What is a Raga?
It is believed that the great sage Bharat invented the musical scale and divided the same into 22 divisions (Shrutis), some time between years 200 B.C. to 500 A.D. i.e., about 1500 years ago. It is also believed that based on this scale, the raga system was conceived somewhere around 500 A.D. i.e. about 1500 years ago. Raga system has been perfected over the years by great musicians and musicologists. It would then useful to understand what a Raga is, and what are its special...
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The Teacher and the Taught
At the outset, I would like to refer to the basic objective or the theme of the Seminar. The heading of the concept note circulated to the participants, defines it as "the problems and methodology of collecting data from traditional musicians". Later the note refers to the work required to be done, for the analysis of musical activity related to the process of teaching and learning, as well as performing and listening. Still later, the note refers to the lack of interaction between...
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The Sitar and its Evolution
INTRODUCTION:
Art is the spark that flies from the contact of the individual soul with the universal soul of nature. Art is Man added to Nature. It is something that reaches the innermost depths of the human being. A human being when he is stirred to the core, expresses himself by no other means but through sound. The sound may be an expression of joy or it may reflect the anguish of deep sorrow. At such highly emotional moments, sound is the only channel for communication of feelings. From...
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The Raga : From the Drop to the Ocean
The raga system is a uniquely ingenuous product of the Indian musical mind. It provides the framework within which the musician can simultaneously perform the roles of composer and performer through the process of improvisation. In this paper, I propose to deal with the basic definition of the raga, the principles of improvisation, and “Bindu Vistar”, a concept that represents the principle underlying our musical tradition, and also the approach to contemporary raga exposition...
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Talim
Significance
The word 'Talim" signifies serious and deeper values as compared to the connotation of the word "Tuition" or "Class room teaching” in the modern sense. Though Talim has undercurrents of the Urdu language, it underscores the spirit and philosophy of music education under the Guru- Shishya Parampara.
It would be self-evident that there is a vast difference between the connotation of the word Talim and a Class - between the Guru and the so called...
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Synopsis – Raag as a Vehicle of Improvisation
RAAG DEFINITION (6 Dimensions)
Selection
Combination
Emphasis
Emotional content
Individual character
Universal acceptance
WHAT IS IMPROVISATION (2 Aspects)
PHYSICAL ASPECT
Treatment of individual note
Formation of musical phrases
Speed (laya)
Emphasise
Development of melodic centres
EMOTIONAL ASPECT
Subjectivity
The element of Raas
Purity of notes
TECHNIQUE OF...
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Scheme for Employment of Musicians
Even established musicians in the field of classical music in India, are finding it extremely difficult to earn a decent living. Whilst top ranking musicians are fairly comfortable through earnings from their concerts, it is the up and coming musician who finds it extremely difficult to devote sufficient time for his own progress as he is completely tied up in giving tuitions to deserving and undeserving students to earn his livelihood. Unless he reaches the top, the number of his...
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Research on Instruments
Traditionally, a majority of Indian musical instruments are hand-made and the art of "making” of instruments is passed on from generation to generation, similar to the process of imparting the knowledge of Indian classical music itself. Whilst there are innumerable merits in this traditional system, it is believed that a research study to support the art of instrument making through scientific methods could be of great advantage.
A seminar on instrument makers (sitar, sarod and...
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Programming and the Audience
INTRODUCTION
The subject Programming and the Audience concerns itself at a fundamental level with the idea of a “concert as a happening”. This idea describes the ideal end product of performed music characterized by a total sharing of the mood of the music between the performer and his audiences. There is a mysterious or magical quality about such an event that defies description.
A happening, by definition, “just happens”. And, therefore logically, making it happen...
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Past and Present
PAST
PRESENT
1
Clarity
Sharper
Mellow, dignified
2.
Tone
Outgoing-lower Pancham
still used
Introspective
Gandhar string introduced
3.
Temperament
Sense of hurry
More relaxed and involved
4.
Maturity
Youthful eagerness
Experienced ease and depth
5.
Creativity
Beginning of search for new vistas (Bhatiali) other light classical forms
Developed a new style ‘Gayaki Ang’ completely interwoven new forms including ‘tappa’ on...
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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 evolved from the Sehtar, an instrument brought by Yemanuddin Abdul Hasan better known as Hazrat Amir Khusro [13th century], from Iran. Seh meaning 3 and...
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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 propose to deal with on the visible and significant cultural differences between different communities living together...
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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 is believed that the present day musical scale was invented in India anywhere between 500 B.C. – 500 A.D. and according to considered opinions of acknowledged...
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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 to the historical background of Indian Music and about the processes through which it has had an even flow over the past 7000 to 8000 years. Let us take a bird's eye view of the...
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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 supreme example of such an evolution.
साहित्यसङ्गीतकलाविहीनः साक्षात्पशुः...
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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 in pocket (cassette)
Quality v/s quantity
...
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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, and
3. From this scale how a raga system was perfected.
VEDIC PERIOD
During this period which dates about 2000 years B.C., the melody was expressed through four notes only. Maybe still...
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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 rag is presented on the Sitar like Alap, Jod, Gat, Toda-s, Tan-s and Jhala leave no stage of development of the raga untreated. It has now become a most mature, self—...
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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 "what improvisation is", "how it is practised" and lastly "its importance and significance".
WHAT IS IMPROVISATION?
In my opinion on we could divide...
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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 represent the extremities of popularity and aesthetic maturity, with many shades in between.
For some years now,...
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Changing Trends in Instrumental Music Over Last 60 Years
INTRODUCTION
Instrumental music has undergone quite a radical change in the last 60 years . The se changes are reflected both in terms of physical and stylistic changes. In fact, these two dimensions i.e., physical and stylistic have influenced each other and the resultant product moulded through several evolutionary process is both refined and mature. In this article we shall endeavour to deal with these two aspects of changes individually, analyse the present situation and consider what...
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Bindu Vistar
The subject of Bindu-Vistar as applied to music requires not only a musical but more of a philosophical approach. As a performing musician, one has to translate the performing techniques through the medium of a relatively difficult and abstract thought process. It is no doubt useful to dwell upon the process and the result of the techniques utilised by a performing musician in relation to the techniques he follows in projecting his musical thoughts through the medium of an instrument or vocal...
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Bandish on the instruments
The bandish, or composition, has been aptly described as the mainstay or the backbone of any classical music performance, be it vocal or instrumental. Though my subject should confine itself to Bandish or gat-compositions on instruments, it is necessary to refer to the importance and practical as well as aesthetic dimensions of the Bandish in general, in the presentation of a raga.
Let us see what are its practical values.
We have heard the great Ustads remark, that once you know the...
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Attributes of Raga
1. The structure of a raga should contain at least five notes. A raga can be categorised as either (a) Audav (b) Shadav (c) Sampurna.
2. Ragas having five or six notes in the Aroha and seven notes or notes other than used in the Aroha in the Avaroha, could still be called Sampurna according to some musicologısts.
3. A structure of two, three or four notes is called a taan - not a raag.
4. As Aroha and Avroha could either have five, six or seven notes thereby having the elements of...
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