365bet娱乐

Tamil music is considered one of the most ancient music systems in the world. This is a very special system of music, characteristic and specific to the Tamil people. The historical references to the structure of music, musical instruments, method of singing, the circumstances under which the music developed, etc have been cited in very ancient texts that date back to as early as the 1 st and 2 nd century AD.

231 Music and Musical instruments had a role to play in wars and warfare. Music and Drumbeats were used for encouraging the soldiers. In Tamil literature instruments like Vira Muracu are referred to. As already seen, we note that the martial Instruments are mentioned even in the Rg Veda Samhita. Dundubhi and Bhumi dundubhi were used both at war and peace. Bakura, was an instrument for war purposes. Bheri was a call to take up arms, when played. Panava, Krkaca, Puskara, and Pataha were also used as War instruments. Given below are some examples of similarities in of the instruments in the Tamil and Sanskrit systems. muracu, vinai, yalvinai Egs: Drum, Vina and Yal. pataha - patakam mardala - bheri mrdanga takka - damaru mattalam perikai - tannumai takkai tamarukam 4.2.1 Music tradition in Tamilnadu The musicians were broadly classified in to Porunar, Panar and Kuttar. Porunar were supposed to be well versed in martial music like Parani, and were also able dancers. The Panar were both vocalists and instrumentalists. The Kuttar were dancers who possessed a sound knowledge of the art of dancing and were adept in portraying the feelings and emotions of a character.

232 The Porunar were further divided in to 3 sects: Erkalam Patuvar: Those who entertained farmers and peasants and were folk musicians. Porkkalam PaTuvar: Those who accompanied kings to the battlefield. They played on instruments and music appropriate to the time of battle and also during recess so as to infuse courage in the hearts of the warriors and also to soothe the pairs of wounded men. They played on Tantaripparai. Parani: They displayed their musical talents in festivals. They probably sang the valorous deeds of the kings in the battlefields. Once the festival was over in one place, they moved to another. Parani is also said to be a type of Kuttu or dance. Hence, these Porunar must have also been adept in dancing and must have made their presentations in the form of dance operas. The Panar had the following groups: Icaippanar: Vocalists Yalppanar: Instrumentalists who were mainly the Yal players. There were two subsections in the Yalppanar. They were the Perum panar who played on the Peri Yal and the Ciruppanar who played on the Ciri Yal. Montaippanar: Those who sang with begging bowls.

233 In Tamil culture, the country was divided into four main regions Kurinji (hills), Marutam (arable lands), Mullai (pastoral regions) and Neytal (coastal belts). Later Palai (wastelands) was also added. Each region had its own food, occupation, Gods, music and so on. Each region also had a mode or Pan, melodic instrument or Yal and percussion instrument or Parai. The List of the five regions and their specific Pans, Yals and Parais: Region Drum Mullai Open forest Erukotparai Yal Tune Mullai Yal Catari Kurinji Murukiyam Tontakam Kurinji Yal Kurinji Mountain side Marutam Manapparai Marutam Yal Marutam Arable lands Pulparai Palai Cirukotparai Palai Yal Palai Steppe lands Niraikotparai Neytal Coastal regions Minkotparai Neytal Yal Cevvali The system of naming the musical modes after the land seems to have a parallel in the Greek music system too, where the 5 ancient modes were called Dorian, Lydian, Phrygian, Aeolian and Ionian, after the lands in which they originated.