TAALA VADYA

Taala Vadya Kutcheri literally means a “Percussion Ensemble Concert”.

Taala Vadya Kutcheris are unique as being concerts having renditions with only Percussion instruments to weave beautiful cadence of music in the fixed rhythmic cycle.

The musicians also play a pattern of call and response commonly known as “Jugalbandhi” where one musician leads in the call and the others follow in response finally ending with a harmonious confluence.

Such concepts are as diverse as the prevelance of the genius artists who weave them. Thus, although the Taala vadya ensembles will predominantly consist of Percussion instruments like the Mridangam, Ghatam, Kanjira, Thavil etc., many ensembles add new dimensions to such concerts with the introduction of mellifluous instruments  like guitar, saxophone, violin etc. and even the vocal mouth percussion (Konnakol) or singer.

Satish Krishnamurthy is one such multi-faceted musician who has led several Taala Vadya Concerts with great versatility.

After having learnt the art of playing the Mridangam, Ghatam, Thavil, Kanjira and Moorsing from renowned Guru Shri T. S. Nandakumar, he went on to acquire advanced lessons in the art from famous mridangam player and Indian Sangeet Natak Academi Awardee Shri K. V. Prasad and is also pursuing a degree in the art from Annamalai University. He is also a recipient of The Junior Research Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and has conducted several workshops in Rhythms and cross rhythms in music at NCPA, Prithvi Theatre etc.

Satish Krishnamurthy has led highly acclaimed Taala Vadya concerts at various coveted platforms such as the Girnar Festival, Celebrate Bandra Festival, Khajuraho Festival, Haridas Sammelan etc. and many in France and USA.

UNDERSTANDING TAALA VADYAM

Everything in this universe is innate with rhythm. Rhythm is the character and meaning of the thought expressed through the movement in sound characterised by syllables or bols. Thus rhythm, or taal is the very essence of synchronised existence.

Rhythm or taalam in carnatic music, is often rendered with instruments like Mridangam, Ghatam, Thavil etc. Thus, Taala Vadya Kutcheri literally means a “Percussion Ensemble Concert”. They are unique as being concerts having renditions with only Percussion instruments to weave beautiful cadence of music in fixed or varying taals.

As the name suggests, a percussion ensemble consists of 6 to 8 percussion artists of instruments like Mridangam, Ghatam, Thavil, Kanjira, Moorsing etc but not limited to these. Instruments like Tabla, Pakhawaj or even Western Drums are used to diversify them. These concerts have recently evolved with the addition of mellifluous instruments like violin, veena, guitar and saxophone, the unique mellifluous percussive instrument Eddakkya and even with a singer and Konnakkol (Mouth percussion).

The concert begins with a rhythmic narration of Shlokas on Hindu Gods recited to seek their blessings and set the tempo. While the shlokas are being recited the instruments are singly and slowly introduced to understand the harmonization of sounds. Then slowly the shlokam is ended with a teermanam. 

The actual concert commences with the end of the shloka. Usually, in a taala vadya concert, the melody instrument is used first to set the tone. Then the other percussion instrument players coalesce in to form a harmonious base. Eventually, each percussive instrument is engaged in a call and response sequence called jugal bandhi first with the melody instrument and then amongst the percussive instruments.

Now days, the unique art of mouth percussion called Konnakkol has become an integral part of Taala Vaadya Concerts’. The syncing and jugal bandhi of Konnakkol with the other percussive instruments elevates the concert to a whole new dimension.