Snippets of Information
Music for Dance
* 28 Nov 2022
Tutti
The Natya Shastra contains six complete chapters on the
subject of music. In his analysis of instruments, Bharatha describes
four categories described as “tata” - stringed, “avanadha” - covered
percussion, “sushira” - hollow ( such as a flute), and “ghana” -
rhythmic support, such as cymbals.-
The early dance orchestra, known as the chinna melam in Tamil ,
consisted of the mukhavina, the mridangam and a bagpipe drone known as
the tutti. The tutti was an interesting instrument that fell out of
vogue as the tambura became prominent. The tutti was so prominent, it is
said that legendary dancer Balasaraswati’s arangetram was conducted
with one in her orchestra in 1925. Scholar Davesh Soneji postulates that
the instrument was used uniquely to accompany devadasis of the
Pudukottai region.
Source: Bharatanatyam with a bagpipe? by Gayathri Iyer, The Hindu Friday Review, Aug 5, 2022
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