In Indian Classical Music, the set of seven notes is called a “Saptak” (derived from the Sanskrit word “Sapt”) that refers to octave in Western music. According to the pitch of sound, Indian Classical Music recognizes three 'Sthanas' or 'Voice Registers' known as 'Mandra Sthana', ‘Madhya-Sthana', and 'Taar-Sthana'. The voice of 'Mandra Sthana' is said to be produced in the chest. The chest voice is the lower, heavier, and more powerful register. The name comes from the sensations you feel in your chest. The voice of 'Madhya-Sthana' is said to be produced by the throat when both the head and chest registers are used simultaneously, it is also referred to as mixed voice.and the voice of 'Taar-Sthana' is said to be produced by the head. The head voice is the higher, lighter, and sweeter register. Sensations are felt in the head. Thus, these three 'Voice-Registers originate from the chest, the throat and the head respectively. Each Voice-Register is actually an Octave higher than the preceding one. These three Voice-Registers are also known as 'Mandra-Saptak', 'Madhya-Saptak' and 'Taar-Saptak' respectively.
Picture Ref: https://schoolofindianmusic.com/notation-download/
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As we discussed about Shrutis and Swara earlier, there are 22 Shrutis in the Indian Classical Music and out of those there are 7 Swara that comprise of our sargam- Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni. These Swaraas are also called Shuddha Swara and are placed in a fixed place in the octave. Some of these Swara like Sa and Pa are fixed on the scale thus are called Achal Swara (Immovable Swara) while some can move from their position and are called Vikrit Swara (Movable Swara) such as Re, Ga, Ma, Dha and Ni. Depending on their ability to move up or down from their positions, these Vikrit Swaras can be Komal Swara or Tivra Swara. Komal and Tivra Swara can be depicted through a dot or line above or below the Swara. Thus, this gives us 12 Swara on an octave with 7 Shuddha, 4 Komal and 1 Tivra Swara. The picture below gives a clear depiction of the Swaras on an octave. Indian Classical Music and Western music has considerable differences when it comes to culture, scales, notations, etc. and over the years, Indian Music has been influenced by the Western Music notation. Unlike Indian Classical music, it uses major and minor scales and equal temperament notes. Western music scales generally consist of seven notes and five variations which are arranged in an order of increasing pitch to form a scale termed as an “octave” in the Western music. In Indian Classical Music, the same octave is called a “Saptak” that refers to a set of seven notes.
|| गीतं वाद्यं च नृत्यं च त्रयं संगीतमुच्यते ||
गीत वाद्य और नृत्य के समुदाय को संगीत कहते हैं | "Music is a community of songs, instruments and dances"- This statement correctly defines the various elements of music. Music is a spiritual journey which feeds and consoles our mind, heart and soul together. Music for me is a vast and endless sea of peace and calm…it lets us be one with the universe and our eternal soul. It’s a rewarding experience that has spiritual power and never leaves your side. As my Guruji once said “one who experiences and practices music with full honesty and devotion is a soul that can never be insensitive or self-centered as music makes you feel content and see grace and honesty is everything”. The basic introduction to India Classical music starts with the 2 prevalent systems- South Indian music or the Carnatic music system and the North Indian music or the Hindustani music system. Both systems originated from a common point but have developed very distinct styles over the centuries. Due to Iranian culture and music having a special influence on the northern and central part of India during the Mughal period, there was an amusing mix of Indian classical music and Iranian music and came to be known as Indian Classical Hindustani music by a combination of raga, language and raginis. But the southern region of India remained untouched by this effect due to which Carnatic music was promoted as pure Indian music in India at the same time. (Ref: Sangeet Shastra Parag by Govind Rao Rajukar) Base of all music is sound and this sound only creates Swara so its important to understand the importance of this sound......so "Naad" it is. नादाधीनमतोजगत । Swara originates from Naad (नाद) which means voice or sound. Naad is believed to be the integral part of life and the world. The entire world is subject to sound. Naad is present in five key elements - Earth, water, fire, air and sky, etc. Because of this importance of Naad, its also called “Naad Brahma” (नाद ब्रह्म). This sound is produced by the coordination of vital air and fire in the human body. There are 2 types of Naad- Ahad (अहद) and Anahad (अनाहद). In yogic terminology there are two kinds of sounds in the Universe, Ahad sounds and Anahad sounds. Ahad sounds are sounds created by something striking something else. If I pluck the “A” string of my guitar, it will vibrate 440 times per second, creating a vibration in the surrounding air that transfers that exact vibratory rate into the surrounding environment. That is an Ahad sound. The wind blowing through the trees, the breath striking the vocal chords and mouth—these are Ahad sounds. Ahad sound vibration must travel through matter, because these sound vibrations are transmitted through the movement of molecular structures. Anahad literally means the un-s truck melody. In yogic cosmology and science it is said that the Universe is made of sound. All matter is vibrating at certain frequencies. Rocks and stones have a very slow and low frequency. Color and light have a high frequency and can travel through the vacuum of space. Beyond all physical phenomena and matter is the primal creative sound vibration that began the creation. In Christianity it is called The Word. Sikhs call it the Naad. It is what scientists call “Cosmic radiation”—the constantly creative sound left over from the Big Bang. Yogis call it Anahad. Whatever one calls it, it is constantly vibrating, creating, and expanding the Universe—infinitely, endlessly. (Ref: The Unstruck Melody: Understanding the Science of Naad Yoga By Mata Mandir Singh.) The Naad that is worthy of music is called Shruti (श्रुति)। In Indian Music there are 22 music worthy Naad in between one tone and its double high tone which are called Shruti. Between these 2 elevations, there are seven pure Swara on certain shrutis. Swara is a sanskrit word that means a note in the octave. In Indian Classical Music there are 7 Swara “Sa”, “Re”, “Ga”, Ma”, “Pa”, “Dha” and “Ni” and collectively they are called “Sargam”. . There are many versions of origin of Swaras of Indian Classical Music ....but my inclination is to the theory where the Swaras trace back to nature and are believed to originate from sounds of various birds and animals. षड्जं वदति मयूरो, गावो रंभन्ति चर्षभम् । अजाविकेतु गान्धारं क्रोंचो वदति मध्यमम् ।। पुष्पसाधारणे काले कोकिला वक्ती पंचमम् । अश्वस्तु धैवतं वक्ती निषादं वक्ती कुञ्जरः।। “Sa”- This series begins with the first Swara of Indian Classical Music “Sa” or “Shadaj” which is believed to originate from the sound of peacock. “Re”- is the second Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Re” or “Rishabh” which is believed to originate from the sound of a raging bull. “Ga”- is the third Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ga” or “Gandhar” is believed to originate from the sound of a bleating goat. “Ma”- is the fourth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ma” or “Madhyam” is believed to originate from the sound of a crying heron. “Pa”- is the fifth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Pa” or “Pancham” is believed to originate from the sound of a singing Koyal bird. “Dha” is the sixth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Dha” or “Dhaiwat” is believed to originate from the sound of neighing of a horse “Ni” is the seventh and last Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ni” or “Nishad” is believed to originate from the trumpeting of an elephant. We will learn more about Swara and their significance in Indian Classical Music in the other sections. |
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