Learning a 1000+ year old style of singing (ft. Archana)

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Edited by Ethan Treiman

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[arjun]

Sadja : Sa : Cry of the peacock
Rishabha : Re : Lowing of the bull
Gaandhaara : Ga : Bleating of a goat
Madhyama : Ma : Call of the heron
Panchama : Pa : Call of the cuckoo
Dhaivata : Dha : Neighing of the horse
Nishaada : Ni : Trumpeting of the elephant

Meanings :
Sa is derived from Shadja which means 'giving birth to six'.
Re is derived from Rishabha which means ‘Great One’
Ga is derived from Gandhar which means ‘sweet fragrance’
Ma derived from Madhyama which means ‘being in the middle’
Pa is derived from Panchama which means ‘the fifth note’
Dha is derived from Dhaivata which means ‘sixth note/divine’
Ni is derived from Nishad which means an ‘seventh note’ also ‘setting at rest’, ‘esoteric doctrine’, ‘secret doctrine’, ‘mysterious or mystical’

Singing the Swaras has a positive effect on the body, mind and the consciousness. The swaras also effect our feelings and emotions.

The swaras are also associated with planets and colours
‘sa’ (shadjam) - Mercury - green
‘ri’ (rishabham) - Mars - red
‘ga’ (gandharam) - Sun - golden colour
‘ma’ (madhyam) - Moon - white or yellowish tint
‘pa’ (panchamam) - Saturn - blue or black dha’ (dhaivatam) - Jupiter - yellow
‘ni’ (nishadham) - Venus - multi colour Qualities of the Svara Shadja - Means 'father of the six svaras' and the one which gives birth to the other six svaras.

Rishab - Being the nearest to the Grâmni svara (Sa) it is strong as Vrishab (Bull).
Gandhâr ­ Is associated with karunâ (sadness, longing).
Madyam ­ This svara is in the middle of the saptak.
Pancham ­ Is made up of the words panch (five) and mi (to measure). Is that note that is fifth from the Shadaj and is the tool to measure the svara intervals.
Dhaivat ­ Is the overtone of the madyam svara and is heard by the Dhivân (sensitive minds).
Nishâd ­ Is so called because the notes of the scale come to a close with it. The word is derived from Sanskrit root “ni+shâd” to come to a rest. Nishâd is full of karunâ (longing)

[meerasomasundaram]

Being a south Indian who's been forced into carnatic singing just like every other child here. I immedialty had like a blast from the past without even realised i started singing along and went on the next 20 having a whole concert with myself

[igormitin]

By now I strongly believe that Malinda is getting herself ready for timetravel with these traditional singing styles so she can blend in easily in the past

[everydaypatriot]

Anyone who claims "appropriation" is sadly mistaken. To appreciate the art of other cultures is to honor it.

[leelumisra]

i have grown up learning hindustani classical music which is the other form of traditional indian singing and it makes me very happy for my culture being shown on ur channel!

[miayana]

I'm Indian and the title made me super emotional. I've been following Melinda since her Google translate sings days and the Irish singing video was one of my favourites. So to see her explore my culture's traditional style of singing makes me so happy :)

[scylla]

Imagine her singing something like Chinese opera. So many wildly different musical traditions to try!!

[lauren]

I was apprehensive of watching this video for so long. I am adopted from India. I was adopted into a white family in midwestern America. I have spent my whole life trying to connect with my culture and figure out how I fit into it. Learning about something so deep and meaningful to my culture has always been intimidating and somewhat isolating. But I want to do it so badly.
This video means so much to me because it’s like having a friend here to support me. Someone familiar to learn along with me. Thank you Malinda! ❤

[briansgamesandanime]

It's so amazing to hear traditional carnatic music integrated with Western pop. It's just more proof how music is a universal language. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this style. 🥰

[Amuzic]

6:58 that Sun coming out was so apt. Because the Raga Archana is singing here is equivalent to Raga Bhairabhi in North Indian Hindustani classic. The name literally meaning something to be sung at Bhor(Dawn or morning). Yeah, Archana left out the most beautiful aspect of Indian Ragas. They are closely related to time of the day and the environment and the mood.

[siamesevodka]

This is very cool. I too was 'forced' to learn Carnatic music as a young immigrant boy, I appreciate it now a lot more than I did then! Really looking forward to the next one in this series, Malinda, I loved the Sean Nos video a few months back too.
Edit: something not mentioned by Archana in the video is that there aren't just different kinds of raagas but different varieties of talas (the beat they played with their hands). This one is the Adi tala, the first tala any student learns.

[HybridCalisthenics]

Saw this video pop up on my feed. Sounding great as usual, Malinda!

[yamiyugi]

I am not Indian, however I really find Carnatic singing kind of hypnotic and super interesting! It’s so irresistible to listen to!

[Cardsmaster]

This is so beautiful. How art brings two people together. The willingness to learn. Every culture has treasures to be learned.

[meret]

Archana’s speaking and singing voices are so different....she just transforms magically when she sings!💖

[elitzapetrova]

And also confirm as another comment says (about Slavic music), in Bulgaria, which is where I originally come from, there exists a traditional singing rich of extra long female voice sounds that produce a mystic effect on the human mind. One song particularly, "Izlel e Delio haidutin", has been included in the Voyager Golden record launched in the space in 1977.

[tomcline]

It's almost like the notes go flat slightly, almost into a minor. Fascinating scale! Our band director tried to explain this to us but I never got it! This was in the mid 80s in Missouri, so not a lot of resources available. So cool!

[ASentientBlockofSwissCheese]

Omg as a student of Carnatic music I’m so glad you appreciated and explored it. It’s a beautiful tradition and a part of my heart. Thank you so much for this, Melinda.

[amylee]

Oh god I've wanted to learn Carnatic and Hindustani for the longest time! Glad to see that someone trained mainly in the Western style (like me!) try it <3

[benjaminbennington]

"Mongolian Throat Singing" This would be really cool to hear you try out