MUSIC OF INDIA

BASIC FACTS:South Asia2nd most populous country in worldBirthplace of 4 major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism)Official languages: Hindi, English and 21 other languagesWas British colony until independence in 1947Over 5,000 years of recorded historyLargest film industry in the world; great source of popular music

Indian MusicCarnatic vs. Hindustani classical traditions(music and dance)

Raga and Tala

Improvisation and Composition

Indian InstrumentsSITARSARODTAMBURA

Indian InstrumentsMRIDANGAMTABLA

Sound SampleCD 2/20 Engal Kalyanam (Our wedding)1969, from Tamil filmCD 2/21 Devi Niye TunaiClassical song (kriti) by 20th cent. Composer (singer, mridangam, in Tamil)Medium and fast gats (sitar, tabla)Ghazal, by Zasar (vocal, tabla) (poetic form, light classical music

Indian Classical Ensemble

RAGASeries of pitchesRules for ornamentationRules for ascendingRules for descendingAssociated with mood, time of day andNorth India 200 ragasSouth India 72 main, several secondary

Raga Basant

TALAFixed metrical cycle consisting of shorter units, often of unequal lengthBasis for improvisation for soloist and drummerAudience participates by counting time with hands

Ata TalaAta tala 5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14 beats

2 3 4 5 /6 7 8 9 10/11 12 /13 14//Clap * * * * Clap * * * * Clap Wave Clap Wave

Tintal: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16Clap 234/ clap 234 /wave234 /clap234

Sound example: Medium and fast gats in raga Yaman and tintal EXC CD 1/1

The KritiMost well known form of Carnatic musicOriginally vocal with religious textsModern kriti repertoire composed in 18th-19th cents.Saint Tyagaraja (1757-1847)

Kriti StructureAlapana (improvised opening, introduces the raga)3 sections (no breaks):Pallavi: opening section and refrainAnupallavi: introduces secondary theme, moves towards climaxCaranam: final section (may be relaxed or may be virtuosic restatement of previous material)

Banturiti by TyagarajaVoice, violin, mridingamRaga: Hamsanadam (c e f# g b)Adi Tala (4 + 2 + 2) Clap 2 3 4 / clap wave /clap wave

Devi Niye Tunai by Papanasam Sivan (20th cent.)Voice, mridangamRaga: KeervaniTala: Adi Tala (4 + 2 + 2)To the goddess Devi (with the fish-shaped/always open eyes)

SarasiruhaPallavi: O Mother who loves the lotus seat,Anupallavi: Save me who have taken refuge in you!Charanam: Complete Being, who holds a book in her hand which bestows all dominion.

Sarasiruha by Pulaiyar Doraismy (19th cent.)Instrumental but based on song with wordsVina, mridangamRaga Natai: ancient raga associated with god Shiva in form of Lord of the DanceAdi TalaAlapana/Tanam//Pallavi/Anupallavi/ Caranam