Rag Desh Listening Where is this music from

Rag Desh

Listening Where is this music from? What instruments can you hear? Does the music sound like it is in a major or minor key? 4. Does the music change key? 1. 2. 3.

Objectives �To learn about Indian musical styles �To understand the terms rag, raga and rasa

Indian Music �Closely linked to Hinduism (just like Western sacred music) �The god Shiva is associated with music and dance

Geography �Two main types: Hindustani (North) Carnatic (South) �Rag Desh is from the Hindustani (northern) tradition

Oral tradition �Indian music is not written down �Like Skye Waulking Song and Yiri it is taught by listening and playing by ear �Often passed in families, e. g. father to son �This system is called gharana

Raga � A raga is a piece of Indian music in several contrasting sections � The Western equivalent is a symphony � It can be any length. Some are quite short, others very long � Not to be confused with the rag…(!)

What is a rag? �A rag is similar to a scale or mode: �The melody of the raga is improvised using the notes of the rag

Rag �There are more than 200 different rags �Every rag creates a mood called a rasa �Rags are also associated with times of day and occasions �Examples of rasas include: Love Devotion Happiness Romance

Rag Desh �Here are the notes of Rag Desh: �The notes of the scale have names like sol-fah (do re mi, etc. ) – this is called sargam. �Rag Desh is a night time rag associated with the monsoon season �Its rasas are devotion, romance and longing

Vocab review! 1. Gharana 2. Shiva 3. Raga 4. Rag 5. Rasa

The Sitar � Most common Indian instrument � Plucked string instrument � Has frets like a guitar � Usually 7 strings, 2 of which are drone notes � Several sympathetic strings underneath