Rhythms of the World Flashcards
How is Indian classical music performed?
It is learnt by ear, from memory, and through a master performer.
Performers often sit cross-legged on the floor.
Performances can last several hours and are of o determinate length.
The majority of the performance will have been improvised.
What are the three main parts that make up most Indian classical music?
Raga, drone, tala.
What is a raga in Indian classical music?
It forms the melody, and each particular one is often allotted to its own time of day, or year.
What kind of instrument will play the raga in Indian classical music?
Sitar, sarod, bansuri, shehnai.
What is a sitar?
A stringed instrument, which is usually plucked. It is mainly used to play the raga in Indian classical music.
Some strings also create a drone sound, and other strings are sympathetic, which vibrate as the instrument is played.
What is a sarod?
An instrument in Indian classical music, which is similar to a lute. It can be identified by its long glissandos.
What is a bansuri?
A bamboo flute used in Indian classical music.
What are key features in a raga melody?
Pitch bends.
Playing fast scales.
Playing glissandos.
Ornamentation.
What is a drone in Indian classical music?
A repeated, or set of, notes played throughout a piece.
It forms the harmony and is static.
What kind of instrument plays the drone in Indian classical music?
Tanpura.
What is the tala in Indian classical music?
A cycle of beats: the rhythm.
What is the raga, drone and tala in Indian classical music?
Raga - melody.
Drone - harmony.
Tala - rhythm.
What is the first beat of the tala killed and how is this different?
The ‘sam’.
It is accented.
What kind of instrument might play the tala in Indian classical music?
Tabla.
What is a tabla?
A pair of drums used to play the tala in Indian classical music.
What is the main structure in Indian classical music?
Alap - opening section.
Gat - tabla enters.
Jhala - fast and exciting final section.
What is the alap in Indian classical music?
The opening section; a slow improvised introduction, which only includes the melody and harmony.
What is the gat in Indian classical music?
When the tabla enters in the second section. There is now a clear pulse to the music, but still lots of improvisation.
What is jhala in Indian classical music?
The final section of a piece, which is very fast and exciting. The players play virtuosically.
What are examples of famous Indian classical music players?
Ravi Shankar (sitar). Alla Rakha (tabla).
Where does bhangra music come from?
The Punjab region of India.
What kind of music does the term ‘chaal’ come from?
Bhangra.
What is the chaal in bhangra music?
The fundamental rhythm, played very quickly.
What instrument is the chaal played on in bhangra music?
Dhol, a double-headed drum played with sticks.
What are characteristics of the chaal rhythm?
It is played very quickly (140-196bpm).
A ‘hoi’ often accents beats 2 and 4.
What is the tumbi?
A single stringed instrument which played repeated riffs in bhangra music.