MUSIC

of
SOUTH
ASIA
 LEARNING TARGETS:
- Listen perceptively to music of South Asia;
- Explain how music of a South Asian
countries relate to its geography and
culture;
- Analyze musical elements of selected
songs and instrumental pieces heard and
performed; and
- Sing songs from South Asia.
SOUTH ASIA
● comprises the sub-
Himalayan SAARC
(South Asian
Association for Regional
Cooperation) countries

- India - Sri Lanka

- Pakistan - Nepal
- Bangladesh - Bhutan
MUSIC of SOUTH ASIA
● encompasses
numerous
different musical
styles originating
from a large
number of Asian
countries
MUSIC
of
INDIA
INDIA
● seventh-largest
country
● second most populous
country in the world
● one of the countries in
South Asia colonized
by British empire but
was able to retain their
culture
INDIA

● Religion is
important.
● “Land of
Spirituality and
Philosophy”
MUSIC of INDIA
● Based on Sangeet

Sangeet –
combination of three
art forms: vocal,
instrumental, and
dance
 MUSICAL ELEMENTS
MUSICAL ELEMENTS CHARACTERISTICS
Rhythm Uses Tala (elaborate Indian metric system)

Melody Uses Raga (melodic element in Indian classical

music)
Timbre Vocal – Nasal
Instrumental – vibrating stringed instruments

Harmony and Texture Heterophonic

Form Highly improvisational

Uses strict tala
 CLASSICAL MUSIC

 Includes multiple varieties

of Indian classical music,
folk music, Filmi, and Indian
pop.
 Music is a sacred form of
art having greatly
influenced by the Vedic
Hymns (Hindu scriptures).
 TWO GENRES of INDIAN CLASSICAL
MUSIC
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL CARNATIC CLASSICAL
MUSIC MUSIC
It is practiced in North India. It is practiced in South India.
Ragas are divided into “thaat” Ragas are divided into
as per this system. “melakarta” as per this system.
The time of singing each raga No time theory is followed and
is strictly observed and ragas any raga can be sung at
are sung only according to anytime.
their time.
 TWO GENRES of INDIAN CLASSICAL
MUSIC
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL CARNATIC CLASSICAL
MUSIC MUSIC
There are various gharanas in There is no gharana towards
the system of music. vocal music but instrumental
music is also practiced.
Improvisations are given more Compositions are given more
importance. importance.
The shruti concept is not Shruti concept is practiced in
practiced in detail. detail and a lot emphasis is
given to it.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Thaat – a group of seven notes in
ascending order that creates the raga or
Indian scale
• Melakarta – a collection of fundamental
ragas (musical scales) from which other
ragas may be generated
• Gharana – musical style
• Shruti – musical intonation
 INDIAN MUSIC

 Uses the seven basic notes in ascending

tonal order with particular names: Sadja,
Resgab, Gandharva, Madyhama,
Panchama, Dhaivata, and Mishada.
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL CARNATIC CLASSICAL
MUSIC MUSIC
Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Raga
– combination of a scale and a melody
- basis of Indian classical music

1. Odava – a composition of five notes

2. Shadava – a composition of six notes
3. Sampoorna – a composition of seven
notes
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Tala – rhythmic time cycle of metrical
phrased composed of a fixed number of
beats in India.

1. Dadra – shortest tala with six beats

2. Roopak – tala with seven beats
3. Jhaptal – tala with ten beats
4. Ektaal – tala with twelve beats
5. Teental – tala with sixteen beats
 TALA
DADRA

X 0 X
Dha Dhi Na I Dha Ti Na I Dha

1 2 3 4 5 6 1
 TALA
ROOPAK

0 X 2 0
Ti Ti Na I Dhi Na I Dhi Na I Ti

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
 VOCAL MUSIC

 people’s way to
express their deep
devotion to their
gods
 manifested through
the art of
vocalization
 INDIAN VOCAL MUSIC

1. Gangal- musical style

known for its rich and
romantic content
2. Lakshan geet –
musical style which is
oriented towards
musical education
 INDIAN VOCAL MUSIC

3. Swarmalika – used for

pedagogy purposes
4. Tamil Nadu – speaks
of the beauty of the
Land of Tamil
5. Vijaya – example of a
farewell song
 HYMN TO SHIVA

 An example of an
Indian song which has
a spiritual content
 Has slow tempo,
narrow melody range,
and uses nasal vocal
in singing
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

 monophonic
in nature
 based

around a
single line
melody
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

1. Tata vadya –
chordophones
2. Sushira vadya –
aerophones
3. Gvanadhya vadya–
membranophones
4. Ghana vadya -
idiophones
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Sitar Sarangi Rubab Veena

 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Harmonium Sruti Bansuri

Upanga
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Shehnai Pungi
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Tabla and Bhaya Mridangam

(Hindustani) (Carnatic)
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Gatham Damaru
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Ghungroos Kartal Jal Tarang

 Kakke Kakke
Koodevide
Kakke Kakke Koodevide
Kootinakathoru Kunjundo
Kunjinu Theettakodukkanjal
Kunjikidannu Karanjeedum
THE
END!