| Carnatic Music | |
|---|---|
| Concepts | |
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Sruti • Swara • Raga • Tala • Melakarta • Asampurna Melakarta |
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| Compositions | |
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Varnam • Kriti • Geetham • Swarajati • Ragam Thanam Pallavi • Thillana |
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| Instruments | |
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melody: Vocals • Saraswati veena • Venu • Violin • Chitra veena • Nadaswaram • Mandolin rhythm: Mridangam • Ghatam • Morsing • Kanjira • Thavil drone: Tambura • Shruti box |
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| Composers | |
Geetham, the simplest music form in Carnatic music, was created by Purandara Dasa in order to introduce talas with sahithya (lyrics).
Contents |
Though Geethams have no absolutely defined divisions of pallavi, anupallavi or charanas, they may be observed in some cases. Some Geethams contain sections rather than the defined divisions (pallavi etc.). They often have no sangathis or variations, with each swara taking one syllable of the sahithya. The Geetham is sung without repetition from beginning to end. However most Geethams are concluded by repeating a portion of the opening part. Geethams are set in medium tempo and contain no Sangathis or variations and the flow of the music is natural. The theme of the Sahithyam (lyrics) is to praise God. Students learn these Geethams after a course in the preliminary Sarali exercises and Alankaras.
Facts about all Geethams:-
(a) A simple melody song
(b) Same tempo throughout the song
(c) There is no anga change
(d) No repetition
(e) No sangathi
(f) We learn this after beginner lessons
(g) Usually sang about god
(h) Geetham means song
(9) Geethams usually have 10/12 avarthanams
There are three types of Geetams: Sanchari or Samanya Geethams, Lakshana Geethams, and Suladi Geethams. Samanya Geethams are the simple ordinary Geethams and are called by other names such as Sadharana Geetham or Sanchari Geetham. In Lakshana Geethams, the sahithyam (lyrics), instead of praising God, enumerates in so many words, the Lakshana of the Raga, in which it is composed-giving amongst other details, its Vakra Swaras, Graha, Nysa, Amsa Swarams and lastly its parent Raga (Melakarta raga). Most Lakshana Geethams have been composed by Purandara Dasa.[1]
Some of the most common Geethams have been composed .They are