Chapter 13 Other Classical Genres

Global

Perspectives: Musical Form

Key Terms

Hindustani stream Karnatak (Carnatic) stream Improvisation

Rag Alap Gat Sitar Sarod Tambura Tabla

Global Perspectives 3

Musical Form Are elaborate musical forms the natural result of an emphasis on instrumental genres?

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Are statement, repetition, contrast, & variation universal building blocks?

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What simple processes are used in non Western musical forms?

India

Roots of Indian classical music are 2000 years old

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Derived from chanting of the Vedas In the 13th century two traditions emerged

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Hindustani music of Muslim & Hindu practitioners in north India

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Carnatic music from the mainly Hindu south Both streams share many features

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Improvisation & rag most important

Indian Classical Music

Centuries old with distinctive genres & practices Relies on professional, trained musicians Formal performances with clear separation between audience & performers High level of difficulty Rigorous training system System of music notation

Melody: The Rag (1)

Hundreds of rags are available Rag similar to a scale, but much more!

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A comprehensive set of guidelines for producing a melody Each rag specifies notes of a scale, and —

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Hierarchy of more & less important notes

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Melodic gestures associated with those notes Ways of ascending & descending the scale Customary patterns of ornamentation Snatches of melody used for improvisation

Melody: The Rag (2)

Rags carry broader implications as well —

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Each expresses particular emotional states Each is associated with a specific time of day or a specific season of the year Indian musicians study for years

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To master the subtleties of technique To learn the “character” of rags The best musicians master dozens of rags

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They can improvise complex, beautiful, appropriate melodies in any one of them

Melody: The Rag (3)

In principle, Indian classical music is monophonic, but…

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Ever-present drone strings accompany melody At times the melody is played simultaneously by two instruments, resulting in heterophony

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There is a complex interaction between melody & drummer

A Hindustani Ensemble

Typical north Indian ensemble includes — An instrument to play the main melody

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Often a sitar, a long necked “lute” with buzzing, resonant strings Often a second melody instrument

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Here a sarod, another long necked “lute” sounding lower, more guitar-like The tambura – a drone instrument

Tabla

– two small, hand-beaten drums

A Performance of Rag Mauj- Khammaj (1)

Musicians start from a tune (pakar)

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Some rag tunes are free Rag Mauj-Khammaj has a fixed melody Around the tune, musicians spin out a long performance in several movements

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Movements differ in style and tempo Though improvised, movements develop according to specific expectations A performance can last a full hour

A Performance of Rag Mauj- Khammaj (2)

Skilled performers are expected to —

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Adhere to characteristic features of the particular rag being performed

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Elaborate the rag in virtuoso fashion Present each movement in a gradual & skillful manner Listen performance features two world renowned musicians

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Ravi Shankar on sitar Ali Akbar Khan on sarod

Rag Mauj-Khammaj (1)

Alap

– 1st movement of a rag performance

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A free, dreamy exploration of the rag’s melodic gestures – the expressive heart of a rag

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No clear meter & no drums Gradual rhythmic quickening, but still no meter

Gat

– a contrasting 2nd movement

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Faster tempo, clear meter Presents fixed melody & variations on it Drums mark the beat & add elaborate rhythmic counterpoint to melody

Rag Mauj-Khammaj (2)

Excerpt 1

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Starts with the alap Quasi-imitative interplay between sitar & sarod Gradually quickening, but with no clear meter Ends with beginning of first gat Gat begins with sitar playing metrical melody

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The basic tune of Mauj-Khammaj

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Sarod & tabla player quickly join in Free improvised variations on the tune follow

Rag Mauj-Khammaj (3)

Excerpt 2

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Begins near the end of the 1st gat Tempo quickens as 2nd gat begins 2nd gat starts with faster version of the basic tune (the same one that began the 1st gat)

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Improvisations especially dazzling & virtuosic at quick tempo –like a development

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Often intoxicating interplay between sitar, sarod, & tabla

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Tempo continues to accelerate through 2nd gat