Carnatic Course Description

Carnatic Studies IStudents will study first exercises in Carnatic Music as is customarily taught in the tradition. 14 Sarali Varisais, 9 Janta Varisais, 5 Mel Sthayi Varisais, 2 Dhatu Varisais in Mayamalavagowla raga, Basic Suladi Sapta Talas, Alankaras in Sapta Talas, A minimum of 3 geethams and 1 Swarajathi willbe covered. All exercises will be taught by singing.

Carnatic Studies IIIn this course students will start by learning Noteswaram by Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshithar. Students will also study and Analyse Varnams(a song form) in different Ragas such as Sankarabharanam, Mohanam, Abhoghi, Hmsadhwani and Kalyani. Along with this students will learn compositions in different Adi, Rupakam and Chapu Talas.

Melakartha & Janya RagasA detailed look at the Melakarta system as codified by Venkatamakhi involving 72 ragas that utilize all 16 scale degrees as seen in Carnatic music divided on the basis of Suddha Madhyama and Prati Madhyama Ragas. Representative Janya Ragas from some of these Melakarta Ragas will be studied. The various forms of Janya Ragas including Audava, Shadava, Audava-Shadava, Shadava- Audava, Audava-Sampoorna, Shadava-Sampoorna, Sampoorna-Audava and Sampoorna-Shadava including Vakra Ragas will be studied. Representative Ragas in each category will be chosen to highlight the gamakas, prayogas and murchanas. Studies will be supplemented by listening sessionsin and outside class. Students will present class projects, assignments pertaining to the course content. Students are expected to apply concepts learned in this course to performance work in ensembles and recitals.

Tygaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Shastri KritisTygaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Shastri are the three most important composers in Carnatic music. Students will study specific compositional features composers works through listening and analysis. Three representative Kritis Sadinchane of Tygaraja, Sri Sukhra Bhagavantham of Dikshitarand Palinchu Kamakshi of Syama Shastri will be studied in detail.

Modern Masters in Carnatic Vocal TraditionThis course will introduce students to some of the legendary masters of Carnatic Vocal Performancein the twentieth century. These masters have redefined Carnatic performance practice and have made immense contributions. Students will study distinguishing styles of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, K V Naranaswamy, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, G N Balasubramaniam, Madurai Mani Iyer, M L Vasanthakumari, D K Patamal and D K Jayaraman.

KonnakolKonnakol is the art of uttering the sounds of rhythm syllables verbally. Dynamics, clarity of diction and control over Laya are stressed. This fascinating art of reciting faster phrases of rhythms, articulate expressions by tongue-twisting syllables makes it an eloquent presentation. Students will learn detailed vocal percussion exercises, starting from the basics, weaving patterns and phrases. Students will also have an insight into various Talas, Sollukattu, Aksharas, Matras, Angas, 5 Jaatis, Yatis, Kaarvais, Moharas and Korvais. Exploring imaginative patterns in rhythmic improvisation using these syllables, would be studied and performed.

Advanced KonnakolContinuing from the basics of Konnakol, this course will guide students in exploring the rhythmic concepts such as Yatis, Kaarvais, Moharas and Korvais in more detail.

Sapta Talas and Chapu Talas.A comprehensive study of the Suladi Sapta Talas including their gathi variants. Each tala will be covered in detail with representative examples either found in the literature or composed as exercises specifically for class. Chapu Talas will also be covered in detail. Students will present class projects, assignments pertaining to the course content. Students are expected to apply conceptslearned in this course to performance work in ensembles and recitals.

Application of Konnakol in Modern Music: This unique course offered in SAM is instructed by both the Indian Percussion Faculty and Drums Faculty. During this course, the students analyse and explore the rhythmic concepts of Indian tradition and apply in Modern contemporary Music. This class also explore generating complex rhythymic motifs and different Talas and gathi variations. Students are expected to apply these concepts and present their compositions at the end of the course.