Tanam

"Taanam" (Sanskrit तानम्) is one of the methods of raga improvisation in Carnatic Classical Music tradition, suited mainly for vocal music and veena.

It consists of improvising a particular raga with repetition of syllables like "aa", "nam", "tham", "taa", "na", "thom", "tha", "nom" etc. Use of rhythmic pulse has an important place in taanam exposition, and the singer is sometimes joined by the mridangam artist, since this is said to enhance the effect of the performance. The tradition of mridangam artist accompanying during taanam is usually credited to the custom of Kerala based carnatic musicians.

There are various tanams like Chakra Tanam, Vakra Tanam, Aja Tanam, Gaja Tanam, Markata Tanam, Vadhya Tanam etc.

Taanam is the second part of a Raagam Taanam Pallavi, and comes immediately after the raga is sung but before the pallavi is about to begin. Among these three modes, taanam is rarely sung very elaborately when compared to raga and pallavi, the reason usually cited for this being that taanam singing requires a lot of physical stamina, sound knowledge of the fundamentals of classical music, good practice and experience.

Tanam singing is regarded as a dying art today with musicians not having the patience or the aptitude to take up such scholarly rigorous pursuits. [ [http://www.chennaionline.com/musicnew/CarnaticMusic/174th.asp Tanam singing - A dying art] ]

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