MUSIC OF INDIA

BASIC FACTS:
South Asia
2nd most populous country in world
Birthplace of 4 major religions (Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism)
Official languages: Hindi, English and 21 other
languages
Was British colony until independence in 1947
Over 5,000 years of recorded history
Largest film industry in the world; great source
of popular music

Indian Music
Carnatic vs. Hindustani classical traditions
(music and dance)
Raga and Tala
Improvisation and Composition

Indian Instruments
SITAR

SAROD

TAMBURA

Indian Instruments

TABLA

MRIDANGAM

Sound Sample
CD 2/20 Engal Kalyanam (Our wedding)
1969, from Tamil film

CD 2/21 Devi Niye Tunai

Classical 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

RAGA

Series of pitches
Rules for ornamentation
Rules for ascending
Rules for descending
Associated with mood, time of day and
North India 200 ragas
South India 72 main, several secondary

Raga Basant

TALA
Fixed metrical cycle consisting of shorter
units, often of unequal length
Basis for improvisation for soloist and
drummer
Audience participates by counting time
with hands

Ata Tala
Ata tala 5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14 beats
1

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

Clap *

Clap *

* Clap Wave Clap Wave

Tintal: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16
Clap 234/ clap 234 /wave234 /clap234
Sound example: Medium and fast gats in raga
Yaman and tintal EXC CD 1/1

The Kriti
Most well known form of Carnatic music
Originally vocal with religious texts
Modern kriti repertoire composed in 18th-19th
cents.

Saint Tyagaraja (1757-1847)

Kriti Structure
Alapana (improvised opening, introduces
the raga)
3 sections (no breaks):
Pallavi: opening section and refrain
Anupallavi: introduces secondary theme,
moves towards climax
Caranam: final section (may be relaxed or
may be virtuosic restatement of previous
material)

Banturiti by Tyagaraja
Voice, violin, mridingam
Raga: 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, mridangam
Raga: Keervani
Tala: Adi Tala (4 + 2 + 2)
To the goddess Devi (with the fishshaped/always open eyes)

Sarasiruha
Pallavi: 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
words
Vina, mridangam
Raga Natai: ancient raga associated with
god Shiva in form of Lord of the Dance
Adi Tala
Alapana/Tanam//Pallavi/Anupallavi/
Caranam