Varnam

Varnam is a form of song in the Carnatic music repertoire. A "varnam" is a relatively long piece and can range from 30 minutes to up to nearly an hour or 40-50 min. It is usually set to Aadi or Ata tala. It is the center piece in a recital of music or dance. 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.

Varnams are considered vocal exercises in a particular raga. The patterns in a varnam are considered to be characteristic patterns of a particular raga or scale. Varnams are considered the most complex of the vocal exercises in Carnatic Music. They are designed to help develop voice culture and proper control of rhythm. Indeed, varnams are often practiced in double and triple speeds and proper rhythmic control (tala) must be kept.

Type of varnams

Named for it's thanam-like rhythmic qualities, "tana varnams" only have lyrics for the pallavi, anupallavi and charanam. [ [http://www.karnatik.com/glosst.shtml Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms T ] ]

With rhythmic elements like a padam, "pada varnams" are generally sung to accompany South Indian classical dance, including bharatanatyam. [ [http://www.karnatik.com/glossp.shtml Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms P ] ] 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". [ [http://www.karnatik.com/glossp.shtml Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms P ] ] The swaras in this type of varnam are suitable for intricate footwork. [ [http://www.karnatik.com/glossp.shtml Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms P ] ] "Padajathi varnams" are simply "pada varnams" that also contain jatis in it, making it again more suitable for South Indian classical dance. [ [http://www.karnatik.com/glossp.shtml Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms P ] ]

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.
*Mukthaayi Swaram: Sung completely with syllables -- or swaras -- (like "sa ri ga ma pa da ni sa"). In Pada Varnas it is known as Mukthaayi 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 2 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

Famous "Adi Tala" Varnams include:
*"Sami Ninne" in "Sree Ragam" composed by "Karur Devudu Iyer"
*"Ninnukori" in "Mohanam ragam" by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar
*"Evvari Bodhana" in "Abhogi ragam" by Patnam Subramania Iyer
*"Valachi Vacchi" in " Navaragamalika" (9 ragas, similar to "Ragamalika" which literally translates to a "garland of ragams".

Famouns "Ata Tala" Varnams include:
*"Viriboni" in "Bhairavi ragam" by Pacchimiriam Adiyappa
*"Nera Nammi" in "Kaanada ragam" by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar
*"Chalamela" in "Sankarabharanam" by Swati Tirunal

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

References