Indian Classical Music – (AoS 2 – Shared Music)

Raga – This is the name of the style of Indian Classical Music It’s ALSO the name of the set of notes (scale?) used to make up the Raga music. Each Raga is only performed at a particular time of day. They often have an emotion attached to that part of the day. “Raga School” is called a Gharana They are all from SOUTHERN area of INDIA The tradition is KARNATI

Tha Basic of Indian classical music Ragas – Takes you through the basics of Raga music – do listen to it closely. As he talks to start with you can hear the Sitar drone. He plays a few notes as well while he’s taking.

Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar – This is a sort of Western instrument and Sitar (Indian) version showing a Raga scale. It is NOT an actual Raga. Sitar starts at 6 seconds 26 seconds the raga scale starts properly. You will hear it it in a sort of free time – that which does not fit the time signature. It would normally sound even more free without time signature and be on its own.

Instruments – (Sitar is demonstrated above – look at the clip!) Sitar – Large, long necked string instrument. Plays tune and a drone (notes that sound continuously). Sympathetic string ring on when the tune string are played to give the drone effect. The frets on a sitar can be adjusted to tune to the notes of that particular raga scale. Players also bend the notes just like on a guitar. The glissando (sliding from note to note) is called MIND.

Tambura – 4 stringed instrument. Plays the accompaniment. If you can’t hear it, it’s still there. The Tambura – really only a drone – goes on and on. There can be a few tune notes as well sometimes. Tambura example 2 – this has some “tune-like” parts to it. Remember this is NOT the main instrument. It sort of copies and follows the sitar.

Tabla – Pair of drums Tabla Drum example – ok the language spoken is not English (to start with!), but you can clearly see the table being played and see it. 1 wooden and smaller – 1 metal and larger. Wooden is called the Tabla Metal is called the Bayan.

Other instruments. Bansuri – Indian Flute Bansuri example - you can see/ hear the flute here together with the Sitar and Tabla (eventually) Harmonium - Kind of small portable keyboard with bellows like a small organ, but no pipes. Harmonium example - but not within and Indian Music setting Harmonium example 2 – now with an Indian demonstration. At least you will recognise it if it played to you in Indian Classical Music. This is the ONLY music you study at GCSE with a Harmonium in it. (Tango has an accordion called Bandoneon)

Melody – Improvised (made up on the spot) melody on the Sitar. The sitar player chooses the Raga scale and everyone else has to stick to it. There is a set of notes going up and a set coming down. The speed can change. Each note has a name. Tabla Drum – Plays the rhythm. The rhythm is called a Tala The first and last beats are called a Sam. Each finger position or hand position changes the sound on each drum. There are many, many different drum sounds. Players are very skilled. Often audience or dancers join in with waves of the hands along to the tala rhythm of the tabla.

Harmony on Tambura – Tambura plays the harmony. It is repetitive. See the really repetitive example above. Often plays simple rhythmic pattern on sometime just 2 notes. The Tambura and Sitar often get improvised ideas off each other in the music.

Sections – what you are listening for – There are 4 sections.

Alap Section – Just Sitar and Tambura NO TABLA DRUMS Sitar introduces Raga scale notes. No beat. No pulse. Just flows (seemingly randomly, but isn’t random)

Jhor Section – A bit faster. Steady beat. More rhythmic. Still no tabla drums. Still improvised

Jhala Section – Loads faster. Much more exciting STILL no tabla. Still Improvised.

Gat or Bandish Section – Has Tabla drums at last. This is pre-composed, not improvised. Gat = only instruments Bandish = has a singer. Every player passed ideas around the group in a pre-arranged pattern.

A whole Raga for you! Starts with a slow improvised section – Must be the Alap 0.40 gets a little more rhythm – Jhor At about 2.25 starts to get a little more rhythmic and faster Still not Table Drums – Jhala 3.00 table drums join in (no singer) music be – Gat. There is not rhythm.

If you listen to it all (well done) you will hear the sections run into each other, there are no pauses. Loads of improvisation without time signature. The only one which really sound with a beat are the last 2 sections and especially the Gat.

Another Raga - See if you can analyse this one. Identify the sections.