Varnam

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For the 1989 film, see Varnam (1989 film). For the 2011 film, see Varnam (2011 film). For the villages in Iran, see Varnam, Iran.
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Varṇaṃ is a form of song in the Carnatic music repertoire. A Varṇaṃ is a relatively long piece and can range from 30 minutes to up to an hour. It is usually set to Aadi or Ata tala. It is the center piece in a recital of Bharatanatyam dance. It is a tradition to start a recital in Carnatic music with a varnam. 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.

Considered as probably the most complex form in Carnatic music, varnams play a significant role in Carnatic music.[1] As a foundation to Carnatic music,[2] varnams are also practiced as vocal exercises by performers of Carnatic music, to help develop voice culture, and maintain proper pitch and control of rhythm. The melodic patterns in a varnam are considered to be characteristic patterns of a particular raga, and assist a performer in ensuring the swaras of the raga are sung or played effectively. Teachers of Carnatic music maintain that varnams must be practised in double and triple speeds by performers in order to develop the skills of manodharma (improvisation), particularly neraval and kalpanaswaras.[3]

Type of varnams

Named for its tanam-like rhythmic qualities, tana varnams only have lyrics for the pallavi, anupallavi and charanam.[4]

With rhythmic elements like a padam, pada varnams are generally sung to accompany South Indian classical dance, including bharatanatyam.[5] 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.[5] The swaras in this type of varnam are suitable for intricate footwork.[5] Padajathi varnams are simply pada varnams that also contain jatis in it, making it again more suitable for South Indian classical dance.[5]

Contents of a varnam

The varnam is subdivided into several sections:

  • Pallavi: The first section of the Varnam, sung with lyrics or sahithyam.
  • Anupallavi: A sort of recapitulation, sung with lyrics or sahithyam also.
  • Muktaayi Swaram: Sung completely with syllables—or swaras -- (like sa ri ga ma pa dha ni saa). In Pada Varnas it is known as Muktaayi Swaram-Sahithyam.
  • Charanam: Sung with lyrics
  • Chittai Swarams: 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 two 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. In most of the Adi Tala Varnams the tala is placed in the 2 kalai version. So therefore each beat and finger count is placed twice.

Famous Varnams

Adi Tala Varnams include:

Ata Tala Varnams include:

The Arabhi ragam varnam is supposed to be the only longest piece with jantai and tattu prayogas.

The "MATHE MALAYADHWAJA" is a Unique Varnam because the Chitte swara has two different types of sahitya arranged according to it. The first is a rhythmic poetry describing the king and has the Raja mudra and the second is a liting Solkattu swara which is very nicely embodied in expression by bharatanatyam dancers

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tenzer (2006), p309
  2. ↑ Panchapakesa Iyer (1989), p57
  3. ↑ Panchapakesa Iyer (1989), p57
  4. ↑ Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms T
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms P

Notes

  • Tenzer, Michael (2006). Analytical Studies in World Music. New York: Oxford University Press. 
  • Panchapakesa Iyer, A. S. (1989). Karnataka sangeeta sastra: theory of Carnatic music. Ganamrutha Prachuram. 

External links

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