Adi Tala Konnakol Solo
Title: Adi Tala Konnakol Solo
Performer(s): Vidushi Smt Sukkanya Ramgopal and Ensemble
Culture: South India
Instruments: Karnatic ensemble: Mridangam,
Kanjira - a small tambourine, Ghatam - a clay pot, Tavil - a two headed drum played
with sticks at one end and thimbles at the other, and Morsing - a mouth harp or
'Jew's' harp.
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The melodic instruments in the Karnatic ensemble are Violin, Vina - a fretted stringed
instrument, Bamboo Flute, Nagasvaram - a double-reed wind instrument. The
fundamental pitch or key centre from which the ensemble tunes is the Tambura, a
four stringed long necked drone instrument.
Konnakol is a vocal expression of rhythm that has been primarily passed down through aural and oral transmission. Within the last one hundred years or so, note taking has been permitted for the memorization process but never in performance. Ethnomusicology informs us that South Indian Classical musicians have a heightened understanding of rhythm and that the transmission system (pedagogy) for konnakol creates musicians who have a deep understanding of their craft and the part they play in ensemble performance.
What a great choice for your first blog. I find it so fascinating how fast the performer is able to sing. I can understand how the limited notation creates musicians with a deeper understanding of their craft and the part they play in the ensemble. I believe the importance one plays in an ensemble is often lost in traditional western music pedagogy.
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