Krithis - the heart of the repertoire
The krithi is Carnatic music's central art form: devotional poetry set in a raga and tala, refined over two centuries of concert practice. Once your varnams are steady, the krithi repertoire opens - and it never ends.
Anatomy of a krithi
Krithis to grow into
Endaro Mahanubhavulu
Sree · Adi tala · Tyagaraja. The fifth Pancharatna: a salute to all great souls, sung in chorus at every Tyagaraja aradhana.
Jagadananda Karaka
Nattai · Adi tala · Tyagaraja. The first Pancharatna - a garland of names of Rama in blazing Nattai.
Dudukugala
Gowla · Adi tala · Tyagaraja. The confessional third Pancharatna, in crisp Gowla.
Deva Deva
Mayamalavagowla · Rupaka tala · Swati Tirunal. A Swati Tirunal krithi in the students’ own Mayamalavagowla - a natural early krithi.
Dinamani Vamsha
Harikambhoji · Adi tala · Tyagaraja. Tyagaraja greets the scion of the solar dynasty in sweet Harikambhoji.
Bhakthi Biccha
Sankarabharanam · Rupaka tala · Tyagaraja. “Give me the alms of devotion” - Tyagaraja in the grand calm of Sankarabharanam.
Vatapi Ganapathim
Hamsadhwani · Adi tala · Muthuswami Dikshitar. Dikshitar’s invocation to Ganesha in Hamsadhwani - very likely the most-performed concert opener in Carnatic music.
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