Sahitya Suddham

[kvchellappa]

I read in a review of a violin concert how it had swara suddham, laya suddham and sahithya suddham. Is it possible to make out sahithya suddham in instrumental music?

[SriKrishnan]

Yes I had mentioned it about VVS. In Instruments like Violin, where continuity between swaras is seamlessly possible, the Sahithya can be clearly pronounced. In my view, Sahithya sudham in the context of instruments is Creating overall effect of the Song as if sung with words in essence.
It is achieved typically by

a. Right enunciation of Sahithyam ( In case of Violin it is by turn of the bow, in flute it is the blow and in Veena it is the ‘meettu’ )
b. Appropriate tonal modulations according to the meaning of the words
c. Splitting the words / lines meaningfully

There are many examples by the masteros. Let me share some samples.

a) “Enna Thavam seidanai “ in kapi by Lalgudi, where in you can hear all the words !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNaAsUSyvhw

How beautifully he renders places like “Thallata” and “Kenja vaithay” …

b) Just hear this example by Lalgudi “Ninnu jeppa Karanamemi” in Mandari.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX4Mb2W1MgQ

Knowing the Sahithya, he does not split “Kaaranamemi” as Kaa and Ranamemi for the sake of Desadi. He adds a pause after Ninnu jeppa and before starting Kaarana ! (Of course there are different views on this aspect of splitting to Tala and not !)

c) In this example of “ Deva Deva Kalayami”, by VVS, just listen how he starts the Krithi ! We are used to Deva Deva Kalayamithe, where as he starts “ Charanambuja sevanam , Deva Deva” and then “The Charanambuja sevanam” and finally “Deva Deva Kalayami, The Charanambuja Sevanam” ! That is Sahithya Sudham !
https://www.sangeethamshare.org/tvg/UPL ... agam_24x7/

[kvchellappa]

Thanks. I get a hang.