Titon Chapter 6 Asia India contd Indian approach

Titon – Chapter 6 Asia / India (cont’d)

Indian approach to Pitch • • Emphasis on the melodic (single notes in time) Asthagi – emphasis on “home” Antara – moving upward Abhog – “home” again Octave divides into 22 intervals (West uses 12) Generally 7 pitches/ notes (“swara”) used Sa – Ri – Ga – Ma – Pa – Da – Ni – (Sa’)

RAGA • Like a (western) scale, but…. much MORE • “Raga” = “color, ” “dye, ” “tinge” - “that which colors the mind” (TEXT, p. 312) - Affect on the listener • Not just pitches/notes, but HOW one moves through them • May ascend and descend in different ways • May include specific melodic patterns and ornamentation • Usually 5 -7 notes, ordered hierarchically

Raga (cont’d) • SA = home (Vadi = “King”) [drone] • PA (5 th) or MA (4 th) = second level (Samvadi = “Minister”)[drone] • Anuvadi Swaras = third level (“Servants” – define the raga) • Vivadi Swaras = foreign notes (“Enemies” – not to be used)

Classification of Ragas • Over 120, 000 ragas (claimed) • Better described as a few hundred families - “Thaats” – Mother ragas • Most performers know only a few dozen • Associated and controlled by externals - season of year - time of day - mood evoked (love, anger, sadness, fear, disgust, wonder, heroism, humor, religious devotion, [peace]) • List of ragas in Indian classical music (Wikipedia) - only some of many….

Melakarta System (Titon Fig. 6. 12) Melakarta (Wikipedia)

Raga explained… • Raga: a personal introduction by Ravi Shankar • Raga explained by Partha Pratim Roy • Sitar maestro Niladri Kumar explains - What is a Raga or Raag? • Understanding the Basics of Indian Raga Music (Emory U)

st 1 • • • Raga Lessons Raag Bihag for Beginners Raag Bhairav for Beginners Raag Yaman for Beginners Bhimpalasi Lesson by Aradhanaji Always taught by rote (emphasis on “ear”) George Harrison - sitar lesson with Ravi Shankar • Pandit Ravi Shankar - SITAR MASTER CLASS

RHYTHM • Based on Rhythmic cycles (similar to Meter…but much MORE) • Division of time by regular beats (MATRA) • 1 st beat of cycle [most important] (SAM) • One group of beats [measure] (VIBHAG), [not all cycles of equal weight] • Complete cycle (AVARTAN) • Each cycle a unique pattern (called TAL or TALA or TAALA)

SOME DIFFERENT TALA • • Teental = 16 (4 + 4 + 4) [most common] Adachautal = 14 (2+4+4+4) Adi Tal = 8 (4+2+2) Dadra tal = 6 (3 + 3) Ektal = 12 (2+2+2+2) Jhaptal = 10 (2+3+2+3) Rupak Tal = 7 (3+2+2) Sultal = 10 (2+3+2+3)

COUNTING TALA • • • Not all Matra (beats) are equal 1 st beat of cycle [most important] (SAM) Not all Vibhag (measures) are equal Tali (clap) = strong beginning to Vibhag Khali (wave) = weak beginning to Vibhag Remainder of Matra in Vibhag counted on fingers (begin w/ little finger) • Kalam = speed of beat (three levels)

COUNTING TEENTAL • • CLAP 2 3 4 WAVE 2 3 4 CLAP 2 3 4 • Ex. Tabla lesson - Teen taal – You. Tube • Ex. Tabla lessons - Tal: teen tal / tintal • Ex. Ustad Zakir Hussain -- Vintage Teental Solo - You. Tube

COUNTING ADI TAL • CLAP 2 3 4 • WAVE 2 • Ex. ADI TALAM LEARNER LESSONS • Ex. Adi Tala and Speeds - Carnatic Music Lessons

COUNTING DADRA TAL • CLAP 2 3 • WAVE 2 3 • Ex. Tabla Lessons for Beginners | Tal Dadra • Ex. Tabla lesson - Dadra taal. wmv – You. Tube • Ex. Taal dadra been played by ustad jaswinder meet - You. Tube

COUNTING RUPAK TAL • WAVE 2 3 • CLAP 2 • Ex. Tabla lesson - rupak taal – You. Tube • Ex. Roopak Taal Zakirji Live at Taj • Ex. Tabla Solo - Rupak Taal - Pt. Samta Prasad Mishra - You. Tube

COUNTING JHAPTAL • • CLAP 2 3 WAVE 2 CLAP 2 3 • Ex. JHAPTAL. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 speed of tatkar in jhaptal • Ex. Jhaptal tabla demo – You. Tube • Ex. Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha - Tabla Solo in Jhaptal - You. Tube

Tabla Making in Kolkata

TABLA “Tabla” (“on the right”) “Duggi” (“on the left”)

Modern Tabla (“bolt tuned”) List price: $ 418 (on sale: $ 313 plus S&H) Tabla for sale