1. Indian Music

2. What is a Rag? Rag- singular Raga- Plural Rag is not a melody or scale, or key, but a combination of all three. Each rag has – an ascending and descending pattern of notes, which are not necessarily the same as each other – A set melody (gat) – A set time of day for performance – Rules regarding improvisation of the notes – A tal

3. Instruments Sitar Sarod Sarangi Tabla Harmonium Tanpura Shehnai Bansuri

4. Music System of Indian The music system is know as the sargam and is similar to the western sol-fa system. Although the sargam is a form of notation, is it very simple and would never be used in performance. The tonic note is know as SA and is used in the drone. SA can be any pitch. The seven degrees are – SA RE GA MA PA DHA NI SA Sometimes abbreviated to – S R G M P D N S MA can be sharpened (tivra) this would be shown as a line above the note RI, GA, DHA and NI can be flattened (komal), this would be shown as a line below the note. A dot above the note means an octave above. A dot below the note means an octave below.

5. The Structure of the Rag Alap – The slow opening performance – An instrument plays solo – Notes and phrases of the Rag are introduced and explored. – The music has no pulse. – Lots of ornaments on the notes. – Starts low and slow gradually gets higher and faster before pulse is introduced. Jor – Another improvised section – Regular pulse introduced – Moderate Speed Jhalla – The beginning of the “final section” – Metre and tal introduced. – Gat is performed Gat – Memorised composition based on the notes of the Rag. – This is then developed upon to become more exciting in rhythm until a climax is reached, at which point the tabla and sitar may use question and answer phrases before the final playing of the Gat to finish.

6. Tal Tal is the rhythmic framework for the Rag, it is a repeating pattern which is established by the tabla. Each pattern usually has between 6 and 16 beats. The Sam is the most important beat and is often accented. Teental is the most common tal and has 16 mantras broken up into 4 vibhags (4 + 4 + 4 + 4). Rupaka is another common tal, it has 7 mantras and 3 vibhags (3 + 2 + 2) Weaker beats are often shown by a wave of a hand instead of a clap (often by the audience) and is know by khali (empty). Each tal uses a pattern of drum strokes (bols) know as theka. Bols can be represented by sounds using the voice. Whole pattern = Tal Beat = Mantra Small patterns (like bars)= Vibhags First beat = Sam (marked with a X in notation). Empty Vibhag = Khali Vibhag Pattern of drum strokes = Theka Drum stroke = Bol

7. Improvisation In Indian North Indian classical music is built on melodies that are varied and decorated using improvisation. Improvisation takes place according to strict rules of each particular Rag being performed. Musicians learn Paltas (scalic melodic patterns) to help improve a players technique, these are used as the basis for tans (improvised breaks). Tihai is often used to punctuate or end sections of improvisation. Tihali literally means 3 rd and patterns or phrases will be heard 3 times.