A Raga in the Talam of Jazz

By

RAP

Measure vs. Cycle

Measures are infinite,

Everlasting bar lines that count time

Accommodating every note,

Six/eight or four/four, doesn't matter, measures count time.

Use measures to sight-read and find your place,

Rarely will you get lost, if you count the measures,

Everything will settle, and the music will flow.

Counting Carnatic style, is different,

You count depending on the talam,

Countless talas, you count with your hands,

Let every beat resonate with the beat of your heart,

Eight-beat Adi, or Seven-beat Misra, counting is a breeze, if you maintain talam

Raga vs. Keys

Revathi, Kalyani and Bilahari are all ragas,

Approximate numbers can't describe the infinity of ragas,

Given a raga, you are gifted with the tune of the song, and what notes are present,

Ambrosia to the ears, ragas are the tune of life.

Keys are the key to any western music,

E minor, or F major, keys are the melody,

You know the tune of the song, if you know the key,

Sweet-sounding euphoria, the keys are the melody of the lives we live

Inspiration:

I am a student learning Indian Carnatic music, and western jazz drumming. Although I have

been learning Indian Classical music for much longer, it is easy to notice some key differences between these two styles of music. They have different counting systems, and different pitches. Overall, they are two types of music that convey similar emotions, and make us feel a certain way. I decided to write a poem about their differences and similarities.

P.S. Arrange the first letter of each phrase in a line for a surprise :)