Mridangam - Tirmanams 7

A Tirmanam (or Arudi) is kind of a short, rhythmical cadenza. It consists of three phrases separated by two rests. The longer the phrases, the longer the rests, the more difficult it is to make the Tirmanam fit into the scheme of the Tala - because it should always end on the Sam, the first beat of the Tala. The ending defines the starting point of the Tirmanam! You have to think backwards …
In theory, the phrases and rests can have any length. Normally, the phrases are not longer than 9 subdivisions and the rests vary between 0 subdivisions (which means the three phrases are played in a row without rest) and 4 subdivisions. The phrases can be played in double time (or even faster, as long as they fit into the scheme).
Here, I play a little variety of Tirmanams in Misra Gahti (7, 14 subdivisions per beat). Enjoy!
Prequel
Since I was a child, I wanted to dive into the secrets of Indian Music. The band „Shakti“ had infected me with this enjoyable virus. But when I set out to become a professional drummer, percussionist, producer and composer at the age of 17, there were many other things that needed and still need to be done. Have a look here if you like:
www.estroer.de
In 2012, I came across a series of educational DVDs by Dr. Umayalpuram Sivaraman, one of the great old masters of the South Indian Mridangam. I instantly ordered a Mridangam directly from India and began to practice. In 2013, I luckily got to know Rohan Krishnamurthy, one of the great young masters of South Indian drumming. His playing is outstanding and a steady inspiration. Together, we did two workshop tours in Germany and Austria before Corona came up. All I had learned so far, I put into my book „The Drumming of the Gods“.
„The Drumming of the Gods“ is not about playing Mridangam, it’s about what you learn in India before you start to play your instrument - Solkattu, the Indian drum language. So far, the book is only available in print format and in german language. An english version, maybe as .pdf, could be possible in the future.
www.stroerbrosmedia.de/dog.html
I never had the ambition to turn into „kind of“ an Indian musician - far too big is my respect for the huge and wonderful cosmos of Indian music and Indian musicians. I simply try to combine everything I had learned so far on my own experience with the instruments and possibilities of South Indian Music - an enormous cultural treasure and a great gift to the world, going back to the gods.
„The Drumming of the Gods“ is also a musical project. It offers a garden for musical flowers of all kinds, linked by the fusion of Western and Indian flavors. Watch out on all streaming services. Enjoy!