#VARNAMS IN CARNATIC MUSIC LESSONS FULL#
Pada varnams are set to slower tempos and is intended to give full scope to convey the bhava.
These compositions are heard in dance concerts.Pada varnams are also called Chouka kala varnams and Ata varnams.Tana varnams are intended for being practiced in Thrikala.The hrasva nyasa, dirgha nyasa and alpa nyasa admissible in a raga are clearly illustrated in Tana varnams.Tana varnams present the swarupa of their ragas in a nut shell.Tana varnams are found in Adi, Ata, Jhampa, Khanda Jathi Triputa, Chaturasra, Ata and other such talas.The emphasis is on the melodic and rhythmic combinations rather than sahityam.In a tana varnam, Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam alone will have sahityam.The total number of ettugada swaras in a varnam may be 3, 4, or 5.The number of avarthas of intermediate ettugada swaras may be 1,2,3 or 4.The length of the last ettugada swara may be 2,3 or 4 avarthas if in Adi or Ata tala and 16 if in Rupaka tala.The length of the first ettugada swara is one avartha, if in Adi or Ata tala or 4 avarthas in rupaka tala.Ettugada Swarams (also known as Charana Swarams or Chittai Swarams).Charanam (also known as Ettugada Pallavi, Upa Pallavi and Chitta Pallavi).First part is known as Purvanga and it is followed by Uttaranga. Varnams are compositions under Chithra Tara Margam.The sahityam part of a varnam is very minimal, and relates to Bhakti or Srungara rasam or it may be in praise of patron or a description of a particular raga.In learning music, varnams are the foundations of ragas and gamakas.
Just as swara jathis are stepping stones to varnams, varnams are stepping stones to kritis.The practice of varnam in 3 speeds strengthens the knowledge of laya.Varnams are practiced by the students of music after a course in geethas, swara jathis and Jathi swarams.Analysing and understanding of these aspects are the first steps in Manodharma sangeetham (Raga Alapana, Swara Kalpana, Neraval etc.) Dhatu and Janta phrases in at appropriate places. It has the Raga bhavam, Raga ranjaka prayogas, raga visesha sancharas, and several apurupa prayogas. The composition of varnam is of very high standards.Varnams are scholarly compositions belonging to Abhyasa ganam category.