Singing kritis with the help of notation - continued

How to learn a song by using notations

I have already posted some articles here on this topic. Now we'll look at some details using the notation of two songs.You can try learning these kritis by following this method and let me know how it worked for you.

If you are unfamiliar with this method of learning, it might seem a bit confusing at first to see notations. Text books follow variations for the same song so because each author is following his or her style! You don't see this in Western music notations however. Since carnatic music offers a lot of flexibility within the composition's framework, we see this. The composer has provided a main framework which should not be tampered with. But many vidwans have build on the framework, their own decorations through sangathis. When one performs, an
artist might vary these slightly based on their voice capabilities. This is like changing the dress,which may be good or bad,but the person is not changed! So, there is some flexibility with changing the notation within the structure provided by the composer. Any change should contribute to the existing structure as intended by the composer.

Some artists have incorporated complex styles in their notations which can make the song difficult for a singer who's not trained in their parampara or gharana The best notation should be the simplest, easy to follow and smooth flowing. After you've grasped a kriti well using such a notation, you can add your own embellishments according to your imagination and skill.

So, there's no single version of notations for a kriti in carnatic music.
Following this, I present my notations that are simplified versions of two kritis (I have posted slightly complex versions elswhere) for stafrters. Remember, the key advantage of learning by the notation method is that once you gain familiarity, you can learn any kriti on your own with better accuracy even without an audio version, provided you are familiar with ragam. I will just indicate how to use the notations I'm providing.

Gananyakam Bhaje by Sri Mudduswami Dikshitar, in Rudrapriya ragam (some sing in Poornashadjam), set to Adhi thalam. This notation is a simplified version and can be taught as a prayer song for even children. By the way, it's a rare song and in fact I have never heard it in concerts. But you can find M.S.Subbalakshmi's rendering.

Rudrapriya is derived from 22nd melakartha- Kharaharapriya. By omitting the dhaivatham D in avarohanam, we get Rurapriya.
Arohanam: S R2 G1 M1 P D2 N1 S*(Note the numbers next to the letters, indicates, a flat or sharp note (komal or thivra))
Avarohana: S*N1 P M1 G1 R2 S.

First, Align the lyric well with the swaras and the spaces. When the flow of singing is established, you can sing with the thalam. Focus first on achieving swara clarity aligned to swaras perfectly. Pick a comfortable rendering speed based on your voice control or fingering skills for instrumentalists.

Note: Adhi thalam has one beat, three finger counts, and two sets of  beat and a wave. Each is of the same time duration therefore, one cycle is 1+3+1+1+1+1 or 8 units of time. You can set your own pace for each unit.

If you are unfamiliar with the parent ragam (Kharaharapriya), (See section at the end on trying this using a keyboard.)

When this is repeated many times till smooth singing of the swaras with the thalam is established,we can sing the noted as A kara  ie without saying Sa Ri Ga Ma etc just say Aa Aa Aa  at their place exactly at the correct pitch of the note.
The next step is to superpose the lyric in the akara places.



Ready to add the thalam?  Let's see how it is done for one line:  Gana nayakam bha je ham bha. This can seem daunting but don't give up.

1. The semicolons  (;) at the beginning indicate silence. so the song begins after the start of the thalam in between the middle of the little finger 1 and the ring finger 2, at the half, sing the note Ga1(-the dash is used to indicate duration of a note is double.) So here, you need to be at the ring finger.
2. Sing Re and Ga each one unit time. Then sing Ma- for two units (double note).
3. Silence for 2 units at the middle finger (indicated by ; , ). Next, Ga-,double duration. 
4. Then comes the beat of the thalam (indicated by a x above the note).The long vertical line marks the end of the first half of the thalam, which is called the Laghu. At the beat, sing Re- double duration, folowed by silence for two notes (indicated by; , )
5. Then  comes the wave (indicated by a v). At the start of the wave remain silent for two units (indicated by ; , ) then sing Sa- double duration. 
6. Then comes the second beat, this ends the beat-wave unit called Drutham and the next Drutham begins. At the beat sing Re- as double duration.then Ga-also for double duration then comes the wave. At the start of the wave, leave two notes time as silence indicated by ; .Then sing Ga- as double duration note.

We have completed one cycle or one avarthana of the thalam. Do the same for the rest of the song.

You can also try this style of learning with another simple notation 

This is a composition by Sri Patnam Subramania Iyer, whose life spanned from the second half of 19th century to the start of the 20th century. He was a great vocalist, musicologist, composer and above all a great teacher, who trained several famous musicians like Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar, my paramaguru Sri "Tiger" Varadachariar. Patnam Subramania Iyer's guru was Sri Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbier, a relative and direct disciple of Saint Thyagaraja. Mastery of Thyagaraja's style and reflecting it in his compositions had earned him the nickname Chinna Thyagarajar.

Using a Keyboard

Kharaharapriya scale: Arohanam: Start from middle white key- Sa. next is Re2, Next black key is Ga1. Skip one white key and go to the next white key Ma1. Skip the black key go to the next white key Pa. Omitting the next black key, go to the next white key Dha2. Next is the black key - Ne1. Skip one white key, and go to the next white key for Sa*. In Avarohanam,we omit D to get Rudhrapriya,  SNPMGRS.