Indian Classical Music – AOS2 L.O – to understand the musical characteristics of Indian Classical music.

 Try and answer the questions on the sheet about Indian Classical music.  Circle any questions or words you are unsure of. Task 1…5 minutes

 Long history of around 3000 years.  Learned by ear and performed from memory  Typically a student will undergo a type of apprenticeship with a highly regarded performer, which as known as a master-student tradition. Background

 Sitar – a type of plucked string instrument with frets. It has sympathetic strings which vibrate to create a distinctive shimmery sound. The sitar improvises the melody by using a raga.  Tanpura/tambura – a plucked string instrument with four strings used to play the drone.  Tabla – a pair of drums.  Sarangi – bowed, string instrument.  Bansuri – bamboo flute. Instruments

 Based on a set of notes called a Raga  Many different ragas - associated with a particular time of day, season and mood.  Some notes in the raga will be more important than others and will be emphasised.  Common techniques used in the melody – pitch bends, glissandos, rapid scales, ornamentation.  As pieces progress they become more complex. Before a performance everyone will agree which raga to use and the sitar player will then improvise a melody around the notes of the raga. Melody section

 Raga you will use today is…  ENTER RAGA  Instrument that plays the melody = Sitar (number) Melody Section

 Tala – the rhythmic cycle which pieces are based on.  There is a range of different talas, each with a set number of beats, some of which will be accented.  The tabla player improvises rhythms around the tala, which gradually become more complex as the piece progresses.  There is often dialogue between the different parts, with the Sitar player imitating rhythms played by the tabla.  Tala you will play today is… Tala - the rhythm section

 There is no real harmony in Indian classical music  Instead a drone is played throughout a piece.  It is based on the most important note or notes of the Raga.  Tanpura – use voice number….. And play notes….. Harmony

 Made up of 4 sections:  Alap  Jor  Gat  Jhalla Structure

AlapJarGat –Jhalla Slow tempo, improvised introduction in free time. The sitar introduces and explores the notes of the raga. There is a drone played by the Tanpura but no tabla drums. Sitar plays faster and more melodic. Tanpura plays the drone. Still no tabla drums. The tabla enters, creating a clear sense of pulse. This section is often based on a pre-composed idea (Tala) which the melody instrument uses as a basis for improvisation. The music builds in excitement. More improvisation, faster and more virtuosic (which means the performers try and show off all of their skills). Cascades of scales and intricate rhythms. Structure

 Now answer the same questions on the sheet that you used in Task 1 using a different colour pen.  What do you know now that you didn’t know at the start of the lesson? Use a different colour pen

 Answer the questions Listening test