How much you know about Carnatic Music

Here Iam posting some questions about carnatic music lets see how much we all know..I will post there answers later and will add more questions later on...

There are two types of musical systems - Harmonic and Melodic. Which type of system is Carnatic music? How many basic notes are there in the Harmonic systems and how many basic notes are there in the Melodic system? What is the fundamental difference in the frequency of notes between a harmonic and a Melodic system? What is an octave? In total, how many full and half-notes are there in Carnatic music? Which type of notation does Indian music use - Staff notation or script notation? What is the difference between a swara and a note? What is a raga? Give at least two characteristics of a raga. Why does the same raga (e.g. Kalyani or Sankarabharanam) sung by two different musicians wont sound exactly alike? What are the two types of ragas? What is the fundamental difference between the two types of ragas? What is a varja ragam? What is a vakra ragam? At least give me two examples of Ghana ragas? How is a thala different from rhythm? In a Sulapdi Saptha scheme of thalas, how many thalas are available? What is a jati? How would you differentiate thisra jati from Kanta jati? Thalas are named in two parts - first part representing the jati and the second the name of the thala. If I say, Kanta Jati Triputa, would you be able to say how many units or aksharas it has? Similarly, what are the aksharas for the other thalas. What is Venkatamukhi's greatest contribution to music theory? According to the Melakarta scheme, how many parent or Janaka ragas are there? Can you point out why these Janaka ragas are divided into two groups? What differentiates the two groups? What is one principle requirement of Janaka ragas? What does sampoornam mean when applied to Melakarta ragas? What do we mean by Katapayadi scheme? What is this schme used for? Can a Janya raga or a child raga be born from a raga that is not listed as one of the ragas in the Melakarta scheme? Why or why not? What are musical forms? Why do we need them? Give at least two different musical forms in Carnatic music. What is the difference between abhyasa ganam and Sabha ganam? What is the difference in characteristic between a varnam and a Geetham? What are the two types of varnams?
1. What is the difference between a thana varnam and a pada varnam?

please post your answers here too 😊

1.There are two types of musical systems - Harmonic and Melodic. Which type of system is Carnatic music?

Carnatic music is Melodic type of music system.Is also called one-dimensional or horizontal music.

2.How many basic notes are there in the Harmonic systems and how many basic notes are there in the Melodic system?

In both systems, there are seven basic notes. In Carnatic music, the seven notes are known by the names:

Shadjam (Sa), Rishabam (Ri), Gandharam (Ga), Madhyamam (Ma), Panchamam (Pa), Dhaivatham (Da) and
• Nishadam (Ni).

3.What is the fundamental difference in the frequency of notes between a harmonic and a Melodic system?

The harmonic system is based on the principle of Equal temperament scale. When the interval between two notes are exact, it is called an Equal Temperament Scale. For example,

Note: S R G M P D N S

Frequency: 0 200 400 500 700 900 1100 1200 cents

The Melodic system is based on the principle of Just Intonation scale. When the interval between to notes are not exact, but relative, it is called a Just Intonation Scale.

In this system, two notes do not have the same interval and because of the gamakas (or shaking modulations of the note), precise frequency is not determined. A swara (unlike a note) is less precise and can only be learnt by listening.

The following example illustrates the Just Intonation Scale.

Note: S R G M P D N S

Frequency: 0 204 386 498 702 906 1088 1200 cents

4.What is an octave?

or

Converting the Seven Swaras to twelve Swaras (or sixteen swaras)

An octave is doubling the pitch of a swara by a factor of 2. Take a look at a keyboard. You will notice the C key. In Carnatic music, the C key is called one kattai or a pitch of one. In a keyboard, the C key is followed by D, E, F, G, A, and B keys. The B key is again followed by another C key. That is, the range between a lower C to the next high is one octave. The range that begins from the next C until the next higher B is reached is Octave 2 and so on.

In Western Music, the interval between two keys or frequencies between two keys (.e.g. D and E) are of fixed intervals.

However, in Carnatic music, the intervals between two keys are not absolute intervals but relative intervals or nominal intervals.

I always fnd it hard to follow Carnatic music...Very confusing, for example the Carnatic raga Sindhu Bhairavi is the equivalent of the Hindustani classical raga Bhairavi. In Carnatic classical, there is a raga called Bhairavi for which there is no equivalent raga in Hindustani classical music. Carnatic has more streamline then Hindustani strealines.

Originally posted by: Swar_Raj

I always fnd it hard to follow Carnatic music...Very confusing, for example the Carnatic raga Sindhu Bhairavi is the equivalent of the Hindustani classical raga Bhairavi. In Carnatic classical, there is a raga called Bhairavi for which there is no equivalent raga in Hindustani classical music. Carnatic has more streamline then Hindustani strealines.

they have some similariteis and some differences..

1.Both the styles are monophonic, follow a melodic line and employ a drone (tanpura) with the help of one or two notes against the melody.

2.Both the styles use definite scales to define a raga but the Carnatic Style employs Shrutis or semitones to create a Raga and thus have many more Ragas than the Hindustani style.

3.Carnatic ragas differ from Hindustani ragas. The names of ragas are also different. However, there are some ragas which have the same scale as Hindustani ragas but have different names; such as Hindolam and Malkauns, Shankarabharanam and Bilawal.

4.There is a third category of ragas like Hamsadhwani, Charukeshi, Kalavati etc. which are essentially Carnatic Ragas. They share the same name, the same scale (same set of notes) but can be rendered in the two distinctively different Carnatic and Hindustani styles.

5.Unlike Hindustani music, Carnatic music does not adhere to Time or Samay concepts and instead of Thaats, Carnatic music follows the Melakarta concept

what is MELAKARTA RAGA SCHEME

the Carnatic music ragas into a mathematical table based on a scientific classification of their swaras. there are total of 72 ragas as Melakarta ragas or Janaka (the parent) ragas. All other ragas must be born out of one of the 72 ragas and therefore, are children ragas or Janya ragas.

These 72 ragas each have a name and are classified into two major groups of 36 each. The first set of 36 ragas all have one common swaram, the Sudha Madhyamam and the second set of 36 ragas all have one common swaram, the Prathimadhyamam. With in these two sets of 36 ragas each, they are further sub-divided into groups of six ragas for each group.

When comapring to Hindustani sangeetha I prefer Carnatic ones.. may be because I am a south Indian...

Originally posted by: uknaik99

When comapring to Hindustani sangeetha I prefer Carnatic ones.. may be because I am a south Indian...

And Carnactic is always a mystery to me😕. I prefer Hindustani, may be because I am from North😛

Recently my kid performed a Kawadi song. (Telugu) It was awsome althouhg I could not understand the meaning but was too good music. 👏

I have learnt Carnatic music 😛 But yes lost in touch with it due to studies 😭😭 I loved learning it.. Started frm the age of 6, I learnt it till I reached my 10th std.. But after tat board exams and everything and so totally lost in touch with it I reached till the stage of Keerthanai and learnt few songs.. As my Dad is in transferrable job, I had to learn frm the beginning wen I shifted places and so learnt same Keerthanai's again and again... 😕

Yes, I prefer Carnatic to Hindustani especially in vocal.. But for instrumental I prefer Hindustani for sure..

Thanks Dolly for these questions, making me remember things.. But totally out of touch..

Originally posted by: uknaik99

When comapring to Hindustani sangeetha I prefer Carnatic ones.. may be because I am a south Indian...

well I donot know much about music compared to some of you here..but I prefer carnatic and iam not from south 😆😆..I will post more questions later on. but help me with answers too .😃