North Indian Classical Music

By Anna JagerhornMay 4, 2012

Background

Music has always been an important part of the Indian culture - Its origin can be traced back almost 2,000 years. Indian classical music was invented in the old Hindu temples.

A medium for expressing religion, belief, and values

A gift - There had been a lot of violence, betrayal, and animosity all over the country during the transitional periods. It is said that the gods were deeply worried about these behavioral patterns. In order to change the evil ways of humanity, the supreme creator delivered the gift of music.

A variety of music - Due to the presence of several ethnic groups and castes, a variety of music has been produced. Social interactions and foreign invasions did also contribute to this musical diversity.

Background

Indian music is classified into three categories:- Traditional or folk music - Popular music-Classical music

Classical music can also be divided into two separate groups: - Hindustani (northern India) - Carnatic (southern India)

Background

Indian Instruments There are many different instruments contributing to the Indian Classical music. They can be divided into six categories:

Non-Membranous Percussive (Ghan)

Blown Air (Sushir)

Plucked Stringed Instruments (Tat)

Bowed-Stringed Instruments (Vitat)

Membranous Percussive (Avanaddh)

Electronic

Indian Instruments

The Sitar is a chordophone, and a member of the Plucked Stringed Instruments. 17 strings; 3 or 4 of them are playing strings, and 3 or 4 are drone strings. Very unique sound - not similar to our Western stringed instruments.

Tabla is part of the Membranous Percussive group (and is therefore a membranophone). Compromise the drums. One smaller and one bigger drum (Dayan and Bayan). Evolved about 300 years ago

Most famous are the Sitar and Tabla.

Indian Instruments

Indian harmonium is a combination of an aerophone and a chordophone. The leader of an ensemble usually plays the melody and the drone with this instrument. Looks like a small piano but has bellows, which make it look a little bit like an accordion.

Bansuri is one of the most common Indian flutes, and it is of course an aerophone. Made of bamboo or reed Usually six holes. However, recently one hole has been added in order to increase flexibility and correctness of pitch in higher registers.

Musical Elements - Form and texture

A monophonic texture can be found in most songs, because of the single unaccompanied line.

There are three layers of texture in Indian classical music: rhythm, melody, and drone.

Musical Elements - Rhythm

The Tala could be seen as a representation of the concept reincarnation, a typical principle in Hinduism, where they believe that life goes on forever. “A man is born, he enters puberty, adulthood, dies, and is born

again.” The tala begins, develops, and then returns to the first beat again.

The rhythm in Indian music is called tala.

It can be performed in free time or in metered time.

Usually isorhythm, and asymmetrical

Musical Elements - Melody and harmony

The melody is accompanied by a drone and rhythmic instruments. The drone provides the harmony. The music (and the melody) is based upon a variety of different scales, called ragas, and on notes known as sa, re, ga, ma pa, dha, and ni. 

A raga is not only a scale; it is a set of rules and principles. It does include intonation, ornamentation, emotional expression, purpose and time of day, as well as the collection of notes.

Each raga has its own characteristics (modes, notes, structure, and ornaments), and it is orally passed down from generation to generation.

The melody is either played by a bamboo flute or violin, or sung by voice.

Musical Elements - Melody and harmony

Dance

There are mainly six Indian dance styles that have been labeled as classical:

Bharat NatyamKathakKuchipudiKathakaliManipuriOdissi 

Only two of them are from northern India - Kathak and Manipuri.Kathak is the major one. Kathak = “to tell a story.” The emphasis is now on rhythm and movement. The harmonium, tabla, and sitar are all used to accompany the dance. Kathak is performed with “beautiful expressions on the face, fast footsteps and also the fast body spinning

Kathak, classical Indian dance

The roots of Indian classical music are religiousMusic was meant to create an understanding of the “true universe”Mental and spiritual well-being Fellowship and intercourse Entertainment Education and cultural heritage

Purpose of the music

Most famous festivals: the Tansen Music Festival, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, and the Dover Lane Music Festival

Held once a year Music-lovers from all over the country

The ITC Sangeet Sammelan is one of the most known and prestigious events of Indian classical music Started in Delhi 1971 Purpose is to preserve and encourage Indian classical music Awards

Social ceremonies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdxhgOM18jg

Vocals

Here is an example of a classical hindustani song

 Most common form of singing is called khyal = imagination

Free, flexible form with room for improvising

A khyal song is called a bandish

Sthayi (or asthayi) and the antara are the two subcategories of bandish, and these represents notes from lower respective higher octaves. Khyal replaced the earlier version of vocals called dhrupad =”fixed words”

David Courtney and his wife, Chandra, are a husband-wife team involved in Indian

Music.

Here is one of the many music videos they have created together. This one won the "gold" prize at the "Worldfest; International Film Festival" held in Houston Texas in the World Music Video competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lsEtLbcGQ4&feature=player_embedded#!

 Tell me about your life in music.  I became interested in Indian music when I was in High School. Wait, I think it was as early as in 1968, when George Harrison of the Beatles began to learn sitar. An interest was born. I surrounded myself with Indian friends who inspired me. I began my formal education when I was about 20.  When I was 22, I moved to India and began to study the tabla there. Today I teach, perform, write, and record.

What was your earliest experience with North Indian classical music?It was through the recordings of Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Bismillah Khan that I became exposed to Indian classical music.

Who had the most important influences on your music? One person in particular had an influence on me. His name was Jayant Kirtane. The zeitgeist of the 1960s was characterized by the rejection of materialism, suspicion of the status quo, and a basic attitude of rebelliousness. Jayant was an absolute embodiment of these qualities and I was able to relate to all of these characteristics. One of his qualities that affected me deeply was his passion for North Indian classical music. However, I would say that Ravi Shankar has been a role model too. I have always been amazed by his music. You see, I grew up in a totally non-musical family and had to find influential sources outside my inner circle. In 1971, K. S. Kalsi began to teach me Indian music through practical training. He was a great teacher, and I will always be grateful for what he taught me.

Interview with David Courtney

What instruments do you play?

My main focus is on Tabla, but I know how to play Dholak, Dilruba, Pakhawaj, Esraj, Santur, Sarangi, and piano.

 How did you learn to play the different instruments?Initially I learned tabla under an amateur musician here in Houston.  Then I moved to California to the Ali Akbar College of Music and learned tabla and Pakhawaj under Zakir Hussain.  Then I moved to India and learned tabla under the late Shaik Dawood Khan.  Over the years I was fortunate to receive training in dilruba under Sayeed ur-Rahman, santur under the late Hasaan Mohammad, and sarangi under Aslam Khan.

What are the desirable qualities in a tabla player?There are several qualities. Let us presume that the basic training is there and that the basic musical senses (i.e., sense of rhythm, sense of pitch, etc.) are developed. From there I can say that I believe a good tabla player is one who sees the music in the same way as the person that he is accompanying. That is that he (or she) has to sense when to be aggressive and when to be supportive. The tabla player should also know how to make the tempo breath, that is to say how to contract and expand the beats in order to put the life into the music. Finally I think that one should be sensitive to the audience without pandering to the more basic tastes which may be present.

What do you think is the most important aspect of Indian classical music?I do not think I could come up with any one quality and say that it is the most important, but if I had to I would say that it would be the melodic form known as the "Rag"

Interview continued…

Are there any political (social, religious, ceremonial etc.) ramifications to this type of music?Yes.  Although an inordinately large number of north Indian classical musicians are Muslim, mainstream Hindu religious thought gives a very high priority to music.  From a social standpoint, classical music is considered to be a mark of the upper socio-economic classes, and from a political standpoint, traditional Indian music and dance has always had an important position in defining Indian self identity.

What is the most important to keep in mind when playing Indian music?Stay grounded, stay calm, and stay centered!

What is the most common theme in the songs?It depends upon the genre.  But if we are talking about classical songs, it would be romantic lyrics of a woman expressing her love and longing toward a man.  But invariably it is written in such a way that it is a metaphor for a person's longing to be with God.

Last question, what does your job include? As I said before, I teach, perform, write, and record. I have students of all ages. Some are as young as six years old, and the oldest are around sixty. I would say that it is good to start when you are young, as it is with everything, but it is never too late. I have written several books too.

Interview continued…

The Future“Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future” – Steve Jobs

So, what does the future hold? David Courtney says:

“It [the music ]has changed a lot [lately].  However the specifics vary with the genre.  In general there has been a downplaying in the importance of audience interaction but an increased importance paid to technique, and production value.[However] I believe that the tabla is here to stay. I do not know in what capacity though. Presently it is marginalized within the musical environment of the West. That isn't at all bad. I certainly can imagine the tabla existing in its present form for many years to come. There is also a healthy number of session drummers with a capacity to play some tabla. The large Indian population also means that there is going to be a permanent place for musicians who cater specifically to the "deshi" musical market. But if you ask me if there is going to be a larger penetration into the mainstream musical world, I have to say that I truly do not know. It is possible, but I don’t want to guess.”

Relaxing effect

Very dissimilar to Western music

Cultural understanding = easier to appreciate the music

Indian music opens a door to a world I did not know

Personal Assessment

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