CLASS 6

Art Education – 2

Topic – Shuddh Swar, Aaroh-Avroh ,Saptak and Alankar

The definition of Music according to Sangeet Ratnakar is:

“Geetam Vadyam Tatha Nrityam, Trayam Sangeet Muchyate”,

The definition given by Sangitacharya Pt. Sharngdeva also indicates that

Music has three-fold paths namely, Geetam (Vocal Music), Vadyam
(Instrumental Music) and Nrityam (Dance). This definition is being
followed by all scholars till today.

Shuddh Swar – We have seven ‘Shuddh swar’ in Indian Classical Music :-

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni

Aaroh-Avroh: Aaroh is the sequence of the 7 notes in ascending order.

For example -Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni

Avroh is the sequence of 7 notes in descending order.

For example - Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

Saptak: The entire group of seven notes, 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni', taken
from one end to the other end is called 'Saptak'.

Types of Saptak:

1.MANDRA - SAPTAK : That 'Saptak' whose sound is doubly lower than

the sound of the notes of 'Madhya-Saptak'. It is also known as the lower
'Voice-Register' or the lower 'Saptak'
 2.MADHYA- SAPTAK : That 'Saptak' whose sound is of medium pitch or is
doubly higher than the sound of the notes of 'Mandra-Saptak', is called
'Madhya-Saptak'. It is also known as the middle 'Voice-Registar' or the
middle 'Saptak'.

3.TAAR-SAPTAK : That 'Saptak' whose sound is doubly higher than the

sound of the notes of 'Madhya-Saptak', is called 'Tar- Saptak'. It is also
known as the higher 'Voice-Register or the higher 'Saptak'.

It can also be said that the 'Saptak' which produces the normal voice is
called 'Madhya-Saptak'. The voice produced by 'Mandra-Saptak' is doubly
lower than the voice of 'Madhya Saptak' and the voice of 'Tara-Saptak' is
doubly higher than the voice of 'Madhya- Saptak'.

Alankars or Paltas are music exercises. Student repeats a group of notes

in ascending and descending order with some criteria:

For example:

Alankar 1) Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni SA

SA Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

Alankar 2) SaSa, ReRe, GaGa, MaMa, PaPa, DhaDha,NiNi,SaSa

SaSa,NiNi, DhaDha, PaPa, MaMa, GaGa, ReRe,SaSa

Alankar 3) SaGa, ReMa, GaPa, MaDha, PaNi, DhaSa

SaDha, NiPa, DhaMa, PaGa, MaRe, GaSa

Reciting alankar helps the student gain voice control.

For Reference : https://youtu.be/3tASOBnl5fE