Page 45 - NAMAH-Apr-2024

Namah Musical Notes and Emotions

be kept in mind that the singing of the scale two sectors, the first of which always has the
always produces a double level of action: Maa (SSudda Madyama) present, the second
1
a
one in the physical body and the other in the (Prathi Madyama) always the Ma .
2
psychic and emotional sphere.
The Practice of Singing Therapeutic
Musical Scales

We now come to consider the practice of
singing according to the principles and
techniques of Nāda Yoga . This discipline
(because this is what it is about) is very
ancient and we can also find traces of it
in the Greek world. Pythagoras, in fact,
made his disciples sing the scales (modes), The Melakartaa System was proposed by
a
even if only in the descending phase, i.e. Ramamatya in his work Svaramelakalanidhi (c.
a
a
skipping the ascending one. The reason lies 1550). He is considered the father of the mela
in the fact that, as we will see, the ascending system of ragas. Later, Venkatamakhi in the
a
phase is responsible for the transformation 17th Century, exhibited his work, Caturdandi
of emotional energy-blocks, while in the Prakaassikaa, a new cataloguing known today
a
descending phase a consolidation of the as Melakarta.
result and a form of psychic and spiritual
enrichment, of evolutionary growth takes The therapeutic scales are toned using the
place. Pythagoras’ pupils had already largely pronunciation of the phonemes corresponding
passed the first phase and the higher level to the Carnatic system, both in the ascending
was destined for them. phase (Saa, Re, Gaa, Maa, Paa, Dhaa, Nī, Saa), and
in the descending phase (Saa, Nī, Dhaa, Paa,
By ‘scale’ we mean a sequence of intervals Maa, Gaa, Re, Saa), with a rhythmic division
(they can be of seven, six or five notes) which, which, starting from a value of 4/4 per note,
starting from a tonic of your choice, arrive continues by gradually halving the speed,
at the same note, but at the octave (and until reaching the maximum possibility. As
therefore double the initial frequency). This a starting tonic note, it would be advisable
is technically ‘one way’. In the musical system to use the one corresponding to your own
of south India (Carnatic) we have 72 basic personal Tonic or, not knowing it, choosing
2
heptatonic scales (with seven different notes) between G and C, the most suitable ones for
a
— Melakarta System, from which other scales generic use. As a basic rhythm, the speed
with six (hexatonal) or five notes (pentatonic) should be that of your natural rhythm: to
can be obtained. The scales are grouped in find it, just do a few pulse checks as soon

2 The personal tonic note is the frequency (expressed in Hertz) detectable in the spoken voice,
which corresponds to the state of calm, centeredness and mental lucidity: it is physically
located at the navel.

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