‘And the Glory of the Lord’ Handel (1742)

Different types of rag (scales) are used depending on the time of day, the season, the reason for the music.

Indian music has an oral tradition and is passed down from teacher to student.


Melody

Melody is based on the notes of the rag and is mainly improvised.

The melody is not improvised in the Gat/Bandish section of the piece.

Melodies become more elaborate as the piece progresses. VIRTUOSO playing.

The texture of Rag Desh is mainly HOMOPHONIC, melody and accompaniment.

Uses a rag to create the melody (like an Indian scale).

Drone Accompaniment – the Tambura plays a drone all of the way through. Long sustained notes 1 or 2 at a time.

Instrumentation & Playing Techniques
Sitar – melody instrument with a long neck.

Bansuri – An Indian Flute

Sarangi – melody instrument (played with a bow).

Sarod – melody instrument smaller than a sitar, more like a guitar shape.

Tambura – locked necked instrument that plays the drone.

Tabla – a pair of Indian Drums.

Tan – rapid scalic flourishes.

Extensive use of Syncopation (off beat rhythms).

Cross Rhythms – create irregular accents in the music.
Rhythms are very complex and become even more complex throughout the piece.
The Tabla (Indian drum) plays a repetitive pattern calls a Tala. This is eventually embellished.



Structure

All version of Rag Desh only contain two sections:

Alap – first section of piece and timeless.

Gat/bandish – Fixed composition, not improvised. Gat is in instrumental rag’s, the bandish is used when there is a singer.

Jhor – Beat instroduced – improvised.

Jhalla – Fast climax of the piece – improvised, virtuoso playing.

Gat/bandish – Fixed composition – not improvised.

Musical pattern that is continuously repeated during a section or throughout a complete piece of music.