Indian Classical Music

• Raga: A scale of notes that makes up the main melody. It’s based on mood or time of the day.
• Tala: A rhythm pattern (played by the tabla) which includes accents and silent beats.
• Drone: A long sustained note.
• Ostinato: a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
• Polyrhythm: A rhythm that uses more than two rhythmic patterns.
• Pitch bend: Players often bend the strings while playing to give a pitch bend or microtonal effect.
• Improvisation: Ideas that aren’t prepared. They are extended and developed during a performance on a specific raga.
• Ornamentation: The decorative ornaments of the music, such as trills, mordents, and acciaccaturas.
• Call and response: Communication between players is important in Indian Classical Music.
• Alap: This is a slow improvised introduction. It’s free in time and only includes the melody instrument (playing the raga) and the tanpura (playing the drone).
• Gat: Middle section. The tabla enters and there is a clear pulse.
• Jhala: Final section is fast and exciting. The music builds in intensity and the raga and tala parts become more complex and virtuosic.