Category: Articles

Origin of the Sitar

The Sitar is one of the most versatile and popular instruments in Hindustani music. Over the period of its evolution, it has become a very mature instrument, capable of expressing the raga form completely without any loss of the finest shade of the emotional expression. There are several theories regarding its origin.    The Sitar… Continue reading Origin of the Sitar

Music Edication In a Multicultural Society -An Indian Perspective

India is a country of differing ethnicities, communities, religions and languages, educational levels and different philosophies – a society more multi-cultural than you will find anywhere within one nation-state. Indian philosophy believes in what is known as “Unity in diversity”.  No wonder that the word “immigrant” is unknown in India.   In this paper, I… Continue reading Music Edication In a Multicultural Society -An Indian Perspective

Indian Music – The Present Scenario

SLIDE 1 – INDIAN MUSIC – TODAY SLIDE 2 – STRUCTURE OF THE SPEECH   Introduction Traditional Indian music has very ancient roots. With an organized and structured beginning in the pre-vedic period i.e.. prior to 3000 B.C., the stream of evolution of music had an even flow through the centuries. In the process, it… Continue reading Indian Music – The Present Scenario

History of Indian Music

To be able to understand the intricacies of any musical system, it is essential to understand the people and their civilization as a preliminary exercise.  In other words, it would be useful to have a background of the people and their Civilization whose music we are to study and understand. I would like to refer… Continue reading History of Indian Music

Guru Shishya Parampara 1

INTRODUCTION It is truly said that the level of civilisation that a society has achieved, is closely related to the culture that it has inherited from the past.  Culture sometimes defined as “Sanskar” is not developed like “instant product” that we hear about these days but is evolved over centuries and Indian culture- is a… Continue reading Guru Shishya Parampara 1

Guru Shishya Parampara 2

INTRODUCTION Importance of Education Merit of the System Olden Days Present environment Gharana system OLDEN Sincerity Quality of Gurus Quality of Shishyas Physical facilities Devotion loyalty Need based Restricted movements due to inability to travel – even the  knowledge of existence of Gurus PRESENT SITUATION Urbanisation Instant music Lack of humility Media -Rs 40/- Guru… Continue reading Guru Shishya Parampara 2

Evolution of the Indian Melody

To be able to appreciate the essence of Indian Music it is necessary to understand various aspects of the same apart from its History. It would be appreciated that we should understand : 1. How music was rendered through o few musical notes many years ago 2. How from these notes a scale was invented,… Continue reading Evolution of the Indian Melody

Etawah / Imdadkhani Gharana

No one will dispute that today Sitar is one of the most versatile and popular instruments. Over the period of its evolution, it has become a very mature instrument and is capable of expressing the raga form completely without any lose even of the finest shade of the emotional expression. Various stages through which a… Continue reading Etawah / Imdadkhani Gharana

Element of Improvisation in Indian Music

With the genius of Indian Music having evolved the Raga system, it is useful to discuss how the Indian Musician expresses himself within the framework of a particular Raga through the method of improvisation. We shall attempt to analyse the different aspects of this element of improvisation in Indian Music which would include sections on… Continue reading Element of Improvisation in Indian Music

Classical Music: Market Forces or Patronage?

This paper was presented Pandit Arvind Parikh, at a seminar on this subject hosted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. We are considering the changing socio–economic and technological environment of classical music –Vidvatbhogi Sangeet [music for the elite] — in contrast to popular music — Janatabhogi Sangeet [music for the masses]. Obviously, these classifications… Continue reading Classical Music: Market Forces or Patronage?