February | 2022 | Life@ 24/7

Indian Classical Music has always been a solace for my low moments. The richness in the sound vibrations of the classical musical notes (Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni) captivate my ears and make me appreciate the feelings they are trying to convey. Classical melody is different from other melodies because of its emphasis on the purity and clarity of the seven musical notes, often referred to as the saptasvaras. All of music is a combination of these seven magical notes in some way but the emphasis on maintaining the frequency of the note to a pitch and composing tunes in the orderly combinations brings a freshness that I call ‘soulful’. This, I believe is what provides classical music with powers that other types simply cannot bring. By nature, classical notes have a healing ability that relieves the listener of mental tensions, worries and trauma if the listening is conscious, of course. The technical term for the different combinations of the seven notes is a raga. Ragas (pl. of raga) that are associated with a time of the day work really well in coordinating the energies and allowing your body’s subtle internal system to heal on multiple levels. What is unique about the Indian form of classical music is the repetition of the same phrase in multiple ways giving the listener enough time to experience the rhythmic pattern of sounds in their own way and allowing those notes to be internalized, also sometimes rendering the listener to a meditative state. In addition, Indian classical music also encourages improvisation where the vocalist (singer) or the instrumentalist create deliberate pauses between notes. These periods of silence that are aptly situated in certain types of renditions by singers, create moments of magic when the listener puts a conscious ear.

Of the several forms of Indian classical music, the style followed in the south Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala) adds a unique flavor to the overall musical experience. Singers of the south Indian form of classical music use a technique of note oscillation which adds richness and depth to the rich literary compositions. The oscillations or gamakas are decorative elements used sparingly (and sometimes in excess) to demonstrate the musician’s depth of knowledge of a raga. A Rasika is a veteran listener of classical music who appreciates these intricate details of the composition and is able to appreciate the emotions being conveyed through the raga. In general, ragas have the ability to make the sensitive and trained listener feel various emotions (ranging from Karuna or compassion to bhibhatsa or chaos) when the same composition is sung at different speeds. The story of south Indian classical music is incomplete without the reference of the supporting instruments. In a typical concert where a vocalist is the main attraction for the audience, the instrumentalists equally enjoy applause for their genuine synchronous support to the vocalist . The combination of percussion instruments to vocal South Indian classical music renders it richness and mixes the concepts of time and sound amplitude to enhance the beauty of the compositions.

I listen to classical music as a way to relax but I also get something very special and private each time I listen to the same composition. It could be said that the emotion in a composition is only brought to the forefront by listening to it multiple times and at some point wanting to understand the heart of the composer. India has provided us with rich traditions of music which are available to us to this day. It is the duty of this generation to protect the heritage that is embedded within traditional classical music. The easiest way is to support those who practice these traditional forms of art. The next time you listen to a composition by your favorite composer, try closing your eyes while you listen to music. Perhaps there is more to it than just words or musical notes, it could be your higher calling.

If you’re a classical music lover, comment below who your favorite composer is and why.