Indian Classical

• What is the purpose of a Raga in Indian music?

  To form the melody
• What does a Raga use to create its sound?

  A set of pitches with open stringed drones
• Which instrument is commonly performed with a Raga?

  Sitar
• How can ragas be associated with different times?

  They can be used at different times of year or day
• What are some applications of improvisation in Raga performance?

  Bends, fast scale patterns, and slides
• What is a Drone in Indian music?

  A repeated note or set of notes
• Which instrument traditionally plays the Drone?

  Tanpura
• What role does a Drone play in music?

  It forms a static harmony
• What is usually the root note of a Drone?

  Root note or fifth chord
• What does Tala refer to in Indian Classical Music?

  The rhythm
• What is a Tala?

  A cycle of beats that repeats
• How can the number of beats in a Tala vary?

  It can vary greatly
• What is the 'Sam' in Tala?

  The accented first beat of the Tala
• Why is the 'Sam' crucial to performers?

  It establishes the rhythmic foundation
• Which instrument is used to play Tala?

  Tabla
• What is the musical structure of a Raga performance?

  • Alap: Opening section, free time, improvised
  • Gat: Tabla enters, establishes pulse
  • Jhala: Exciting end section, complex and intense
• What characterizes the Alap section of a Raga performance?

  It is free time and improvised
• What happens during the Gat section of a Raga performance?

  The Tabla enters and Tala is played
• What is the Jhala section known for in a Raga performance?

  It is the exciting end section
• How do instrumental parts change in the Jhala section?

  They become more complicated and intense