Brighas

 Brighas

In Carnatic music, "brighas" refer to fast-paced, intricate melodic passages that are executed with precision and speed. They are a crucial aspect of a musician's technical proficiency and are often used to embellish and enhance the rendition of a raga or a composition. Here are some key points about brighas:

1. Technical Skill: Performing brighas requires a high level of technical skill, control, and practice. Musicians must have excellent breath control (for vocalists) or finger dexterity (for instrumentalists) to execute these rapid passages cleanly.

2. Improvisation: Brighas are often used in the improvisational sections of a performance, such as in alapana (raga exploration), neraval (improvisation within a specific line of a composition), and kalpana swaras (improvised solfege). They add excitement and virtuosity to the performance.

3. Structure: While brighas are fast and intricate, they are still bound by the rules of the raga being performed. The notes and phrases used in brighas must conform to the raga's scale and characteristic patterns.

4. Expression: Although brighas are technically demanding, they are not just about speed. They must be executed with appropriate gamakas (ornamentations) and expressions to convey the emotional essence of the raga.

5. Practice: Musicians often practice brighas extensively, breaking them down into smaller segments and gradually increasing the speed. This helps in achieving the clarity and precision required for performance.

6. Application: Brighas can be applied in various parts of a composition, including the pallavi (opening section), anupallavi (secondary section), and charanam (concluding section). They can also be featured prominently in swara kalpana (improvised solfege passages) and thillanas (rhythmic compositions).

Brighas are a testament to a musician's mastery and add a dynamic, exhilarating dimension to Carnatic music performances.

Websites:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-Briga-in-Carnatic

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-gamakas-brugas-and-sangathy-in-Hindustani-classical-music

Youtube Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i1VyR1zJ48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BqmDry7zjw