Non-Western Tradition

Indian Classical Music (from Kamien, 9th Edition)

Characteristics of Non-Western Music

Music of non-Western traditions is too varied to be generalised. There are common features to most traditions music is usually closely linked with religion, dance and drama; accompanies activities in everyday living (ceremonies marking important phases in life religious rites [birth/death], celebrations, etc). Oral tradition, not notated traditionally. Improvisation highly disciplined art from years of training.

Characteristics

Improvisation: - Indian/Islamic musicians create music within framework of melody types associated with specific mood/set of tones/phrases. Repertoire of traditional songs or instrumental pieces. Singing (Vocal) & Instrumental are the fundamental important form of expression in music of all traditions. Scholars grouped non-Western instruments into four categories (Chordophones, Aerophones, Membranophones, Idiophones see Kamien p578, 9th edition) Elements Melody, Texture and Rhythm.

Classical Music of India

One of the oldest traditions in the world. Two distinctive strands of traditions: - Hindustani Music (North India) performed in princely courts. Influences - Persian & Muslim. - Karnatak Music (South India) performed in temples. British colony in 19th C, N.I. performed mainly for elite audience. Became public after independence in 1947. Improvisation guided by complex melodic and rhythmic systems that govern choice of tones, ornaments and rhythms (few minutes to hours).

Elements of Indian Classical Music

Based on human voice, pitch range < 4 octaves. Instrumentalists imitate vocal style. 18th C composed songs are used as springboard for improvisation. Highly embellished melodic lines with microtonal ornaments and tiny pitch fluctuations around notes. Slides of pitch make graceful transitions from one note to another. Drone on tonic/dominant (or sub-dominant) throughout.

PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS

Mridangam

The Indian Musical Instrument Mridangam is one of the most popular classical instruments of South India. Mridangam accompanies vocal, instrumental and dance performances.

Tabla

Tabla is the most popular pair of drums in the Indian Sub- continent. Tabla is a pair of drums which consists of a small right hand drum called Dayan and a larger metal one called bayan.

WIND INSTRUMENTS

Bansuri

Bansuri is basically a folk instrument, invariably linked to the lives and playfulnesses of Krishna. However, it was during the Bhakti movement that Bansuri raised to prominence. Harmonium usually belongs to the family of free-reed aerophones. The instrument is a small, tabletop size organ which has bellows at the back that is pumped by one hand while the other hand plays the keyboard. Shehnai the wind instrument is believed to have been introduced in India by the Muslims. Shehnai is the predominant double-reed wind instrument used in North Indian music.

Harmonium

Shehnai

STRING INSTRUMENTS

Sarangi has a hollow body and made of teak wood adorned with ivory Sarangi inlays. It consisits of forty strings of which thirty seven are sympathetic.

Sarod

Sarod is a popular Indian classical musical instrument which is similar to the Western lute in structure. Among the followers and connoisseurs of Hindustani classical music Sarod is one of the most important musical instruments.

STRING INSTRUMENTS

Sitar

Sitar is one of the most popular Indian classical instruments and it comes under the category of a chordophone in the lute family. Sitar has neck crafted from toon or teakwood and a resonator carved from a large seasoned gourd.

Tanpura in India is a drone instrument Tanpura that accompanies Dhrupad singing and Tambura is the most fundamental of all instruments of Indian Classical Music. Veena the traditional instrument of India is also known as Saraswati Veena which is a musical instrument of South India. Veena is a classical instrument basically plucked stringed instrument that is used to accompany Carnatic music.

Veena