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Folk Music
The music and dance of Tamil Nadu had their beginnings in
the temples. From early times, different groups of people were appointed to sing
divine songs in the temple. Officers called Thevara Nayakams or leaders of
the world of music, arranged the private worship of kings and group singing.
Odhuvars,
Sthanikars, or Kattalaiyars offer short musical
programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. Musicians
had total reliance on divine grace. They lead the chorus in the temple
congregational prayers to the accompaniment of the Sarangi. Sarangi was in use
in the temples of Tamil Nadu till the end of the nineteenth century.
The temples at
Madurai, Tirunelveli, Sucindram and Alwar
Tirunagiri have musical pillars. Such pillars are found in the Artha Mandapam
where the singing of Thevaram was accompanied by the music from the stone-pillars.
Intricacies of Folk Music
Tamil folk music is remarkable for the tala intricacies. Very
ancient classical ragas or melodies like Manji, Sama, Navaroz, Kalyani,
Karaharapriya, Thodi, and Nadanam-k-kria are used in the folk-songs. Many
instruments are used in folk music.
Musical Notation Of Tribes
The hill-tribes have a natural fondness for music and they are
known for the preservation of ancient culture. The Pulayar tribe describe their
melodies as talams. According to them, their melodies are derived from the
cooing of birds such as kanamayil, Kanakkozhi. Talam and melodies are named
after their deities. Karaganachi talam, Mangalanada talam, Kundhanada talam, etc.
are all specific melodies. The chaya of classical ragas like Sudhasaveri,
Saraswathi, Sankarabharanam, Andolika, Brindavanasaranga are to be seen in these
beautiful melodies. Their orchestra is known as Singaram (literally meaning
beauty), consisting of two small sized Nadhaswarams or Sathathakkuzhal, two
drums or melam and a pair of cymbals or Kaimani, Veelikuzhal (flute) and
Maththali (a long drum) are played by them to invoke the gods. They sing while
they dance. Some of their music is rudimentary only serving as a background for
dance.
Melody of the
Kulavai
The Kulavai sound is made by the women engaged in agricultural
work with a turn of the tongue which they move swiftly side ward. The Kulavai
song is sung in beautiful melody, particularly in Thanjavur where agricultural
prosperity and music tradition alike have been kept up. Women stand in knee-deep
slush, planting the seedlings and they raise the Kulavai sound to expedite work
and to honour visitors. Anyone passing between paddy fields has to make token
payments or tips to these women, if they greet him in chorus.
Nayyandi Melam
Nayyandi Melam or Chinna Melam is a rustic imitation of the
classical melam or Nadaswaram and is intended purely as an accompaniment to
folk-dance-drama to cater to the tastes of the unlettered audience. This
orchestra consists of two Nadaswarams, two tavels, a Pambai, a Thammukku, and a
pair of cymbals. The peculiarity of Nayyandi melam is that the instrumentalists
also dance while playing the instrument. The troupe is in demand as an
accompaniment to Karagam, Kavadi, Dummy-horse show, and gypsy-dance, popularly
known as the dance of the Kuravan and Kurathi.
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