Varnam

Varṇam a set study piece (somewhat like the European étude) with which instrumentalists commonly begin a program. Such performances are usually referred to as tāna varṇam--a varṇam in which instrumental tānas (exercises or phrases) predominate. The most common tāḷas for tāna varnams are Ādi tāḷa and Āta tāḷa (14 mātrās).
The texts are "short and floridly set; the individual svara in the pulsed melismas are sung in a distinctly emphatic and separated fashion unique to the tāna varṇam" (Powers 1980: 117b). Compositions are organized with pallavi, anupallavi, and caraṇam sections.
References
Powers, Harry. 1980. Subcontinent of India. In The New Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie 9:69-166. London: Macmillan.
Pesch, Ludwig. 1999. The Illustrated Companion to South Indian Classical Music. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 184-85.

Selected Performance

Varnam in Rāga Natakur Añji and Āditāla. [3:15]
N. Ramani (flute) with Kandadevi Alagiriswami (violin) and Vellore Ramabhadran (mrdangam).
Ramani: The Soul of Indian Flute (World Pacific Records; WPS-21456; A1).
 
Rāga Natakur Añji
Ādi tāḷa |4 O O
 

Unidentified, varṇam "Ninnukori," rāga Mohanam
The Chainsmokers, varṇam "Ninnukori," rāga Mohanam [3:12]
 

Pañcarāgam Outline Padam
 
21 February, 2018