Indian Classical

Question 1

What are the two main building blocks in Indian Classical?

Answer 1

Ragas and Talas

Question 2

What are ragas?

Answer 2

The scales that tell the musicians which notes to play

Question 3

What do different ragas represent?

Answer 3

Different time of day or different season

Question 4

How are ragas passed on?

Answer 4

Aural tradition (by ear)

Question 5

Is there a lot of improvisation in Indian Classical?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

What are talas?

Answer 6

The rhythm cycles

Question 7

What is the first beat of the tala called?

Answer 7

Sam

Question 8

What is the tala divided into?

Answer 8

Vibhags (a bit like bars in western music)

Question 9

Name instrument used in Indian Classical music?

Answer 9

Sitar - Melodic instrument, has around 24 strings, player plucks 5, 2 are drones and the rest are sympathetic strings. Sympathetic strings vibrate as they are connected to the other strings, creating a shimmer effect. Pitch bends are called ‘meend’
Tanpura - Not melodic, only has 4 strings, they all play drones
Tabla - Small pair of hand drums, bigger drum is ‘baya’, smaller drum is ‘dayan’. The tabla decorates the tala. Can produce many different sounds
Harmonium - can play melody as well as drones
Bansuri - a bamboo flute
Singers - perform carnatic singing

Question 10

Famous Artists?

Answer 10

Pandit Ravi Shankar