About Mela-Rāga-Mālikā-Chakra
Mela-Rāga-Mālikā-Chakra is a studio album of Carnatic classical music performed by vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi. The recording centers on the mēḷakarta system, a foundational framework in Carnatic music that classifies rāgas (melodic modes) into 72 parent scales (mēḷas). Subbulakshmi presents compositions structured around these scales, emphasizing the technical and expressive dimensions of the mēḷa-rāga relationship.
Subbulakshmi released the album in 1989 under the label EMI. The primary format was compact disc (CD), marking one of her later adaptations to digital audio media. The recording session and production details remain partially undocumented, but the album aligns with her broader discography of pedagogical and performance-oriented Carnatic works.
The album contains two tracks, each exploring distinct subsets of the mēḷakarta system. The first track focuses on the Suddha Madhyama group of mēḷas, which employ the natural seventh note (shuddha dhaivata) in their scale structure. The second track addresses the Prati Madhyama group, characterized by the use of the flattened seventh (chatushruti dhaivata). Both tracks incorporate rāga ālāpanas (improvisational elaborations) followed by composed kṛtis (songs), though specific compositions and composers are not listed in available sources.
Subbulakshmi’s rendition adheres to the gāyaki (vocal) style of the Semmangudi bani, a sub-school within the broader Carnatic tradition known for its emphasis on bhāva (emotional expression) and precise intonation. The accompaniment details, including instrumentalists or percussionists, are not specified in the release documentation. The album’s liner notes, where present, likely include explanatory text on the mēḷakarta system, consistent with Subbulakshmi’s role as a cultural ambassador for Carnatic music.
The 1989 release coincided with a period of renewed international interest in Indian classical music, though the album’s commercial reception and distribution scope remain unrecorded. EMI’s involvement suggests targeting both domestic and diasporic audiences, leveraging Subbulakshmi’s reputation as a preeminent exponent of the art form. No reissues or remastered editions have been officially cataloged under this title.