musical arrangements

[sung]

While watching American Idol one hears the judges sometimes comment on the musical arrangement by the contestants. 'Arrangement' here seems to refer to the art of changing an already written composition for presentation in a form other than its original form.

I am wondering whether a similar concept exists in the case of carnatic music. If so, what are some examples? What does one do to the original composition by way of arrangement? I realize carnatic musicians are much into improvisation. But, this will not come under 'arrangement', right?

[mohan]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrangement for a discussion of arrangements in Western music.

As you mentioned improvisation plays a major role in Carnatic music. Carnatic compositions do not prescribe what instruments are used for a specific part of a composition. Of course, there are different patantaras or 'versions' of compositions. An example is vidulaku mrokkEda (mAyamAlavagowla) where the Pattammal school version is quite different to the version rendered by others such as MSS & Alathur Brothers.

Another type of 'arrangement' in Carnatic music is where the artist commences the composition with the anupallavi instead of the pallavi. eg. mokshamu galada (sAramati).

[vasanthakokilam]

As you state, the significant aspect of 'arrangement' is 'rearrangement', mostly sing in a different key to a different harmony background. The technical equivalent in CM would be the 'niraval' whose literal meaning is 'leveling'. Reinterpret that as 're-leveling' which is not that far from 'rearrangement'. The rhythmic rearrangement also automatically happens since the rhythm side plays to the music and not to the pre-established thala structure. But nirval is not same what you hear in American Idol, just a rough comparison at the technical level.

Actually, coming to think of it, a pallavi in an RTP that uses the same line as a krithi in the same raga but with a similar melody (and not identical ) and a different thala will be a reasonable parallel ( but much more elaborate set of variations).

[arasi]

Neraval singing can be called that too, I suppose. Not only by different musicians but also by one artiste varying a neraval line in different performances.

[mohan]

There a a few compositions that have different arrangements ie. are tuned in different ragas. The one that has the most arrangements that comes to mind is Purndaradasa's gajavadana bEduvE. I have heard it sung in hamsadhwani, bEgada and dhanyAsi. I think there are other versions in dEvagAndhari and mOhanam as well!

[uday_shankar]

I don't see how a single melodic theme, pre-composed or improvised can be called an "arrangement" of that kind. There's no score and nothing to "arrange".

[Nick H]

In my youth, the BBC had agreements with musicans' unions that a percentage of music broadcast would be live. No doubt this was good for music in general, ensuring employment for musicians.

For the listener, though, it was not so good. This live music consisted of "arrangements" played by bands (eg dance bands). They were bland and dull. This kind of "arrangement" robbed music of its life almost as much as the "musak" that was to come in later decades.

I don't see how a single melodic theme, pre-composed or improvised can be called an "arrangement" of that kind. There's no score and nothing to "arrange".

Probably, that should be the last word! (So I'll add one or two more :$)

Carnatic music is arranged when it is pre-scored and sung by groups, performed by orchestras, etc. When it is performed in its normal way, interpretation would, perhaps, be a better word. Interpretation and improvisation are methods of enhancing, of injecting life into, music.