Kalpanaswaram
In
Facts
The kalpanaswaram may start at any place in the tala, but invariably the artist must end their improvisation at the first note of the first phrase of the composition, at the place in the rhythm cycle, where that note is. To arrive at that note, one has to approach it from the closest note below. There are, however, instances when kalpana swaras are rendered at various starting points of the composition which may not coincide with the start of the Tala cycle. In such cases, the kalapana swaras should always end at the same position irrespective of where they start. For example: 2 or 4 counts after the start of the Tala Cycle.
Kalpanaswaram improvisations increase in intensity with the tala cycles used. One complete tala cycle is called an
Kalpanaswaram is performed in a Carnatic Concert for the main song, the singer chooses to perform the Raga Alapana. However, in concerts, artists often choose a difficult raga in which to perform Kalpanaswaram. Although there are no set rules, the artist may decide to expound the expressions of a particular raga in Kalpanaswaram as opposed to Alapana.
Take the Raga
):- Arohanam : S R G M P M D N S
- Avarohanam : S N D P M G M R G R S
In this raga, when the artist improvises, when ascending in pitch after the Pa (Panchamam), the Ma (Madhyamam) needs to be sung, or the raga will be wrong. So with a raga like Sahana or