Category: Music

MUSIC

NAMASTE:

MUSICAL ICONOGRAPHY AND STUDY OF MUSICAL STONE PILLARS

CONTINUATION:

A figure performing on the Panchamukha Vadyam is sculptured on the base of the northern part of the stone chariot facing the sanctum in the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.

 

kudamuzha hashtag on Twitter

The Panchamukha Vadyam is a drum instrument.

Rhythm of the celestial sphere - The Hindu

It is metal drum (nowadays) with five faces.

https://img.dtnext.in/Articles/2019/Jul/201907052145015818_This-chennai-museum-houses-rare-and-vintage-musical_SECVPF.gif

Pancha is five. Mukha is face.

  1. It is a five faced instrument and it is named after the five faces of Lord Shiva.Sadyojatam, Isanam, Tatpurusham, Aghoram and Vamadevam.
  2. This instrument belongs to the group of membranophones.
  3. This instrument is played with both the hands.
  4. It is used in Temple music.
  5. The shell is of bronze and from it’s top emerge five hollow cylinders.
  6. These cylinders are covered with skin.
  7. The drum heads are all on the same level.
  8. In some panchamukha vadyams, the central head is at a slightly larger than those of the peripheral faces.
  9. The diameter of the central face is at a slightly larger than those of the peripheral faces.
  10. The pitch of the faces is adjusted by tightening or loosening the squeeze of the skin at the region of the neck and below the rim.
  11. It is played solo and also in conjunction with the Sudda maddalam.
  12. The Panchamukha vadyam is the pride of the shrines at Thiruvarur and Thiruturaipoondi.
  13. Árunagirinathar refers to this instrument in His Bhoothavedala paguppu.
  14. Panchamukha vadyam can be said as the development from the ancient Kudamuzha.
  15. The notes heard are the swaras in relationship with anuvadi and samvadi.
  16. It is said that Parasivas are the privileged group of people who are entitled to play this instrument
  17. PANCHAMUKHA VADYAM | The Hindu Images
  18. This Panchamukha Vadya is an important instrument both in point of music and science.

kudamuzha hashtag on Twitter

… to be continued….

PROF. V. MEENAKSHI JAYAKUAMR

MUSIC – General Knowledge

Namaste

MUSICIAL ICONOGRAPHY:

Many specimens of musical iconography and dance iconography are found in the temples of South India.  In Tanjore district, Tirukkodikaval temple, a scene depicting a victorious army being welcomed by a band of musicians, dancers and performers on Kolattam is depicted.  Musical iconography will have all the music depicted in temples and stones.

The Kudimiyanmalai music inscription will come under the heading of musical epigraphy.

This inscription belongs to the 7th centrury A.D.

It establishes beyond doubt that the Indian solfa system Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni is the oldest in the history of world music.

The European solfa sytem Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si dates only from the time of Guido d” Arezzo of 10th Century.

The series of sculptures depicting music parties give us details relating to the number that constituted a concert party, their plan of sitting and standing, the number of accompaniments used, the number of strings in the stringed instruments, the postures in which the instruments were held and played and many other factors relating to musicology and instrumentation.

— to be continued.

PROF. V.MEENAKSHI JAYAKUMAR

MUSIC – General Knowledge

NAMASTE:

  1. What is the interval between Madhyam and Tar Shadaj?

(A) 2: 3

(B) 3: 4

(C) 4: 5

(D) 8: 9

Answer: (A)

  1. Who is the author of “Music of Hindustan”?

(A) William Jones

(B) N. Augustus Williard

(C) E. Clementz

(D) Fox Strangeways

Answer: (D)

  1. Name the famous musicologist

(A) Kishori Amonkar

(B) Prabha Atre

(C) Pt. Jasraj

(D) B.C. Deva

Answer: (D)

  1. What is the name of Odav Scale in western music?

(A) Heptatonic Scale

(B) Hexatonic Scale

(C) Natural Scale

(D) Pentatonic scale

Answer: (D)

  1. One of the main objectives of teaching music is also

(A) To encourage social justice

(B) To provide proper leadership

(C) To discover new facts

(D) To establish music at par with other disciplines

Answer: (D)

  1. The term ‘Vasu’ stands for the number

(A) 7

(B) 8

(C) 9

(D) 10

Answer: (B)

  1. Name of 12th Chakra is

(A) Rudra

(B) Disi

(C) Aditya

(D) Rishi

Answer: (C)

  1. Value of the Vivadi interval is

(A) One Sruti

(B) Two Srutis

(C) Three Srutis

(D) Four Srutis

Answer: (A)

  1. Name of 50th melakartha raga is

(A) Namanarayani

(B) Visvambhari

(C) Gamanasrama

(D) Dhavalambari

Answer: (A)

  1. Who is the author of Silappadikaram?

(A) Andal

(B) Bharathiyar

(C) Ilangovadikal

(D) Tirujnana Sambandar

Answer: (C)

— to be continued

V. MEENAKSHI JAYAKUMAR

 

MUSIC – General Knowledge

NAMASTE:

01. Sindhubhairavi is the janya raga of

(A) Hanumatodi

(B) Kharaharapriya

(C) Natakapriya

(D) Natabhairavi

Answer: (C)

02. A compound wind instrument:

(A) Kombu

(B) Flute

(C) Nagasvaram

(D) Magudi

Answer: (D)

03. Which material is used in putting ‘Syahi’ on tabla?

(A) Wood powder

(B) Iron powder

(C) Stone powder

(D) None of these

Answer: (B)

04. How many Taalas are mentioned in Sangeet Ratnakar of Sharangadeo?

(A) 110

(B) 120

(C) 130

(D) 140

Answer: (B)

05. The term ‘Matu’ is used for which of the following?

(A) Mukam

(B) Textual part of a song

(C) Matra

(D) Murki

Answer: (B)

06. According to ancient scholars the term ‘vipanchi’ was used for which of the following?

(A) Nine string veena

(B) Seven string veena

(C) Twelve string veena

(D) Three string veena

Answer: (A)

07. Which is the correct order for ‘Uddata’, ‘Anuddata’, and ‘Swarita’ respectively?

(A) Lower, middle, upper

(B) Upper, middle, lower

(C) Upper, lower, middle

(D) Middle, upper, lower

Answer: (C)

08. The last prabanda which is kept lively even today?

(A) Nowka Charitram

(B) Geetgovindam

(C) Nandanar Charitam

(D) Krishnalila Tarangani

Answer: (B)

09. Tick the correct order of chronology of the following:

(A) Geet Govind, Natyashastra, Sangeet Ratnakar

(B) Sangeet Ratnakar, Natyashastra, Geet Govind

(C) Natyashastra, Geet Govind, Sangeet Ratnakar

(D) Natyashastra, Sangeet Ratnakar, Geet Govind

Answer: (C)

10. The modulation of voice is expressed through

(A) Kaku

(B) Laya

(C) Bandish

(D) Tala

Answer: (A)

 

Music … General knowledge

Namaste..

1. Tayampaka is ensemble of…

Chenda

2. Author of Sangeet Sara…

Vidyaranya.

3.Kriyanga ragas presently known as…

Vakra ragas

4.kriti KaruBaru of Tyagaraja is in Raga…

Mukhari

5. Sangita kalpadrumam has been authored by …

Muthaiah bhagavatar

6. Singer of Devaram..

Oduvar

7. Kovur pancharatna is in praise of…

Sundareswara Swamy..

8.Magudi is also known as…

Bhujanga Swaram

9.Rudra in 72 melakarta scheme is the..

11th chakra

10.Simhendra madyamam is named in asampoorna Mela pandadi…

Sumadyuti.

11.Alaku is the name in ancient Tamil music ..

Shruthi

12. Nirupanam is found in..

Kalakshepams.

13. Ottamtullal is a popular folk dance of…

Kerala

14. Total number of songs included in Rabindra sangeet..

157

15.God of Taal according to ancient treatise..

Shiva.

Music … General knowledge

Namaste.

Let us check our Musicology knowledge..

1. Author of Santeet Parijath….

Ahobalar

2. Vatabi ganapathim composed by….

Muthuswami deekshidhar

3. From the following which scholar has arranged the notes according to the interval

4 324432…..

Bharathar

4. In which treatise 13 characteristics of Raga have been stated…

Sangeetha ratnakaram

5. Author of Raga Tarangini..

Pandit Lochan

6. How many bhaktis are there in Sama Veda?

5.

7. In staff notation Pa is situated on which line from leger line?

Second.

8. What is the frequency of Komal Gandhar….

288

9. Who wrote Sangeet Sudhakar..

Singh Bhopal

10. Who is the author of Rag Darpan?

Damodhar

11.Anya swaram in Raga Bhairavi

chatusruthi dhaivatham

12. Ri Gu Mi Dha Nu is Raga…

Lathangi

13. Sri kaalahastisa pancharatna composer..

Veenai Kuppaiyar

14. Composition provoked by incidents in life of Sri Tyagaraja…

Nidhi Chala sugama

15. Lakshana gitas composer…

Paidala Gurumoorthy sastrigal

 

 

 

MUSIC – PURANDAROPANISHAT

NAMASTHE

Dasa sahitya is a rich treasure of wisdom that is relevant for our every day life.

Purandarasada who composed lakhs of songs in Kannada was a contemporary of Tallapaka annamacharya, the Padakavita Pitamaha of Telugu and a friend of Srikrishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara King and the disciple of Saint Vyasaraja, who for a long time worshipped Lord Sri Venkateswara of Tirumula.

Tirupati, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams published Sri Purandaras ke Bhakti Geet, during 2000. Sri Dr.V.R. Panchamukhi did the English and Hindi Translation. Dr. I.V Subba Rao I.A.S. Executive Officer, T.T.D. has written the foreword for this book, where he says, Saint Composers of Karnataka, popularly known as Karnataka Haridasas occupy a prominent place int he galaxy of great souls who spread spiritual knowledge in various Indian languages.

Dr.I. V. Subba Rao, EO thanked Dr. V.R. Panchamukhi, an intellectural with a deeply spiritual orientation, has succeeded in perfectly bringing into his translations the true feel of Saint Purandaradasa, in his compositions.

In this compilation of songs, we have classified the selected songs broadly into the following five groups, according to the nature of the man contents of the songs:

  1. Perceiving Lord Krishna
  2. Reflections on Life and Messages for Social Reforms
  3. Messages for Managing the Self
  4. Philosophy of life and Moral Principles
  5. Bhakti, Surrender and Meditation .

There is one sloka in SrimadBhagavatha Purana, which says When man gets distracted fromLord Krishna and pursues unrighteous path and hence becomes unhappy, then these saints move on this earth as the auspicious forms of Lord Janardhan, to bless the mankind with right path.

There are two systems of spiritual leadership:

  1. Vyasakuta
  2. Dasakuta.

The Spiritual leaders in Vyasakuta include the three main Acharyas of the Indian Philosophical world, Sri Sankara, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Madhva.  All of them derive their valuable and strong thoughts from the basic sources of Vedas, Upanishads and Veda-based literature of Vedavvyasa.

 

dasakuta systems becomes a relevant system of spiritual leadership.  Dasakuta provides guidance to the mankind not only through the teachings given in the songs composed in the common man’s languages but also by setting of examples through the practice of the preceptors.

In fact, there are many luminaries int he Dasakuta system of spiritual leadership.  Dasakuta has existed side by side along with Vyasakuta from very ancient times. For example, Gopitaks the devotees of Lord Krishna who practiced the teachings of Sri Krishna, the approach of complete surrender and purelove  sysmbolise the main characteristics of Dasakuta.

Sri Hanuman signifies a blend of Vyasakuta and Dasakuta.

— to be continued.

V.MEENAKSHI JAYAKUMAR

 

MUSIC – PURANDAROPANISHAT

PURANDAROPANISHAT:

Purandara Dasa is described aptly as Karnatak Sangeet Pitamaha.

No musical concert of today is complete without the rendering of some of the songs of Purandaradasa, especially in Bhajan Sampradaya. It is said that Saint Tyagaraja who rules supreme in the Karnatak Sangeeth today, derived inspiration from Purandaradasa songs, as his mother was always singing to him in his younger days, the devotional songs of Sri Purandaradasa.

I believe for various reasons that Purandaradasa to be the Avatara of Narada Maharishi, the doyen of music and keerthana and Bhakti on Lord Rama (Vishnu Narayana).

The word Upsanishad means the preachings given by a preceptor to his disciple when the latter is sitting in front of him with a sincere yearning for learning. (True Vidyarrthi).

The Purandaradasa sahitya is described as Purandaropanishat.  The various Upanishads message and philosophy, the essentials of the Vedas, various Puranas Ithihasas, Smritis and Smirutis are found in Dasa Sahitya. This is for the benefit of the masses who do not know the above Veda Rasas.

— to be continued

V. Meeenakshi Jayakumar.

music – composers

NANDANAR CARITRAM

Tamil Geyanatakam Nandanar Caritram was composed by Sri Gopalakrishna Bharati who was a contemporary of Sri Tyagaraja. The entire work consists of 45 keerthanaigal, 7 Kannigal, 7 Kadukka 4 tukada, 5 iruchollalangaram, 10 dandakam, 3 anandakalippu, 2 cinsdu, 3 lavani, and 2 nondi cindu.

Beside Nandanar Caritram Gopalakrishna Bharati composed three more small geyanataka

  1. Tirunilakanta Nayanar caritram
  2. Iyarpagai Nayanar Caritram
  3. Karaikkal Ammaiyar charitra.

——- Will be continued.