Sangati

Sangati

A sangati is a melodic variation of one line in a Carnatic (South Indian classical) composition. The words stay the same, but the tune changes a little with each repetition, usually becoming more elaborate.

You may hear a pallavi, the opening section that returns, sung several times with a new sangati on each pass. The line is being built through variations, rather than simply repeated.

Some sangatis are passed down as part of the composition. Others are added by performers, so not every variation has the same source.

An example of Sangati

The kritis of Tyagaraja offer an example: their lines are known for having many sangatis, or melodic variations of a single line. A kriti is the main composed song form of Carnatic music, the South Indian classical tradition.

Consider how this works in a pallavi, the opening section that returns. A singer repeats a line several times, giving it a new melodic shape on each pass. The words remain unchanged, while the tune usually becomes more elaborate. These variations build up the line rather than move to a new one.