Carnatic Music Glossary
Clear definitions for common terms in the learning guides. Follow a term to the full glossary or explore related articles.
- Raga
- A melodic framework with characteristic notes, phrases, and expressive identity.
- Tala
- A recurring rhythmic cycle that organises time in a composition or performance.
- Swara
- A musical note used in Indian classical music, such as Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, or Ni.
- Shruti
- A subtle tonal interval or pitch nuance used to describe fine musical intonation.
- Gamaka
- An ornamented movement between or around notes that gives a raga its character.
- Bhava
- The expressive feeling or emotional meaning carried through music, text, and delivery.
- Kriti
- A composed Carnatic song, often organised around pallavi, anupallavi, and charanam sections.
- Kutcheri
- A Carnatic concert, traditionally presented in a recognised performance sequence.
- Arohana
- The ascending order of a raga’s swaras, which may move straight or use characteristic turns.
- Avarohana
- The descending order of a raga’s swaras, which may move straight or use characteristic turns.
- Melakarta
- A complete parent-raga framework in Carnatic music, traditionally one of the 72 melakarta ragas.
- Janya Raga
- A derived raga related to a melakarta, with its own note selection and characteristic movement.
- Alapana
- A lyric-free exploration that introduces and develops a raga’s identity without a fixed tala cycle.
- Manodharma
- The improvisatory aspect of Carnatic performance, created spontaneously within raga and tala practice.
- Neraval
- Improvisation on a selected line of sahitya while preserving its melodic and rhythmic framework.
- Kalpana Swara
- Improvised solfa passages sung in the raga, usually resolving to a chosen point in the composition.
- Tani Avartanam
- An extended percussion solo or exchange within a Carnatic concert, framed by the tala cycle.
- Varnam
- A composed piece used for learning and concert opening, often presenting a raga’s key phrases.
- Pallavi
- The opening line of a kriti or varnam, and the central text of a Ragam Tanam Pallavi when used in that form.
- Charanam
- A later verse section of a composition that follows the pallavi and, when present, the anupallavi.