Geethams & Varnams - your first songs
After the varisai comes actual music. Geethams are the gentlest possible songs; varnams are the concert musician's daily vitamin. Between them they carry you from exercises to real repertoire.
Geethams - melody meets words
A geetham is a short devotional song with one swara per syllable, no repeats and no ornamentation tricks - the simplest complete music there is. The traditional first one is Sri Gananatha:
Sri Gananatha (Lambodara)
Malahari · Rupaka tala · Purandara DasaRaga Malahari - a janya of Mayamalavagowla - the same swara world as your varisai.
Śrī gaṇanātha sindhūra varṇa
karuṇā sāgara karivadana
Lambodara lakumikarā
ambā sutā amaravinutā
Notation comingPlayable notation ships once Artium faculty sign off the lesson.
Varnams - the daily vitamin
A varnam concentrates a raga - its signature phrases, its gamakas, its sancharas - into one two-part composition. Professionals warm up with varnams for life, singing them in two or three speeds. The structure:
The varnams students meet first
Ninnukori
Mohanam · Adi tala · Traditional. The classic first varnam, in pentatonic Mohanam - nearly every student’s entry into real repertoire.
Explore the song →Evvari Bodhana
Abhogi · Adi tala · Traditional. A gentle Abhogi varnam that settles the voice into janya raga singing.
Explore the song →Sami Ninne
Sree · Adi tala · Traditional. A stately Sree varnam - often the student’s first step beyond Mohanam.
Explore the song →