Ragam Thanam Pallavi

Ragam Thanam Pallavi is a form of singing in Carnatic music which allows the musicians to improvise to a great extent. It is one of the most complete aspects of classical music, demonstrating the entire gamut of talents and the depth of knowledge of the musician. It incorporates "raga alapana", or the improvised rendering of the "raga", "Tanam", the rhythmic rendering of the notes of the "raga", "neraval", the mathematical elaboration of the notes, "Kalpanaswara", the improvised combinations of the "raga" notes and "tani Avartanam" in which the percussionist is allowed to demonstrate his skills.

Ragam

Each song in Carnatic music has a "raga" associated with it. A "Raga" creates the mood for the song through its combination of notes and rules associated with the ascending and descending rendition of the notes. Every Raga has a set of predefined Ascending notes and Descending notes. For each Raga a particular Note or a set of Notes forms the heart of the Raga. When a musician sings a Raga they would emphasise on these sets of notes which serves as an indication for the listener as to what Raga it is. Even though every Raga has a set of notes, it is left to the singer's imagination as to what combinations of notes that they would use during their alapana. Hence when you listen to different singers singing the same Raga, you realize the different aspects within the same Raga. The Ragam of the Ragam Tanam Pallavi is similar to a "raga alapana" in which the musician elaborates the "raga" without the aid of any lyrics before the song proper is sung. But there are a few subtle enhancements. In this form of pure melodic improvisation, the musician starts with a refrain to create the mood of raga and lays a foundation for composition to follow.

Thanam

"Thanam" is the next stage in the Ragam Tanam Pallavi. It is a medium tempo of the rendition of the "raga alaapana", which follows a rhythmic pattern. Although "thanam" is often rendered without percussion support, the element of rhythm is more obvious in this type of improvisation. It is rendered in medium speed and just before commencing the main piece called "Pallavi".

Pallavi

The word "Pallavi" is derived from the three syllables Pa - "Pada" (words), La - "Laya" (rhythm) and Vi - "Vinyasam" (variations). "Pallavi" is the equivalent of a refrain in Western music. The Pallavi is usually a one-line composition set to a single cycle of "tala". The "tala" could range from the simple to the complex and there may also be different "gatis" being employed.

"Pallavi" has 2 portions to it. The first half of "Pallavi" is an ascending piece of notes and the first half of the "Pallavi" should always end at the strike of the beginning of the second half of the "Talam" cycle. Between the first half of the "Pallavi" and the second half of the "Pallavi" there will be a brief pause called as the "Vishranthi" and then the second portion of the "Pallavi" starts. The basic style in "Pallavi" rendition is to sing the "Pallavi" in different speeds or "Nadai". In most cases the "Pallavi" is set to Chathushtra "Nadai" meaning each beat carries 4 units. So the singer will then sing the "Pallavi" in 3 different speeds, once with each Beat carrying one unit, then 2 units and then 4 units per beat. Once this is completed then they would sing the "Pallavi" in a different "Nadai" called "Tisra" Nadai meaning each beat now carries 3 units. Once these aspects are covered, the singer explores in the "Kalpanaswara" phase and they would start exploring different Ragas during the "Kalpanaswara".

Pallavi can be sung in 2 different aspects, one called as "Prathiloma" and then the "Anulomam". In Carnatic music the "Talam" is always constant and only the "Swaras" or the "Pallavi" set for the "Talam" can undergo "Nadai" bedam.

But in theory if you sing "Pallavi" without changing any speed but increase the Talam cycle in a geometric progression, it would be the other kind.

Pallavi are of 2 kinds

1) The entire Pallavi will be set to the same Ragam; For example " Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni Padadha Gaanamutho teriyinchada " is a Pallvi in Natabhairavi ragam

2) Ragamalika Pallavi meaning the one line composition whose portions are sung in 2 or more ragams Pallavi is " Mohanaangi Kalyaani Paahimaam Aananda Bhairavi " In this Pallavi the singer would sing Mohanaangi in Mohanam ragam, Kalyaani in Kalyani ragam and Pahimam Aananda Bhairavi in ragam Aananda Bhairavi.

The Pallavi challenges the musician's ability to improvise with complex and intricate patterns. The whole exercise is very demanding, both technically and musically, since all the artiste's musicianship is put to test.