Lesson 9

Creating Melody with Hamsanandhi

               

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Song:	Rathiriyil Poothirukum...(Tamil)
Based on Raga:	Hamsanandhi
Listen to this song. [Audio Courtesy: RaajaNGAHM.com ]

 

 

This is a duet song situation that is typically found in almost all indian films. While the song is a lesson on the usage of the Hamsanandhi raga on one hand, it is an ideal example that blends shades of western classical music with the indian, on the other.

Hamsanandhi , a symmetrical raga, is very close to its parent raga ( 53rd Melakartha), in that, it doesn't sound the panchamam in its ascent and descent. It has a combination of flat and sharp notes that gives it a unique sound stucture.

This is an high pitched song that revolves round the higher shadjyamam.

The composer captivates the mind of the listener in the very first tune of the pallavi, with its strange note combination that lands on the dhaivatham. The charanam is a typical composition of the Maestro in terms of tune complexity. The second tune in the charanam steps outside the scale and sounds the shuddha madhyamam. The shuddha and prati madhyama are sounded in sequence, adding to the novelty of the tune. This is immediately followed by a tune that starts on the lower gandharam and jumps to the one on the higher octave.

While the song has a strong flavor of Indian classical music, the orchestration is coated with a western flavor. The use of westernized percussion during the interludes while continuing to maintain the indian raga with the violins and vocals, makes this song a a perfect lesson on fusion music. A dominant use of vocal sections backed up by the violins, is found to be used as a basic theme for the interludes. The flute and guitar pieces in the first and second interludes add to the melody content of the song.


Thanks to Maestro Ilayaraja for teaching us such a melodious and wonderful lesson on creating melody.

 

Author: R.S.Balaji

 
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