Sruthi

[VK RAMAN]

Is it necessary for the musicians to maintain the same sruthi song after song or is it OK for them to change sruthi depending on the song and ragam.

[mohan]

It is not common for a musician to change sruti during a concert. Most musicians will choose a sruti in which they can comfortably sing at least two and a half octaves from the lower shadjam (mandara sthayi) to the upper panchamam (in tara sthayi). This range will cover most of the compositions in vogue. If a vocalist changed sruti mid-way then the accompanying instruments will also need to change.

The only adjustment to sruti is usually to switch to madhyama sruti for certain lighter pieces in ragas like kurinji or yamunakalyani.

[Nick H]

It would severely inconvenience the accompanists.

I've seen children do it; I suppose because some songs go high, others go low, and they don't yet have the range to cope with all, but adults, no.