M5: A song with yati Patterns- Visual representation through Kolam

Dr. T.K.Saroja: (Author and vocalist of the work) T.K.Saroja has been trained in Carnatic music by Late Sriman.N.Ch.Krishnamacharyulu , a versatile scholar in music and literature. She is a post graduate in Mathematics and also Carnatic music. She pursued her Ph.D in Carntic music. She is currently working as lecturer in the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad and faculty in the University of Silicon Andhra, California an online university promoting Indian Arts, Culture and languages. She has been a visiting faculty at the Center for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT). Saroja has been a performer, composer and researcher in music alongside her teaching. She has published papers in the international and national conferences and journals. She performs along with her sister Sujatha, the duo known as T.K.Sisters. She has composed music and gave voice for many devotional albums and dance ballets. She has been active in giving lecture demonstrations on varied subjects of music. She has been undergoing training in Hindustani Classical music under Pt.Satish Kashikar.

Dr.T.K.L.Sujatha – Kolam presenter in the work T.K.L. Sujatha, disciple of Late Sriman.N.Ch.Krishnamacharyulu is a post graduate in English and Music. She pursued her Ph.D in Carnatic music. She has been into teaching music to students from in and abroad. She is currently teaching at the ‘Indian Raga’, a platform promoting Indian arts. She has published papers in the international and national conferences and journals. She performs along with her sister, Saroja, the duo known as T.K.Sisters. She has given her voice for many devotional albums and dance ballets. She has been a visiting faculty at the Center for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT). She has been undergoing training in Hindustani Classical music under Pt.Satish Kashikar.

Chandrakanth(Percussionist): M.Chandrakanth, disciple of Sri Palakurthi Ramachadra Sarma, completed Diploma and Masters under his guidance. He is a graded artist of All India Radio. Currently working as an Assistant Professor Kuchipudi Department in the University of Silicon Andhra, California.

In Carnatic music, Yati patterns are the decorative features used in different compositional forms. The patterns are named after the shape they seem like. The existing patterns are Mridanga, Damaru, Sama, Gopuccha, Srotovaha and Vishama yatis. In the present composition, a new yati called the Taranga has been introduced.

Pattern examples for Yatis: Mridanga - 5 6 7 6 5; Damaru- 5 4 3 2 3 4 5; Sama - 4 4 4 4;Gopuccha – shape of a cow tail – 5 4 3 2 1; Srotovaha – water stream- 1 2 3 4 5; Vishama – irregular - 4 6 2 3 1;Taranga – waves, tides - 4 6 4 6 4 (or) 5 4 5 4 5

Composition structure: This composition is the combination of various yati patterns. The tala chosen is Adi talam, which has 8 beats. Taking four counts on each beat, every cycle counts for 32 matras. The yatis are chosen in such a way that they fit to this 32 tala cycle.The execution of the song begins with singing the notation, to present the yati patterns clearly. The same arrangement will be played on percussion too. The song has:

Pallavi: Mridanga and Sama Yatis (4 5 6 5 4 and 2 2 2 2). Charanam 1: (4 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 2, 2.5 2.5, 6 7 8 and 3 2 1 2 3) 3(Gopucha) + Sama +Srotovaha + Damaru Charanam 2: (4 6 4 6 4, 3 1 2 1 1, 5 3 5 3 5, 3 2 1 2 3) Taranga + Vishama+Tarnga+ Damaru

Kolam is presented with the same number of dots as the calculation in the yati while the song is being sung. It represents the shapes after which the yatis were named. An attempt is made to match these shapes to those of popular musical instruments. Kolam gets executed in the same time duration with the same yati patterns as that of each section of the song. After every section of the composition, there is a percussion solo with the combination of some yatis that perfectly fit to the 32 tala cycle. Names of the yatis are the lyrics of the composition. Note: The song is recorded LIVE without any cut, paste or editing. The three performers performed together at the same time.