Music Of India

Vocal Music
India's classical music tradition, includes Carnatic and Hindustani music which have
developed over many centuries.Music of India also includes several types of folk and popular
music. One aspect of vocal music uses melismatic singing with nasal vocal quality, as
compared to the Philippine music which uses melismatic singing only in chanting epics and
the pasyon.

Singing based on a set of pitches was popular even from the Vedic times. The
Samagana style of singing developed into a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries
becoming an established part of contemporary traditions in India. The hymns in Sama Veda, a
sacred text, were sung as Samagana and not chanted. Sama Veda is the third of the four Vedas
of Hinduism but ranks next to Rig Veda (Rigveda) in terms of its sanctity and liturgical
importance.
Rig Veda is also sung in the Samagana traditional singing style. Because of its
liturgical importance, Rigveda is counted as first among the four canonical sacred texts of
Hinduism known as Vedas. Rig Veda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit
hymns. Some of its verses are still recited as Hindu prayers at religious functions and other
occasions.

Characteristics of Traditional Music from India:

1. Carnatic music
o refers to music from South India
o directed to a Hindu god, which is why it is called “temple music”
o unlike Hindustani music, Carnatic music is unified where schools are based
on the same ragas, same solo instruments (veena, flute, violin) and the same
rhythm instrument (mridangam and ghatam)
o music pieces are mainly set for the voice and with lyrics o compositions
called krti are devotional songs

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 1. Hindustani music
o goes back to Vedic period times around 1000 BC
o further developed in the 13th and 14th centuries AD with Persian influences and
from existing religious and folk music
o predominantly found in the northern and central regions
o influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions, historical Vedic religion/Vedic
philosophy, native Indian sounds and enriched by the Persian performance
practices of the Mughal era
o Nasal singing is observed in their vocal music
o in North India, the most common style of singing is called khyal, a word which
means imagination

Classification of Musical Instruments from India:

1. Ghan – described as a non-membranous percussive instrument but with solid resonators. It is

one of the oldest class of instrument in India. It may also be a melodic instrument or
instruments to keep tal.

1. Ghatam - large, narrow-mouthed

earthenware water pot used as a
percussion instrument in India. Unlike
other Indian percussion instruments,
 2. khartal or kartal - is a
percussion instrument of India.
Khartal is an
ancient instrument mainly used in
devotional / folk songs. It has derived
its name from Sanskrit words 'kara'
meaning hand and 'tala' meaning
clapping.

3. Manjira - (also spelled manjīrā

or manjeera), jalra, or gini is a pair of
clash cymbals, originating in
the Indian subcontinent, which make
high-pitched percussion sounds. In its
simplest form, it consists of a pair of
small hand cymbals.

4. Nout(a.k.a. Nuht) - , is a small

pot used in Kashmir as a percussion
instrument. It may be thought of as
a north Indian ghatam.

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2. Avanaddh - described as a membranous percussive instrument. This class of
instruments typically comprise the drums.

1. daf is a large Kurdish and

Persian frame drum used in popular
and classical music. Moreover, is it
also used in religious ceremonies
among
Kurds. The Daf is also considered
as the
national musical instrument of
PakistanSome pictures of
dap have been found in paintings
that date before the Common Era.

2. Dhol is depicted in earliest

ancient Indian sculptural arts
as one of the chief percussion
instruments for ancient
Indian music along with
tabla. Ain-i-Akbari, .

3. Tabla is a membranophone
percussion instrument originating
from the Indian subcontinent, consisting
of a pair of drums, used in traditional,
classical, popular and folk music
................Each is made of hollowed
out wood or clay or brass, the daya
drum laced with hoops, thongs and
wooden dowels on its sides.

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3. Sushir – also known as blown air. It is characterized by the use of air to excite the
various resonators

1. Shank - It is the shell of a large

predatory sea snail, Turbinella
pyrum, found in the Indian Ocean.. In
Hindu mythology, the shankha is a
sacred emblem of the Hindu preserver
god Vishnu. It is still used as a
trumpet in Hindu ritual, and in the
past was used as a
war trumpet

2. Bansuri - is a side
blown flute originating from
the Indian subcontinent. It is an
aerophone produced from
bamboo, used in Hindustani
classical music.
Other names: Baanhi, Baashi,
Bansi, Basari, M...
Classification: woodwind
instrument

3. Shehnai - double-reed
conical oboe of North India. The
shehnai is made of wood, except for a
flaring metal bell attached to the bottom
of the instrument, and measures about
12–20 inches (30–50 cm) in length, with
six to eight keyless finger holes along its
body.

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 4. shruti box (sruti box
or surpeti)- is an instrument,
originating from
the Indian subcontinent, that
traditionally works on a system of
bellows. It is similar to a
harmonium and is used to provide
a drone in a practice session or
concert
of Indian classical music.

4. Tat – referred to as vina during the old civilization. This class of instruments
are plucked (stringed instruments)

1.Sitar (English: /ˈsɪtɑːr/ or /sɪˈtɑːr/;

सितार, Punjabi: ਸਿਤਾਰ, sitāra
pronounced [sɪˈtaːr]) is a plucked stringed
instrument, originating from the Indian
subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical
music. The instrument was invented in
medieval India and flourished in the 16th and
17th
centuries and arrived at its present form in
18th-century India.

2. Gutovadyam also known as

veena (IAST: vīṇā) comprises a
family of chordophone instruments
from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient
musical instruments evolved into many
variations, such as lutes, zithers and
arched harps.

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 3. Ektar or gopi yantra is a very simple
folk instrument mainly played by Baul
singers in Bengal. The single string is
plucked openly with one finger or a
plectrum. The pitch can be lowered
considerably by pressing both halves of the
forked bamboo neck together, thus
reducing the tension of the string.

4. Gopichand like the ektara, is a one-string

instrument used in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
In origin the gopichand and ektara is a regular
string instrument of wandering bards and minstrels
from India and is plucked with one finger. The
gopichand usually has a stretched single string, an
animal skin over a head (made of dried
pumpkin/gourd, wood or coconut) and pole neck or
split bamboo cane neck.

5. Rabab was introduced to the

Indian classical music scene around
the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. It rose to the zenith of fame in
the sixteenth century and remained there
as the most popular
string instrument along with the rudra
veena till the eighteenth century.

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5. Vitat – described as bowed stringed instruments. One of the oldest
classifications of instruments and yet did not occupy a place in classical Indian
music until the last few centuries.

1. Banam – is a class
of folk fiddles
found among the
Santal people of
North East India
and Bangladesh

2. Esraj is an Indian
stringed instrument found in two
forms throughout
the Indian subcontinent.
It is a relatively
recent instrument, being only
about 300 years old. It is found in
North India, primarily Punjab,
where it is used in Sikh music

3. Chikara is a simple spike

fiddle played, similarly to the
sarangi or sarinda, by
sliding fingernails on the strings
rather than pressing them to touch
the fingerboard.[1] It has 3 strings,
two horse hair and one steel,[2] in 3
courses and is tuned C, F, G

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 4. Sarangi is a bowed
stringed instrument with a
skin-covered resonator. The
typical sarangi is made by
hand, usually from a single
block of wood. The four playing
strings on this instrument are
made of goat gut, and the
seventeen sympathetic strings
are made of steel.

Rhythm plays an important role in Indian music. It is fundamental to the creation of

any musical system. Certainly, from a historic stand point, rhythm existed many centuries ago
before the word “rag” was ever used. Given this historical preeminence, it is not surprising
that rhythm occupies an important position in the Indian system of music.

Tala - literally meaning ‘clap;’ variously transliterated as “tal”, “taal” or “taala”

- is a regular, repeating rhythmic phrase, particularly as rendered on a percussive
instrument with an ebb and flow of various intonations represented as a ''theka'' - is
the common Indian system of rhythm

Theka - a sequence of drum-syllables or ''bol'' - in Indian classical music, both

Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music use complex rules to create elaborate
patterns of rhythm

Tabla - most common instrument for keeping rhythm in Hindustani music

Mridangam - most common instrument for keeping rhythm in Carnatic music

- also transliterated as “mridang”

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 Pakistan

Central Asian music encompasses numerous different musical styles originating from
a large number of sources. Though Pakistan is part of South Asia, its western part is
considered as extended Central Asia.

Pakistan is known for its unique vocals. The distinctive Pakistani sound was formed
with multiple influences not only from various parts of South Asia but also includes diverse
elements from Central Asia, Persia, Turkey and the Arab world.
This lesson will show you the traditional instrumental and music vocal of Pakistan.

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VOCAL MUSIC OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan is known for its two vocal styles in singing:
1. Ghazal
o are traditional expressions of love, separation and loneliness; it tells about both the
pain of loss of the lover and the beauty of love in spite of that pain

o its structural requirements are more strict than those of most poetic forms
traditionally written in English

o is considered by many to be one of the principal poetic forms the Persian

civilization can be sung by both for men and women.

2. Qawwali

o the devotional music of the Chishti Order

o a vibrant musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years

o originally performed mainly at Sufi shrines throughout the subcontinent and

gained mainstream popularity

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 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF PAKISTAN
Punjabi music strengthens the importance of musical instruments in Pakistan.

Punjab is a region in South Asia which is divided into West Punjab, Pakistan and East Punjab,
India. Bhangra, one of the most recognized forms of Punjab, is based on the drum rhythm of
dhol.

Significant Instrument of Pakistan

1. Tabla- is a membranophone
percussion instrument originating from
the Indian subcontinent,
consisting of a pair of drums, used in
traditional, classical, popular and folk
music. ... Each is made of
hollowed out wood or clay or brass, the
daya drum laced with hoops, thongs and
wooden dowels on its sides.

2.Dholak - is mainlya
folk instrument, lacking the
exact tuning and playing
techniques of the tabla or the
pakhawaj. The drum is pitched,
depending on size, with an
interval of perhaps a perfect
fourth or perfect fifth between the
two heads. It is related to the
larger dhol and the
smaller dholki.

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 3.Rubab - is one of the national
musical
instruments of Afghanistan. It
proliferated throughout West,
Central, South and Southeast
Asia. It derives its name from
Arabic rebab 'played with a
bow'; in Central Asia,
however, the instrument is
plucked and is different
distinctly in
construction.

4.Harmonium, also called a

"melodeon", "reed organ" or
"pump organ", is a
keyboard instrument that is a
lot like an organ. It makes
sound by blowing air through
reeds, which are tuned to
different pitches to
make musical notes.

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VOCAL MUSIC OF ISRAEL AND ARABIA

A. Israeli Music
Israeli singers have distinctive vocal style. They sing with guttural and throaty
enunciation.

Two Divisions of Jewish Music

1. Devotional
almost entirely vocal
featured during Sabbath and other holy days
the art of Hazan (leader of prayer in synagogue) has always been evident in the culture
shofar is a special call to prayer and repentance; it is sounded on the High Holidays (the
Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement)

2. Secular instruments and voice are

used played during life passage
events
context lies outside the religious domain
very rhythmic and have popular and romantic texts
B. Arabic Music

Arabic Maqam is distinctively unique to Arabian music because of its technique of

improvisation. It is the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arab music. Arabian
rhythmic pattern or cycle is analyzed by means of rhythmic units.
1. Wazn - literally means “measure” performed on the goblet drum, frame drum and
kettle drum only used in musical genres with a fixed rhythmic-temporal organization
including recurring measures, motifs and pulse

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2. Iqa
the rhythmic pattern in Arabian music
reputed to be over 100 iqa, but many of them have fallen out of fashion and are rarely
used in performance
the greatest varieties of iqa (or iqa’at as pronounced) range from two to 48 beats are used in
the muwashahat (an Andalusian musical form) where every syllable of the lyric must fall
on a beat.
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INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF ISRAEL

The lute such as the Philippine bandurria and Laud traces its origins from the Middle Eastern Oud
and Indian sitar. Goblet drum, darbuk, the tambourine and other instruments associated with Middle
Eastern music are used as accompaniment. One of the dances where accompaniment is used is Hora, a
dance that often has strong off beats and asymmetric meters.

SIGNIFICANT INSTRUMENTS OF ISRAEL

1.Jewish Lyre- ancient Hebrew lyre,

the musical instrument of King David.
According to the
Roman Jewish historian Josephus (1st
century ad), it resembled the Greek
kithara (i.e., having broad arms of a piece
with the boxlike neck), and kinnor was
translated as “kithara” in both the Greek
Old Testament and the Latin Bible.

2. Psalterion Harp - Psaltery,

(from Greek psaltērion: “harp”),
musical instrument having plucked
strings of gut, horsehair, or metal
stretched across a flat
soundboard, often trapezoidal but
also rectangular, triangular, or
wing-shaped. The strings are
open, none being stopped to
produce

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OTHER SIGNIFICANT INSTRUMENTS OF ARAB COUNTRIES

1.Goblet o darbuka (also

called a doumbek, tablah, or
goblet drum) is an hour-glass-
shaped drum popular throughout
the Middle East.
The drum head or skin is
stretched tight with rope or
leather thongs or even nails.

2. Toft (Bendir) o The term

Bendir means in Turkish
language a big hand frame
drum, which is known as Duff
in Arabic language. o The
drum is played kept vertical
by inserting the thumb of the
left hand in a special holes in
the

OTHER SIGNIFICANT MIDDLE EASTERN INSTRUMENTS

1. Oud (Arabic: ‫ود‬V‫ ع‬ʿūd [ʕuːd]) is a

short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped
stringed instrument (a chordophone
in the Hornbostel-Sachs
classification of instruments),
usually with 11 strings grouped in 6
courses, but some models have 5 or 7
courses, with 10 or 13 strings
respectively.

2. Darbuka drums appear to be a

more modern variation of
the doumbek. Still goblet-shaped, a
darbuka drum is smaller than
a doumbek (9-16 inches tall) and is
almost always made from metals like
copper or aluminum.
However, darbuka drums have a
drum head that is easier to access than
a doumbek.Dec 31, 2014
M
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