Indian Classical Music Index: Indian classical music has been practiced in India since the Vedic period. Samveda treats music as a comprehensive and detailed subject. This almost 2000-year-old practice originated from hymns performed in temples.
Indian Classical Music Index
There are currently two main style of Indian classical music:
Hindustani Music::
The main inspiration of Hindustani music comes from Nava Rasa in Hinduism. The practice of this music is mainly found in North India. See more on Hindustani Classical Music.
Carnatic Music:
Carnatic classical music is the earliest form of Indian classical music. Carnatic music, which originated in South India, is one of the oldest forms of music in the world. See more on Carnatic Classical Music.
Hindustani and Carnatic music have certain structural characteristics and styles. Both types of music have two basic elements known to us as taal and raga. Raga consists of seven tones sa-re-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni and 22 srutis. Indian classical music is mainly performed in two ways – vocal and instrumental.
The main branches of Hindustani classical music are Khayal, Dhrupad and Tarana. Other genres notable are Kajari, Toppa, Thungri, Ghazal, Bhajan.
Kheyal:
Attention is of two types. Small Kheyal (Fast Kheyal) and Big Kheyal (Slow Kheyal). Chhota Khayal is fast paced, so its composition is very short. The rhythm of big khayal is delayed. The theme is usually romantic and is expressed through musical aesthetics. Bhaktiras also predominate in Khayal. Khayals are written in Hindi, Urdu and Brajbhasha. Khayal songs are accompanied by tabla as a percussion instrument.
Along with Khayal – Ektal, Trital, Arachautal, Jhumra etc. rhythms are played. If sung according to beautiful rhythm and correct rules, Khyal conveys wonderful joy to the mind of the listener. Khayal is a very popular and popular singing method in the world of music. At present, Khyal occupies the foremost place among the branches of raga music.
Dhrupad:
Drupada is the oldest genre of classical music still active today. Dhrupad means constant. Such songs consist of four ‘kolis’ or ‘tuks’ namely – “sthayi, antara, sanchari, abhoga”. Some songs have two verses. In such songs the purity of raga is especially maintained. The lyrics are usually descriptive of devotion and nature. There is no sensation in such songs. Dhrupad is said to be the most elite of Ukanga Sangi.
Tarana:
It is a form of Hindustani classical music, in which certain words like ‘Odani’, ‘Tadim’, ‘Dir-Dir’, etc. (which are inspired by Persian and Arabic) are sung repeatedly in different modes in a medium or fast tempo. It is said to be inspired by the ’tillana’ of Carnatic music.
Kajri:
It is a North Indian semi-classical music popular in Uttar Pradesh (Benares, Mathura, Allahabad) and Bihar (Bhojpur region). Kajari is basically the song of Sringa Rasa.
Tappa:
Toppa song is a folk song of Kolkata region. Although it is similar to the original song of the Punjab region, it is known as Ragashrayi song in Bengal. Tappa occupies a special place in North Indian music as semi-classical music. It means short. The word ‘Tapa’ was adopted in Hindi as an abbreviation for Khayal or Dhrupad. Later this word stands for Toppa. There are also some special ragas suitable for toppa as they are composed with the usual tragic rasa, love, mainly birah, like – Bhairavi, Khambaj, Desh, Sindhu, Kalangra, Jhinjhit, Pilu, Baroa, etc.
Thumri:
It is a North Indian semi-classical music derived from the Hindi ‘thumkana’ (which means to walk in a dancing posture). So naturally this music is associated with dance, dramatic poses, love poems, folk music etc., especially of Uttar Pradesh. The ‘varnam’ of Carnatic music can be compared to thungri.
Ghazal:
Ghazals are light-hearted classical music. Ghazal songs have more words, less emphasis on melody. Although it is basically a light song, all kinds of compositions can be the subject of this song. Elevated and solemn compositions are also seen in some songs. To sing ghazals well, it is necessary to have good language skills. Ghazals like Toppa are mainly sung in Kafi, Pilu, Jhijit, Khambaj, Baroa, Bhairavi ragas. Ghazal songs have a special appeal, so this song is able to make the listener’s mind overflow with Rasa.
Bhajan:
It is a genre of Indian spiritual music, especially the Hindu genre of music. It has no specific pattern. A bhajan can be simpler than a mantra or a kirtan, or a classical raga-dominant and rhythmic song like a dhrupad or a kriti. Bhajans are usually sung in tune to express the deep glory of love for the Lord.
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