Technical terms Flashcards
Sangeetham, Sruthi, Swaram, Arohanam, Avarohanam, Murchana, Sthayi, Purvangam, Utharangam, Dhathu, Mathu, Aksharakala, Trikala, Thouryatrikam, Talam, Avarthanam, Talangas, Jati, Saptatalas, Bharatam, Gandharvam, Nadham,
Sangeetham
- Indian term for MUSIC
- melodious/pleasant music
Vocal+Instrumental+Dance
Sangeetham
*eventually, dance was seperated.
Sruthi
- Audible sound heard distinctly
- musical sound (can be detected by well trained ears)
-ADHARA SHADJAM (all swarams derived from here)
Swaram
- Musical note, pleasing to ears
Arohanam
Series of swarams in ASCENDING ORDER
(S R G M P D N S)
Avarohanam
Series of swarams in DESCENDING ORDER
(S N D P M G R S)
Murchanam
Arohanam & Avarohanam sung together
Sthayi
Series of swarams, beginning w/ SA and ending w/ NI (OCTAVE)
5 Sthayis
Anu-mandra, Mandra, Madhya, Thara, Ati-Thara
Normal range of human voice
Mandra, madhya, thara sthayis
Swarams lower than madhya sthayi SA form…
Mandra sthayi
Swarams higher than Madhya sthayi NI form…
Thara Sthayi
Where are anu-mandra & Ati-thara Sthayi sometimes used?
Instrumental Music
How many dots do anu-mandra sthayi swaras have?
Two, below
How many dots do mandra sthayi swaras have?
One, below
How many dots do madhya sthayi swaras have?
0
How many dots do thara sthayi swaras have?
One, above
How many dots do ati-thara sthayi swaras have?
Two, above
Purvangam
Group of first 4 swarams
(Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma)
Uttarangam
Group of last 3 swaras (Pa, Dha, Ni)
Dhathu(vu)
Swaram
Mathu(vu)
Sahityam
Akshara Kala
Unit time in music (Ex: Chaturasra Jati Dhruva talam has 14 akshara kalas)
Kala
Speed of musical piece
Prathama Kala
1 note per akshara kala/beat
Dvithiya Kala
2 notes per akshara kala
Tritiya kala
4 notes per akshara kala
Thouryatrikam
Music, Instrumental & dance combined
Talam
Musical time or measure
Avarthanam
1 COMPLETE cycle of talam
How may talangas are there?
6
Laghu symbol
I
Number of aksharas in laghu
3/4/5/7/9 (depending on jati)
dhrutham symbol
O
No. of aksharas in dhrutham
2
anudhrutham symbol
U
No. of aksharas in anudhrutam
1
Guru symbol
8
No. of aksharas in guru
8
plutam symbol
8^1
No. of aksharas in plutam
12
Kakapadam symbol
+
No. of aksharas in kakapadam
16
Which of the shadangas has variations in number of aksharas?
laghu
thisra
3
chaturasra
4
khanda
5
mishra
7
sankeerna
9
Dhruva talam symbol
IOII
Matya talam symbol
IOI
Rupaka talam symbol
OI
Jhampa talam symbol
IUO
Triputa talam symbol
IO
Ata talam symbol
IIOO
Eka talam symbol
I
Who brought Gandharvam (music) to Bhooloka?
Bharata muni
Gandharvam
refers to Sangeetham
Gandharva Ghanam
Music performed by the Gandharvas
Bharatham
attributes of music
Syllable “Bha” in Bharatam
Bhavam (expression)
Syllable “ra” in Bharatam
Ragam
Syllable “tha” in Bharatam
Talam
Naadham
Sound generated by prana (life) & agni (fire)
2 types of Naadham
Ahata naadham
Anahata naadham
How do we get 35 talams?
Saptatalas * Panchajatis = 35 talams
What are the 3 most used talangas?
Laghu, dhrutam, anu-dhrutam
Of the 3 most used talangas, which two are fixed?
dhrutam, anu-dhrutam
How do the # of aksharas in a laghu vary?
based on the jati
How to write thisra jati laghu
I(3)
How to write chaturasra jati laghu
I(4)
How to write khanda jati laghu
I(5)
How to write mishra jati laghu
I(7)
How to write Sankeerna jati laghu
I(9)
Which of the four vedas did Indian music come from?
Sama Veda
It’s also known as Gandharva Veda.
What are the 5 (ahata) naadams humans can produce?
- Ati sukshma (through the naval part, very subtle)
- Sukshma (through the heart, subtle)
- Pushta (through the voice box, strong)
- Apushta (through the head, soft)
- Kritrima (through the nose, artificial)
What are Ahata and Anahata naadam?
**Ahata: **Produced in human body & by instruments
**Anahata: **can’t be heard by human ears
Naadam produced by the human body
(Ex-Singing)
Shaariraja
Naadam produced by fingers/nails on string instruments
(Ex- Veena)
Nakhaja
Naadam produced by bowed instruments
(EX- Violin)
Dhanurja
Naadam produced by wind instruments
(Ex-Flute)
Vaayuja
Naadam produced by percussion instruments
(Ex-Mridangam)
Charmaja
Naadam produced by metal instruments
(Ex- Bell)
Lohaja
What happens if naadam is practiced in the correct way?
He/She evolves into a supreme human being and becomes one with the Brahman (god).
Why is Sa called Shadjam?
Because it comes from 6 places in the mouth
Shad = 6
Why is Ri called Rishabam?
It is meant to be strong like a bull
vrishaba = bull
Why is Ga called Gandharam?
It is meant to sound fine and blissful
Why is Ma called Madhyamam?
It is the middle note
madhya = middle
Why is Pa called Panchamam?
It is the 5th note
Pancha = 5
Why is Dha called Dhaivatam?
It is meant to sound valorous
Why is Ni called Nishadam?
It’s the ultimate note
