Indian Classical Music

• Characteristic Rhythms and Metres, Traditional Rhythm Patterns & Repetition and Ostinato

  Based on talas (cyclic/repeating rhythm patterns) played by the tabla.

  One single tala used for a piece. Each tala has a certain number of

  beats (regular and irregular talas are used). The most popular tala is

  called tintal – 16 beats per cycle. Over 300 talas. HAND CLAPS and

  WAVES are used to mark certain beats.
• Pitch & Melody and Harmony & Tonality

  Melodies based on ragas (scale/mode) – patterns of notes with strict

  rules about usage. Ragas (scales) associated with a particular time of

  day or night or season and have different MOODS. Some RAGAS (scales)

  vary in ascent and descent e.g. Raga Vibhas (morning Raga); Raga Behag (evening Raga). Ragas are written down used sargam notation.
• Dynamics


  Generally increase throughout a

  Raga performance starting of softly

  (p) during the alap and jhor with

  a gradual crescendo in the jhala

  and very loud at the end.
• Texture


  There are three basic layers to the texture of Indian Classical Music:

  melody (Voice, Sitar, Sarangi, Bansuri, Esraj or Sarod performing the

  melodic form of the Raga); drone (Tanpura or Harmonium performing

  long sustained noted); rhythm (Tabla performing the rhythmic Tala).

  The opening three sections of a Raga performance all have a 2-part

  texture (melody and drone), the final Gat (or Bandish) section when the

  Tabla enters performing the Tala has a 3-PART TEXTURE.
• Tempo


  Alap – slow and free unmetred

  rhythm with no recognisable beat

  or pulse. Jhor – speeds up and

  becomes more rhythmic. Jhala –

  further increase in tempo and

  greater sense of metre. Gat – very

  fast tempo with complex rhythms.

  Tempo rubato sometimes added

  by performers during performance.
• Ensemble


  Indian Classical musicians must

  work together in order to interpret

  the music and perform effectively

  as one including starting and

  stopping together, agreeing tempo

  and dynamic changes, similar

  interpretation of expression and

  articulation (accents, staccato) as

  well as balance between parts.
• Form & Structure

  Four sections (no breaks)

  Alap – melody and drone, free

  unmetred, slow, soft.

  Jhor – melody and drone,

  increase in speed, more rhythmic

  Jhala – melody and drone, more

  speed and improvisation

  Gat – Tabla enters,

  tempo and dynamics increase.
• Origins and Cultural Context of the

  Traditional Music

  Around 1700 BC. Developed in temples and

  royal palaces. Ragas and Talas learnt by the

  oral tradition. Master-Student tradition.

  Spirituality (Hinduism) an important part.
• Musical Characteristics of Folk Music

  A raga performance based on one raga

  and one tala with freedom for

  improvisation and ornamentation

  during performance. No fixed length.
• Impact of Modern Technology on

  Traditional Music

  Available via the internet and

  heard at cinema, radio and live concerts.

  Indian instruments now heard in jazz, pop

  and rock (live or sampled)
• Instrumentation – Typical Instruments, Timbres and Sonorities

  Sitar, tanpura, sarod, sarangi, bansuri, tabla