The role of compositions in Carnatic music is of paramount importance. Thousands of compositions that adorn the framework of Carnatic music are borne out of the genius of several composers who wrote both the words and the music. Thus they were not only gifted musicians but versatile poets too.Amongst the greatest of Carnatic composers or vaggeyakaras, is Purandaradasa (1480-1564). To him one owes the shaping of Carnatic music in the form we see it today. Each composer has an individual style. It is the judicious mix of different composers that one weaves into a cutcheri. Carnatic music is essentially spiritual and the composers used music as a tool for achieving divine communion, wrapping their works in apt ragas to convey their moods.However, it is the Trinity of Carnatic music that occupies the pride of place. Shyama Sastri, Tyagaraja and Muthusawami Dikshitar are stellar names without whom no cutcheri would be complete. Contemporaries, between 1763-1847, their creations gave a new twist to Carnatic music. It is, however, Tyagaraja who outshines all others. His creative genius made the seemingly simple Telugu kritis stand unparalleled. His songs on Lord Rama transcended barriers of language, caste and creed, permeating the aesthetic life of the South.Eternal gems like swararagasudha in raga shankarabharanam and sangeetanyanamu in danyasi are specimens of his stupendous craft. And his pancharatna kritis are rendered every year by a huge gathering in Tamil Nadu to commemorate his death anniversary. It is difficult to define in words the sheer transport on listening to the priceless works of art as the brisk vitajalatura in janarajani or the august ksheerasagara in devagandhari raga. While Tyagaraja's effusion bears a characteristic simplicity, you can't miss the stately grandeur of Dikshitar or the inimitable stamp of Shyama Sastri. Contemporaries of the Trinity, Gopalakrishna Bharati and Swati Tirunal, the latter adept at many forms which include varnams, kritis, padams, javalis and tillanas, are also favourites.Besides this, you commonly hear compositions of Pattanam Subramaniya Iyer, Muthiah Bhagavatar, Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar, Khetragnya and others. Contemporary composers also find a place in this repertoire. While these names may sound confusing, it is actually simple to identify a composer by his signature. Tyagaraja signs off with his own name, Dikshitar used the unmistakable guru guha, Shyama Sastri the `Syama Krishna' stamp and Swati Tirunal his `Padmanabha'.Blending music with words and thereby taking it to a larger public is one important contribution of the composers. But one mustn't forget that it is to these vaggeyakaras that Carnatic music owes its heritage and its present treasure in the form of thousands of variegated compositions that help preserve the face of many a raga.
