Kerala Rhythm sound

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 11 Mar 2006, 14:19

A friend of mine asked me to listen to a post-modern experimental rock CD. The whole CD consists of one piece with guitar and drums weaving through a pattern. It is weird in one sense but it had an aesthetics of its own. ( If you like, I can upload a portion of it ).

But here is the thing. The way the rhythm was set up, it had a vague similarity to Kerala style drumming ( may be I was hallucinating

). I have not heard a lot of kerala drumming but from what I remember, there are numerous drummers in some type of formation and the sound builds up to an exciting crescendo. Do any of you know what I am referring to based on this.

I thought it had some relationship to Chendai melam but I am not sure.
I also read that the Sopana Sangeetham of Kerala ( which I have not heard at all and which I am very intrigued about) uses umpteen ( dozens ) rhythmic instruments and I am wondering if that has this 'building up to a crescendo' type feature.

Anyway, I told this friend I will try to find this and play it for him. So if you can interpret what I am saying and give me more pointers to it, that will be great. If you can upload some samples, that will be great and will make my assignment easier...

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 11 Mar 2006, 16:58

Kerala has indeed a rhythmic pattern of its own,but one wonders if that can be discussed at a forum like this where carnatic music is the main topic.Anyway?
In a carnatic music concert there is indeed scope for rhythmic improvisation in tani avartana,but for a 3 or 4 hour concert even if there are 2 tanis,the duration would be less than an hour.Rhythmic instruments have their role in all dance forms,but they don?t have individual existence.Drums are popular in south America,but they mainly apply eka taalam.But in Kerala they have an independent existence and they play very complex tala patterns.Take Panchavadyam for instance.It is popular all over Kerala.It has,as the name suggests,5 instruments,edakka,timila,maddalam,ila talam(cymbals) and kombu.
There is so much to say about this topic,especially for somebody not familiar with Kerala,it may be confusing.
There is tayamabaka,where chenda is the main instrument.There are different baanis of tayambaka,like in any art form.Rhythmic structure of Kerala has influenced mridangists like Mani Iyer,he used to play chenda kanakku in tanis.
Chenada melam(or simply melam)is popular in Thrissur and some parts of Ernakulam.
All these are performed during temple festivals.
Even in melam,there are various types,like Panchaari(which is technically chaturasra rupaka in carnatic)Paandi and so on.And there are certain restrictions where these melams to be performed,like Panchaari is deva and performed inside the corridors of the temple,while Paandi is aasura and performed outside the temple.There are of course exceptions for it,for the famous Thrissur Pooram(which falls on may 7th this year)the Elanjithara melam,which is Paandi,is performed inside Vadakkunnathan temple,but then,Vadakkunnathan has no role in Pooram,he is a mere watcher.
Coming to technicality,the main difference from carnatic is that,the structure is pyramidal.In carnatic it is ist speed,then second,which is exactly double.
Let me explain melam(since I am very familiar and a fan of it and in fact planning to take a video documentary exclusively on melam) more.The Guruvayur utsavam has started and it is a feast for melam lovers,there will be different types of melam during Kaazhcha seeveli which starts at 3pm and will last for 2 to 3 hours.
There are chenda,kombu,kuzhal,ila talam.For a good melam,there would be 100 or more artists! It is a symphony,every one has a role to play and no scope for improvisation.The conductor is the mela pramaani.He decides the tempo of the melam.A good melam lasts for 2 to 4 hours.This high decibel orchestration takes you to another world.
The minute details are so many,even chenda has two varities,valanatala and idantala,one puts only the tala,while other plays the details.
Panchaari,they call it mela raajan,has 96 beats in onnam kaalam or first speed,then second speed has 48 betas,3rd 24,4th 12 and finally 5th and last speed has 6 beats.
Attaching an audio clip of Panchaari melam which I recorded during Peruvanam Pooram couple of years ago.This part,for a 4 hour melam,from the 5th speed, or precisely, from ner kol to kuzhamarinja ghattam,I tell you, it takes you to a frenzied level?
http://rapidshare.de/files/15221019/panchari.mp3.html

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 11 Mar 2006, 17:31

Some visuals of melam.
1.extreme left kombu row,then kurum kuzhal,then comes the main part,chenda,usually from 7 to 13 in number,mela pramaani stands right in the center.Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is the pramaani here.(members of marar and puduvaal community plays these instruments)then cymbals,chenda.
2.cose up of the kurum kuzhal
3 and 4.Perfect synchronization
5.final stage.
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223063/1.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223141/2.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223227/3.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223278/4.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223327/5.jpg.html

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 11 Mar 2006, 20:16

please downolad the pics at
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223063/1.JPG.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223141/2.JPG.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223227/3.JPG.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223278/4.JPG.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15223327/5.JPG.html

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Mar 2006, 02:40

Radhakrishnan, Oh my.. what I can I say.. I am overwhelmed... That is exactly what I was looking for.. Thanks for the audio clip, the pictures and the description.. Having heard a bit of the audio, may I be greedy and ask for some more....

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Mar 2006, 03:42

I found an excellent link on the Kerala temple music

http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-arch ... l#contents

Chapter 4 provides a treatment on the topics Radhakrishnan wrote about including pictures and sound samples.

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 12 Mar 2006, 12:07

This gentleman,Rolf Killius,took pain to study about Kerala rhythmic structure and has done an excellent work,which,as you mentioned.available at that site.It covers about panchavadyam,tayambaka,different types of melam with notations and sample audio clippings which would be very useful for a layman.Though all basic details are there,the ritualistic side,the technical side,to enjoy it,you have to witness it directly.I am about to leave for for Guruvayur to listen to melam in connection with the festival,so join me!!
Knowledge is nobody?s,so I don?t mind sharing what all I know.
Attaching a FULL melam,named Dhruvam.As far as the akshara kaala,it is exactly chaturasra jati dhruva talam in sooladi sapta tala alankra in carnatic,with 14 beats.
The very first thing in a melam is kaalamidal followed by pati kaalam,the first speed,here in Dhruvam it has 56 beats,the variations in avrathana,kalasam and shifting to next tempo,I don?t intent to explain,it may be too complex and confusing.
Recently my mother met this great man(whom I am to meet and listen later today at Guruvayur)Peruvanam Kuttan Marar,the mela king,she said she doesn?t know the technicalities of melam but can enjoy and he replied that is the greatness of melam,one need not know the technical side.
Drummer Sivamani loves rhythmic culture of Kerala,in fact he came all the way to Thrissur to listen to melam during Pooram
This melam,recorded during Ekadasi festival of Thirprayar,a temple dedicated to Lord Rama,in Thrissur,by Kuttan marar himself.
Starting from 56 beats,the second speed has 28 and finally ,the 3rd speed 14 beats,but listen how the splitting goes?and with ambience of nadappura,the effect is double?
Born and brought up in Thrissur, natural exposure to rhythmic art forms early in childhood and after acquiring some knowledge in carnatic music,got interested in melam,which I have been listening for 25 years and sadly nobody has done an authentic study of it,add to it,some controversial arguments in recent times about melam,but that inspired me to go further, this man Kuttan Marar is a close friend of mine and he wants me to do the documentary,because as he says I know the audio side and visual too(I am a photographer)I don?t mind getting support form anyone, provided it doesn?t interfere what I want to portray.Marar and myself know exactly what to take.I have plan to invite people like Sivamani and some mridangists for the CD release ceremony ?long way to go?so help me vasanthakokilam!
Please understand that I have taken so much pain to record and photograph these things over the years,and it is different and difficult from a carnatic concert,being in open space the heat, crowd,they have different tastes,some come to see elephants,some come to worship the deity ?but we all respect it..as mentioned,I don?t mind to share what all I gather,but make sure they don?t misuse it or take for any commercial purpose.Thank you,If you want to know more about rhythmic culture of Kerala,especially melam,,please email me at charu_keshi2005@yahoo.co.in
Attaching more pics
1.Koduntarappully,Palakkad,navarathri festival
2.none other than Thrissur Pooram
3.Pooram,inside Paramekkavu temple,one of the major participant of pooram(other being Thiruvambadi)deity takn out for procession
4.Irinjalakuda utsavam,one of the many beautiful temples in Kerala,with that koothambalam.
5.Rare shot of pooram,taken last year when it rained unusually,this shot just before the rain starts.
6.The final and touching part of pooram,both Bhagavathis saying bye
7.another shot of pooram.
Please remember melam accompaniment is there for all these shots.
Thank you.
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/152899 ... m.mp3.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290042/1.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290079/2.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290118/3.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290142/4.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290171/5.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290208/6.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/files/15290243/7.jpg.html

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 12 Mar 2006, 12:20

sorry,the files are available at
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15289952/dhruvam.mp3.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290042/1.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290079/2.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290118/3.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290142/4.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290171/5.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290208/6.jpg.html
http:/rapidshare.de/files/15290243/7.jpg.html

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 12 Mar 2006, 13:17

oops,got it wrong again!! correct path is
http://rapidshare.de/files/15289952/dhruvam.mp3.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290042/1.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290079/2.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290118/3.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290142/4.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290171/5.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290208/6.jpg.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/15290243/7.jpg.html

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Mar 2006, 03:33

Radhakrishnan:

Thanks very much again for the full mp3 file. I really appreciate it. Here one get the full picture of the start, the build up and the finish.

All the best in your efforts on the documentary. I think the members of this forum will help in spreading the word for sure. I can try to get in touch with Kerala associations so they can inform the members of the availability. I have a feeling that many will be interested in this since such a visual and audio representation of this ancient art form is not available anywhere else. Best wishes.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 13 Mar 2006, 03:42

I wrote about the 'post-modern experimental rock CD' at the start of the thread. The band name is 'Orthrelm. This latest project of theirs, "OV" is just one continuous piece, 45 minutes long. I have uploaded a 30 second sample from different portions of the cd here. The whole CD is like this...

http://rapidshare.de/files/15351185/sam ... m.mp3.html

They are not widely known or popular but have a dedicated following. This is in the genre of avant-garde minimalism. I will be curious what this reminds you of, if at all any..

sai · Post by **sai** » 17 Mar 2006, 22:26

Sri Radhakrishnan

Namaskaarams from a fellow Thrishurite,

I revelled in the servings of panchavadhyam, thayambakam, dished during Ayyappan villaku season in Bombay, annually . After leaving Indian shores, I longed to listen to the music of our native land.

I must state here that I am absolutely ignorant of the rhythmic kannakus involved. Now I have some idea.

A few performances that stayed etched, in my mind.

One at Thrishoor Pooram, Thiruvambadi Madhathil varavvu

Two the night pooram from Paarmekaavu under the pandham (torches)

Three, the Melam at Arrattupuzha which started in the evening and extended into the night. The performance synchronised with descension of the performing party down the steps, was simply awesome !!

My Maharashtrian friend stood spell bound by the aura of the whole event.

Please let me know specifically what type of assistance we can render.

With your permission I will spread the word out of your work in the Keralite community here in Atlanta.

I would also encourage you to visit ANAMICA.ORG they are non profit org, based out of Atlanta. They had succesfully conducted a kathakali tour last year in any different cities in USA.

You may also be aware of some forums (www.keralaiyers.com), from wherein we can spread the word of support for your venture.

Please let me know if I can be of any use in this valuable venture of yours.

Namaskaarams
Sai

Radhakrishnan · Post by **Radhakrishnan** » 21 Mar 2006, 09:01

Thank you so much sai sir
Yes,even if you don?t know the technicalities or kanakku,you can enjoy panchavadyam,tayamabaka or melam Now they conduct melam every year at Mumbai which attracts many non keralites.
I have attended 4 or 5 madathil varavu panchavadyam of Thiruvambady,when Pallavur brothers,Annamanada Achutha marar,Kadalvallur Aravindakshan,Nanu marar were all there.Now there are all gone,further,the majestic ezhunnallathu of Paramekkavu starts around that time,so not possible physically to attend both.
There is panchaari for Shastavu at Arattupuzha pooram which starts in the evening,but main place for panchaari is Peruvanam pooram which comes two days before Arattu puzha pooram.
Regarding the documentary,there are so many varieties like panchavadyam,tayambaka and practically difficult to document all,I want to concentrate on melam.Barring some books like P.S.Warrier?s Chenda melam(he was to publish more books on rhythmic culture of Kerala,but unfortunately he passed away)and some small video documentaries nothing has been done regarding documenting this.I want to touch mainly the technical and aesthetic side of it,more than the ritualistic side of it,describing the various phases of melam and how they do it etc,taking two major melams,panchaari and paandi.Now there is Kuttan marar,the mela chakravarthi with us,,he is a very frank person,knows exactly what he does,he is very much interested to cooperate with me, so this is the right time.But,to make a documentary like this,the script should be good,then videographing is difficult,with 100 people performing and sound recording is difficult too.I want to release two vcds,function to be held at Thrissur?
Sai sir,is it possible to get financial aid from any university or organizations there,I can submit the rough script . I am not in a position to meet the expenses and the people I met are not keen or they want to dilute the script,which I cant compromise.