Indian Music

Question 1

Drone

Answer 1

Continuous repetition of the Sa and Pa (1st and 5th) notes that reinforces the tonal center throughout the piece. Played by tambura

Question 2

Tala

Answer 2

Metrical or rhythmic cycle that is distinguished by the number of beats and the way the beats are grouped into larger sections in each cycle.

Same tala is used throughout the rhythmic section

Question 3

Raga

Answer 3

Melodic framework that uses a particular scale and specific melodic movements/ tonal framework for composition and improvisation

Associated with light or serious modes and with the time of the day and season
Eg morning raga, afternoon raga, night raga, summer raga

Question 4

Gamaka

Answer 4

Ornaments + techniques

Melodic ornamentations that arise out of musical movement

Defined the raga

Eg shakes, trills, glides, turns, glissandos, grace notes

Question 5

Northern Indian music

Instruments

Answer 5

Hindustani
Sounds more metallic than Carnatic due to the tabla
Mixture of sacred and secular

Sitar 
Sarod 
Sarangi
Tabla
Tambura

Question 6

Southern Indian music

Instruments

Answer 6

Carnatic 
More sacred (( religious links)) 

Veena
Violin
Mridangam
Tambura

Question 7

Hindustani music structure

Carnatic music structure

Answer 7

Alap (alapana)
Solo instrument accompanied with drone
Unmetered
Improvisatory
Wider range of notes due to more freedom and time
No percussion
Adds Gamaka to a basic melody
Slow tempo

Gat (kriti)
Faster tempo
Livelier
Repetitive 
Fixed meter, range and tempo
Drums will give the beat

Question 8

Sitar

Answer 8

Plucked string instrument with 6-7 main playing strings and 11-13 sympathetic strings, which ring when main strings are played, creating a resonating sound

Under 20 movable frets

Main strings plucked with a spectrum
With the right hand
Metallic and sharper sounding

Question 9

Sarod

Answer 9

Plucked string instruments with 4 main playing strings and 21 string that are either tuned to the drone or sympathetic strings

Shiny finger boards with no frets

Right hand strikes the strings with a plectrum while left hand fingernails press the metal string and slide it along the metal fret less finger board

Strings resonate less than the sitar

Question 10

Sarangi

Answer 10

Bowed string instrument with 3 main playing strings and 30-40 sympathetic strings made of metal

Main strings are stopped with skin above the fingernails on the left hand and bow is held with palm facing outward

Sounds rough

Question 11

Tabla

Answer 11

2 drums
Baya (left hand drum)
Daya (right hand drum)

More metallic sounding

Question 12

Veena/ vina

Answer 12

Plucked string instrument with 4 main playing strings and 3 drone strings

Played with fingernails of the left hand pressing, pulling, gliding on the 24 metal frets while the finger of the right hand pluck the strings with a plectrum

Buzzing sound

Question 13

Violin

Answer 13

Similar to the western violin but the tuning and playing position is different

Question 14

Mridangam

Answer 14

A barrel shaped double-headed wooden drum

Played by hitting the drum with two fingers and the palm or with a stick

Fastened by leather straps and these cans be tightened ((higher pitch)) or slackened ((lower pitch)) by the player

Question 15

Tambura

Answer 15

Plucked by the right hand

No sympathetic strings
No frets

Movable bridge used to adjust pitch

4-6 strings

Drone playing the tonic and dominant notes ((Sa and Pa)) continuously

Question 16

Svara

Answer 16

The notes in a scale
Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni
Sa can begin on any pitch, not fixed to specific pitches