Indian Classical Music and Sikh Kirtan

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Tarana/Tillana

In this style of singing meaningless words or alaap like nam, tom are used for tonal value. It has a subtle sense of rhythm. Its counterpart in Karnatak music is tillana. On account of its universal language it is suitable for teaching raga-music to students of any country.


Geet

It is a light classical song. Even lyrical poems may be rendered into geets. Its contents are secular, meant for popular entertainment. It is generally full of erotic sentiments.


Ragamala

Literally ragamala[2] means a garland of ragas. As such it is a musical composition different rom a poem listing the names and geneologies of parent-scales (thath) and their branches and descendant-ragas. The beauty of the ragamala also called rag sagar (ocean of melodies) lies in the fact that each line or verse of the composition is sung in different ragas, so that the entire piece appears like a string of melodies hung on a particular common theme. In some cases different rhythms are used for different lines or verses and then it is known as talmala.


NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. There are some exception in both groups, as for example Bhairavi and Hamir. Some musicologists prolong Poorvang Vadi S to P and Uttarang Vadi from M to S.
2. Subba Rao, A. Raga-Nidhi, 2 Vols.
3. See chapter 1, 2 and 9 regarding Ragmala.










Tarana/Tillana

In this style of singing meaningless words or alaap like nam, tom are used for tonal value. It has a subtle sense of rhythm. Its counterpart in Karnatak music is tillana. On account of its universal language it is suitable for teaching raga-music to students of any country.


Geet

It is a light classical song. Even lyrical poems may be rendered into geets. Its contents are secular, meant for popular entertainment. It is generally full of erotic sentiments.


Ragamala

Literally ragamala[2] means a garland of ragas. As such it is a musical composition different rom a poem listing the names and geneologies of parent-scales (thath) and their branches and descendant-ragas. The beauty of the ragamala also called rag sagar (ocean of melodies) lies in the fact that each line or verse of the composition is sung in different ragas, so that the entire piece appears like a string of melodies hung on a particular common theme. In some cases different rhythms are used for different lines or verses and then it is known as talmala.


NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. There are some exception in both groups, as for example Bhairavi and Hamir. Some musicologists prolong Poorvang Vadi S to P and Uttarang Vadi from M to S.
2. Subba Rao, A. Raga-Nidhi, 2 Vols.
3. See chapter 1, 2 and 9 regarding Ragmala.









Displaying Page 31 of 100