Indian Classical

Question 1

What is a raga?

Answer 1

A raga is a scale for Indian music

Question 2

What is tala?

Answer 2

Tala is a rhythmic cycle played by the drummer

Question 3

What is a microtone?

Answer 3

A microtone is an Interval smaller then a semitone

Question 4

What is a tabla?

Answer 4

A tabla is a pair of drums used to play the tala, the tabla sets and controls the tempo. Rhythm patterns can become more complex throughout the piece

Question 5

What is a sitar?

Answer 5

A sitar is a large string instrument which plays the raga and develops the melodic shapes

Question 6

Drone

Answer 6

A sustained note(s)
Created by
-sympathetic strings e.g the sitar
-a bowed string
-a plucked string

Question 7

What is a tanpura?

Answer 7

A tanpura is a long-necked plucked instrument providing a drone

Question 8

What is a bansuri?

Answer 8

A flute type instrument

Question 9

What is a sarangi?

Answer 9

A sarangi is a violin type instrument

Question 10

What is a sarod?

Answer 10

A sarod is similar to a sitar but lower and can provide a continuous drone

Question 11

Pitch bend

Answer 11

Pitch bend is a common feature and is played to give a pitch bend or microtonal effect

Question 12

Call and response

Answer 12

Call and and response is taking it in turns and responding to the ideas given by another player

Question 13

Ornamentation

Answer 13

Decorates the notea

Question 14

Improvisation

Answer 14

Improvisation are ideas that are not prepared and are developed in a performance on a specific raga

Question 15

Tanpura

Answer 15

An instrument that plays the drone

Question 16

What are the different stages of an Indian classical performance?

Answer 16

1) ALAP - opening, no tabla
2) GAT - tabla enters
3) JHALA - fast, exiting and is the final section