. | . | Karaikudi Tradition | Performing Technique | |
m g s , n d the svara 'sa' with the rest period (kaarvai) receives an imaginary middle
finger pluck, resulting in 2. It is stressed that the plucks should not be loose. Pattu mittu is taught in the beginning for the clarity of independent tones. 3. When the strong beats of a tala and the syllables (whether of the svara or saahitya) synchronize, then the gotu mittu is used. Gotu meettu is the index and the little fingers plucking in opposite directions to bring a synchronized stress. For example, if it is adi tala, the counts, 1, 5 and 7 receive Gotu mittu. When there is no syllabic synchronization with the strong beats of the tala, the little finger alone plays the side strings, marking the tala angas. In the context of playing a composition or improvisation in the framework of a tala, the function of the little finger is to keep the tala angas without fail. This is orally referred to as playing talam (denoting the tala keeping function of the little finger). This is mandatory in the Karaikudi school. The other function of the little finger is to pluck the appropriate side strings downward, individually for a pleasing effect or sometimes as adumbration of the inner realization of the pluses. 4. The function of the little finger is also apparent during tanam playing.
Here the little finger strikes the side strings upward, alternating with
either index or middle finger. In tanam playing, the finger plucks follow
the pattern of the syllables used while singing. The words anamta (eternal)
and anamta (bliss) are combined in different ways in singing. Also some
meaningless syllables like namta, tomta, etc., are used. But they generally
conform to the following patterns: (b) A nam , ta (4 pluses) (c) A , nam , ta (5 pluses) 5. In tanam playing on the pancama or mandaram string the ring finger plucks the sarani upward just the same way the little finger is used while playing tanam on the sarani string. There is no name mentioned for this special technique in the available musicological literature. This technique is optional and is seldom used. 6. Sometimes the index or the middle finger plucks the individual main strings for pleasing effects as in the case of the side strings, to symbolize the ever flowing pulses felt deep within. 7. Occasionally the index or the middle finger strums all the four playing strings or the first two or three of the four main strings for effect.
|
Brhaddhvani, 55, 3rd street,
East Abhiramapuram, Chennai - 600018, INDIA Tel 91-44-4208-1813 | Fax 91-44-2432-9878 | E-mail adminbrhaddhvani@gmail.com |
|