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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More