Indian music

Indian music

1. Music passed on from teacher to student by oral tradition

2. Most Indian classical music based on combination of tal (rhythmic form) and drone (sustained note)

3. Raga

   • Patterns of notes - combination of Western scale and melody
   • Particular ascending and descending pattern
   • Associated with different time of day, season, mood or special occasion

4. Tala

   • Tal - repeating rhythm pattern played by tabla
   • Between 6-16 beats, grouped into small section within pattern
   • First beat: sam. Marks beginning and ends of improvs so often accented
   • Drone - note held/repeated. Played on electronic box or tanpura
   • Tala is marked by hand claps and waves

5. String instruments

   • Ensembles have a handful of players, often played whilst seated on the floor
   • Soloist (singer/instrumentalist playing melody); percussion (usually tabla); drone (tanpura, harmonium or electronic box)
   • Sitar
     • Long-necked string instrument w/ movable frets + gourd resonator
     • Plucked w/ metal plectrum
     • 6 or 7 main strings + 12 sympathetic strings underneath, which resonate in sympathy
     • Characteristic shimmering sound
   • Sarod
     • Plucked string instrument w/ wooden plectrum
     • Shorter than sitar and no frets
     • Main + sympathetic strings
     • Plays ornaments by sliding up + down the strings
   • Sarangi
     • Fretless, bowed instrument
     • 3 main strings + up to 36 sympathetic
   • Esraj
     • Bowed string instrument w/ frets
   • Bansuri - bamboo flute w/ no keys

6. Percussion instruments

   • Drone instruments
     • Tanpura - stringed, no frets, four strings, plays simple + repetitive music
     • Harmonium - reed organ operated by bellows. Keyboard has 2-3 octaves
   • Tabla
     • Small pair of drums placed side by side
     • Keeps the time, can have short solos
     • Heads made out of goatskin
     • Smaller drum called dayan (on the right). High in pitch
     • Larger drum called bayan (on left). Played w/ heel of hand. Deep in pitch - bass sound

7. Improvisation

   • End of improv shown by tihai - short phrase played 3 times
   • Length of piece not worked out - concerts can last for hours
   • Raga begins calmly, gradually getting more complex and exciting
   • Alap (opening)
     • Slow introduction - sets mood
     • Free rhythm w/ no pulse
     • Unaccompanied except from drone
     • Moves from lower notes to higher notes
     • Gradually gets faster