Carnatic Classical Essentials

South India's Dravidian-language counterpart to Hindustani classical, Carnatic music has existed—astonishingly—for over nine centuries. Like its northern cousin, the music is organised by raga (melodic mode) and tala (rhythmic cycle), but Carnatic music centers primarily around the voice in all its acrobatic majesty, supported by shimmering melodic accompaniment, drone, and percussion.