Synthesizer based PolyCaRe arrangements in 198x – interludes

We will continue the journey on PolyCaRe arrangements of Raja, with his compositions based on synthesizer as the background melody instrument. In this post, we will particularly focus on his interlude compositions in the 198x. As we made it very clear in the definition, the PolyCaRe arrangement not only requires a background synthesizer  melody, it also requires two call and response melodies in the foreground played according to our rules of CaRe arrangements.

Let’s begin with the song ‘Agaaya Venilaave’  from Arangetra Velai  (Tamil 1989). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Agaya vennilave	Arangetra Velai	1989	Synthesizer	Guitar	Synthesizer

1. The first 5 seconds is the synthesizer background only melody. This plays throughout the clip
2. Between 6 and 18 seconds, there are 4 calls made by the guitar for which the synthesizer (not the background one) responds. The background synthesizer keeps playing its melody

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 18 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCare arrangement of the near similar instrument choice in Agaya Vennilaave song…

We will next move interlude of the song  ‘Chinna Chinna’   from  ‘Mouna Ragam  (Tamil 1986). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Chinna Chinna	Mouna Ragam	1986	Synthesizer	Chorus	Violins

The clip has two CaRe arrangements riding on a synthesizer in the background. It is very easy to identify the background synthesizer melody which repeats itself for the duration of the clip

1. The foreground call is by the chorus for which the response is by the violins
2. One of the beautiful arrangements in PolyCaRe by Raja, both the foreground and the background melodies can stand on their own based on their individual merit.

Let’s hear the creative PolyCare arrangement  in the song Chinna Chinna…

We will next move interlude of the song  ‘Enna Saththam’   from  ‘Punnagai Mannan’  (Tamil 1986). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Enna Saththam	Punnagai Mannan	1986	Synthesizer	Guitar	Synthesizer

This is another beautiful PolyCaRe arrangement by Raja in the 80s and one needs to pay close attention as the way the composition works is as though Raja interleaves two counterpoints.

1. For the first 3 seconds, the countermelody between the synthesizer and the guitar happens. If you do not continue , you will not understand the PolyCaRe in play
2. Ignore the drumming. Between 3 and 9 seconds, the guitar makes the call and the synthesizer responds twice. The synthesizer melody continues in the background

This is an extremely clever arrangement, where interleaving two countermelodies creates a PolyCaRe arrangement. This is very special and the clip is worth a PhD in music as it is rare to find such composer’s work in the 21^st century!

Let’s hear the  PolyCare stroke of genius  in the song Enna Saththam…

We will next move interlude of the song  ‘KanniL Enna Kaarkaalam’   from  ‘Un KanniL Neer Vazhindhaal’  (Tamil 1982). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
KanniL Enna Kaarkaalam	Un KanniL Neer Vazhindhaal	1985	Synthesizer	Synthesizer	Violins

1. The first second is the background synthesizer melody that plays throughout the clip
2. Between 2 and 17 seconds, there are 4 calls made by the synthesizer (foreground) for which the violins respond. The background synthesizer melody continues  as these foreground CaRe is in progress

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 17 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCare arrangement of the near similar instrument choice in KanniL Enna Kaarkaalam   song…

We will next move interlude of the song  ‘Poon kaatrinodum ‘  from  ‘Poomukhappadiyil ninneyum kaathu ‘ (Malayalam 1985). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Poon kaatrinodum	Un KanniL Neer Vazhindhaal	1985	Synthesizer	Violins	Synthesizer

‘Poon Kaatrinodum’ is a song that is more known for its brilliant bass lines.  However, there is segment in its interlude, where Raja does a synthesizer based PolyCaRe blast.

1. Almost the first full second, you can hear the rapid fire synthesizer melody that continues throughout the clip as the background melody
2. Between 2 and 12 seconds, the synthesizer makes the call and the violins respond. The background rapid synthesizer melody continues while the 4 CaRe parts perform in the foreground

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background synthesizer melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background synthesizer melody in these 12 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCare arrangement of the near similar instrument choice in Poon Kaatrinodum’ song…

Lastly, in this section, we will analyze the  interlude of the song  ‘Vaanam Keezhe ‘  from  ‘Thoongathe Thambhi Thoongathe ‘ (Tamil  1985). This segment, has synthesizer as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Vaanam Keezhe	Thoongathe Thambhi Thoongathe	1985	Synthesizer	Sax	Synthesizer

This is an extremely complex composition that is hard to break apart and understand.

1. You can easily separate the saxophone parts in this composition. The next part is the foreground synthesizer. The last part once you anchor your attention to the two parts, will be the constant synthesizer melody that repeats itself throughout the clip in the background
2. There are three CaRe parts that happen in the foreground while the synthesizer plays its melody in the background.

Let’s hear the complex PolyCare arrangement of the near similar instrument choice in Vaanam Keezhe song…