Indian Classical Music Flashcards
What is a Raga?
A set of notes that are combined to create a particular mood.
What is Indian Classical Music based on?
Ragas
Are Ragas tempered?
No. There isn’t an equal distance between consecutive notes.
When are Ragas performed?
At a particular time of day or during a particular season?
What are the three traditional instruments in Indian Classical music?
The sitar, tambura and tabla
What is a sitar?
A large, long necked string instrument with seven strings. Two of these seven strings are used to create drone notes.
What are sympathetic strings?
Strings underneath the main strings of a sitar. They vibrate when the main strings are played and create a thick, shimmery sound.
What is a tambura?
It has a similar shape to a sitar. It usually has four metal strings. It is used as a backing instrument.
What is a tabla?
A pair of drums. The smaller, right hand drum is called the tabla. The larger, lower sounding drum is called the bayan.
What is the sitar’s purpose?
To play the melody. This is usually improvised.
What is the tabla’s purpose?
To play the rhythm.
What is a tala?
The rhythm that is played by the tabla.
What is the first beat of the tala called?
The sam
What is a vibhag?
A bar
What is a vibhag khali?
The vibhag in the tala that has a different sound from the others.
