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Indian Classical Music - Typical Questions and Answers

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Daniyal Mehmood
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139 views7 pages

Indian Classical Music - Typical Questions and Answers

Uploaded by

Daniyal Mehmood
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Areas of Study 3 – Rhythms of

the World
Indian Classical
REVISION NOTES and TYPICAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Sitar

Tabla
Tambura

Bansuri Flute
(Indian Flute)
Melody
What are the two most common melodic instruments?
• Sitar
– a plucked string instrument used in Indian Classical music responsible for playing the melody
• Bansuri Flute
– a wooden flute made traditionally from Bamboo, is responsible for playing the melody

Describe the melody/melodic devices?


• Raga
– The name given to both the main melody and different scales used in Indian Classical music
• Improvisation
– Indian Classical melodies are often improvised using the notes of the scale
• Ornamentation – Decoration of the melody
– Pitch Bend – notes can be bent on the Sitar and Bansuri flute
– Slide (Glissando) – sliding between two notes usually achieved on the Sitar (string
instrument).
Rhythm
What instrument is responsible for playing the rhythmic
pattern in Indian Classical Music?
• Tabla
– the pair of drums that are used in Indian Classical Music

Describe the rhythm/rhythmic devices.


• Tala
– The main drum rhythm used in Indian Classical Music.
• Cyclical
– The music has a cyclical rhythm
Harmony
What is the instrument responsible for playing
the accompanying harmonic device?
• Tambura
– This instrument plays the Drone (the humming,
long lasting sound in the background)
Describe the Harmonic device accompanying
the melody?
• Drone
Texture
Describe the texture of this piece?
• Melody and Accompaniment
– A melody line accompanied by other instruments
e.g. a singer backed by a band
• Monophonic
– One single line of music being performed (one
instrument)
Structure
• The Alap
– The first section in an Indian Classical piece of music. The sitar and
Tambura only. The sitar improvises and plays freely. No Tabla.
• The Jhor
– The second section in an Indian Classical piece of music. Still no Tabla,
the music speeds up.
• The Jhala
– The third section in an Indian Classical piece of music. Still no Tabla,
the music becomes a lot faster.
• The Gat
– The fourth section in an Indian Classical piece of music.
– The only section in which the Tabla plays, with all three instruments
now playing.

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