Grade 7 Flashcards
1
Q
Manipuri
A
- originated in the northeastern state Manipur
- Dance expert Gandharva’s (mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata)
- purely religious, spiritual experience
- one of the most chasteist, modest, softest, most meaningful dances
- retained ancient ritual based dances and folk dances
- Manipuri is a common name that includes various dance styles
- Creators: Radha and Krishna
- Rasa Leela dance was repeated by Lord Shiva, Goddess Uma im Lasya style and by ‘two mortal human beings’ - Princess Toibi and Khamba of Manipur and the name of the dance was Lai Haraoba
- costume called Kumil (designed by Maharaja Bhagyachandra) - he wrote the Govindasangeet Lila
- lyrical style - avoids sharp edges and straight lines
- accompaniment: Pung (percussion instrument), singer, small cymbals, Pena (stringed instrument), a wind instrument (eg. Flute)
2
Q
Odissi
A
- originated in Orissa of eastern India
- importance of trichanbi (independent movement of head, chest and pelvis)
- chauka: basic square stance
- dating back to 1st century BE
- referred to as Odra Magadhi by the Natya Shastra
- 3 schools: Mahari(devadasi tradition- use of women who are attached to deities in the temple), Nartaki(developed in the royal courts), Gotipau(use of young boys performing female roles)
- held in high esteem before 17th century - nobility were known for their patronage of the dance
3
Q
Mohiniyattam
A
- originated in Kerala
- usually a solo performance performed by women
- elegant, smooth moves
- ‘dance of the enchantress’
- Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a mohini twice
—> lured asuras away from Amrita(obtained during the churning of the palazhi)
—> saved Lord Shiva from the demon Bhasmasura - main theme: love and devotion for god (usually Vishnu or Krishna is the main character)
- elements of Koothu and Kottiyattam
- influenced by kathakali and bharathanatyam
- 40 atavukal
- white sari with a golden border (kasavu)
- follows classical text Hastha Lakshanadeepika (description of mudras)
- vocals: chollu- rhythmic structure variations
- manipravalam lyrics (Malayalam and Sanskrit)
4
Q
Kathak
A
- northern India
- nomadic bards called Kathaks- performed in village squares and temple courtyards using dance to tell mythological stories
- 3 major schools: Jaipur, Lucknow, Banaras
- derived from the Sanskrit words katha (story) and katthaka (he/she who tells a story)
- slow to fast tempo in a performance
- tukra (short composition), toda (long composition)
- have bols (rhythmic words)- bhorrowed from tabla
- famous tukra - chakkarwala tukra - includes many spins performed by the heel of the foot
5
Q
Srimathi Rukmini Devi
A
- 20th century
- when moved to Adyar, she was influenced by Dr Annie Besant
- she met Anna Pavlova in Australia (ballet dancer) and learnt ballet
- this caused her to be interested in Sadhir (name given before bharathanatyam)
- learnt Sadhir from Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai and E.Krishna Iyer in Mylpore
- name bharathanatyam given by Devi and Iyer
- established an academy - Kalakshetra- in 1939
- changed costume designs, stage management, attuvangams
- choreographed and composed many pieces
- won awards from Indian government and universities in India and USA
6
Q
Sri Thandayuthapani Pillai
A
- Carnatic musician
- produced several dance dramas
- his father taught him vocals and his grandfather taught him dance - very musical family
- joined Kalakshetra as a teacher under Devi and produced many dance dramas (eg. Sittambala Kuravanchi)
- won many awards including Padmashri from Indian Government
- started his own school called Natya Kalalaya
- published many music and dance books (eg. Aadalisai Amutham)
7
Q
Miruthangam
A
- percussion instrument
- accompaniment for orchestra, dance, music and vocals
- double sided drum, body made of a hollowed piece of jackfruit wood (1 inch thick)
- mouths covered in goatskin leather and laced to each other with leather straps
- both sides have different widths to allow the drum to have both bass(thoppi) and treble(valanthalai) sounds
- played resting parallel to the floor
- dominant hand always plays the valanthalai
- pakkavadyam (principle rhythmic accompaniment)
- Thani avarthananum
8
Q
Veena
A
- stringed instrument with a kudam (hemisphere that resonates the sound) and a surakkai(gourd-shaped support)
- danda (fret board) connects the two pieces
- four main strings, a bridge and tuning pegs (biridais)
- on the left side, the danda is attached to a yazhi (elaborate dragon head)
- three thalam strings on the side used for rhythmic emphasis
- can reproduce the human voice
- jackfruit wood
- vainika(veena player) sits on the floor, plucks strings with right hand and left hand slides along the strings
- little finger of right hand strums the thalam strings
- religious aspect:
—> danda is shiva, strings are parvathi
—> yazhi is Vishnu, bridge is Lakshmi
—> support is Brahma, connecting metal cone is saraswathi
9
Q
Violin
A
- bowed stringed instrument with four strings (tuned in perfect fifths)
- name comes from Latin word vitula
- different types of wood
- gut or steel strings
- introduced by Baluswamy Dikshitar
- usually used to accompany a vocalist or solo
- player sits on the floor ‘pretzel style’ with their right foot out
10
Q
Flute
A
- woodwind instrument without reeds
- Indian literature from 1500 BE refers to the cross flute
- pitch is changed by opening and closing holes in the body to change the effective length of the resonator and its frequency
- bamboo flute- keyless, played by Lord Krishna
- bansuri- six finger holes, used in northern India
- pullanguzhal- eight finger holes, south India
11
Q
Nattuvanga Thalam
A
- nattuvanar sets the thalam - traditionally were the gurus, choreographers
- two cymbal made of different metal alloys - bass cymbal made of iron, treble cymbal made of brass
- feet movements are reproduced on the instrument by the nattuvanar by hitting it at different angles
- used to be made of the five-metal alloys that were used to make the statues of nataraja
12
Q
Thiro Thaththaga
A
One with temperance, doesn’t have conceit, self reliant, compassionate. Not proud, highly intellectual
—> eg. Sri Rama
13
Q
Thiro Thathaga
A
One who has pride, boasts, intolerant, short tempered, predominant
—> eg. Ravana
14
Q
Thiro lalitha
A
Free from care and anxiety, pleasant, fond of easy life
—> eg. Krishna
15
Q
Thiro Shanthaga
A
One who has temperance, discipline, serene, pleasant, tolerant, cheerful, self complacent
—> eg. Buddha
