Rural Folk in Carnatic Music

What is Carnatic Music? : It is the classical music of Southern India. The basic form is a monophonic song with improvised variations. There are 72 basic scales on the octave, and a rich variety of melodic motion. Both melodic and rhythmic structures are varied and compelling. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions. Why Carnatic Music? "...I [Todd M. McComb] value Carnatic music first for the effectiveness with which it can build positive mental discipline. It helps me to focus and organize my thoughts, and it helps to eliminate negative mental habits..."

Indian classical music is categorized under two genres. These are Hindustani and Carnatic. Broadly speaking, Hindustani developed in the northern regions of the country, while Carnatic music is indigenous to the south.

Carnatic music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world. Imbued withemotion and the spirit of improvisation, it also contains a scientific approach. This is mainly due to the contributions of such inspired artists as Purandara Dasa, known as the Father of Carnatic Music, and other scholars who codified the system and gave it a clear format as a medium of teaching, performing, prayer and therapy.

The basis of Carnatic music is the system of ragas (melodic scales) and talas (rhythmic cycles). There are seven rhythmic cycles and 72 fundamental ragas. All other ragas are considered to have stemmed from these. An elaborate scheme exists for identifying these scales, known as the 72 Melakarta Ragas.

Carnatic music abounds in structured compositions in the different ragas. These are songs composed by great artists and handed down through generations of disciples. While the improvised elaboration of a raga varies from musician to musician, the structured portion is set. These compositions are extremely popular, with a strong accent on rhythm and lively melodic patterns. Three saint composers of the nineteenth century, Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri, have composed thousands of songs that remain favourites among musicians and audiences.

An important element of Carnatic music is its devotional content. The lyrics of the traditional compositions, whether mythological or social in nature, are set entirely against a devotional or philosophical background.

The Nineteen Forties were a rather turbulent period for Carnatic Music in Tamil Nadu because of the Tamizh Isai controversy. More than a controversy, it was a move by some well meaning people to increase the number of Tamil songs being sung in concerts in Tamil Nadu. Started by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar and spurred on by individuals like Sir R.K.Shanmugham Chettiar and journalist Kalki Krishnamurthy, it tried to create a lot of awareness among musicians and rasikas that language had a role in music.

Today after so many decades, without the existence of a formal movement, we do find musicians and rasikas enjoying Tamil songs in Tamil Nadu, Kannada songs in Karnataka and so on. Listeners do make fervent appeals to musicians about singing songs in the language they are familiar with and musicians oblige them without much ado.