Khamach

The months of April, May and June got away from me! The last Raagam I sent was Kapi at the end of March. To make up, I am sending 3 recordings in the Raagam Khamach. An extremely, pleasing and melodius Raagam, Khamach, also called Kamas, is a Janya raagam from the 28th Melakarta, Harikamboji. The only change from Harikamboji is that in the Arohanam of Khamach, the rishabham or Ri is missing. It is a vakra, shadava( 6 notes in Arohanam in zig zag form) sampurna raagam( 7 notes in direct descending order in the Avarohanam)
Arohanam S M1 G2 M1 P D2N2 S
Avarohanam SN2D2PM1G3 R2 S
In some compositions, N3 – Kakali Nishadam is used as a special prayogam.
It is a Raaga that is said to evoke Shringara Rasam.The Dikshitar kriti, Thillana and jAvali bring out the beauty of the Raagam in different ways.Sri Swaminathaya Namaste- A composition of Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the Trinity Composers, has composed this kritti on Lord Swaminatha in Swami Malai.In the Madhyamakala section of the Charanam, Kaakali Nishadam is used with Dikshitar’s mudra- Guruguha.
Thillana_ Thillanas are rhythmic musical pieces used in Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam. In the pallavi and anupallavi, repetitive phrases are used and the lyrics are usually in thee charanam. This lilting Thillana by Patnam Subramiya Iyer also brings out the beauty of the Raagam
Javali- In the Javali, the Shringara Rasam is brought out beautifully. Usually, these are short pieces, sung in a speeedy tempo. Javali’s are performed at the end of a Classical Music or Dance recital. Some have only a Pallavi and Charanam, with the Anupallavi being skipped altogether.There are many lovely and famous compositions in Khamach. Hope your intereest is now kindled to look them up!
Lakshmi
July 2019

Sri Swaminathaya Namaste

Tillana

Javali