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Music
Music is a universal art apt to transcend
national boundaries. Karnataka
can be
proud of its contribution to Indian music. Gopala Nayaka traveled all the way
from the south to become the court musician of Allauddin Khilji (1295-1315) in
the north. He
cultivated the friendship of the Persian musicologist, Amir Khusrau. Their
discussion led to the development of new Ragas. These were incorporated in the
treatise on music by a South Indian composer of the 16th century-Pundarika
Vittala. The intermingling of the two cultures gave rise to the two modes of
singing-Uttaradi and Dakshinadi or Hindustani and Karnatic.
Karnatic music has a deeper understanding of 'notal' values and their
inter-relations. This relation is established by Gamaka. Thus, taste for Karnatic
music has to be cultivated. Tyagaraja is the most popular among the composers of
Karnatic music. The
music compositions, 'Tyagaraja Gana', 'Valmikiya Kavana' and 'Agumbeya Astamaya' are said
to be unique for enrapturing the human heart. Tyagaraja has very respectfully
mentioned Sri Purandara Dasa as one of the great composers of Karnatic music.
The credit for starting the Dasa-Kuta system goes to Sripadaraya Swamy of
Mulabagal. He popularised Kannada songs all over the country as far as
Maharashtra or Greater Karnataka. It is said that Gnaneswar has incorporated
three Kannada songs. This system was continued by Sri Vyasaraya Swamy of Sosale.
Purandara Dasa's compositions mark the crowning glory of this
system. He
composed four lakh and twenty-five Kirtanas, besides hundreds of peculiarly
Kannada modes of songs known as Uga-bhoga and Suladi. The tradition so
gloriously established by him is being continued to this day by his admirers and
disciples.
Karnataka has the unique distinction of being able to produce
an unbroken succession of both composers and exponents. Kannada Musicians
like Basavaraj Rajaguru, Mallikarjuna Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Hanagal Gangubai,
etc have won an all-India reputation.
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Folk Songs and Singers
The popular music of folk-songs, Yakshagana and
open-air plays has a unique cultural value. Karnataka state has different
folk musical traditions with a variety of themes, subtlety of thought and
wide range of human interest. Each form is distinct from the other and
rivals in creative aspect. They have a multiple variety of folk songs in
northern and southern regions.
For the purpose of classification, two groups of folk
singers of Karnataka have been identified on the basis of their vocational
interests. They are (a) Professional singers (b) Ballad
singers.
Professional singers are again classified into (a) Professional
Religious singers (b) Professional secular singers.
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