shankarank wrote: ↑12 Aug 2024, 12:54
This sollukaTTu from Sri T.K Murthy staple,
https://youtu.be/_ORCuoow6vY?t=2732
in 8 syllables per beat reckoning - dRta kalam.
tha,,, thakuthari kiTataka jikuthari kiTataka tha,tha, kiTataka
takataki TathI,ngu dhin,ta, dhIm,,, ,,,,
Based on the konnakkOl rendering, in dRtha kAla ( 128 solfas per avarta of 2 - kaLai Adi)
tha,,, thakadhina kiTathaka thakuthari kiTathaka (20) tha,tha, kiTataka (8) thaguthagu dhin,,gu (8) dhin,tha, dhin,,, ,,,,(48) repeated thrice.
It has 3 sections followed by a arudhi phrase dhin,tha, dhin,,, ,,,,. The way it said , I thought the second 8 thaguthagu dhin,,gu (8) is 5 + 3, but they seem to say it as 4 and 4 only. I have heard another kOrvai with a different measure for this ( there is a additional tharikitataka in between the two 8(s) in the latter), where the second 8 is split as 5+3.
So 48 + 48 + 48, then one section of 20 removed , 28+ 28, then another section of 8 removed , 20 + 20, the second 8 removed 12 + 4. The last bit removes the kArvai and ends on samam as it is the arudhi phrase as 4. i.e dhin,tha, dhin,,, ,,,, is 4 + 8, where dhin,,, ,,,, is gone with the samam.
48 + 48 + 48 + 28 + 28 + 20 + 20 + 12 + 4 = 256 ( two avarthAs of 2-kaLai Adhi tAlam in dRta kAla sollus).
So while the first pattern is repeated thrice , the subsequent smaller patterns after removing sections are repeated only twice , where the last remaining arudhi phrase goes once fully and the second time with karvai merged with the samam (4).
So how do we understand the structure of this kOrvai?
This can be understood as a structure similar to an arudhi or tIrmaanam. Where a pattern with sections strung together is reduced and the reduced patterns are repeated twice.
Actually from a sound experience all patterns are repeated thrice!!!
The twice repetition is considered a continuation of the previous to make it thrice, where there is a presence of this smaller pattern in the prior bigger pattern. Many simple trivial tIRmAnams are executed in this style. I will provide examples in a separate post.
Reminds one of fractal patterns, or Upanishadic statement ( aNOraNIyAn , mahatO mahIyAn), incorporated by SrI Purandara dAsa in his JagadhodhAraNa kiRtanam or Thirumandiram that has the same verses in tamizh.
Here the only remarkable thing is , the rounds of reduction continue for three cycles, -20, -8, -8 and is made to appear like a giant kOrvai.
Now about the pattern itself , how the sections are made:
tha,,, thakadhina kiTathaka thakuthari kiTathaka (20) tha,tha, kiTataka (8) thaguthagu dhin,,gu (8) dhin,tha, dhin,,, ,,,,(48)
One 20, 2 8(s) = 16, and you could say for the last section 3 4(s) = 12.
And the contrasting starts in each pattern:
20 - starts with a dhIRga viSranti (silence) tha,,,
Next 8 starts with two shorter syllables - tha, tha, providing a contrasting stress progression
Next 8 - has the maximum short syllables thaguthagu.
Final arudhi phrase brings in mellinam (softer consonant solfa).
So that sums up the marque kOrvai of SrI T.K. Murthy Mama.