Tala Anubhava: 25 rhythm exercises

A tala trainer for self-study by Kalaimamani TR Sundaresan (voice & lessons) & Ludwig Pesch (talam cymbals & concept) Tips for self-study For some of the basic lessons your tutor provides pauses to be filled by participants while the accompaniment of cymbals and claps continues. This is followed by yet another repetition by the tutor.  … Read more

“Cosmic Order, Cosmic Play: An Indian Approach to Rhythmic Diversity”

Music by Kalaimamani TR SundaresanConcept by Ludwig PeschInspired by a conversation on the subject of ‘korvai’ with the late Sangita Vidwan S. Rajam Originally published in 2001 by KIT Publishers in Rhythm, A Dance in Time by Elisabeth den Otter (ed.) in conjunction with the exhibition titled “Ritme, dans van de tijd” at the Tropenmuseum … Read more

Flow | Mela practice – number patterns (3 counts)

a = middle octave (madhya sthayi)‘sa = higher octave (tara sthayi) The above svara pattern may be sung, hummed or practiced silently with any svara variants: those you are already familiar with (e.g. raga Mayamalavagaula, mela 15, raga Dhirasankarabharanam, mela 29, raga Mecakalyani, mela 65) or any other you want to practice. Enjoy practicing by … Read more

“Bhava” and “Rasa” explained by V. Premalatha

“Rasa is realised in from the combination of the sthāyibhāva (permanent and dominant emotional mood) with the vibhāva-s (the objects of emotions such as the hero and the heroine, and the exciting causes such as the spring, flowers, moonlight and the bower), anubhāva-s (the external manifestations of emotions such as the movement of the eye-brows, … Read more