Gamaka determines the character of each raga in vocal and instrumental music

By N S Ramachandran (University of Madras, 1938) | Compositions >> Gamaka has been defined by Sarngadeva and others as the ornamentation of a note by shaking it. But evidence from their works can be cited to show that the idea of gamaka is more extensive than the connotation of this definition; it has been … Read more

Time theory in Vivekananda’s Concepts of Indian Classical Music

The notion of a particular time prescribed for ragas (gāna kāla) plays a greater role in Hindustani music than for exponents of its southern counterpart where sārvakālika ragas prevail: ragas suited to any day or night time. A few ragas nevertheless continue to be associated with the moods indicated by song lyrics (notably in dance … Read more

Up-to-date information: Composers, musicians, scholars, publications and special events

Custom SafeSearch – press and websites For up-to-date information from several leading periodicals and other websites, simply type one or several keywords such as a personal name or institution you want to learn more about (e.g. “carnatic”, “karnatak composer”, “hindustani musician”, “ragamalika”); optionally add a city or state (e.g. “Madurai singer”, “Karnataka violinist”, “Trivandrum music festival”, “Chennai music season”): … Read more

Video | Tyagaraja’s ekaika raga kritis – lecture recital by Dr R S Jayalakshmi (vina)

Vina: Dr R S Jayalakshmi & Charulatha Chandrasekar  Mridangam: Kalaimamani Sri TR Sundaresan >> Live lecture-recital at Arkay Convention Center (Chennai) on 17 October 2025 organized by Madhuradhwani *Ekaika kriti raga refers to a “single song raga” though additional songs or kritis may, of course, have been added later on. In 1996 senior musicologist and … Read more

Why Carnatic Music Matters More Than Ever

by Ludwig Pesch For this musicologist and author, there are good reasons to believe that Carnatic music matters, perhaps more than ever and almost anywhere in the world. So why not perform and teach it in the service of better education for all, for ecological awareness or in order to promote mutual respect in spite … Read more