Meaning of some subtle terms

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 16 Nov 2009, 14:31

What do the following terms often encountered when discussing CM, mean to you?

1. soukhyam

2. gauravam

appu · Post by **appu** » 17 Nov 2009, 00:50

Soukhyam in relation to Carnatic music is more of an artist state of mind in regards to performance. Soukyam meets at ease, relaxed real slow.....

In respect to music it is the artists ability to elaborate on the ragam and the kalpana swarams in a non hurried manner. Stressing and weaving in and out of all the soul notes both in the arohana (ascending) and the avarohana (descending)

When an artists sings with Soukyam, personally it is like a 3 course meal with all the trimmings including Thair shadam and Vadu manga and pal payasam.

Gauravam in respect to music, honestly I do not know.

cacm · Post by **cacm** » 17 Nov 2009, 01:01

I think Gauravam means not resorting to cheap gimmicks to impress not so knowledgeable audiences. In general it appears to be more prevalent now a days according to those who have listened for at least 2-3 generations of musicians. I am personally not competent to talk about it because I do not regularly listen to today's top musicianms. VKV

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 17 Nov 2009, 02:09

Gauravam=dignity? Dignity in schooling (good gurus), dignity in singing (depth), dignity for the art they practise (not losing a sense of wonder and the resulting respect for the music), dignity in conducting themselves on stage (becoming of them and also pleasing to the audience). The word may cover other qualities too, I don't know.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 17 Nov 2009, 02:15

My take:

saukhyam is a frame of mind - an experience, a rasAnubhava - a feeling of peace and contentment engendered by anything, not just music...

gauravam - an aura of simple elegance with total fidelity to the original intent/purpose of anything, not just music...

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 17 Nov 2009, 03:15

soukhyam comes from the word 'sukham'-sukhasya bhAvam soukhyam.
I suppose it will mean a music which comes from some one who is at peace with himself/herself, who is so immersed in it that he/she is totally oblivious to anything extraneous;more or less as though he/she has become one with the music. He/she enjoys the music so much that the enjoyment is contaagious.

Gauravam, I think is from the word 'guru' meaning some thing of weight as against 'laghu' something light. I suppose it means a music which is presented with all the majesty due to it.
Earlier posters have aso explained it similarly.
In this context I am remembering what our late guru Shri P.N.K used to say.
'A truly great vidwan will use his vidwat to project a great composition at its best -say of the trinity or any composer'- and NOT make use of the great composition to project HIS VIDWAT.
Shri P.N.K passed away yesterday and I can not but remember his words.
I have written about him in the Sangeeta Kalalaya section.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 17 Nov 2009, 22:07

Santhamu leka sowkhyamu lethu.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 17 Nov 2009, 22:25

1. soukhyam
sUkara (pig) iva Akhyam = grunting like a Pig
2. gauravam
gO (cow) iva ravam = making belllowing sound like a Cow

(sorry, this is not tha hilarity thread but the derivation is strictly sanskrit

bhaktha · Post by **bhaktha** » 17 Nov 2009, 22:41

My take:
Gauravam == Sri DK Jayaraman
Sowkhyam == Ramnad Sri Krishnan

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 18 Nov 2009, 07:25

bhaktha - for current musicians I'd say:

Gauravam = Vijay Siva
Sowkhyam = Bombay Jayashri

and RK Shriramkumar and example of both gauravam and sowkhyam together!

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 18 Nov 2009, 18:58

Totally agree about RKSK!

girish_a · Post by **girish_a** » 18 Nov 2009, 23:40

If anyone wants to know what Gauravam is, they should watch Sri. RK Srikantan sing.
If anyone wants to know what Soukhyam is, they should hear Sri. RK Srikantan's singing.