Overview
Carnatic music, known as Karnāṭaka saṃgīta or Karnāṭaka saṅgītam in the Dravidian languages, is a system of classical music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. It is one of the two principal subgenres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu texts and traditions, with the Samaveda often cited as a key foundation. The other principal genre is Hindustani classical music.
The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music. Most compositions are written to be sung, and even when rendered on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style. Although there are stylistic differences between the two systems, the basic elements of śruti (the relative musical pitch), svara (the musical sound of a single note), rāga (the mode or melodic formulae), and tala (the rhythmic cycles) form the foundation of improvisation and composition in both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.
While improvisation plays an important role, Carnatic music is mainly expressed through compositions, especially the kriti (or kirtanam) — a form developed between the 14th and 20th centuries by composers such as Purandara Dasa and the Trinity of Carnatic music. Compositions also serve as the principal vehicle through which the tradition is taught and learned. The Telugu language has predominated in the evolution of the Carnatic repertoire, although works exist in several other South Indian languages.
A Carnatic performance is usually presented by a small ensemble. It generally consists of a principal performer (most often a vocalist), a melodic accompaniment (typically a violin), a rhythm accompaniment (usually a mridangam), and a tambura, which provides a continuous drone throughout the recital. Other instruments that may feature include the ghatam, kanjira, morsing, venu flute, veena and chitraveena. The greatest concentration of Carnatic musicians is found
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