| Carnatic |
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SWARAS
AND SWARASTHANAS
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a general sense, this deviation is called gamaka. Gamaka can refer
to a constant deviation from the nominal swara sthana or a time
dependent deviation or the path taken in reaching the nominal swara
etc. Truly, gamaka is the life blood of Carnatic music
and the raga system. Ragas are defined more by the gamakas and the
way in which certain swara phrases (chain of swaras) are used than
by the mere presence or absence of certain swaras. Thus, playing the
keys corresponding to the swara sthanas of a certain raga will not
reproduce the true character of the raga but only provide a general
idea of what it sounds like. This is the reason why purists object
to the use of keyboard instruments in Carnatic music - the lack of
gamaka, which leads to a mutilation of the raga swaroopa. The use of
gamaka also implies that the method used for defining nominal
swara sthanas (rational or logarithmic division) is not too critical
as long the correct raga swaroopam can be accommodated. |
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Swaras And Swarasthanas |
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