Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

, Neraval also known as Niraval or Sahitya Vinyasa is the elaboration and improvisation of melody for a particular line. Usually, just one or two lines of text from the song (from the anupallavi or

charanam Charanam (meaning ''foot'') in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) is usually the end section of a composition which is sung after the anupallavi. There may be multiple ''charanams'' in a composition which make up different stanzas, ...

part of the

kriti Kriti may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kriti (music), a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music * ''Kriti'' (film), a 2016 Indian Hindi-language short film * Kriti TV, Greek TV station People with the name * Kriti Bhar ...

) are sung repeatedly, but with improvised elaborations. The part of lyrics is chosen which is self-contained in terms of its meaning and context and has an elegant structure amenable for repetition with variations. In general, such elaboration follow the rhythmic patterns in the original lyrics ( talam), Randel (2003), p562 and each word in the lines of text stay set within their original place (''idam'') in the tala cycle, Viswanathan & Cormack (1998), p232 though minor variations that remain faithful to the syllabic patterns of the sahityam are considered fine. The lines are then also played at different levels of speed which can include double speed, triple speed, quadruple speed and even

sextuple In mathematics, a tuple is a finite sequence or ''ordered list'' of numbers or, more generally, mathematical objects, which are called the ''elements'' of the tuple. An -tuple is a tuple of elements, where is a non-negative integer. There is on ...

speed. The neraval is one of the features in the extempore improvisation aspect (''Manodharma Sangita'') of Carnatic music, and is intended to highlight the

Raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

bhava effectively. It is usually performed by the more advanced performers.

Examples

Examples of Krithis containing lines best suited for neraval: *'' Vathapi Ganapathim'' in

Hamsadhwani Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"), is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāga of the ...

at "Pranava Swarupa Vakratundam" * ''Balagopala'' in

Bhairavi Bhairavi () is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava ( a form of Shiva). Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terrifying" or "awe-inspiring". Iconogra ...

at "Neela neeradha shareera dheerathara", *''Entara Nithana'' in

Harikambhoji Harikambhoji (pronounced harikāmbhōji) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 28th ''Melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. One of the first scales employed ...

at "Sheshudu Shivuniki Bushudu Lakshmana", *''Nidhichaala Sukhama'' in

Kalyani (raga) Kalyani is a melakarta raga (parent musical scale) in the Carnatic music. It is the prati madhyama equivalent of the raga Sankarabharanam. It was called Kalyan but is now more popularly called Yaman in Hindustani Music. Its Western equivalent ...

at "Mamathabandhanayutha Narasthuthi Sukhama?" or "Sumathi Thyagaraja Keerthana Sukhama?" *''O Rangasayee'' in

Kambhoji Kambhoji or Kambodhi is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji, and has existed since the 7th century. Scale The scale of Kambhoji is also said to have been derived from Camb ...

at "Bhuloka Vaikuntam ithiyani", *''Ennaganu Ramabhajana'' in

Kamavardhini Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical mus ...

at "Rama Chiluka Nokata Penchi Prema Matalalada Nerpi", *''Raghuvara Nannu'' in

at "Manasuna Niki" *''Pakkala Nilabadi'' in

Kharaharapriya Kharaharapriya is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is the 22nd ''melakarta'' rāga (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāga system. It is possible that the name of the ragam was originally ''Harapriya'' but it was changed to conform to the Kat ...

at " Tanuvurce vandana mona ninchuchu nara" or "Manasuna" *''Palinchu Kamakshi'' in

Madhyamavati Madhyamavati (madhyamāvati) is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāga (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale), as it does not have all the seven musical notes (''swaras''). ...

at "Kanthamagu Peru Pondhithivi Kaarunyamurthivai jagamu", *''Rama Rama Gunaseema'' in

Simhendramadhyamam Simhendramadhyamam is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 57th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Sumadyuti in Muthuswami Dikshitar school ...

at "Munimaanasa dhama Mrughamatha Sulalama", *''Rama nee Samanamevaru'' in

at "Paluku palukulaku tene" *''Saroja Dhala Netri'' in

Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam may refer to: * ''Sankarabharanam'' (1980 film), an Indian Telugu-language musical drama film * ''Sankarabharanam'' (2015 film), an Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film * Sankarabharanam (raga), a rāga in Carnatic music ...

at "Sama Gana Vinodhini gunadhama Shyamakrishnanuthe", *''Shambho Mahadeva'' in

at "Shambho Mahadeva Sharanagathajana rakshaka", *''Jagadoddharana'' in

Kapi Kapi, Kapı, or KAPI may refer to: Places * Kapi, Estonia, a village in Estonia * Kapı, Karataş, a village in Turkey * a possible old volcanic eruption site near Krakatoa People * Mari Kapi (1950–2009), Papua New Guinean judge * Mustaf ...

at "Purandara Vithalana" *''

Narayana Ninna Namada Narayana Ninna Namada () is a Kannada composition in Carnatic music by Purandara Dasa in the 16th century. It is set in the Shuddha Dhanyasi raga and the Khanda Chapu tala. It emphasizes the value of reciting God's name. The song is popular and ...

Shuddha Dhanyasi Udayaravichandrika, or Shuddha Dhanyasi, is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it ...

at "Ento Purandaravithalarayana" * ''Sri Venkateshwara'' in Thodi at "Maarajanakam Madhavanamakam",

Notes

References

* * Viswanathan, T. & Cormack, Jody (1998). In {{cite book, title=In the Course of Performance: Studies in the World of Musical Improvisation, last=Nettl, first=Bruno, authorlink=Bruno Nettl, author2=Russell, Melinda, publisher=

University of Chicago Press The University of Chicago Press is the university press of the University of Chicago, a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. It is the largest and one of the oldest university presses in the United States. It pu ...

, location=

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, ref=NettlRussell1998, isbn=0-226-57411-3, date=15 December 1998, url-access=registration, url=https://archive.org/details/incourseofperfor0000unse

Examples

Notes

References

See also