Carnatic Music- Emotion and Beauty!

Just like in life, even in Carnatic music, the idea of emotions is imperative. Emotions are as large as life and are twice as natural. We use various ways to express emotions. Music is an art, and art is a means of expressing emotions to the fullest. One element that is very important in music is the ability to express the emotions that make up different slices of life. Music is a language of emotion. Music without emotion is lifeless and an emotion without music is derisory.

Carnatic music has an emotional power and there is science behind this. Let’s have a look at the science of emotion. According to a theory, embodied philosophy or embodied mind thesis proves that the laws of thought are metaphorical and not logical. We reflect emotions on listening to a piece of music.

Where are the sources for these emotions? Emotions in music need not always necessarily be associated with the lyrics i.e., beautiful phrases and words that make up the song. Pure music, in the form of instrumentals, aalapanas, or Kalpana swaras can bring out strong emotions too. The tone of a particular song or tune matters a lot. Emotions are primarily created through these.

This is how it affects us:

The tone and the music is captured by our ears. Then, the brain listens, analysis and understands the music content. It then imagines the feelings or emotions that has been produced by that configuration of music.

The emotional quality:

The Rasa or Bhava is the soul of Carnatic music. This is the most powerful emotional quality. Carnatic music of a very good quality rendering can evoke intense emotional feelings in both the person rendering the music and in the person listening to it. The more renderer of the song enjoys the music, the stronger is the emotion created.

Nine types of Rasas referred to as “Navarasas” are identified:

1. Adbutha- Wonder

2. Shringara- Love/Beauty

3. Roudhra- Anger

4. Bhayanaka- Fear

5. Karuna- Compassion

6. Bhibatsya- Disgust

7. Veera- Valor

8. Hasya- Amusement/Mirth

9. Shantha- Peace

Ragas and Rasas:

A Raga is akin to a melodic mode in Indian classical music. The Raga is the remarkable central feature of the classical Indian music tradition. There are a countless number of Ragas in Carnatic music. Each Raga is associated with a Rasa. If handled skilfully and tactfully, one Raga can exhibit more than one Rasa. Even though Rasa is an inbuilt trait of music, the extent of its exposure lies with the musician, his understanding, imagination, perception and control over the Raga’s boundaries. In case of vocal music, Rasa could be associated with the Raga as well as the tone and the lyrics of the song. The Shanta Rasa is the base of all emotions. Presence of all the Rasas in the right proportion or devoid of all Rasas is the Shanta Rasa.

As an attempt to express more emotions, Rasas like Bhakti Rasa and Gana Rasa have been derived from the Navarasas. Listening to beautiful compositions of Carnatic music stops the wandering of the mind. In Indian classical music, Carnatic music is one of the most beautiful and most difficult form. It is very soothing and relaxing.