Indian music

Question 1

Where is India located?

Answer 1

Southern Asia

Question 2

What is Indias population

Answer 2

1.4 billion

Question 3

What is the climate like in northern india ?

Answer 3

colder (is bordered by the
Himalayan mountain range.)

Question 4

What is the southern part of India climates like?

Answer 4

tropical

Question 5

Musical History:

Answer 5

Musical traditions in India go back as far as 3000 B.C.

Question 6

Indian music has what?

Answer 6

very complex rhythmic patterns and uses many time signatures, ranging from three up to twenty-four beats per measure!

Question 7

Hindustani music:

Answer 7

Indian classical music from the northern region of India. Based
heavily on improvisation.

Question 8

Carnatic music:

Answer 8

Indian classical music from the southern region of India.

Question 9

Microtones:

Answer 9

Intervals of notes that are smaller than a half step. Gives Indian music its
distinctive sound.

Question 10

Swara:

Answer 10

The seven musical notes used in Indian classical music (similar to our use of
“do, re, mi”)

Question 11

6 beat tala

Answer 11

Dadra

Question 12

A set of notes used to create a melody.:

Answer 12

raga

Question 13

Tala:

Answer 13

A repeated pattern of beats that creates the rhythm.

Question 14

7 beat tala

Answer 14

Roopak

Question 15

10 beat tala

Answer 15

jahptal

Question 16

Chaptal Ki Sawari

Answer 16

11 beat tala.

Question 17

A low, continuous background sound.

Answer 17

Drone

Question 18

Guru:

Answer 18

A master teacher who works with a student for many years. The music is learned
orally and the student repeats what they hear.

Question 19

Setting the stage for a classical Indian performance:

Answer 19

The stage typically has a rug or
pillows for the performers to sit on. The musicians sit in a semi-circle and wear
traditional Indian attire.

Question 20

Bollywood:

Answer 20

Indian Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai.

Question 21

Sitar

Answer 21

● Classified as a chordophone.
● Can have up to 21 strings
● Made from a gourd
● Sound is produced by plucking a string and sliding the index finger up and down
● Ravi Shankar is the most famous sitar player of all time and even played with
the Beatles.

Question 22

Tabla

Answer 22

● Classified as a membranophone
● Made up of two round drums of different sizes and tone colors.
● Sound is produced by hitting the head of the drum.

Question 23

Sarangi

Answer 23

● Classified as a chordophone
● Played using a bow
● Sounds similar to a viola
● Has three main strings and up to 36 other strings
● Often compared to the sound of the human voice

Question 24

Sheh’nai

Answer 24

● Classified as an aerophone
● Sounds similar to an oboe
● It is a double reed instrument with a wooden body and a flared metal bell

Question 25

Sarod

Answer 25

● Classified as a chordophone
● Has 25 strings
● Is played with a plectrum in the right hand
● Fingernails of the left hand slide up and down the strings.

Question 26

Mridangam

Answer 26

● Classified as a membranophone
● It is a double sided drum made out of jackfruit wood

Question 27

Harmonium

Answer 27

● Classified as an aerophone
● Similar to an accordion or an organ
● Sound is made by air blowing through reeds
● Can be played with the hands or the feet. Using the feet allows both hands to
freely play the keys.

Question 28

Bansuri Flute

Answer 28

● Classified as an aerophone
● Made from bamboo
● The word originates from the words “bans” (bamboo) and “sur” (melody)