Haiku
and Indian Music
by
Kala Ramesh |
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| from
the sparrow’s
tiny lung a resonant call
- basant
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Basant means spring season. In Indian classical music we have
numerous compositions based on this season. We have a
raga named basant.
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the
moving hand
holds high in music
the perfect sur
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Sur means
pitch. For a singer, the hand moves, aiding
the singing voice.
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eagles
a mere speck-
sapaat taans begin their climb
morning concert
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| Sapaat
taans are straight fast passages sung with the tabla [drums]. Often
they cover all three octaves.
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leaves
glimmer
drips in malhar tans
the raga
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Malhar is a monsoon raga.
Tans are fast passages sung along with the percussion – tabla.
Raga means passion.
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to
stand as a crane
on a singing note...
vocal recital
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breezy
warm breath
against the leaves
malkauns in the air
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Malkauns is a sensuous, erotic night raga.
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wave-calls
haunting melodies linger
in mind’s abyss
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| tanpura sound ripples
in widening circles---
music room
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Tanpura is an instrument used by vocalists in Indian classical music.
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notes
alone
together in a song
- milky way
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 Kala
Ramesh is
a performing vocalist in Indian Classical Music. She has
given many concerts in India. She has published several
articles on Indian Music
and Indian Thought.
Kala
has taught creative art in schools and taken workshops
for children for The Times of India, in their NIE
program. Kala writes: "A
musical note lives for a moment and fades into the void . .
. that sacred silence. And Hindustani music, being completely
extempore, is as fresh as a just bloomed lily. Being very similar
in form, music attracted me to haiku and tanka. In all three,
I believe there is a resonance that lingers in the spirit long
after the sound has faded."
Click
here to read
Kala
Ramesh's haiku and
haibun in
this issue
of Simply
Haiku.
Copyright
2005: Simply Haiku
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