The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c9.219

c9.219

A stanza or sentence of some poetical nature is sung to any air that the performer may improvise, and in any râga and tâla. This opening melody is taken as the theme of the pallevi, and is varied, imitated, and answered subsequently according to the skill and inclination of the performer. Occasionally a kind of counter theme is introduced, and a skilful musician will keep the two parts distinct. If this is done the counter theme is, as a rule, introduced upon a fourth or sixth lower. But it is not intended to imply that there is any employment of counterpoint as understood in Europe; for though in certain cases these two parts may be actually going at the same time, yet the native musician is guided by no contrapuntal laws, but by his ear, and the rules of râga, entirely. Much greater license is given as to râga in a pallevi than in any other composition.