The Music of India

Brief History of Indian Music Oldest surviving form of music is Vedic chant Hinduism was dominant religion until 13th C. Music of North India and Pakistan is called Hindustani music Music of South India is called Carnatic music In addition to classical music, India has a thriving movie and pop music culture –Indian Classical Music SiteIndian Classical Music Site Oldest surviving form of music is Vedic chant Hinduism was dominant religion until 13th C. Music of North India and Pakistan is called Hindustani music Music of South India is called Carnatic music In addition to classical music, India has a thriving movie and pop music culture –Indian Classical Music SiteIndian Classical Music Site

Indian Classical Music and Culture Music is linked to philosophy, religion Vocal sound is the purest sound –Most teaching of an instrument begins vocally An individual can come in contact with divine Universal force through music Music must be performed according to tradition in order to have the proper effect Music is linked to philosophy, religion Vocal sound is the purest sound –Most teaching of an instrument begins vocally An individual can come in contact with divine Universal force through music Music must be performed according to tradition in order to have the proper effect

Performing Media Vocal music is pre-eminent Indian classical music is chamber music Players freely improvise within a given rhythmic and pitch framework Music is transmitted orally rather than in written form even though written forms of ragas and talas exist Vocal music is pre-eminent Indian classical music is chamber music Players freely improvise within a given rhythmic and pitch framework Music is transmitted orally rather than in written form even though written forms of ragas and talas exist

Hindustani Instruments of North India Tabla (tabla and baya) a pair of small drums –Relatives of orchestral tympani brought by Turks Sitar - long-necked lute with movable frets, two gourd resonators, 7 playing strings, 13 sympathetic strings Sarod - a plucked or bowed fiddle with 4 to 8 strings and sympathetic strings Tambura - 4-stringed drone lute Tabla (tabla and baya) a pair of small drums –Relatives of orchestral tympani brought by Turks Sitar - long-necked lute with movable frets, two gourd resonators, 7 playing strings, 13 sympathetic strings Sarod - a plucked or bowed fiddle with 4 to 8 strings and sympathetic strings Tambura - 4-stringed drone lute

Carnatic Instruments of South India Mridangam - a 2-headed barrel drum Violin - the European instrument tuned to tonic and fifth (with Tambura); played seated with scroll in crook of knee Flute - side-blown instrument with holes Tambura - 4-stringed drone lute tuned to tonic and fifth Vina - a 4-stringed lute with 2 gourd resonators Mridangam - a 2-headed barrel drum Violin - the European instrument tuned to tonic and fifth (with Tambura); played seated with scroll in crook of knee Flute - side-blown instrument with holes Tambura - 4-stringed drone lute tuned to tonic and fifth Vina - a 4-stringed lute with 2 gourd resonators

Rhythm Tala - a cycle of beats and beat groups from 3 to 128 –Sam - the strongest beat (indicated by an X) –Khali - the weakest beat (indicated by an o) –Drummers may improvise within the framework –Talas are learned through vocal mnemonics Tintal X Tempo normally speeds up in most pieces Tala - a cycle of beats and beat groups from 3 to 128 –Sam - the strongest beat (indicated by an X) –Khali - the weakest beat (indicated by an o) –Drummers may improvise within the framework –Talas are learned through vocal mnemonics Tintal X Tempo normally speeds up in most pieces

Pitch Sruti - the smallest interval that can be heard –There are 22 sruti to an octave Svara - an interval that combines several sruti Grama - a septatonic scale with 7 svaras – Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ragas - fixed melodic forms which serve as generators for compositional development –Vadi - the strongest note –Samvadi - the second strongest note which is usually a fourth or fifth above the vadi. Sruti - the smallest interval that can be heard –There are 22 sruti to an octave Svara - an interval that combines several sruti Grama - a septatonic scale with 7 svaras – Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ragas - fixed melodic forms which serve as generators for compositional development –Vadi - the strongest note –Samvadi - the second strongest note which is usually a fourth or fifth above the vadi.

Form Alap - a rhythmically free prelude –Drone is played throughout Gat - the tune on which the piece is based –Drums usually enter at this point Improvisation within the raga and tala Alap - a rhythmically free prelude –Drone is played throughout Gat - the tune on which the piece is based –Drums usually enter at this point Improvisation within the raga and tala

Jhaptal X 2 0 3