ANGELA GOH ZENG ZHEN (RIA180003)

World Music Culture – India (Week 6 - E-Learning)

(28 April 2020)

Please provide answers after reading the NOTES (Indian Music) and watching videos
from SPeCTRUM

(1) What do the terms ‘Hindustani’ and ‘Carnatic’ refer to?

‘Hindustani’ refers to northern Indian music and ‘Carnatic’ refers to classical music of
southern India.

(2) What does Tala mean? List out the seven Talas.
Tala is a metric cycle with a specific number of beats that recur in the same pattern
throughout a musical performance.
The seven Talas are Dhruva, Matya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata and Eka.

(3) What is Raga? Answer by the following order (Refer to the youtube videos provided
on SPeCTRUM)

A. What does Raga mean?

Raga is a melody form that is based on a scale that has from 5 to 7 notes. It not as
same as a mood but it can be based and have within its certain fixed melody
patterns and moods.

B. Describe the scale (or solfege) in Raga music.

Within one scale, it can have many different ragas that belong to the same scale.
The technicalities go from there that we can have an ascending or descending
scale, certain recognizable patterns that are unique to each raga. For example, in a
scale of D goes like this, D-Eb-F#-Ab-A-Bb-C#-D, but we can add or skip certain
notes in ascending or descending in a particular way.

C. What is the common instrumentation in raga music, name three instruments and
explain their functions.
The 3 common instruments in raga music are sitar, tabla and tambura.
Sitar is used as a solo instrument with tambura and tabla and in ensembles. One of
the techniques are the slides, bend or gliding. When gliding, it takes all the
harmonics of that scale.
In tabla, each drum stroke can be expressed by a corresponding syllable. The
intricate music of the drums reflects the rhythmic framework(tala) of the piece.
Tambura provides an essential tonal foundation from which a singer or
instrumental soloist develops the raga.

D. What is Alap in Raga music?

Alap is one of the tool used to elaborate a raga. It is a form of melodic
improvisation that introduces and develops a raga. Alap is performed in the
beginning, introducing the raga.