Rag Desh

Question 1

gharana

Answer 1

Indian system of master-pupil teaching

Question 2

raga

Answer 2

improvised music in several contrasting sections, based on a series of notes from a particular rag

Question 3

pentatonic scale

Answer 3

a scale built on five notes of the scale on the first, seconds, third, fifth and sixth degrees of the scale. In C major thee are C, D, E, G and A

Question 4

rasa

Answer 4

mood created by the sounds of the pitches I a particular rag

Question 5

bols

Answer 5

in a tala, these are the independent rhythm parts that go against the main beat of the cycle creating exciting syncopations

Question 6

matras

Answer 6

individual beats in a rhythmic cycle

Question 7

sam

Answer 7

the first beat of the rhythmic cycle

Question 8

syncopations

Answer 8

notes accented off the beat The weak part of the beat is often empathised.

Question 9

teental (or tintal)

Answer 9

common 16-beat (4+4+4+4) rhythmic cycle

Question 10

alap

Answer 10

the opening unmetered and improvised section of a raga

Question 11

bandish

Answer 11

the last section of a vocal raga - a ‘fixed composition’ in the form of a song

Question 12

gat

Answer 12

the final section of an instrumental raga - ‘a fixed composition’ with some improvised embellishments

Question 13

jhalla

Answer 13

the third section of a raga - a lively tempo and virtuoso display of improvisatory skills. The climax o the whole piece

Question 14

jhor

Answer 14

the second section of a raga - a medium tempo with improvisation

Question 15

meend/mind

Answer 15

the sliding effects between notes

Question 16

tan

Answer 16

the rapid scalic flourishes on the sitar/sarod or sarangi

Question 17

timbre

Answer 17

particular tone colour of an instrument or voice

Question 18

bansuri

Answer 18

Indian flute without keys

Question 19

shehnai

Answer 19

a double reed Indian instrument, similar to the Western oboe