Origin Formalized 17th century by Venkatamakhin
The Melakarta system is the 72-raga classificatory framework of Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, formalized by the seventeenth century musicologist Venkatamakhin, organizing all possible seven-note ragas by their scale structure into 72 parent (melakarta) ragas from which further derived ragas descend. It is structurally comparable to, but historically and musically distinct from, the Hindustani (North Indian) raga tradition's own classification, and remains the living theoretical foundation of Carnatic devotional and concert music performed in temple and concert settings across South India today.
Facts
Origins
Origin PeriodFormalized 17th century by Venkatamakhin 1 RegionSouth India, the living theoretical foundation of Carnatic devotional and concert music. 1 Structure
StructureA 72-raga classificatory framework organizing all possible seven-note ragas by their scale structure into 72 parent (melakarta) ragas from which further derived ragas descend. 1 Practice
Liturgical and Scriptural RoleThe living theoretical foundation organizing Carnatic devotional and concert music performed in temple and concert settings across South India. 1 Connections
Associated With
This source names India directly: "framework of Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, formalized by the seventeenth century musicologist Venkatamakhin, organizing all possible seven-note ragas by their scale structure into 72..."
Source The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd editionStanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (eds.)
Belongs to Tradition
Source The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd editionStanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (eds.)
Related To
Sources
1. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition
Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (eds.), Macmillan, 2001s.v. raga; Carnatic music theory
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