Hindustani
music
Carnatic
music
Folk
music
Musical
instrument
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The word or an expression 'music' in India
has an all round meaning. It is not merely restricted to singing
or playing instrument. The word 'Sangit' or music in India encompasses
all, viz: singing (Gayana), playing instrument (Vadana) and dancing
(Nritya) as well. Though this is true, due to the vast scope of
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the subject, in this topic music will be dealt
as styles of Indian classical singing. Dance as a part of music has
been dealt with separately .
The origin of Indian music is said to be rooted in the Vedas. Brahma
is said to be the author of the four Vedas, of which the SamaVeda was
chanted in definite musical patterns. Vedic hymns were sung in plain
melody, using only 3 notes. It took a long time for music to come to
the form found in present-day India. In India music, the period of Aryans
had ritualistic importance. As a form of entertainment, it developed
much later. Also the folk music in India has a rich tradition that hails
from much before the Aryans.
Music of India as seen and heard today is said to be the development
during the 14th and 18th centuries. The two popular schools of Indian
classical music, Hindustani and Caranatic are the outcome of the cultural
mix during this period. It was during this period that the music sung
in the north came in contact with Persian music and assimilated it,
through the Pathans and the Mughals.
Hindustani music adopted a scale of Shudha Swara Saptaka(octave of natural
notes) and Carnatic music retained the traditional octave. During this
period, different styles of classical compositions such as Dhrupad,
Dhamar, Khayal,etc. were contributed to Hindustani music, along with
many exquisite hymns, bhajans, kirtans, etc.
The Indian musical scale is said to have evolved from 3 notes to a scale
of 7 primary notes on the basis of 22 intervals. A scale is divided
into 22 shrutis or intervals, and these are the basis of the musical
notes. The 7 notes of the scale are known to musicians as Sa, Re, Ga,
Ma, Pa, Dha ,Ni and Sa. These 7 notes of the scale do not have equal
intervals between them. Raga is the basis or the soul of Indian Classical
music. The combination of several notes woven into a composition in
a way which is pleasing to the ear is called a Raga. Any stray combination
of notes cannot be called a Raga. All the ragas are divided into two
groups -- Poorva Ragas and Uttar Ragas. The Poorva Ragas are sung between
12 noon and 12 midnight. The Uttar Ragas are sung between 12 midnight
and 12 noon.
The three most important genres of Hindustani vocal music are: Dhrupad,
Khayaal, and Thumree(ThumRee). Dhrupad is the oldest and perhaps the
grandest form of Hindustani vocal music. It is said to have descended
from an older form called the prabandha (nonexistant today) and adapted
for court performance during the reign of Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior.
Dhrupad has been in decline since the 18th century.
Khayal is the most prominent genre of Hindustani (vocal) music. Its
origins are a mystery. Some people trace its origins to "Sadarang" Nyaamat
Khan - a beenkaar in the Mughal court of Muhammad Shah "Rangila".
Thumree originated from Lucknow and Benares in the 19th century. This
genre is considered to be "light classical" music. Thumrees are composed
in lighter raagas and have simpler taalas. There is no aalaap-type improvisation
in this genre. Daadra is another genre of "light classical" music. It
bears a close resemblance to the Thumree.
Carnatic music is based not on logarithmic division but on rational
division. An octave is based on the ratio 1:2; Pa is located through
the ratio 2:3; similar definitions exist for all the twelve swara sthanas.
A few centuries ago, Western classical music too was based on rational
division (the resulting scale was called as the natural scale), but
this has given way to the equally tempered (also called chromatic) scale
produced by logarithmic division. Carnatic music is one of the very
few musical forms in the world that have not lost their traditional
character due to the influence of western culture. On the contrary,
Carnatic music has enhanced its traditional character by borrowing good
things from other systems of music. The introduction of the violin is
a very good example of a positive influence.
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Apart from classical music, Indian Music also
has a very rich tradition of Folk Music. Folk music, has different
forms depending on the region it belongs to. With flexibility
in its expression, it is not bound by laws or any set pattern.
Folk music has its peculiar expressions and emotions and has established
a tradition of its own. Unlike the |
Classical Music, the musical notes in Folk Music
have less value and the poetic content has greater impact, and rythm
plays a very important role. Songs and lyrics of folk music portray
the common life of the villagers. Indian classical music has a pecularity
as far as expression of each Swara with respect to its scale or saptaka
is concerned. Hence the constant playing of the drone is necessary.
A singer is always accompanied by an instrument called "Tanpura"
which is tuned to suit his key note.
Amongst the popular instruments in India, Sitar has a distinct value
and has been in use for about 700 years. Sitar has a long and complex
heritage; its origin goes back to the ancient Veena. In the 13th century,
Amir Khusru, in order to make the instrument more flexible, reversed
the order of the strings and made the frets moveable. Ravi Shankar,
the great musician-artist brought changes and a new perspective. Sarod
is another popular stringed instrument. Sarod as been found in carvings
of the
1st century in Champa temple
and also in paintings in the Ajanta caves. It also has a similarity
with the Rabab of Afghanistan and Kashmir. The instrument was
modified by Amir Khusru in the 13th century. A definite change
was made by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in shape of the instrument for
improving the tonal quality. Sarangi is the next instrument. The
name derives from Sau Rangi meaning 100 colours. Sarangi is played
with a bow and has four main strings and as many as forty resonant
strings. It is |
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generally used to accompany singers but can also
be a solo instrument. Tanpura is a four or five stringed instrument
which gives the essential drone background to all Indian music. Esraj
is played with a bow and has many strings. It is one of the major instruments
of North India. Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from
Kashmir. It has more than a hundred strings which run across a hollow
rectangular box and the strings are struck by a pair of slim carved
walnut mallets.
Vichitra Veena is a comparatively recent addition to the Veena family.
It is a fretless stringed instrument with four main strings, three drone
and rhythm strings and eleven to thirteen resonating strings. The strings
are plucked by a plectrum on the index or middle finger of the right
hand. Violin was introduced to India about 300 years ago and is a very
important string instrument in the South of India. It is played in a
sitting position and is held between the right foot and the left shoulder.
Tabla is the overall term for two drums, which are played as accompaniment
to North Indian music and dance. The musician uses the base of the palm
as well as the fingers to produce great variations in sounds. The right
hand drum is tuned to the tonic dominant or sub-dominant and the left-hand
drum acts as the base. Pakhawaj is a long bodied wooden drum with both
ends covered in skin and is the most traditional drum of North India.
Played horizontally with the fingers and palms of both hands, the right
hand surface is tuned to the pitch required and the left hand surface
provides the base.
Mridangam is similar in appearance to the Pakhawaj but the ends have
a different texture. It is the most used drum in South Indian music.
Dholak is a side drum, cylindrical in shape, bored out of solid wood.
Its pitch is variable and is an essential accompaniment for folk music
of North India.
Jal Tarang is essentially a water-xylophone. It is made up of a series
of china bowls of varying sizes and they are filled with varying levels
of water. These are then played with two light sticks. Pung is a long
bodied drum with both ends covered in skin and plays an important role
in Manipuri dancing when it is played by men and women, either in a
sitting position or standing position. Flute is found in every part
of India, carved from bamboo it is made in every possible size. It is
usually played in a vertical position.
Shehnai is a double reeded wind instrument
with a widening tube towards the lower end. There are eight or
nine holes, the upper seven for playing, the lower ones for tuning.
The Shehnai is considered auspicious and is played on all festive
occasions in India. |
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