Rasika, free software for Carnatic Music and other related resources
Nagaraj Paturi
Carnatic Music Software RasikaV21(working in all versions of Windows up to 10) has seen 5 versions. It is a package consisting of many programs. The audio though synthetic, is realistic with required Gamakams(nuances) essential for Carnatic Music.
- Rasika is like a book on the theory of Carnatic Music with audio visuals and interactive screens. It has 5 modules:
- Introductory - Basics of the Carnatic Music system - Concept of Raagam, Janya, Janaka etc.
- Melam - The system of 72 scales into which the Raagams are fitted.
- Ragam - Raagam is the basis the Carnatic melody. This module explains 111 Raagams with, text and audio of Aarohanam-Avarohanam (with anmiated visuals on a keyboard sketch) and audio and notation of Typical Phrases
- Thaalam - The rhythm system - definitions of 35 thaalams, chaapu thaalams, jaathi,gathi etc. How compositions are fitted into the thaalam structure. It ha also a Thaalam Generator for practice which has thaalam kriya animation also.
- Physics of Music - Elementary concepts of sound and frequency. Calculation of frequencies by cyles of fifths and fourths etc.
Rasika - Details with screen shots and sample audio
- Gaayaka enables you to enter notation in the Carnatic Music 'sa ri ga ma..' style and play it in the tones of Veena or Flute with different tonic pitches and tempos.
Gaayaka - Details with screen shots and sample audio - Sishya is for learning lessons. Lessons are available for Swaravali, Geethams & Varnams, the first two having versions with and without 'gamakam'. Sishya Details with screen shot
- Novice step by step guide for the beginner for using Sishya. Novice Screen shot
- Student's music player is specially designed for learning recorded songs(.wav or .mp3). You can select a part of a clip for repeated playing, mark more than one block and save them. Music Players Details with screen shots
- Thamboora and Sruthi box using which you can generate the drones on the computer. Details with screen shots
Articles written by me (on computer music and other subjects), Dr.N.Ramanathan (former Head of the Dept. of Music, Madras University) on Sruthis and Dr. Madumohan Komaragiri on pitch analysis links are available at:
https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/article.htm
Here is my web page explaining the Carnatic Music Notation system in detail with diagram
Links to other Carnatic Music Sites. (Some of them provide more links.)-An obviously incomplete short list.
- karnATik - Comprehensive site with lyrics, audio, lessons, articles etc. ('Rani' with Lakshman Hegde)
- Thyagaraja's compositions - Lyrics (in many Indian scripts) and word by word meaning A truly remarkable site.
- Deekshithar's compositons-Lyrics (in many Indian scripts) and word by word meaning
- CarnaticCorner One of the oldest comprehensive sites on Carnatic Music(Mohan Iyer- Sydney)
- Todd McComb's Carnatic music site
- Music Database of Shivkumar About 300 Krithis and Lessons with notation and audio by Shivkumar and Lyrics
- CarnaitcIndia General website on Carnatic Music
- Sangeetha Sampradayapradarsini of Subbrama Dheekshithar in English Dr. PP Narayanaswamy's work
- Carnatica.net
- Articles and papers on Music Research on wide ranging topics by different authors Website of Dr.N.Ramanathan
- Music Library of Dr.N.Ramanathan Soft copies of hundreds of books
- Sruti Magazine on Line
- Wide range of Tambura Sruthis (Karnatic.com)
- Shanmukhapriya.org-Tamnura Sruthis
[Updated 10th July,2020 - 9 raagams added to ragas.htm]
Rasika software works only with Windows OS. I am in the process of exploring the use of HTML5 Audio capabilities and Javascript to provide some of Rasika as web pages. Use with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome or Edge (Windows 10). Pages using Windows Audio API will not work with Internet Explorer.
The Introductory and Melam modules of Rasika have been combined and the first page of the series is at https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/JSA/intro1.htm. Other pages can be accessed from the first page. Each page contains a link for contents of all pages and a link for glossary. They will work OK in PC's Laptops and most Tablets and Smart phones. In the case of tablets and smart phones audio may take some time to start. For offline use, download intro.zip, unzip (extract) all files into one folder and start with intro1.htm by double clicking. If your default browser is Internet Explorer, right click on the file and use 'Open with' in the pop up menu to open it in Chrome or Firefox. For Internet Explorer use carnaticintro.zip extract all files to one folder and click on intro1.htm
The Raagam module of Rasika gives textual descriptions of 111 raagams with audio-visuals of Aarohanam/Avarohanam illustrated on keyboard type of sketch and audio of typical phrases with notation. Of these, 50+ raagams are now made available here as web pages, with the added feature of showing Arohanam/Avarohanam notes on a Veena type sketch in addition to Keyboard sketch when the audio plays. (More raagams will be added in due course). Click this link carnatic2000.tripod.com/JSA/ragas.htm to access the page which has a menu for individual raagams. For off-line use download https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/ragas.zip extract all the files into a single folder and open 'ragas.htm'.
Gaayaka-Carnatic Notation Player (web version) is available at https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/gka/gka67.htm. This uses 'S R G M...' system for notation and up and down arrow symbols for notes in upper and lower octaves. Read 'HELP' before entering notation.
The Thaalam module of Rasika is now available as web pages. The first page is carnatic2000.tripod.com/tal/tal0.htm. From this page you can go to other pages sequentieally or using the contents. The pages work well with PC/Laptop/Tablets but there may be latency with smartphones. Sometimes after the thaalam runs one round the latency may disappear.
Thaalam Generator (for Firefox, Chrome and Edge and may work with other browsers latest versions which support WebAudioApi) for generating visual and audio for all the 35 'sooladhi thaalams',khanda chapu and misra chapu thaalams, Aadhi and modern version of Rupakam. For offline download and use talameter.zip. Extract the files to a single folder and open talameter.htm in Firefox or Chrome. This also may not work OK with older smartphones.
If the above does not work in your browser try tal.htm and tal.zip for Offline use.
Sruthis - Synthetic Thamboora Sruthis are available here. It has sruthis from lower octave of 7 kattai (popularly known as 3/4 kattai) to 7 kattai (B).
[Updated 10th July,2020 - 9 raagams added to ragas.htm]
Rasika software works only with Windows OS. I am in the process of exploring the use of HTML5 Audio capabilities and Javascript to provide some of Rasika as web pages. Use with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome or Edge (Windows 10). Pages using Windows Audio API will not work with Internet Explorer.
The Introductory and Melam modules of Rasika have been combined and the first page of the series is at https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/JSA/intro1.htm. Other pages can be accessed from the first page. Each page contains a link for contents of all pages and a link for glossary. They will work OK in PC's Laptops and most Tablets and Smart phones. In the case of tablets and smart phones audio may take some time to start. For offline use, download intro.zip, unzip (extract) all files into one folder and start with intro1.htm by double clicking. If your default browser is Internet Explorer, right click on the file and use 'Open with' in the pop up menu to open it in Chrome or Firefox. For Internet Explorer use carnaticintro.zip extract all files to one folder and click on intro1.htm
The Raagam module of Rasika gives textual descriptions of 111 raagams with audio-visuals of Aarohanam/Avarohanam illustrated on keyboard type of sketch and audio of typical phrases with notation. Of these, 50+ raagams are now made available here as web pages, with the added feature of showing Arohanam/Avarohanam notes on a Veena type sketch in addition to Keyboard sketch when the audio plays. (More raagams will be added in due course). Click this link carnatic2000.tripod.com/JSA/ragas.htm to access the page which has a menu for individual raagams. For off-line use download https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/ragas.zip extract all the files into a single folder and open 'ragas.htm'.
Gaayaka-Carnatic Notation Player (web version) is available at https://carnatic2000.tripod.com/gka/gka67.htm. This uses 'S R G M...' system for notation and up and down arrow symbols for notes in upper and lower octaves. Read 'HELP' before entering notation.
The Thaalam module of Rasika is now available as web pages. The first page is carnatic2000.tripod.com/tal/tal0.htm. From this page you can go to other pages sequentieally or using the contents. The pages work well with PC/Laptop/Tablets but there may be latency with smartphones. Sometimes after the thaalam runs one round the latency may disappear.
Thaalam Generator (for Firefox, Chrome and Edge and may work with other browsers latest versions which support WebAudioApi) for generating visual and audio for all the 35 'sooladhi thaalams',khanda chapu and misra chapu thaalams, Aadhi and modern version of Rupakam. For offline download and use talameter.zip. Extract the files to a single folder and open talameter.htm in Firefox or Chrome. This also may not work OK with older smartphones.
If the above does not work in your browser try tal.htm and tal.zip for Offline use.
Sruthis - Synthetic Thamboora Sruthis are available here. It has sruthis from lower octave of 7 kattai (popularly known as 3/4 kattai) to 7 kattai (B).
