Chenda

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The Chenda (

In Kerala the craft of making Chenda is now associated with some few "Perumkollan" (

Depending upon the size, structure and function of the Chenda, they are classified as, "Veekku Chenda" (വീക് ചെണ്ട) or "Acchan Chenda" (അച്ഛൻ ചെണ്ട), "Uruttu Chenda" (ഉരുട്ട് ചെണ്ട), "Muri Chenda" etc.

"

The "Chenda Vattam" or the skin used on Chenda should be very thin for classic Chenda Melam like Panchari melam, Pandi Melam or for Thayambaka but for Shingari Melam Chenda the "Chenda Vattam" are hard, which are very cheap to make. "Shingari Melam" is not considered as a classical form of art.

Learning

A Chenda is taught in a traditional way, the students have to practice on a stone or wood using a strong and thick stick usually made of

While striking on a Chenda with two sticks, the stick on the right hand is hit on the upper part (little above the center part) of the "Chenda Vattam" and the stick on the left hand is hit on the lower part (little below the center) of the "Chenda Vattam".

In Kerala a traditional Chenda learning always start and end with a "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ), it is a prayer and dedication done to the Hindu god

A "Ganapathi Kai" consists of 37 beats.

Gi... Kam...

Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Dhi.Ki. Na.Na. Kaam...

Dhi.Dhi

Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Here the letters starting with "G" (ഗീ) and "K" (ക) are beaten using left hand and others by right hand.

ഗീ.... കാം......

ണ ക ത ര കാം

ധി രി കി ട ണ ക ത ര കാം

ണ ക ത ര കാം

ധി കാം... ധി കാം...

ഡ്

ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം

Once the students learn how to do "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ), the master starts teaching Chenda "Sadhakam" (സാധകം) or repeated exercise. Usually a "Sadhakam" starts with a three beat Sadhakam called "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam (ത കി ട സാധകം).

A "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam (ത കി ട സാധകം) or the three beat Sadhakam starts with an "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) or the first degree of geometric speed. Which is the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm throughout the Percussion performance (melam). Once the "Onnam Kaalam" is practiced the students learn to exercise the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) or the second degrees of geometric speed, then the "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) or the third degrees of geometric speed and so on.

For a "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam the "Onnam Kaalam" is 3 beats in a geometric speed. So the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) beats would be multiple of "Onnam Kaalam", 6 beats. "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) would be multiple of "Randam Kaalam", 12 beats, "Naalam Kaalam" (നാലാം കാലം) would be 24 beats and so on. While doing a "Randam Kaalam", 6 beats should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". Similarly the "Muunaam Kaalam" (12 beats) should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". For a "Naalam Kaalam", 24 beats should finish by the time taken for the "Onnam Kaalam". That is the reason the "Onnam Kaalam" is called the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm (time taken to complete a cycle of beats, here for "Tha Ki Ta", 3 beats).

"Vaai Thari" (വായി താരി), the drum like sound made by the student while beating on the Chenda. "Vaai Thari" of Tha-Ki-Ta in 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th "Kaalam".

1. Ki-(Ta) Tha-(Ka) Tha-(Ri) --> Here even if 6 sounds are produced only three beats are done.

2. Ki-Ta Tha-Ka Tha-Ri --> Here 6 sounds are produced and 6 beats are done.

3. Ki-Ta-Tha-Ka Tha-Ri-Ki-Ta Tha-Ka-Tha-Ri --> 12 sounds are produced and 12 beats are done.

4. Ki-Ta-Tha-Ka-Tha-Ri-Ki-Ta Tha-Ka-Tha-Ri-Ki-Ta-Tha-Ka Tha-Ri-Ki-Ta-Tha-Ka-Tha-Ri

1. കീ...ട ത...ക താ...രി

2. കീ...ട ത...ക താ...രി

3. കിട.തക തരി.കിട തക.തരി

4. കിടതക.തരികിട തകതരി.കിടതക തരികിട.തകതരി

Kaalam concepts

"Kaalam" (കാലം) is a degree of geometric speed. A "Kalam" starts with an "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) or the first degree of geometric speed. Which is the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm throughout the percussion performance (melam). Once the "Onnam Kaalam" is practiced the students learn to exercise the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) or the second degrees of geometric speed, then the "Moonnaam Kaalam" (മൂന്നാം കാലം) or the third degrees of geometric speed Then the "Naalam Kaalam" or the fourth degree of geometric speed and so on. Depending up on the practice and experience a Chenda performer can perform in 7, 8, 9 or even 10 "Kaalam".

If a performer starts with a 3 beat and completes these beats in 4 seconds (geometric speed), it is called an "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) of 3 beats. So the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) beats would be multiple of "Onnam Kaalam", 6 beats completed in 4 seconds. "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) would be multiple of "Randam Kaalam", 12 beats completed in 4 seconds, "Naalam Kaalam" (നാലാം കാലം) would be 24 beats completed in 4 seconds and so on. Similarly if the performer starts with 4 beats and completes the beats in 4 seconds, then "Randam Kaalam" beats would be multiple of "Onnam Kaalam", 8 beats completed in 4 seconds, "Muunaam Kaalam" would be multiple of "Randam Kaalam", 16 beats completed in 4 seconds. If the performer starts with the same 4 beats and completes the beats in 2 seconds, then "Randam Kaalam" would be 8 beats and should be completed in 2 seconds, "Muunaam Kaalam" would be 16 beats and should be completed in 2 seconds.

The time to complete one "Kaalam" is called the "Thalavattam" (താളവട്ടം) and the "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) is called the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm of the whole percussion performance.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chenda.

• Panchavadyam
• Thayambaka
• Panchari melam
• Pandi melam
• Kanyarkali
• Vadyakala

References

1. Application of composite materials to the chenda, an Indian percussion instrument^[1]