Indian Classical Music And Sikh Kirtan by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982 Permutation of Melody |
| Permutation of Melody Alankar: It literally means an ornament or decoration. It is the repetition of the musical notes of a raga in a sequential patter. So alankar is the specific pattern of certain group of notes of a raga. While vocalising alankar, the arrangement of notes should touch the heart and evoke the mood. It should be done in accordance with the rules of the raga. Alankars are regarded as combinations of several melodic movements. They fall under four categories: (a) Asthai alankar: vocalisation which returns to the initial note or S; (b) Arohi alankar: ascending vocalisation going up; (c) Avarohi alankar: descending vocalisation which goes lower; and (d) Sanchari alankar: consolidated vocalisation which uses all the three types mentioned above. Some of the alankars are given below for practice: . 1) S, R, G, M, P, D, N, S: S, N, D, P, M, G, R, S. . 2) S S R, R R G, G G M, M M P, P P D, D D N, N N S: . . S S N, N N D, D DP, P P M, M M G, G G R, R R S. . . 3) S G, R M, G P, M D, P N, D S: S N, D P, M G, R S. (_) (_) (_) (_) S D, N P, D M, P G, M R, G S: S R G M P D N S (_) (_) (_) (_) The alankar to be played in Kehrva tal (of four beats) is as under: 1 2 3 4 S G R M G P M D P N D S S N D P M G R S (_) (_) (_) (_) 4) S G R S, S M G R, R P M G, G D P M, M N D P, . . P N D S: S N D P M G R S. . S D N P, P D N M, M P D G, G M P R, R G M S: . S R G M P D N S. 1 2 3 4 S G R S S M G R R P M G G D P M M N D P P N D S S N D P M G R S (_) (_) (_) (_) . . 5) S D P M, R N D P, G D P M, M N D S: S D N P, D M P G, G P M G, R G R S. 6) This alankar and the next are meant for practice with komal(flat) svaras. The komal svaras are underlined. The following scale forms raga Bhairavi. . . . . . . . S R G M P D, G M D N S R S, G R S N D N S, __ _ __ _ __ _ __ ___ __ __ __ M P D N D P M, S R G M G R S. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7) D N S R G R S, G M D P M G R S, D N S R G R S, _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ ___ _ _ . . . . . . . . . G M D P D M P G, G M D N S R S, D N S R N D P M S R G M G R S. _ _ _ _ _ |