The Melakarta Scheme - a new developement

[vijay.siddharth]

We, as rasikas, are familiar with the Melakarta system, and its variations like R1, R2, R3, and so on. Something which, however, has bugged me of late is the absence of a M3 while all other notes save Sa and Pa have three varieties. But not any longer, for I have come up with a new M1, M2, and M3!

Here, M1 (the new shuddha madhyamam) is at G3 level. M2 (a new note whose name I have coined as Madhya Madhyamam) is where the old M1 stood. M3 (prathi madhyamam) is where M2 once stood.

The aesthetics and the number of new hypothetical ragas which can be created from here - I will post further...

[ratanabhinav]

This has already been explored by late Vidwan Sri .Thanjavur S Kalyanaraman . Dvi-madyama ragas .

[ratanabhinav]

It's a pity he didn't get SK ( though his name is SK ! ) . But that's another topic altogether , to be discussed in Vidwans and Vidushis forum .

[sureshvv]

This has already been explored by late Vidwan Sri .Thanjavur S Kalyanaraman . Dvi-madyama ragas .

Well yes! But this bloke is changing M1 altogether to be able to fit in a new M3. May be he should call it M0.

[rshankar]

May be he should call it M0.

deja moo perhaps???

[ratanabhinav]

This has already been explored by late Vidwan Sri .Thanjavur S Kalyanaraman . Dvi-madyama ragas .

Well yes! But this bloke is changing M1 altogether to be able to fit in a new M3. May be he should call it M0.

Swarasthanas remain same in either case , whether called M1 , M2 , M3 or G3 M1 M2

[ratanabhinav]

This is practically impossible :
Here's why :
s r g m p d n s is the general syntax for aroh . A point to observe is 7 swaras are present in ascent .
S ; R1 , R2 ; G2 , G3 ; M1 , M2 ; P ; D1 , D2 ; N2 , N3 are the variants of each of the graha swaras s r g m p d n s respectivly,
If suppose : S R2 G3 M1 P D1 D2 S is taken up , then D2 compensates for the absent nishad graha , and is labelled N1 , a vivadi swara since two adjacent swaras of same graha occur , note that still there are 7 swaras in ascent . Aroh now is S R2 G3 M1 P D1 N1 S
Similarly , G2 is labelled R3 if G2 adj. to G3 ; R2 labelled G1 when R1 R2 occur adjacently ; N2 labelled D3 when N2 N3 occur adjacently .
If S R1 G2 G3 M1 M2 D2 N3 S is taken up , labelled as S R1 G2 M1 M2 M3 D2 N3 S by my Hon. mate , vijay.siddharth , then 8 swaras feature in ascent !!! , which is very very much against raga lakshana rules .
If this is not the case , then the scheme suggested by Hon. vijay is same as that discovered by late Sri. TSK .

[sureshvv]

Hmm.. not sure what vijay had in mind.

But how about

s r1 g2 m0 p d1 n3 s'

This would be a new melakarta.

In SK's terminology, this may be a dvi-gandhara madhyama varjya raga.

[ratanabhinav]

Hmm.. not sure what vijay had in mind.

But how about

s r1 g2 m0 p d1 n3 s'

This would be a new melakarta.

In SK's terminology, this may be a dvi-gandhara madhyama varjya raga.

Ah yes , that's possible . Brilliant !!!!!!

[ratanabhinav]

Hmm.. not sure what vijay had in mind.

But how about

s r1 g2 m0 p d1 n3 s'

This would be a new melakarta.

In SK's terminology, this may be a dvi-gandhara madhyama varjya raga.

What would s r1 g2 m0 m3 d1 n3 s be called ?

[sureshvv]

Should be M2 instead of M3, but yes, you got the hang of it. Go nuts!!

[ratanabhinav]

Yeah , should have been m2 !

[makham]

Someone must have presented a scheme similar to the above to SSI. At the Music Academy foyer, I heard SSI say (perhaps his response started inside the hall and continued in the foyer) "En Panchamathai vittu vaithai? Adhaiyum rendaa panni, (P1 / P2) innum 72 ragam panradhu thane; idhellam vendadha velai". Translated "Why did you leave Panchamam alone? You can split it in two -and with 2 varieties of P you can have another set of 72 mela ragas. This is unwarranted activity"

[sureshvv]

Think TSK had proposed his dvi-madhyama melakartas years ago so it may have been about it.

SSI was from "vivadhi dosham" period, so entirely understandable

[Sachi_R]

Before either of the three of you compel me to read all your posts on this trimadhyama scheme, please post audio clips of your scheme. You should post something I can listen to easily.
Please post for following ragas (I have given these names)
1. Podi Idli - this raga goes S R1 G1 M0 P D1 N1. It is served with chutney and Podi smeared on the idlis looking like Manorama's cheeks in Gevacolour.
2. Open Butter Masala Dosa - this is a favourite for tunesmiths dealing with Dasar padas. The aroha avaroha goes as S R2 G1 M3 P D2 N3
3. Medu Vada in Piri Piri Sambhar. This raga has the following scale - S R3 G3 M3 D3 N3. The predominance of 3s is because A R Rahman employs this raga to show a dance sequence in 2.0 where two robotesses attack 2.0 in a 3 way do or die fight.

So go ahead. Audios please.

[rshankar]

Sachi,

If you’re not too careful, you’ll need surgical help to detach your tongue from your cheek!