Rag Desh (Anoushka Shankar) Flashcards
1
Q
Melody
A
- Played by Shankar on sitar
- Alap - intricate decoration improvised to melody line, explores notes of raga
- Gats - fixed composition but improvised flourishes and ornaments
- Sitar uses triplet phrasing called ‘chand’
2
Q
Harmony
A
- Based on raga - (scale/mode that ascends or descends but pitches and number of notes vary in each direction)
- Rag Desh raga has more notes descending and one is flattened
3
Q
Tonality
A
*Tonal centre is note C
4
Q
Structure
A
- Begins with alap - slow introductory section
- Gat is introduced - fixed composition but varied
- Tabla enters in jhaptal - dialogue with tihai
- Second gat - tabla in tintal tala
- Ends with sitar drone strings to create jhalla and then a final tihai
5
Q
Instrumentation/Timbre
A
- Sitar (long-necked string - strum, pluck and bend notes)
- Tabla - plays jhaptal with decoration, then tintal
- Dialogue in middle - alternate melody
- Sitar - drone strings - striking rhythmic effect called jhalla
6
Q
Texture
A
- Melody and drone
- Alap - no tabla - thinner but drone and decoration make it sound thick
- Melody with one instrument at a time - alternate improvisations
7
Q
Rhythm
A
- Begins free before tabla comes in
- Repetitive cyclic rhythm pattern called tala on tabla drums
- Competition between instrument and drum - copy each others rhythmic ideas while still keeping within cycle of tala
- Jhaptal (10 beats), tintal (16 beats)
8
Q
Tempo
A
- Alap - slow and unmetered - free rhythm, irregular pulse
- Gat 1 - medium tempo
- Gat 2 - faster - indicates change of gat, tintal introduced
9
Q
Mood
A
- Nighttime, rainy season
* Romance and devotion