Rag Desh – Indian Music
Background Info & Style
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.
Texture
The texture of Rag Desh is mainly HOMOPHONIC, melody and accompaniment.
Harmony & Tonality
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.
Meend – Sliding between 2 different notes.
Tan – rapid scalic flourishes.
Rhythm and Metre
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.
Common Structure Indian Music
Alap – Timeless – improvised.
Jhor – Beat instroduced – improvised.
Jhalla – Fast climax of the piece – improvised, virtuoso playing.
Gat/bandish – Fixed composition – not improvised.
‘Yiri’ – Koko
Use OSTINATO
Musical pattern that is continuously repeated during a section or throughout a complete piece of music.
African music has an oral tradition and is not written down.
The performance contains a MASTER DRUMMER who leads the call & response, sets the speeds and generally leads the performance.
Common features of African Music
Repetition – this might be just a few notes or a whole section of music.
Improvisation – music is made up on the spot.
Polyphony – a texture of two or more parts. A multi layered texture.
Call & Response – a solo followed by a group answering phrase.
Rhythm
African music contains lots of syncopation and also uses cross rhythms.
Texture
Polyphonic and polyrhythmic textures – a texture that uses many independent parts and rhythms.
Music is very important in African Society. It is used on all sorts of occasions from Weddings, religious festivals, funerals, birthday’s and lots of other types of celebrations.
Common features of African Songs
Call & response
Melodies are short and simple repeated many times.
Performers often improvise new melodies.
Music is often sung in a round.
Harmony –sing in unison octaves and and 3rds, 4ths and 5ths.
Instrumentation
Djembe Talking Drum Balaphones
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