Indian classical music

Indian Classical Music is one of the many forms of art music that have their roots in particular regional cultures. For other "classical" and art music traditions, see List of classical and art music traditions.

Indian classical music
Concepts

Indian Classical Music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent.[1] It is generally described using terms like Shastriya Sangeet and Marg Sangeet.[2][3] It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as Hindustani and the South Indian expression known as Carnatic.[4] These traditions were not distinct until about the 15th century. During the period of Mughal rule of the Indian subcontinent, the traditions separated and evolved into distinct forms. Hindustani music emphasizes improvisation and exploration of all aspects of a raga, while Carnatic performances tend to be short composition-based.[4] However, the two systems continue to have more common features than differences.[5] Another unique classical music tradition from the eastern part of India is Odissi music, which has evolved over the last two thousand years.

The roots of the classical music of India are found in the Vedic literature of Hinduism and the ancient Natyashastra, the classic Sanskrit text on performing arts by Bharata Muni.[6][7] The 13th century Sanskrit text Sangeeta-Ratnakara of Sarangadeva is regarded as the definitive text by both the Hindustani music and the Carnatic music traditions.[8][9]

Indian classical music has two foundational elements, raga and tala. The raga, based on a varied repertoire of swara (notes including microtones), forms the fabric of a deeply intricate melodic structure, while the tala measures the time cycle.[10] The raga gives an artist a palette to build the melody from sounds, while the tala provides them with a creative framework for rhythmic improvisation using time.[11][12][13] In Indian classical music the space between the notes is often more important than the notes themselves, and it traditionally eschews Western classical concepts such as harmony, counterpoint, chords, or modulation.[14][15][16]

  1. ^ Nettl et al. 1998, pp. 573–574.
  2. ^ "Definition".
  3. ^ "Definition".
  4. ^ a b Sorrell & Narayan 1980, pp. 3–4.
  5. ^ Sorrell & Narayan 1980, pp. 4–5.
  6. ^ Rowell 2015, pp. 9–10, 59–61.
  7. ^ Beck 2012, pp. 107–108, Quote: "The tradition of Indian classical music and dance known as Sangeeta is fundamentally rooted in the sonic and musical dimensions of the Vedas (Sama veda), Upanishads and the Agamas, such that Indian music has been nearly always religious in character".
  8. ^ Rens Bod (2013). A New History of the Humanities: The Search for Principles and Patterns from Antiquity to the Present. Oxford University Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-19-164294-4.
  9. ^ Reginald Massey; Jamila Massey (1996). The Music of India. Abhinav Publications. p. 42. ISBN 978-81-7017-332-8. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  10. ^ Sorrell & Narayan 1980, pp. 1–3.
  11. ^ Nettl 2010.
  12. ^ James B. Robinson (2009). Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 104–106. ISBN 978-1-4381-0641-0.
  13. ^ Vijaya Moorthy (2001). Romance of the Raga. Abhinav Publications. pp. 45–48, 53, 56–58. ISBN 978-81-7017-382-3.
  14. ^ "Austin IFA : Introduction to Carnatic Music". austinifa.org. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Music". Ravi Shankar. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Music (GCSE – Indian music and Gamelan)". trinity.nottingham.sch.uk. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.