1. The ragas INDIA PART 1

2.  Define these terms:  Raga: literally rag color or atmosphere denotes a tonal system for the simultaneous composition and performance of music  Sitar: A fretted, long-necked lute  Tanpura: the 4-6 stringed unfretted lute used to provide drone accompaniment  Tabla: The set of two drums, or just the right hand wooden drum which is tuned.  Bayan: the left hand drum in the table—it is larger, metal and not tuned. BELLWORK

3.  Reading #7 is due tomorrow Friday 9/27  Test on India next Thursday October 3 rd. ANNOUNCEMENTS

4. TANPURA

5. SITAR

6. TABLA

7.  Name a city in India  What characterizes Indian food?  Are the costumes for Indian dance colorful?  Is India a poor or wealthy country?  What is the population of India—guess.  What is the major religion? PRE-KNOWLEDGE

8.  Immigrants from the northwest brought Islam to India.  Historically, the profession of music had been hereditary, dominated by Muslim families whose knowledge of the art was a jealously guarded secret sanctified by similar traditions of caste specialization in other communities.  Then in Maharashtra and Bengal, later in other regions, high- caste Hindus, usually Brahmans, apprenticed themselves to Muslim masters in their own right, eventually performing in public at musical conferences. GUIDED NOTES

9.  Countries: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China  Cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow MAP IDENTIFICATION

10.  This was a world where musicians practiced unceasingly until practice itself became a form of worship and its own objective,  where listeners were a rare and delicate species, having the leisure to cultivate an art from early youth, to mature with age into true connoisseurs; a world, in short,  where musicians of excellence flourished, being, as they were, measured only by listeners of excellence. THE OLD WORLD OF INDIAN MUSIC

11.  Indian music is old and large and hot.  Essentials to being a performer:  1. will or discipline  2. A teacher or perhaps—more properly—a guide.  3. Spiritual status or divine intercession or grace.  Gharana: a stylistic musical school  Music itself is the supreme mystery of the science of man, in this way it shares aspects of the divine. GUIDED NOTES

12.  Riaz: (from the Arabic) connotes abstinence, devotion, discipline and hard labor.  The Indian musician will do not so much in terms of musical accomplishments, but in terms of practice habits.  Music is focused on one’s inner development.  The Musical system is a code for behavior.  Hard work (riaz) is symbolically equivalent to the high quality of the music that would inevitably result RIAZ

13.  Proper atmosphere  Deep concentration  You have to keep your mind concentrated on one place.  In India, especially in urban areas, a quiet environment is not easily accessible; hence, practicing during the night is highly valued.  Solitude, which is usually impossible during the day, allows one totally to immerse oneself in Riaz.  Allow yourself to make mistakes with impunity. ELEMENTS OF RIAZ

14.  Think back to this past year.  Name an event that was a great obstacle to you. This could be a school project, a personal conflict or an unlucky circumstance.  How did you overcome this obstacle?  What characteristics did you exhibit (ie self-discipline, courage, patience. Etc.) to overcome it? CFU: RIAZ IS GRIT

15.  What Chinese instrument uses similar string techniques as used by the sitar?  How many instruments do you hear?  Describe the sound in terms of timbre and  Circle one:  Heavy or light  Thin or Dense  Smooth or jagged ACTIVE LISTENING EXAMPLE #1: ALAP MALKANS

16.  Alap: The long introductory section of a musical performance. It is characterized by slow, free rhythm.  The alap is serious and profound.  Mir: a portamento glide, made by sliding from one tone to another.  Jinn: a genie; capricious spirit. The Rag Malkauns attracts jinns if played around 2-3am. Some musicians don’t play it out of fear. JUST THE FACTS: LISTENING EXAMPLE #1 ALAP MALKANS

17.  A rag must be played perfectly in order to achieve its desired effect.  Rasa: The affective state generated by an aesthetic performance. In classical theory each rag (sometimes each tone) is thought to characterize, embody and generate particular emotional states ie love, anger, heroism.  Ragas are sometimes represented pictorially as individual human beings in miniature paintings called ragamalas. MAGICAL RAGAS

18. RAGALASA EXAMPLES

19.  Scale drawing: RAG MAULKAN

20.  Raga mian-ki-malhar which is associated with rain; and indeed, during the monsoon season, one commonly hears is performed, is said to have the power to bring rain.  Raga dipak is known more for its power to produce heat  Raga kedar could melt the prison bars and stone  Raga Maulkans attracts jinns  Healing: Any raga played correctly has the power to reduce fever. RAGAS AND THEIR POWERS

21.  Divide the class into those who know the notes on the piano or how to read music into one group, those who don’t know can pair up with those who do.  Think of a magic power or mood you wish you could achieve by simply listening to a song.  Write a scale which sounds like that characteristic.  Use accidentals for flavor! CFU: WRITE YOUR OWN RAGA

22.  Is the jor more active than the alap?  Name the solo instrument:  What qualities does this music have which would attract a jinn?  Challenge: Draw a ragamala on your white board: (Ragas are sometimes represented pictorially as individual human beings in these miniature paintings) ACTIVE LISTENING EXAMPLE #2: JOR MALKAUNS

23.  The tambura simply plucks the four pitches successively throughout the raga, like aural incense  In other words, the tambura is a drone which plays: I high V high V low V.  Jor: the second part of the instrumental alap, characterized by an increase in tempo and a rhythmic pulse.  The beat becomes steadier as the raga progresses. JUST THE FACTS, JI: LISTENING EXAMPLE #2: JOR MALKAUNS

24.  Write down the word that corresponds with the definition:  literally rag color or atmosphere; denotes a tonal system for the simultaneous composition and performance of music CFU: WHITE BOARDS

25.  simply plucks the four pitches successively throughout the raga, like aural incense Q2

26.  This raga is known more for its power to produce heat Q3

27.  A fretted, long-necked lute Q4

28.  This connotes abstinence, devotion, discipline and hard labor. Q5

29. SHANKAR VIDEO

30.  1. What is a tabla?  2. Name three elements of Riaz.  3. Which raga has the power to bring rain?  4. Define Ras:  5. What religious group immigrated to India and inspired the creation of the raga? EXIT TICKET