Ugabhoga
Encyclopedia
The term ugabhoga refers to a type of vocal piece in Carnatic music
, in which the artist elaborates the treatment of raga
characteristics through freestyle verses with or without tala
.
that Sri Purandara Daasa introduced in the 15th century (see Ref 1) when he laid out the format for Carnatic music
. In compositions with Ugabhoga, a combination of couplet
s to suit the mood of the main composition is rendered at the beginning. Possibly it had influence from free style singing without rhythm that existed in all South Indian languages. Typical examples are Kavya Vaachana
of Kannada language and Viruttam
of Tamil
language. However, Sri Purandara Daasa innovatively formated Ugabhoga so that it became an integral part of todays classical Carnatic music. Later ugabhoga led to freestyle rendering of raga without lyrics known as allapane (alapana
). Ugabhogas are common in popular concerts http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/01/13/stories/2006011300270300.htm attended both by connoisseurs and non- connoisseurs of music. Most ugabhogas were written and composed by Purandara Daasa and Kanaka Dasa
in the Kannada language during the 15th century. In the 19th century, similar concepts were also introduced in the Tamil language
by Sri Papanasam Sivan
.http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit10292001/musicarts1.asp
) similar to alap
with tala in Hindustani music
. In the modern era (around the 1950s), its popularity was revived in Carnatic music concerts by prominent performers such as M. L. Vasanthakumari
of Tamil Nadu
. Current artists such as Sudha Ragunathan, Vidhyabhusana and M. S.Sheela are continuing this important tradition of Carnatic music. Recently 4 volumes containing about 80 Ughabhogas are presented by S.K Sharma with rendering by Vidyabhushana
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
, in which the artist elaborates the treatment of raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
characteristics through freestyle verses with or without tala
Tala
Tala may refer to:* Samoan tālā, the monetary unit of Samoa* Tala , a DC Comics supervillainess of the Phantom Stranger* Tala , the goddess of stars in Tagalog mythology* Tala , a rhythmic pattern in Indian classical music...
.
History
The ugabhoga is an item of kritiKriti
-Structure:Kritis typically contain three parts#Pallavi. This is the equivalent of a refrain in Western music.#Anupallavi. The second verse, which is sometimes optional....
that Sri Purandara Daasa introduced in the 15th century (see Ref 1) when he laid out the format for Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
. In compositions with Ugabhoga, a combination of couplet
Couplet
A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic...
s to suit the mood of the main composition is rendered at the beginning. Possibly it had influence from free style singing without rhythm that existed in all South Indian languages. Typical examples are Kavya Vaachana
of Kannada language and Viruttam
Viruttam
A viruttam or virutham is a Hindu devotional verse sung in Carnatic music concerts. Viruttams do not possess a set tala and are solely improvised using one or more ragams. It is one of many forms of manodharma in Carnatic music.A viruttam usually precedes rendition of a song...
of Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
language. However, Sri Purandara Daasa innovatively formated Ugabhoga so that it became an integral part of todays classical Carnatic music. Later ugabhoga led to freestyle rendering of raga without lyrics known as allapane (alapana
Alapana
Alapana is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga in Indian classical music. As a term that is Sanskrit in language, alapana means "to speak, address, discourse, communicate". The flavor of the raga is outlined in the alapana by rendering the raga's permitted notes in...
). Ugabhogas are common in popular concerts http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/01/13/stories/2006011300270300.htm attended both by connoisseurs and non- connoisseurs of music. Most ugabhogas were written and composed by Purandara Daasa and Kanaka Dasa
Kanaka Dasa
Kanaka Dasa was a great poet, philosopher, musician and composer from Karnataka. He is known for his Kirtanes and Ugabhoga compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music...
in the Kannada language during the 15th century. In the 19th century, similar concepts were also introduced in the Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
by Sri Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam Sivan was a prominent composer of Carnatic music and a singer.A famous composer, Sivan was also known as Tamil Thyagayya. Using Classical South Indian as a base, Sivan created numerous hits popularised by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S...
.http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit10292001/musicarts1.asp
Current status
Ugabhogas are attractive for those who may not understand the nuances of raga as they pay attention to meaningful lyrics. The lyrics of ugaabogas are typically either devotional or philosophical in nature. They are rendered sometimes with rhythm (talaTala
Tala may refer to:* Samoan tālā, the monetary unit of Samoa* Tala , a DC Comics supervillainess of the Phantom Stranger* Tala , the goddess of stars in Tagalog mythology* Tala , a rhythmic pattern in Indian classical music...
) similar to alap
Alap
The alap is the opening section of a typical North Indian classical performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga...
with tala in Hindustani music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
. In the modern era (around the 1950s), its popularity was revived in Carnatic music concerts by prominent performers such as M. L. Vasanthakumari
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Current artists such as Sudha Ragunathan, Vidhyabhusana and M. S.Sheela are continuing this important tradition of Carnatic music. Recently 4 volumes containing about 80 Ughabhogas are presented by S.K Sharma with rendering by Vidyabhushana