Introduction

Indian Classical Music is based principally on melody and harmony. There are two systems of traditional Indian Classical music: the music of South India, called Carnatic music, due to its origin in the princely state of Karnataka, and the music of North India, called Hindustani music. The system of South Indian music can be tracked back nearly 2000 years to its origin in the Vedic scriptures and hymns of the Hindu temples, the fundamental source of all Indian music. The roots of South Indian music stem from religion. Music can be a discipline on the path to self realization, for we follow the traditional teaching that sound is God-Nada Brahmam. The tradition of South Indian music follows a pattern called Gurukulam, oral teachings taught directly by the teacher to the disciple (in sharp contrast to the notation method used in the West). The heart of Indian music is the ragam — the melodic form upon which the artist improvises.

The performing arts in India – music, dance, drama and poetry are based on the concept of Nava Rasa, or the “nine sentiments”. Literally, rasa means “juice” or “extract;” but in this context it means “emotion” or “sentiment.” The nine rasa are Shringaram (romantic or erotic), Hasyam (humorous); Karunam (pathos or sadness); Rudram (anger); Veram (valor), Bhayanakam (fear); Vibhatsam (disgust); Adbhutam (amazement) and Shantam (peacefulness). The Nava Rasas, in some manner, are analogous to the nine planets in the universe. In addition to being associated with a particular mood, each ragam is closely associated to a particular time of the day or season of the year. The cycle of day and night, as well as the seasons, is analogous to the cycle of life itself. Each part of the day—such as the time before dawn, noon, late afternoon, early evening or late night, is associated with a definite sentiment. The rasa, or “juice,” associated with each ragam will be found in the nature of the note that comprises it. Scalar classification in South Indian Music is according to a set of 72 primary scales called “Melakartas.” With various permutations and combinations there are over 6,000 derived scales or ragams.

The Instruments

Violin

The South Indian violin is identical to the Western violin but differs from it in tuning and playing position. It is traditionally held in position with
the scroll placed on the artist’s ankle while the back of the violin rests on the left shoulder and collarbone or the chest. Tuning of the instrument is as follows: Tonic, Dominant, Tonic (Octave Higher) and Dominant (octave higher) from the fourth to the first string respectively, the Tonic being the variable.

Mridangam (South Indian Percussions)

The mridangam is the primary percussion instrument of South India. The word mridangam is derived from the Sanskrit words “Mrid Ang,” which mean “Clay Body”- indicating that it was originally made of clay. The present day drum is made of a single block of either Jackwood or Redwood. The drum is a barrel-shaped, double-headed drum, with the right head being smaller than the left. The two heads are made up of different layers of animal hide such as sheep skin, calf hide and/or buffalo hide. The heads are stretched by leather straps, which run along the sides of the body. The right head has a black spot in its center, made up of a mixture of manganese and iron fillings, cooked rice and glue. This head is tuned to the tonic of the main instrument. The left head of the drum needs a paste of “cream of wheat” and water to produce the classic base sound that is so closely associated with this drum. The Mridangam uses a single resonator. Therefore, the tension of the left and the right sides are inseparable, and the single resonator also produces the acoustic coupling between the two heads.

Shruti Box (The Drone Instrument)

An electronic box that works on a system of bellows and provides the drone adjusted to the Tonic of the violin.