Indian Classical Music - Raga

Question 1

What is this based on?

Answer 1

Ragas and Talas

Question 2

Give the definitions of a:

a) Raga
b) Tala

Answer 2

a) A scale usually with between 5 and 8 notes. Hundreds of them, each representing a different season/ mood/ time.
b) A pattern of beats setting the rhythm for a piece. There are hundreds.

Question 3

How are raga scales different to western scales?

Answer 3

Raga scales include microtones (intervals between notes, smaller than a semitone). They often include notes unheard of in Western music.

Question 4

Complete the sentence:

The word ____ is a general term for performances combining ____ and ____

Answer 4

Raga
Raga (I know, ugh)
Tala

Question 5

What is a school of raga and tala players known as in Northern India?

Answer 5

A gharana, which is run by a teacher or master with their own traditions & theories on how to play

Question 6

What is the traditional Carnatic kriti?

Answer 6

Words in praise of a particular Hindu deity set to a raga

Question 7

Give the differences between a sitar and a tambura

Answer 7

A sitar is a long-necked instrument, normally with 7 strings (5 for the melody, 2 drone notes) with adjustable frets
A tambura is of a similar shape, but much smaller. Normally with 4 metal strings but can have up to 6.
The sitar plays melodies more often, but the tambura plays the backing more

Question 8

Name some other instruments in Indian Classical music

Answer 8

STRING Surbahar - a bass sitar
STRING Sarod - a fretless mini sitar
STRING Sarangi - fretless and played with a bow
WIND Bansuri - bamboo flute
WIND Shehnai - with a double reed like an oboe
Harmonium - keyboard powered with air in hand bellows

Question 9

How is the melody played on the sitar?

Answer 9

It is improvised. They work around the tambura part

Question 10

Choose the correct word:
The tambura creates the...
a) rhythm
b) key
c) harmony
d) beat

Answer 10

c) harmony

also, it is often described as a drone, which is quite repetitive as the tambura player usually only plays a simple rhythmic pattern from 2 notes of the raga

Question 11

The combination of what makes the raga harmony?

Answer 11

The sitar and the tambura

Question 12

Give the order of these sections from a traditional raga:

a) The Gat or Bandish
b) The Jhor
c) The Alap
d) The Jhala

Answer 12

c) The Alap - just the sitar improvising and the tambura drone (no beat or pulse to the melody)
b) The Jhor - speeds up slightly, still just those 2 but now with a steady beat, and the music is more rhythmic
d) The Jhala - lots faster, and the players improvise around the melody
a) The Gat (instruments only) or Bandish (song) - the raga really takes off - the tabla comes in. The players add improvisations and pass ideas in a question and answer style. They play a pre-composed piece.

Sometimes there are 2 gats - a slow one then a fast one

Question 13

There are gaps between the phases of traditional raga. True or false?

Answer 13

False - each section normally flows into the other

Question 14

What did raga influence?

Answer 14

Rock and Pop music