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Carnatic Music

Basically, Indian classical music is divided into two major styles:

  • Carnatic music
  • Hindustani music

The present form of Carnatic Music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th - 16th AD. Broadly speaking, Hindustani developed in the northern regions of the country with increasing Persian influence, while Carnatic music is indigenous to the south where the pan-Indian bhakti movement laid a substantial basis. Carnatic music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world. Imbued with emotion and the spirit of improvisation, it also contains a scientific approach.

Carnatic Music boasts of many uses and benefits, among others:

    • as a medium of teaching
    • performing
    • prayer
    • therapy

Carnatic music is completely melodic, with improvised variations. The main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style. Carnatic music rests on two main elements: raga or musical modes and tala, the rhythm. 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.

Origins and History
The Sama Veda is said to have laid the foundation for Indian music, and consists mainly of hymns of Rigveda, set to musical tunes, and would be sung using three to seven musical notes during Vedic sacrifices, sometimes accompanied by an instrument.The Yajur-Veda, which mainly consists of sacrificial formulae, mentions the veena as an accompaniment to vocal recitations during the sacrifices.

Like all art forms in Indian culture, Carnatic Music is believed to have a divine origin, and music is venerated as an aspect of the Supreme. Ancient treatises describe the connection of the origin of swaras to the sounds of nature (as in animals and birds, the sound emanating from a bamboo reed as air passes through its hollows etc), and man’s keen sense of observation and perception that tried stimulating these sounds.

References to Indian classical music are made in many ancient religious texts, including epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The Yajnavalkya Smriti mentions "Veena vadhana tathvangna sruti, jathi, visartha talanjaaprayasena moksha margam niyachathi" ("The one who is well versed in veena, one who has the knowledge of srutis and one who is adept in tala, attains salvation without doubt.")

Around the latter half of the 14th century, Carnatic music flourished in the southern capital cities, particularly in Vijayanagara and Tanjavur.