Carnatic Music

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This is somewhat random, but I've just fallen in love with a particular type of carnatic raga. Carnatic Ragas are the different modes of music representing Carnatic music, the classical music of South India. Personally I prefer South Indian Classical to the ever more famous Hindustani, even though it takes more time to get used to and despite the fact that there's nothing glamorous about it. The Ragam is Nalinakanthi.

How would you compare Carnatic to other types of Indian music?

I'm not sure what you mean. It's kind of a vague question. I can't say that I really like Carnatic more than film music. I think the music from Indian cinema is utter junk 80% of the time, but..it's like eating a giant bag of Doritos. Sometimes you feel as though you can't stop, it's so irresistible. So compared to that, Carnatic music is much better. Maybe you could clarify your question?

Thanks for your response. I can't really ask the question better, as I've only a "listening" knowledge of Indian music.

I'll try:

What's different about classical southern Indian music, in comparison to classical Northern Indian music?

I could understand that a verbal/written response is difficult--as music frequently does not invite a suitable verbal/written response (at least to me). The response, frequently, is the FEELING which goes through your body and mind as you listen to it, a totally subjective feeling which could be utterly incomprehensible to another, no matter how hard you try to explain it.

Carnatic music uses different versions of the same basic structures, or Ragas(Raags in Hindi, Ragam in Tamil), and has less emphasis on instrumentation and improvisation, and more on strictly organised vocals and percussion. When you listen to Carnatic music, it feels as though the music is kind of stretching on and on and on, like you've just been invited into someone's fantasy that they've constructed for you. The Ragams are brighter and more intense, in my opinion. I don't listen to it very often, and I listen to hindustani even less. (hindustani is North Indian classical). I really like Qawwali however, which brings together some Hindustani elements,(the tabla drum, the saregama scale,) with Sufi Islam themes, along with a lot of emotion. I hope that answers your question...It's hard to explain in words but if you search these things on Youtube you will find that it is easy to understand.

Thank you.

The last sentence evokes the response: "my sentiments exactly."

I just explained this but then it wouldn't let me send the message so I will explain again or try to. Classical South Indian(Carnatic) uses different versions of the same musical structures found in Classical North Indian(Hindustani), called Raags in Hindi and Ragams in Tamil. Also, there is less emphasis on improvisation and instrumentation(think Ravi Shankar and the Sitar) and more emphasis on strict adherence to vocal technique and percussion. Personally I find that Carnatic has a brighter, more intense feel to it, although I don't listen to it often, however I listen to it more than I do Hindustani. I'm not that big on the Sitar and other instruments. However, I enjoy a style of North Indian Classical called Qawwali, which is a mixture of Sufi Islam and some north Indian classical music(Tabla Drums, some harmonium, which is like an accordion, and the saregama musical scale, which is Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da Ni, and to make it a mirror of Do Re Mi, you simply add Sa on the end.)

This was probably more information than you wanted, but I hope it explains everything.

I'll add some videos too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOeOzQCMXMc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOeOzQCMXMc

That's a cool amount of information--thanks!