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STUDY GUIDE: THE MUSIC OF INDIA
Indian music is a classical art music tradition with many similarities to Western classical music:
1) it appeals to and is patronized by a small, educated segment of the population;
2) it has a body of theory and a formal system of study; and
3) it is disseminated through public concerts in which there is an expected program order.
There are also significant differences:
4) pieces are mixed pre-composed and improvised material;
5) there are different levels of improvisation that occur at specific points in a piece; and
6) 3) a performer’s skill is measured by the ability to improvise in free rhythm.
Two major musical systems exist in Indian music: Karnatak (also spelled Carnatic) in the south
and Hindustani in the north. Karnatak is the older Hindu tradition, and Hindustani has been
influenced by the later arriving Islamic culture. Hindustan is the region of North India.
Karnatak (also spelled Carnatic) – South Indian music style in the Hindu tradition
Hindustani – North Indian music style influenced by Islamic culture.
Sangita – generally translated as “music,” means not just the melody and rhythm of an instrument
or a voice, but also the embodiment of rhythm in dance, and the dramatic expression of story and
mood through dance or song.
Kathak Dance
 Kathak – one of the six major dance forms of India; deriving from the word “katha,”
meaning “story-telling. The dance involves the flailing of the arms, flicking of the wrists,
jerking of the head, and twitching of the eyebrows.
 Bol – a system of vocalized rhythmic syllables memorized and recited by drummers to
learn and retain patterns
Hindustani Terms
Define the following terms:
Khyal
Gat-tora
Harmonium
Tabla
Sitar
Tambura
Lay or laya
Alap or alapanam
Rag, raga, or ragam
Jor
Jhala
Tal or tala
Sawal-jawab
Traditions and Culture
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What are the roots of Indian music?
Where does early music theory come from? How has it changed over time?
What are the similarities and differences between the North and South traditions?
What is the major song type of the Karnatic tradition? What are its constituent
parts?
What are examples of typical instruments of India? What is their classification?
Deeper Understanding
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How would you compare Indian music to Indian food?
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How is the relationship of composer to performer understood in Indian music?
Can you identify any musical examples of Indian music in North American pop
songs?
Is Indian film music an escape from reality, or does it articulate life?
Is Hollywood film music an escape from reality, or does it articulate life?