|
Classical Indian music is a studied art. Until about 1900,
it was passed down from teacher to pupil and was not usually
heard much outside the temple or the royal court. But during
the 1900's, it has reached a wide audience both within and
outside India. Northern India's music has been much influenced
by the musical tradition of Iran and other neighbouring countries.
Classical music in India belongs to either of the two main,
traditional styles. One is Hindustani music, which
developed in northern India and is much influenced by forms
from Persia, Arabia, and central Asia. The other is Karnatak
music, which developed as part of the Dravidian culture of
southern India
Both these styles make use of the raga or rag, which
is one of many different musical scales that form the melodic
framework upon which a piece of music is based. They also
use the tala or tal, which is the rhythmical cycle
or recurring pattern of musical beats that the piece uses.
Each raga is appropriate to a particular mood or time of day.
Both Hindustani and Karnatak music also use performing groups.
Some groups have a solo vocalist who is either a singer or
a reciter. In other groups, the soloist plays an instrument.
The soloist is accompanied by a drummer, who provides rhythmic
support. Another member of the group plays a tamboura to provide
a drone, a long-held, unchanging chord, around which the music
is woven. The vocalist or instrumentalist performs the melody.
In most cases, the melody is improvised (made up on the spot)
within the restrictions of the raga. If the melody is performed
by a vocalist, there is usually an additional melody provided
by the instrumentalist. Indian musicians provide accompaniment
for dances as well as performing alone.
 
Musical instruments.
The chief, melody instrument in Hindustani music is the sitar.
It is a fretted, stringed instrument that is plucked with
the fingers. Another well-known stringed instrument used for
melodies is the sarangi. This instrument is played
with a bow. In modern Indian music, musicians also use the
Western violin or the harmonium or organ to
provide the melody. The unfretted strings of a tamboura
may provide a drone that lasts throughout the performance
and around which the melody is improvised. The rhythm is usually
provided by drums, to which cymbals, and bells can be added.
The best-known rhythm instrument is the tabla, a pair
of drums consisting of right-hand drum and left-hand drum
The tabla is played with the fingers. The chief wind instrument
is the shahnai. This is a reed instrument similar to
an oboe. The most important instruments of Karnatak music
are the flute, the violin, and the vina, which
is a sitar-like instrument played alone.
Music Travel Reservation Form
|
|
