CHENDA MELAM

Chenda Melam

     A " Chenda Melam " means percussion using Chenda. The Chenda is used as a percussion instrument for almost all Kerala art forms like Kathakali, Kodiyattam, Theyyam etc. Chenda melam is the most popular form in Kerala, for more than 300 years. A Chenda melam is an integral part of all festivals in Kerala. There are 7 types of "melangal" viz Panchari melam, Champa, Chempada, Adantha, Anchadatha, Druvam and Pandi melam. The earlier 6 melams are called "Chempada melangal". Other than these seven "melams" two more melams are there in Kerala "Navam" and "Kalpam". The "Chenda Vattam" or the skin used on Chenda should be very thin for classic Chenda Melam like Panchari melam, Pandi Melam or for Thayambaka but for Shingari Melam Chenda the "Chenda Vattam" are hard, which are very cheap to make. "Shingari Melam" is not considered as a classical form of art

• A Chenda is taught in a traditional way, the students have to practice on a stone or wood using a strong      and thick stick usually made of tamarind tree bark. The learning stick would be 29 cm in length, 3 cm in        diameter on one side and 2.5 cm on other side of the stick. Once the learning on stone is finished,                 students learn on Veekku Chenda (വീക് ചെണ്ട) or the Valam Thala (വലം തല) part of the Chenda        which is made of multiple layer of skin. The "Valam Thala Chenda" is played using a long and thin stick.        Once the students master to play on "Valam Thala Chenda", the students start learning on the Uruttu            Chenda (ഉര്രുട്ട് ചെണ്ട) or the Edam Thala (ഇടം തല) part of the Chenda which will have only one           layer of skin.
•  While striking on a Chenda with two sticks, the stick on the right hand is hit on the upper part (little                above the center part) of the "Chenda Vattam" and the stick on the left hand is hit on the lower part (little      below the center) of the "Chenda Vattam".
•   In Kerala a traditional Chenda learning always start and end with a "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ),      it is a prayer and dedication done to the Hindu god Ganapathi.

A "Ganapathi Kai" consists of 37 beats.

Gi... Kam...

Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Dhi.Ki. Na.Na. Kaam...

Dhi.Dhi

Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Here the letters starting with "G" (ഗീ) and "K" (ക) are beaten using left hand and others by right hand.

ഗീ.... കാം......

ണ ക ത ര കാം

ധി രി കി ട ണ ക ത ര കാം

ണ ക ത ര കാം

ധി കാം... ധി കാം...

ഡ്

ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം

Once the students learn how to do "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ), the master starts teaching Chenda "Sadhakam" (സാധകം) or repeated exercise. Usually a "Sadhakam" starts with a three beat Sadhakam called "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam (ത കി ട സാധകം).

A "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam (ത കി ട സാധകം) or the three beat Sadhakam starts with an "Onnam Kaalam" (ഒന്നാം കാലം) or the first degree of geometric speed. Which is the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm throughout the Percussion performance (melam). Once the "Onnam Kaalam" is practiced the students learn to exercise the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) or the second degrees of geometric speed, then the "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) or the third degrees of geometric speed and so on.

For a "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam the "Onnam Kaalam" is 3 beats in a geometric speed. So the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) beats would be multiple of "Onnam Kaalam", 6 beats. "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) would be multiple of "Randam Kaalam", 12 beats, "Naalam Kaalam" (നാലാം കാലം) would be 24 beats and so on. While doing a "Randam Kaalam", 6 beats should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". Similarly the "Muunaam Kaalam" (12 beats) should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". For a "Naalam Kaalam", 24 beats should finish by the time taken for the "Onnam Kaalam". That is the reason the "Onnam Kaalam" is called the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm (time taken to complete a cycle of beats, here for "Tha Ki Ta", 3 beats).

"Vaai Thari" (വായി താരി), the drum like sound made by the student while beating on the Chenda. "Vaai Thari" of Tha-Ki-Ta in 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th "Kaalam".