Grade 6 theory

• Manodharma


  A form of improvised music created on the spot during the performance, within the confines of strict grammar of music
• Every carnatic concert has one or many music pieces that showcase the singer's prowess and intellect in the form of Manodharma sangeetham
• Manodharma serves as an important and integral aspect of Carnatic music
• Individual styles are developed based out of Manodharma
• Aspects of Manodharma


  • Raga alapana
  • Tanam
  • Neraval
  • Pallavi
  • Swaram
  • Kritis
• Manodharma is cultivated after several years of constant learning, assimilating and experimenting with various forms of compositions
• A capable artiste may never render a raga the same way twice
• Raga prayogas


  Exclusive and distinct patterns taken from set compositions
• Exclusive prayogas are of immense assistance for a beginner to identify a raga
• Lakshana


  The characteristics or features of a raga
• Jeeva swaras


  The vital notes of a raga
• The caliber and finesse of a musician is often judged by his/her ability to bring out the excellence of a raga
• Musicians known for Manodharma

  • G. N. Balasubramaniam
  • Madurai Mani Iyer
  • Rajarathnam Pillai
  • Karaikkurichi Arunachalam
• Alapana


  A form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga in Indian classical music
• Alapana means "to speak, address, discourse, communicate" in Sanskrit
• Alapana


  • Outlines the raga's permitted notes in unique structures and phrases
  • Typically precedes a song in the same raga
  • Rendered in different speeds with increasing complexity
• Parts of Alapana


  1. Akshipthika

  2. Ragavardhini

  3. Magarini
• In a Carnatic music concert, the alapana introducing a major composition may last 45 minutes or more
• Taanam is one of the methods of raga improvisation in Carnatic Classical Music tradition
• Taanam


  Improvisation of a particular raga with repetition of syllables
• Taanam


  • Use of rhythmic pulse
  • Enhances the effect of the performance
  • Requires physical stamina and sound knowledge of classical music
• Niraval


  Extempore construction, elaboration and improvisation of swaras for a particular line in the kriti
• Niraval is considered to be one of the important features in the extempore improvisation aspect of Carnatic music
• Niraval


  • Must sit within the framework of a tala
  • Brings out the Raga bhava effectively
• Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy was known as a master of niraval singing
• Pallavi


  The thematic line of a song in Carnatic music
• Pallavi


  • Usually one cycle long
  • Repeated to give the percussionist the idea of the chosen taalam
• The word pallavi consists of items derived from padam, layam, and vinyasam
• Kalpanaswaram


  Raga improvisation within a specific tala using Indian music solfege
• Kalpanaswaram improvisations have been around for at least two hundred years
• Kalpanaswaram


  • Improvisations increase in intensity with more tala cycles
  • Must abide by the rules of the raga
• In Kalpanaswaram, the first note of the first phrase of the composition exists in the rhythm cycle