FOR THE HINDU MUSICAL NOTATION WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE SIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THIS BOOK. SAPTASVARA OR SEVEN NOTES. THERE are seven notes in Hindu Music, viz., Shadja, Risava, Gándhára, Madhyama, Panchama, Dhaibata, and Nisháda. They are generally indicated by the initials of the above words, i. e., Sá, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ní, which correspond respectively with the English notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. SAPTACAS OR HEPTACHORDS. Three Saptacas or Heptachords are commonly used in Hindu Music. They proceed from the three different organs, navel, chest and scull, and are called, Udárá, Mudárá and Tárá, as shewn in the stabaca or staff below : C Ꭰ E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F GAB The first seven notes that have the dots under them belong to the Udárá or lower Saptaca. The next seven notes belong to the Mudárá or middle Saptaca. The last seven notes that have the dots over them belong to the Tárá or higher saptaca. The mudárá or the middle saptaca is the standard saptaca to go by. If there is any occasion to note down saptacas higher or lower than the three already shewn, as many dots must be used over or under the notes as they are higher or lower than the middle or standard saptaca. Thus, the note Ċ would saptacas higher than the indicate that this C is two mudárá saptoca, or one saptaca higher than the (higher) Tárá saptaca. Similarly, C would indicate that this C is two saptacas lower than the mudárá saptaca, or one saptaca lower than the lower (udárá) saptaca. The three saptacas noted down in the above staff are all sufficient for Hindu vocal music. The provision for more saptacas than three is for the purpose of noting down instrumental music, or for the music of other nations. Patáká () is the sign for tibra-suras (sharp-tones) and is placed upon the notes. Thus, F (F sharp). Trikona (▲) is the sign for komala-suras (flat-tones) and is placed upon the notes. Thus, (D flat). When the signs for Tibra and Komala Suras bear a dot upon each of their heads, they are called Ati-tibra (very sharp) and Ati-komala (very flat): Thus, (very sharp F), (very flat D). Ati-tibra, and Ati-komala are the minor divisions of notes used in some of the melodies of Hindustan. MÁTTRÁS OR THE SPECIES OF TIME. The time in which one alphabet can be easily pronounced, is called the Hrhswa máttrá or the single time: two alphabets,-Deergha máttrá, or the double time, and three or more alphabets-Pluta-máttrá, i. e., Triple or more time. The sign for máttrá (1) is placed upon the notes: Pluta-máttrá, i. e., Triple or more time, C. D. &c., &c. Hrhswa-máttrá is, again, divided into Ardha (i. e. half) and Anoo (i. e., quarter) time. The sign () for Ardha-máttrá, (called in Sanskrit Ardha-chandra-chinha) and that (x) for Anoo-máttrá (called in Sanskrit, Damaru-chinha) are placed upon the Č Ď Ċ b c Ď &c., &c. Č C notes. Thus : If two or three notes are written in one place, but the sign for máttrá falls only upon the first note, and the notes that succeed it are tied by a sign of Bandhanee (), then all the notes placed after the first note. should be expressed according to the value of that Again, if one or two notes are tied by the sign of Bandhanee, but are not marked with the sign of máttrá, the sign of máttrá falls upon a separate note placed after them. In such case, the note on which the sign of máttrá or time is given, embraces its previous notes in the same proportion of time, e. g., CD E. Sometimes, the sign of máttrá falls upon an empty place, i. e., a place where there is no note. In such case time must be allowed up to that vacant place, e. g., are From simple, compound, and broken máttrás formed Tálas, the only object of which is to calculate the measure of beating time. They are in use amongst us in both vocal and instrumental music. It is to music what metre is to poetry Tálas derive different names from the variety of máttrás that form them, viz., four máttrás form the Tála, named Drutatritálee; eight, Madhyamána; six, Chowtála, &c., &c. Tála consists of two principal actions, viz., Agháta and Biráma, i. e., the beating and the rest. The sign of Agháta or beating (3) is placed upon the sign of máttrá. Thus :-C. |