Explore India: Life and Culture

Northern and Southern Classical Music Traditions

the Raga

• Both Northern and Southern Indian music is based on the Raga.

• The ragas are “variety of scales and their characteristic patterns.”(Nettle et al. 1997)

• Ragas contain as many as 22 steps in an octave. Western music contains 12 steps in an octave.

A piano has one key for each musical step:

a pattern of 12.

•Ragas contain as many as 22 steps in an octave. Western music contains 12 steps in an octave.

A piano has one key for each musical step:

a pattern of 12.

•Ragas contain as many as 22 steps in an octave. Western music contains 12 steps in an octave.

A raga consists of these steps (or notes) and steps that are in between them.

The ragas have more notes which enable the both Northern and Southern Indian musical

performances to be much more ornate than Western music.

Western Indian

The ragas have more notes which enable the both Northern and Southern Indian musical

performances to be much more ornate than Western music.

Northern Classical Music

• The Northern Indian music is referred to as Hindustani.

• The melodies are fixed and repeat through the music.

• The music is centered around the instruments.

Northern Classical Music

• The Northern Indian music is referred to as Hindustani.

• The melodies are fixed and repeat through the music.

• The music is centered around the instruments.

Northern Classical Music

• The Northern Indian music is referred to as Hindustani.

• The melodies are fixed and repeat through the music.

• The music is centered around the instruments.

Southern Classical Music

• The Southern music is referred to as Karnatak.

• The music is focused on demonstrating the singer’s virtuoso.

• The few instruments follow the melodies of the singer.

Southern Classical Music

• The Southern music is referred to as Karnatak.

• The music is focused on demonstrating the singer’s virtuoso.

• The few instruments follow the melodies of the singer.

Southern Classical Music

• The Southern music is referred to as Karnatak.

• The music is focused on demonstrating the singer’s virtuoso.

• The few instruments follow the melodies of the singer.

The sitar is the most widely recognized Indian instrument. Though a female

player is pictured here, it is rare.

Ravi Shankara famous Indian sitar player

Indian children learn to play instruments from the time they are very

young.