The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c9.59

c9.59

Some of the most popular ballads of Southern India are called Svarajotas, and are sung by almost everyone. The words are usually odes to some deity or popular hero of the country. A song of this kind commences with a kind of refrain termed pallevi; following in quick succession is the anupallevi, a kind of short stanza, the words of which are an addition to a comment upon those of the pallevi. After this the pallevi is again repeated. The stanzas, which may be dissimilar both in metre and melody, follow in order, each concluded by a repetition of the refrain. There is an almost entire absence of superfluous grace in these songs, and their marked rhythm renders their execution within the attainment of nearly all. The following examples of these melodies are interesting, and display the fluent and decisive nature so characteristic of them all to the greatest advantage—