The South Indian Music is popularly known as Carnatic
Music. Carnatic Music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world. An
important element of carnatic music is its devotional contents.
The carnatic music is based on the system of ragas (melodical scales) and talas (rhythmic
cycles). There are seven rhythmic cycles and 72 fundamental ragas.
Tala is in classical an important factor. The tala is the theory of time measure. The
musical time is divided into simple and complicated metres. When accompanying the dance,
vocal and instrumental, the Tala maintains the balance which is the most essential
function of music. Tala has it own divisions. It moves in bars.
Tala is the most important aspect of classic music. It can be considered to be the very
basis or pulse of music.
Following are the different rhythmic cycles or talas:
1. Dadra rhythmic cycle of 6 beats divided 3-3
2. Rupak rhythmic cycle of 7 beats divided 3-2-2
3. Jhaptal rhythmic cycle of 10 beats divided 2-3-2-3
4. Ektal rhythmic cycle of 12 beats
5. Adha chautal rhythmic cycle of 14 beats divided 2-4-4-4
6. Teen Tal rhythmic cycle of 16 beats divided 4-4-4-4
Carnatic Music is considered one of the oldest system music in the world. Imbued with
emotions and spirit of improvisation it also contains a scientific approach. It abounds in
structured composition in different ragas.
Purandara Dasa is known as the father of Carnatic Music. 3 saint composers of the 19
century Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri have composed thousands of
songs that remain favourite among musicians and audiences.
