra )and does each of these in 2 kalams . At the end its all boils down to mathemeatics ... The muiscal aspect is lost at high speeds ... Carnatic music is best when it is sung at madhyamakalam ... Super fast tempo robs it of the unique microtones

ajaysimha
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Joined: 19 Apr 2018, 18:16

Re: Structure of Varnams

Post by ajaysimha »

I just wanted to know the possible ways in which pada Varnams could be sung:

Type 1:
Pallavi
Anupallavi
Chittaiswaram
charamam
Ettugadai passages as swaram only

Type2:
Pallavi
Anupallavi
Chittaiswaram
Charanam
Ettugadai passages only as Sahityas

***Regular one***
Pallavi
Anupallavi
Chittaiswaram
Charanam as sahithya
Ettugadai (swara) followed by Charanam as sahithya
Ettugadai (sahithya) followed by Charanam as sahithya

***Also I have heard In the below style***

Pallavi
Anupallavi
Chittaiswaram
Charanam as swarams
Charanam as sahithya
Ettugadai (swara) followed by Charanam as swarams
Ettugadai (sahithya) followed by Charanam as sahithya

I have heard the people call this type as swarajathi varnam (im not sure)

Could anybody clarify ???

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