Gamaka
Encyclopedia
- For Gamak as ornamentation in Indian classical musicIndian classical musicThe origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
see hereGamakGamaka, also known as gamak or gamakam, refers to ornamentation that is used in the performance of Indian classical music. The unique character of each raga is given by its gamakas, making their role essential rather than decorative in Indian music...
Gamaka also known as Kaavya Vaachana is a unique form of storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
by singing. This originated in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. One person reads a stanza
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
of a poem with highest emphasis on meaning, applying suitable raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
or a Dhaati (melodical line) usually matching the emotion of the poem. Another person then explains the meaning of the stanza with examples and anecdotes. Gamaka draws raagas from traditional Kannada folk Dhaati(tunes) and Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
. The singing itself is called Gamaka and the singer a Gamaki. The explanation of the rendering is called Vyakyana. The emphasis in Kaavya Vaachana is on literature (Saahithya) and not on music where singer splits compounds words in poems to make it easier to understand. One of the noticeable thing in this art is that singing is not to a rhythm.
The poems are chosen mostly from old Kannada epics such as 'Karnataka Bharatha Kathamanjari', Jaimini Bharatha, Harischandra Kavya, dEvi bhAgavata, and Torave Ramayana.
Gamaka Academy
Karnataka Gamaka Kala Parishat (Academy of Gamaka Art, Karnataka) is an organisation that is formed to support and encourage the Gamaka Art form.Misconceptions
There is a misconception that Gamaka and Harikathe are the same. Gamaka is different from GamakGamak
Gamaka, also known as gamak or gamakam, refers to ornamentation that is used in the performance of Indian classical music. The unique character of each raga is given by its gamakas, making their role essential rather than decorative in Indian music...
and Gamak
Gamak
Gamaka, also known as gamak or gamakam, refers to ornamentation that is used in the performance of Indian classical music. The unique character of each raga is given by its gamakas, making their role essential rather than decorative in Indian music...
am, the words used in Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
to refer to the styles of rendering a note (see ornaments (in music). Gamaka sometimes is mistaken for a form of music. Gamaka is clear reading of complex poetry with complete emphasis on literature while its musicality is also important, it is secondary.
Exponents
Gamaka Gandharva and Rajyothsva Prashasti puraskrutha HosahalliHosahalli
Hosahalli is a small village near the city of Shimoga in Karnataka, southern India.It is on the banks of the Tunga River and one can reach this village by road while travelling from Shimoga to Thirthahalli on NH207.-About :...
H R Keshava Murthy
H R Keshava Murthy
H R Keshava Murthy is a Gamaka exponent from Hosahalli in Shimoga district.- Career :Keshava Murthy is a noted expert in the field of Gamaka. He is one of the artists featured in the sound tracks of Gamaka available from Gamaka Kala Parishat , that is located in Hosahalli...
is a living legend of Gamaka. Gamakakalanidhi Basavappa Shastri was one of the famous Gamaka singers. Among popular Gamakis are Rajyothsva Prashasti and Kanaka Purandara Prashasti puraskrutha Basavapatna Subbaraya Kaushik, Rajyothsva Prashasti puraskrutha Hosabale Seetharam Rao, Narahari Sharma Kerekoppa, Mattur Ramamurthy, Raghavendra Rao and Late Karnataka Kalashree Kam Su Venkatadri Sarma [1928-2011].