Varnam
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Varnam is a form of song in the Carnatic music repertoire. A varnam is a relatively long piece and can range from 30 minutes to up to nearly an hour or 40-50 min. It is usually set to Aadi or Ata tala. It is the center piece in a recital of music or dance. The lyrics are simple and consist mostly of long syllables and swara phrases of various lengths which bring out the essential features of the raga. It has two types: Taana varnam and Pada varnam.
Varnams are considered vocal exercises in a particular raga. The patterns in a varnam are considered to be characteristic patterns of a particular raga or scale. Varnams are considered the most complex of the vocal exercises in Carnatic Music. They are designed to help develop voice culture and proper control of rhythm. Indeed, varnams are often practiced in double and triple speeds and proper rhythmic control (tala) must be kept.
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[edit] Type of varnams
Named for it's thanam-like rhythmic qualities, tana varnams only have lyrics for the pallavi, anupallavi and charanam.[1]
With rhythmic elements like a padam, pada varnams are generally sung to accompany South Indian classical dance, including bharatanatyam.[2] Unlike the tana varnam which only has lyrics for the pallavi, anupallavi and charanam and swarams for the rest of the sections a pada varnam also have lyrics that correspond to the muktayi and chitta swaras of the varnam, so generally, pada varnams contain more lyrical content than a tana varnam.[3] The swaras in this type of varnam are suitable for intricate footwork.[4] Padajathi varnams are simply pada varnams that also contain jatis in it, making it again more suitable for South Indian classical dance.[5]
[edit] Contents of a varnam
The varnam is subdivided into several sections:
- Pallavi: the first line, sung with lyric
- Anupallavi: a sort of recapitulation, sung with lyric
- Mukthaayiswaram: sung completely with syllables -- or swaras -- (like sa ri ga ma pa da ni sa)
- Charanam: sung with lyric
- Charanam Swaras: sung completely with syllables. In a Pada varnam, there are lyrics which correspond to the Charanam swaras. The swaras occur in several groups or stanzas.
Generally, a varnam is sung as follows:
- Pallavi
- Anupallavi
- Muktayi Swaram
- Pallavi (in double speed)
Repeat, then Pallavi sung in triple speed, or in original speed.
- Charanam
- Charanam Swara Group 1
- Charanam
- Charanam Swara Group 2
- Charanam
- Charanam Swara Group 3
- Charanam
- Charanam Swara Group 4
- Charanam
There are generally 3-5 swara groups in every varnam. In a concert, the entire charanam section is sung at approximately 1.5 speed. Sometimes when repeating the Pallavi the Annupallavi and Muktayi Swarams are repeated in double or triple speed.
Varnams are generally sung in 2 varieties of talas, or metric systems, Adi Tala (8 beat cycle) and Ata Tala (14 beat cycle), where Ata Tala varnams are generally more complicated and advanced.
[edit] Famous Varnams
Famous adi tala tana varnams include "Sāmi Ninne" in Sree Raga, "Evvari Bodhana" in Abhogi Raga and "Valachi Vacchi" in a navarāgamālika, or 9 ragas, similar to Ragamalika which literally translates to a "garland of ragas" . The Arabhi Raga Varnam is supposed to be the only longest piece with janttai and tattu prayogas. Famous ata tala varnams are "Viriboni" in Bhairavi Raga, and "Nera Nammi" in Kānada Raga. A famous adi tala Pada Varnam is "Chalamela" in Nāttakurinji Raga.
