Classical Music of India

1. Classical Music of India Musical traditions date back over 3,000 years Two main types of classical music • Hindustani: secular, court music from Northern India (including Pakistan) • Absorbed many Persian elements due to Muslim Persian rulers • Karnatak: temple music from South India • Developed along its own lines India

2. Performers Music viewed as a spiritual discipline Oral tradition—study by apprenticeship Improvisation Very important, sophisticated, and developed Guided by melodic and rhythmic formula Must study for years before allowed improvise India

3. Elements of Indian Classical Music Music is based upon the human voice • Pitch range limited to about four octaves Highly embellished melody, both vocal and instrumental, is characteristic Melodies almost always accompanied by a drone instrument India

4. Learning Melodic Organization • Moveable Syllables for Pitch Names S sa C fixed R re D G ga E M ma F P pa G fixed D dha A N ni B

5. Melodic Structure: Raga Melody exists within a framework called a raga—a defined pattern of notes • Each raga has an ascending and descending form Raga means “color” or “atmosphere” • The melody “colors the mind” Each raga associated with a particular mood • Also linked with gods, seasons, festivals, and times of day India

6. Bhāva: Expression of the Navaras (9 Moods) karuna sadness, pathos shingār love, joy vira heroism, valor hāsya laughter, comedy raudrā anger bhayānaka fear vibhātsa disgust adbhuta surprise shānti peace

7. Thaats: Ten Basic ScalesNatalie Sarrazin. Indian Music for the Classroom, p. 36-37.

8. Learning Rhythmic Organization Number of Beats Syllables (Jātīs) Grouping 1 ta 2 taka 3 takita 4 takadimi 5 taka takita 2 + 3 6 taka takadimi 2 + 4 7 takita takadimi 3 + 4 8 takita takita taka 3 + 3 + 2 9 Taka takita takadimi 2 + 3 + 4

9. Song Text Categories • Devotional texts: Dhrupads and Bhajans • From Bhakti era, mostly between 1400-1700 • Love Songs, both human and divine • All remaining songs, including regional songs, film music and songs of daily activity

10. Listening: Devotional Song Mirabei (1498-1547), best known poet, ex. CD track 13 Maine lino Govinda mol māyi ri I have measured the worth Krishna, O my sister Koi kahe sasta, koi kahe mahenga Some say cheap, others expensive, Maine lino taraja tol . . . I weighed him against pure gold. Koi kahe chori, koi kahe sāni Some say it’s a secret, some say hidden, Maine lino bajantā dhola . . . I proclaim him out loud like a drum.

11. Rhythmic Structure: Tala Rhythm is organized into blocks or cycles, each called a tala • Tala range from 3-100 beats in length • 6-16 is most common • Ten-beat tala jhaptal divided 2—3—2—3 • |1 2 |3 4 5 |6 7 |8 9 10| • Ten-beat tala shultal divided 4—2—4 • |1 2 3 4 |5 6 |7 8 9 10| India

12. Instruments Vocal music most important in India Many types of instruments • Many instruments associated with specific gods Sitar most popular chordophone • Long necked, lute (guitar) like instrument • 7 plucked strings, 9-13 sympathetically vibrating Drums of many sizes • Tabla and mridangam drums most common India

13. Ravi Shankar—sitar Tambura Tabla India

14. Listening Maru-Bihag Ravi Shankar Listen for: Raga and tala organization Heavy reliance on stringed instruments Extensive improvisation Nonwestern musical form India