The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c10.36

c10.36

And like Indian music, Indian dancing should be judged entirely from an Oriental standpoint. A Nautch usually commences with the singing of a Mangala or “song of hail” (generally in the Râga Nâta), the words of which are intended to do honour to the principal personages present. When this is concluded, the leader or conductor of the troupe, who invariably plays the tâla or jâlra, hums or sings a kind of accompaniment, called Konnagólu, to this one of the girls dances, keeping time with the soft tinkling of the bells tied round her ankles. During this the other instruments are independent of the leader and are played softly and without time in any râga that may be chosen, the chorus, if any, being much subdued. And when the dance is finished, songs—such as javadis or pathams—follow, one voice singing the solo and the whole of the voices taking up at intervals a soft refrain. Dances or gestures, in character with the words of the song, are made by the girls performing in front of the musicians.