Violin based PolyCaRe arrangements in 199x

– interludes
We will continue the journey on PolyCaRe arrangements of Raja, with his compositions based on
violins as the background melody instrument. In this post, we will particularly focus on his interlude
compositions in the 199x. As we made it very clear in the definition, the PolyCaRe arrangement not
only requires a background violin melody, it also requires at least two call and response melodies in
the foreground played according to our rules of CaRe arrangements.

Let’s begin with the song ‘Muthu Muthu’ from Periya Veetu Panakkaaran (Tamil 1990). This
segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Yea Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

r d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Muthu Muthu Periya Veetu
Panakkaaran 199
0 Violins Synthesizer Flutes

This is a very unorthodox arrangement that is one of a kind from Raja. Most of his PolyCaRe
compositions begin in one of two ways : a) the background melody starts playing first or b) all the
parts start playing together – both foreground and background. This clip is unusual as it begins with
the foreground component first. The foreground component will become the Call component of the
CaRe part when the background melody starts playing.

1. The first 3 seconds is only the foreground synthesizer playing, which is unusual. Why
cant this be the background melody? It will be obvious when the other instruments join the
mix
2. Between 3 and 14 seconds, the violins continue as the background instrument
playing the same melody. You can notice that at 5 seconds, the flute answers the
synthesizers call while the violins continue their melody. There are two CaRe parts between
the synthesizer and the flute. The background melody however plays only for 11 seconds
between 3 and 14 seconds

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing
on top of the constant background violin melody in these 14 seconds.

Let’s hear the different PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of the song Muthu Muthu …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Nila Kaayum Neram’ from Chembaruthi (Tamil 1990).
This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Nila Kaayum Chembaruthi 199 Guitar x
Neram 0 Violins synth Violins

1. This song’s arrangement is quite complex though the end result sounds very
simplistic. A number of things are happening in the orchestration that delivers the end result.
2. The violins play in the background and the foreground. You need to hear the clip a
few times to anchor your mind to the background violins. They play a very simple melody
throughout these 13 seconds
The foreground CaRe is not just between two instruments but between 3 instruments. This is the
reasons for its complexity. The guitar and synth (playing a flute tone) make the call for which the
violins respond. This happens as the background violins continue their background melody

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing
on top of the constant background violin melody in these 13 seconds.

Let’s hear the complex PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of the song Nila Kaayum Neram …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Oru Mandarapoo’ from Chinna Jameen (Tamil 1993).
This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Oru Mandarapoo Chinna 199
Jameen 3 Violins Synthesizer Flute

1. The clip is for 10 seconds and there are several things going on within that time. The
background violins play tremolo (these are short notes arranged in rapid succession between
several - at least 10 violins, to create a sense of tremble – you can hear the real tremble only
when you hear a Raja orchestra live – recording techniques have not advanced enough to
record this)
2. The synthesizer plays a long melody for which the flute responds, followed by rapid
CaRe arrangement for 3 more occurrences between the synthesizer and the flute

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing
on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the complex PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of the song Oru Mandarapoo …

Let’s continue the journey with the song ‘Rangulalo’ from Abhinandana (Telugu 1990). This
segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Rangulalo Abhinandan 199
a 0 Violins Violins Violins

1. This is all complete violins play but very easy to identify both the foreground and the
background violins. For the first 2 seconds, the background violins play staccato, and this will
continue throughout the 7 seconds
2. Between 2 and 7 seconds, there are 4 CaRe parts where violins playing a high note
make the call and the violins playing a lower note respond (this could be a cello too)

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing
on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of the song Rangulalo …
Lastly, in the 90s the journey , we will conclude with the song ‘Vandhadhe Kungumam’ from
Kizhakku Vaasal (Tamil 1990). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is
how the segment is structured:

Song Film Year Backgroun CaRe - CaRe -

d Instrument Instrument
instrument 1 2
Vandhadhe Kizhakku 199
Kungumam Vaasal 0 Violins Voices Flute

1. The first three seconds, you will hear the background violins playing waltz. This will
continue for the entire 15 seconds of the clip
2. Between 3 and 15 seconds, the voices (chorus) make the call, for which the flute
responds 4 times. All this happens when the background waltz violins continue

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background
violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 8 foreground melodies playing
on top of the constant background violin melody in these 15 seconds.

Let’s hear the waltz PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of the song Vandhadhe Kungumam