NAVYA C
The Role of
Rhythm in Every form of Music
Rhythm is omnipresent . It begins with birth- by the heart beat and the count of it determines the life span itself . Rhythm is present in every action and work that we do , right from walking , to talking , to sleeping and even the pace of eating food . Every person is blessed with their own unique imprint of rhythm and without it- Music is meaningless . Rhythm defines the pace of a composition , the feeling it shows , and gives a wonderful pictorial representation to the listener . In fact , rhythm defines the journey of a song- and guides the listener through a kinesthetic experience .
Carnatic Music in particular is quite rigid and disciplined when it comes to the aspect of rhythm . Right from the simplest Eka taalam ( of four beats in each cycle ) to the longest talam ever discovered named Simhanandana ( 128 beats ), the system of Carnatic Music is heavily reliant on the rhythmic base . With various instruments to choose from mridangam , konakkal , kanjira , and even morsing- the music form is not dearth of percussions . The variation in rhythm adds a new layer altogether in every Carnatic composition leading to amazing renditions .
When it comes to western classical music or even Jazz- it is all about rhythm . Jazz in particular has complex rhythms that bring in new arenas of music for the listener . With poly-rhythms , where rhythms exist within itself , Jazz is an amazingly based rhythm genre . A drum solo of Jazz itself shows the fantastic presence of rhythm in the genre . Without time signature , a western composition cannot escape the feel of the rhythm .
Rhythm brings up discipline to a composition and lays the bricks of a foundation for a composition . Irrespective of the genre , rhythm brings in life to a composition that is greater than anything else . Without rhythm , any form of music doesn ’ t bring in the dynamism needed for a composition . No matter how big the symphony orchestra might comprise of , and how rich the Carnatic ensemble is- rhythmic instrument is a must .
Though it is the lead instrument or vocals that bring the focus on to themselves when it comes to a performance , rhythm is the hidden beauty that runs the show forward . Whether a string instrument , or a wind instrument- or even a random horn in a traffic signal- every object ( not just musical instrument ) has a unique rhythm associated with it .
In fact , there is a deeper philosophy of rhythm than we think . The pace in which we lead life- with the hurry of technology , mobile phone notifications , and hurry of completing tasks- in faster way than they should be – have rhythm as the main element associated with it . By understanding that every action needs to be done based on a rhythm linked with it , one can lead a peaceful and magical life ahead !
Take some time out to understand how rhythm runs a compositionwhenever you listen to a song nextit will surely take you to a new level of magical world altogether !
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