Raagam Thaanam Pallavi - Linear Algebra :-)

The comparison may seem odd but kindly don't feel offended... Raagam Thaanam Pallavi(RTP) is one of the most complex form of singing in carnatic music.. It is like "namma ooru kalyana saapadu" (south Indian Marraige feast). It will consist of all the items from payasam to aviyal.

RTP brings out the vastness of a raagam. It is also technically very demanding, especially the pallavi portion which involves a lot of mathematics.

Just to elaborate the complexity involved:

"What happens here is that, first the musician performs an elaborate neraval on the pallavi line. Then he launches into the mathematical innovations. Here the pallavi line is rendered in different speeds keeping the tala constant. Then on some occasions and when suitable to some talas, the pallavi is kept constant and the tala is changed to different speeds. These constitute the anuloma and paratiloma portions. So if a pallavi is set to Adi Tala 4 kalai, then the anuloma is rendered in the following way: The tala is kept constant and the pallavi is rendered in succeeding degrees of speed. So the next speed will entail singing the pallavi twice in a single tala cycle or avarta. Then tisra will be performed. Here the artiste sings the pallavi line three times in a single avarta. Finally the next speed where the pallavi line is rendered 4 times in a single avarta. In the case of pratiloma, the pallavi is constant and the tala is changed from 4 kalai to two kalai and then on to 1 kalai. After this comes the kalpana swara portion. This is usually followed by a ragamalika of swaras and sometimes another tani avartanam to the percussionists."

I tried to put the above theory in mathematical terms and the following is what I got:

Let T and P be Tala and Pallavi respectively

Case 1: T= X, where X is a constant

P = f(v)

Case 2: P= Y, where Y is a constant

T = g(v)

where v is the speed (swaras/sec) and f and g are functions of speed.

?%$#@@#%^^&&

( Please read the article @ http://archives.chennaionline.com/musicnew/CarnaticMusic/174th.asp

for better understanding of RTP)

But inspite of all this, I dont understand why Carnatic Music comes under 'Arts' Group. Infact, Carnatic Music should be a part of applied mathematics.

But when you listen to our T.N. Seshagopalan's RTP in shanmukhapriya, it looks so simple..as simple and elegant as Federer's aces.. Hats off to our T.N.S's genius.

Here is the T.N.S's Raagam Thaanam Pallavi in shanmughapriya raagam.

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=06061c46c04184aaed24a2875c7fa58ea40e72e383fe8d845be6ba49b5870170

(Link for Download).