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| When we talk of dance as an art form, we naturally tend to include the other two creative forms of art, viz., Music and Literature. We do not make a distinction between them because presumptively the art of dance has an inseparable connection to the other two. In spite of the fact that dance, music and literature are |
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three major art forms, the combination of these three along can produce the emotional involvement of the connoisseur.
There are various dance forms in India today called differently indifferent parts of our country and they depend solely on the principles prescribed by the work of Bharata.
"Natya Sastra" of the second century B.C. But the music adopted in these dance forms is not divided into as many forms and has not undergone many changes. Indian music has developed mainly into two branches - Hindustani and Carnatic. These two systems also have common fundamental principles but their application differs in each system. The 13th Century Sarangdeva's "Sangita Ratnakaram" is considered as the basis for the two forms of Indian Music, though Bharta's"Natyta Sastra" deals with Music exclusively in a
chapter.
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| The Musical system, which follows the principles of Sarangadeva but has undergone changes due to the influences of Muhammadan invasions, has finally evolved into what we may today call the Hindustani Music. On the other hand, the system that followed the methods of Somanatha Pandita, Govinda Dikshita,
Ramaamatya and Venkatamakhi music. These two are the only classical forms practiced throughout India. The Hindustani system is practiced in North India and Carnatic in South India. It may be noted that the regions, which are linguistically Dravidian in origin, practice the Carnatic system and those with Aryan background follow Hindustani. This linguistic orientation is a matter of musicologists to ponder over. It cannot be brushed aside as a mere coincidence. As we may note that the Maharashtrian region, though geographically belonging to the south practices predominantly the |
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Hindustani system. This may be because the Marathi language is of Aryan origin.
The southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala have adopted Carnatic Music. The various compositions in this system are used by the artist’s public performances like
Kutcheris, Harikatha, Dance, Hajan and Religious discourses. Other
performances of folk nature like "Yakshagana" of Karnataka
"Therukatha" of Tamilnadu, "Veedhibhagavatham" and "Tholu
Bommalaata" of Andhra Pradesh also carry the flavour of Carnatic music and also have the distinction as originators of some Ragaas of Classical music.
Before we deal with the main topic namely, the music in Kuchipudi dance style, it is necessary that we try to know the basic musical compositions
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of Carnatic music. It is also necessary that we realise that Kuchipudi dance, like any other dance form or system, has made use of theses compositions according to its dance requirements in tune with the Carnatic Musical System. Hence there is no separate music system peculiar to Kuchipudi or any other dances form for that matter.
The most popular compositions include Jayadeva's Ashtapadis. Apart
from these the hymns in praise of the Lord that are know for their rhythmic beauty. 'Ashtakas' for instance and the verses set to 'Pancha Chamaram', 'Utsaham' and ' Mattakokilam' are also rendered conforming to the rules of Raga and Tala. The most revered late SriBanupalli Mallayya Sastri was a master of the art. Many of these earlier compositions are not recorded in notations. Generally, the trend was only to prescribe specifically a Raga
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and Tala to be adopted for a give composition. More often than not, such prescription is followed in violation. There are a lot of other musical compositions available in local languages.
Carnatic music has developed along two ' one with composition that are sung in praise of the Lord- the 'Sankirtanas' and the other with romanticism as the mainstay and put to good use in dance: in the form of
'Sringara Padams'. Sri Chaturlaksham Krishnamacharyulu was the pioneer of Sankirtanas among the composers who recieve the appreciation of 'Sriman Tallapaka Annamacharya who is popular for both Sankirtanas and Sringara padams.
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