Violin based PolyCaRe arrangements in 199x – interludes

We will continue the journey on PolyCaRe arrangements of Raja, with his compositions based on violins as the background melody instrument. In this post, we will particularly focus on his interlude compositions in the 199x. As we made it very clear in the definition, the PolyCaRe arrangement not only requires a background violin melody, it also requires at least two call and response melodies in the foreground played according to our rules of CaRe arrangements.

Let’s begin with the song ‘Muthu Muthu’  from Periya Veetu Panakkaaran  (Tamil 1990). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Muthu Muthu	Periya Veetu Panakkaaran	1990	Violins	Synthesizer	Flutes

This is a very unorthodox arrangement that is one of a kind from Raja. Most of his PolyCaRe compositions begin in one of two ways : a) the background melody starts playing first or b) all the parts start playing together – both foreground and background. This clip is unusual as it begins with the foreground component first. The foreground component will become the Call component of the CaRe part when the background melody starts playing.

1. The first 3 seconds is only the foreground synthesizer playing, which is unusual. Why cant this be the background melody? It will be obvious when the other instruments join the mix
2. Between 3 and 14 seconds,  the violins continue as the background instrument playing the same melody. You can notice that at 5 seconds, the flute answers the synthesizers call while the violins continue their melody. There are two CaRe parts between the synthesizer and the flute. The background melody however plays only for 11 seconds between 3 and 14 seconds

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 14 seconds.

Let’s hear the different PolyCaRe  arrangement in the interlude  of the song  Muthu Muthu …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Nila Kaayum Neram’  from Chembaruthi  (Tamil 1990). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Nila Kaayum Neram	Chembaruthi	1990	Violins	Guitar x synth	Violins

1. This song’s arrangement is quite complex though the end result sounds very simplistic. A number of things are happening in the orchestration that delivers the end result.
2. The violins play in the background and the foreground. You need to hear the clip a few times to anchor your mind to the background violins. They play a very simple melody throughout these 13 seconds

The foreground CaRe is not just between two instruments but between 3 instruments. This is the reasons for its complexity. The guitar and synth (playing a flute tone) make the call for which the violins respond. This happens as the background violins continue their background melody

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 13 seconds.

Let’s hear the complex PolyCaRe  arrangement in the interlude  of the song  Nila Kaayum Neram …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Oru Mandarapoo’  from Chinna Jameen  (Tamil 1993). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Oru Mandarapoo	Chinna Jameen	1993	Violins	Synthesizer	Flute

1. The clip is for 10 seconds and there are several things going on within that time. The background violins play tremolo (these are short notes arranged in rapid succession between several  - at least 10 violins, to create a sense of tremble – you can hear the real tremble only when you hear a Raja orchestra live – recording techniques have not advanced enough to record this)
2. The synthesizer plays a long melody for which the flute responds, followed by rapid CaRe arrangement for 3 more occurrences between the synthesizer and the flute

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the complex PolyCaRe  arrangement in the interlude  of the song  Oru Mandarapoo …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Rangulalo’   from Abhinandana  (Telugu  1990). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Rangulalo	Abhinandana	1990	Violins	Violins	Violins

1. This is all complete violins play but very easy to identify both the foreground and the background violins. For the first 2 seconds, the background violins play staccato, and this will continue throughout the 7 seconds
2. Between 2 and 7 seconds, there are 4 CaRe parts where violins playing a high note make the call and the violins playing a lower note respond (this could be a cello too)

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe  arrangement in the interlude  of the song  Rangulalo …

Lastly, in the 90s the journey , we will conclude with the song ‘Vandhadhe Kungumam’   from Kizhakku Vaasal  (Tamil   1990). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Vandhadhe Kungumam	Kizhakku Vaasal	1990	Violins	Voices	Flute

1. The first three seconds, you will hear the background violins playing waltz. This will continue for the entire 15 seconds of the clip
2. Between 3 and 15 seconds, the voices (chorus) make the call, for which the flute responds 4 times. All this happens when the background waltz violins continue

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 15 seconds.

Let’s hear the waltz PolyCaRe  arrangement in the interlude  of the song  Vandhadhe Kungumam …