Pitch for Male artists....

[mahesh3]

When I hear yesteryear artists (pre SSI, GNB), their pitch is so high. Today's artists sing closer to 1, while some sing at 2. Any thoughts on why this is?

[rshankar]

The availability of a microphone? If I understand acoustics correctly, in a 'mike-less' hall, a voice with a higher pitch would project much better than a lower pitched one. Since we have mikes now-a-days (never mind acoustics), male artists can sing at their natural pitches and not worry about the rasikas in the last row of a hall being unable to hear them.

[VK RAMAN]

If microphone helps the sound, why would an artist use three thampuras, two mridamgams, etc ?

[thenpaanan]

When I hear yesteryear artists (pre SSI, GNB), their pitch is so high. Today's artists sing closer to 1, while some sing at 2. Any thoughts on why this is?

Mahesh,

Could you quantify "high" in your comment? My experience is that GNB/MMI/CVB/ARI all sang at around 2, not higher than that. Is this also your experience or have you heard some male singers sing at a higher pitch such as 2.5 or 3? I am very curious to listen to such a recording.

TIA,
Then Paanan

[arasi]

Wonder what S. G. Kittappa's Sruti was.

[thenpaanan]

Wonder what S. G. Kittappa's Sruti was.

SGK's voice certainly sounds like his sruthi would be higher but I have never taken the trouble to ascertain what it was.

On a related note, it is possible that some of the older artists like ARI, MVI, and others of that generation sang at a higher pitch when they were young. It is just that available recordings of these doyens is at an advanced age when they might have dropped sruthi.

With respect to the theory that the advent of microphone amplification caused male artists to drop sruthi, I find the evidence lacking. As far as I can tell, mic's became generally available (i.e. outside recording studios) only in the 50s and even then only the big sabhas could afford them. Most of the concerts in temples or open air auditoria (the famous "Ala maraththadi' i.e. "under the banyan tree" concerts) would not have been amplified. By the 50s artists such as GNB, MMI, Alathur, Ramnad Krishnan, and definitely SSI would have been well past their training stage when such habits are typically inculcated. Contrary to what many may think, it is not so straightforward for a singer to drop sruthi by a full note. For example, once you have practised singing at something like D, it is uncomfortable to drop down to sing at C. So why would you, mic or not?

-Then Paanan

[gobilalitha]

Amongst film singers, T R Mahalingam sang in a very high sruti like SGK . gobilalitha

[semmu86]

I have read in the book " Carnatic Summer " by V.Sriram , that Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer used to sing in " F-sharp " ( 4 1/2 kattai ?? phew ) in the 1920's before he lost his voice in the 30's and got it back in the 40's .

And yes , the availability of microphones is one of the reasons for lowering of the pitch .

[ganesh_mourthy]

sg kittappa could be 2.5. is there any recording available. i dont remember his voice really.

[thenpaanan]

sg kittappa could be 2.5. is there any recording available. i dont remember his voice really.

By way of comparison, here are some recordings of BS Raja Iyengar who was also known to have had a high voice.

http://www.musicplug.in/songs.php?movie ... &langid=19

Listen to the "ksheerasagara" and judge what you think his sruthi is. I measured it and was amazed to find it is E (3 kattai)! And his facility in the upper register when he sings the "tAraka nAmA" all the way to the tAra panchama without the slightest hint of strain or voice change gives me goosebumps.

The "yenabedali" piece is pitched even higher at F.

By the way, for some unknown reason the other songs are consistently pitched at D.

All in all, what a voice! I especially liked the "Adamodi galade".

In addition to the pure enjoyment of the voice, it perhaps also gives us a window into how some of the other vidwans of yesteryear may have sung in elevated pitches. But this, by no means, indicates that this was the norm. By all accounts, Raja Iyengar had an exceptional voice.

-Then Paanan

[gobilalitha]

Jagadodarana is considered as the best of BSR Iyengar by me, probably because of the melody of the raaga. gobilalitha
Earlier I made some references about another totally forgotten singer , BhavaniSambamoorthy who acted ib the film Daksha yagnam and sang 'unnale anro ullam maghizhnden' in MAAND RAAGA, I suppose.. Can anybody throw some light on him posting the audio if possible I wish some forumite approaches Madurai GS MANI about Bhavani Sambamoorthy. GOBILALITHA

[chalanata]

thenpaanan, thanks for the link; I could listen to BS Raja Iyengar after a very long time. We get this kind of useful links a little sparingly than before thanks to our kulkarni who's in hibernation; and that reminds me; kulkarni's birthday is somewhere around. happy birthday kulkarni where ever you are!

[arasi]

Adding on our best wishes too to Cool on his birthday!