school The Rich Lexicon of South Indian Classical Music
The vocabulary of Carnatic music draws from centuries of Sanskrit, Telugu, and Tamil musicological treatises. Understanding these terms unlocks the intellectual depth and aesthetic subtleties of the art form:
Key Categories of Terms:
Key Categories of Terms:
- Melodic Concepts: Nada, Sruti, Swara, Raga, Gamaka, Vadi (sonant), Samvadi (consonant), Vivadi (dissonant), Nyasa (resting note), Jeeva swara (soul note).
- Rhythmic Concepts: Tala, Laya, Akshara, Matra, Avartanam, Eduppu (Samam, Ateetham, Anaagatham), Arudi, Mukthayi, Korvai.
- Improvisational Forms (Manodharma): Raga Alapana, Tanam, Neraval, Kalpanaswara, Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi (RTP).
- Compositions: Geetham, Swarajathi, Varnam, Kirtana, Krithi, Padam, Javali, Tillana, Mangalam.