Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent consisting of states Kerala,Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Carnatic music is usually performed by a small group of musicians, consisting of a principal performer usually a vocalist ( M S subbalakshmi, K. J. Yesudas, P. Unni Krishnan,Vaikom Vanaja Sankar,Trichur V. Ramachandran, Trivandrum R. S. Mani, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar )

a melodic accompaniment usually a violin),

a rhythm accompaniment usually a mridangam ( Palghat Mani Iyer, Karaikudi Mani,Guruvayur Dorai,Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman)

a tambura,

Other instruments used in performances may include the ghatam (

kanjira, morsing, veena & flute.

In some cases the performance may be an instrumental one where the principal performer is a violinist (

or flutist ( kudamaloor janardhanan)

The compositions of carnatic music have been composed by composers like Tyagarja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri who are collectively known as the trinity of carnatic music. There are other composers like swati tirunal