1. Introduction to Music - Mridangam
M. Ramanathan
Department of Engineering Design,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

2. Why Mridangam – importance of layam Parts of mridangam,
Brief history
Importance of rhythm
Why Mridangam – importance of layam
Parts of mridangam,
Variations – size, kappi/kutchi
Thaalam
Role of mridangam in a concert
Thani avarthanam
Other percussion instruments
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

3. Sample carnatic concert
Play sample concert 1 – Mine
Play sample concert 1 – Mandolin
Play sample concert 2 – M.S.
Tabla and Thavil also has been used – esp. by Srinivas
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

4. History traced to an archetypical mridang
both masculine and feminine characters
Brahma as an accompanying Taala instrument while Lord Paramashiva wa dancing after Thripura samharam
was first played by Lord Ganesha?
Lord Nandi (the Bull God), the escort of Lord Shiva was a master percussionist (during Taandav).
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

5. Rhythm Esp. in carnatic music – allows innovations and variations
Shruti Mata Laya Pita
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

6. Parts of mridangam Jack tree or Rosewood Left, middle and right
Left – Rava mixed with water is used.
Right – Meetu and Chappu skins.
Karanai – mixture of manganese powder, rice and iron powder
Strips connecting the two.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

7. Variations in mridangam
Large/smaller right diameter, length. Dia inversely proportional to pitch.
Thagu Shruthi (24 to 26 in. and dia 6.5 to 7.5) and the other is Sthaayi Shruthi (20 to 22 in., and dia. 6 to 7).
Kuchi (used typically by Sivaraman, vellore Ramabhadram) – with slender grass pieces that are inserted for better sound quality, which kappi does not have (mostly K. Mani, Raghu, TK Moorthy uses)
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

8. Thaalam
Tool for measuring the tempo and also to some extent the structure of the song.
Maintaining the rhythm or the beats of a song constant.
Reflects the mood of that song.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

9. Thaalam construction SasapthaKriyai and NisapthaKriyai
Sasapthakriyai part in a thaalam produces sounds
(Demonstration)
Shadangaas and Shodashaangaas
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

10. Thaalam Thattu - the downward beat with the palm facing down
Veechchu - the wave (sometimes the downward beat with the palm facing up)
Finger Counts - counts start with the little finger and the no. of counts depends on the type of the thaalam.
Aksharam - Each beat of a thaalam is termed as "One Aksharam” (depends!).
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

11. SHADANGAA - Six Angaas"
Laghu - A Laghu is one thattu followed by a specified number of counts.
Dhrutham - It is one thattu followed by one veechu.
Anudhrutham - It consists of just one thattu.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

12. Other three
Guru - It consists of a thattu and for the remaining aksharas(depends on the type of Thaalam) hand (closed one) will be rotated in a circular motion.
Plutham - It consists of one thattu, one krishyai and one sarpini.
Kakapaadham - It consists of one thattu, One padhagam, one krishyai and one sarpini.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

13. 1 krshyai - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by waving the hand towards left. 
1 sarpini - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by waving the hand towards right.
 1 pathakam - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by raising the hand vertically.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

14. Five jaathis – variations in Laghu
Chathurashra Jaathi – 1 + 3
Thisra Jaathi – 1 + 2
Kanta Jaathi – 1 + 4
Mishra Jaathi – 1 + 6
Sankeerna Jaathi – 1 + 8
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

15. Various type of Thaalam
Soolathi saptha thaalam
Desadhi and Madhyadhi thaalam
Chappu Thaalam
Navasandhi Thaalam
Simhanandhanam and Sarapanandhana Thaalams
Aparoopa Thaalam
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

16. Soolathi Saptha Thaalam
Dhruvam - laghu,dhrutham,laghu,laghu  
Matyam - laghu,dhrutham,laghu – 10
Roopakam - dhrutham,laghu - 01 – 6
Jhampa - laghu,anudhrutham,dhrutham - 1U0 – 10
Thriputa - laghu,dhrutham,dhrutham – 7
Ata - laghu,laghu,dhrutham,dhrutham – 14
Ekam - laghu  
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

17. Small Exercise
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

18. CHAPPU THAALAM
Mishra chappu (3+4) - 3 swaras for first thattu and 4 swaras for second thattu
Kanta chappu (2+3)
Thisra chappu (1+2)
Sankeerna chappu (3+6)
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

19. Aavarthanam and Two Kalai
Adi Thaalam
Two Kalai
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

20. Create new Thaalam? Discuss its structure and aksharams.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

21. Basic strokes of Mridangam
Tha, Thi, Thom, Nam (Palani and Tanjore)
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

22. Basic strokes of Mridangam
Ta, Dhim, Chappu – Full, Half
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

23. Strokes of Mridangam
Using Gumki on the left, one can create different sounds.
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

24. Nadai Combination of basic strokes
Used for following (accompanying) a song
Keezhkalam, Madhyama Kaalam and Mel kaalam
Chatushram, thisram, kantam, mishram and sankeernam
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

25. Korvai Poorvanga and Utahraanga
Splitting the aksharams into different patterns
Basic math skill
Karvai (not Korvai!!)
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

26. Playing for a song Pallavi/Charanam Swaram Chitta-Swaram
Ragam Tanam Pallavi
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

27. Typical Thaniavarthanam
Chathurashra Nadai – Korvai (slightly bigger – few avarthanams, repeated three times)
Thishra Nadai – Korvai
Korappu (employed when more than one percussionist involved)
Mohra
Mukthayam
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

28. Eduppu vs. Samam Example – Endharo ½, 1, 1 ½, ¾
½, 1, 1 ½, ¾
In Thani – Eduppu to Eduppu or Samam to Eduppu
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

29. Other percussion Thavil Chenda Maddalam Kanjira Morsing Tabla Pakhawaj
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam

30. Movie songs where percussion been employed
Capture different Rasas
Introduction to Music, IIT Madras
Lecture on Mridangam