Module 6

Musical forms

Training pieces, kritis, light forms, improvised forms and the concert.

1. 1. Gitam, swarajati and varnam

   The training pieces of the traditional learning path.

2. 2. Kriti and kirtana

   The main concert song: its sections, variations and how it differs from a kirtana.

3. 3. Padam, javali, tillana and ragamalika

   Lighter and dance-linked forms, and the song in many ragas.

4. 4. Improvised forms

   Alapana, tanam, pallavi, niraval, kalpanaswara and the percussion solo.

5. 5. The structure of a concert

   A typical running order of a Carnatic concert, and where it comes from.