The drone itself is an integral part of performances and furnishes stability - the equivalent of harmony in Western music.
The drone itself is an integral part of performances and furnishes stability – the equivalent of harmony in Western music.
Instruments, such as the Saraswati veena and/or venu flute, can be occasionally found as a rhythmic accompaniment, but usually, a vocalist is supported by a violin player (who sits on his/her left).
The accompaniments form an integral part of every composition presented, and they closely follow and augment the melodic phrases outlined by the lead singer.
[3] A contemporary Carnatic concert (called a katcheri) usually lasts about three hours, and usually comprises a number of varied compositions.
After the varnam and/or invocatory item, the artist sings longer compositions called kirtanas (commonly referred to as kritis).
This begins slowly and builds to a crescendo, and finally establishes a complicated exposition of the raga that shows the performer's skill.
If multiple percussion instruments are employed, they engage in a rhythmic dialogue until the main performer picks up the melody once again.
Some of the types of songs performed towards the end of the concerts are tillanas and thukkadas - bits of popular kritis or compositions requested by the audience.
[citation needed] Every December, the city of Chennai in India has its six-week-long Music Season, which has been described as the world's largest cultural event.
It used to be a traditional month-long Carnatic music festival, but since then it has also diversified into dance and drama, as well as non-Carnatic art forms.
The music season in Chennai is in the month of Margashira - Marghazhi in Tamil and comes to an end with the festival of Makara Shankrati or Pongal.
Apart from these, many other smaller sabhas in Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Shimoga and Chikmagalur also conduct concerts in this festive season.