THE CARNATIC CORNER

                    Terms related to Thalam  Thalam in Carnatic Music is used as a tool to maintain tempo and also to some extent helps in defining the structure of the song. This Sanskrit word is derived by combining two words 'Thadavam ' and 'Lasyam'.   Thadavam represents Lord Shiva and Lasyam Parvathi.      Aavartham:  one cycle of a Thalam is said to complete one Avartham. Aksharakalam : The time taken to sing one short syllable  Parts of thalam ( Thalangas) : The word Thalangas can be derived from Thalam and Angam ( Sanskrit word for parts )  There are 3 important  Thalangas  a)  Anudhrutham:    This thalam consists of a single beat of the right palm.  This can be identified in   Jhampa thalam. The common symbol of Annudhrutma is '  U ' b)  Dhrutham : Dhrutham is the combination of Anudhrutham i.e a single beat of the right palm and turning the palm facing upwards. Dhrutham is represented with '  O ' Dhrutham occurs in many thalas, it occurs twice

  Technical    Terminology 1. Sruthi:   The western counterpart of Sruthi is pitch.  In general, sruthi is a pivotal Swara or a reference Swara from where the rest of the swara's can be related.  Sruthi is a special musical note of sound that attracts the human ear.  For practical purposes (22) twenty-two distinct Sruthi's know as the Dhwavimsathi Sruthi's have been identified. A good shruthi is one in which a musician can sing comfortably from Mandhra Sthayi Panchamam to Thara Sthayi Panchamam. 2. Swara:    Swara also called a note is the basis of the entire structure of music.  There are Seven Swaras their names are presented below :   Sl.No.               Abbreviation            Name of the Swara       1                          Sa                        Shadjama      2                         Ri                         Rishabham      3                        Ga                       Gandharam     4                         Ma                       Madhyamam     5     

 What is Sangeetham? A ccording to the ancient adage, " Ragaswarcha talascha thribhi Sangeetha muchyathe ". Which can be translated as Sangeetham is a combination of Ragam, Swaram, and Thalam. Sangeetham is said to have emanated from the Sama Veda. The book " Sangeetha Ratnakaram written by Sarangadeva states  " Geetham Vadyam thatha Nrithyam thryam Sangeetha Muchyathe " which means Sangeetham is a combination of geetham ( lyrics), Vadhyam(musical instrument), and Nrithyam (dance).