HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC

HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC

Hindustani classical music is the traditional music of northern areas of the Indian subcontinent, including the modern states of India,Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It may also be called North
Indian classical music or Shāstriya Sangīt. Around the 12th century, Hindustani classical music diverged from what eventually came to be identified as Carnatic classical music.The central notion in both these systems is that of a melodic mode or raga, sung to a rhythmic cycle or tala. These principles were refined in the musical treatises Natya Shastra, by Bharata (2nd–3rd century CE), and Dattilam(probably 3rd–4th century CE).In medieval times, the melodic systems were fused with ideas from Persian music, particularly through the influence of Sufi composers like Amir Khusro, and later in the Mughal courts. Noted composers such as Tansen flourished, along with religious groups like the Vaishnavites.

After the 16th century, the singing styles diversified into different gharanas patronized in different
princely courts. Around 1900,Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande consolidated the musical structures of
Hindustani classical music, called ragas, into a number of thaat(see table).Indian classical music has
seven basic notes with five interspersed half notes, resulting in a 12 note scale.Unlike the12 note
scale in Western music, the base frequency of the scale is not fixed, and intentional gaps
(temperament) may also vary; owever, with the gradual replacement of the sarangi by the harmonium,
an equal tempered scale is increasingly used. The performance is set to a melodic pattern called a
raga characterized in part by specific ascent (aroha) and descent (avaroha) sequences, which may
not be identical. Other characteristics include "king" (vadi) and"queen" (samavadi) notes and
characteristic phrases(pakad). In addition each raga has its natural register (ambit) and portamento
(meend) rules. Performances are usually marked by considerable improvisation within these norms.

Thaat Name	Notes	Some Famous Ragas
Bilawal	S, R, G, m, P, D, N	Alhaiya Bilawal, Durga, Deshkar, Shankara
Khamaj	S, R, G, m, P D n	Khamaj, Jhinjoti, Saraswati, Gorakh Kalayan
Kaafi	S, R, g, m, P D n	Bhimpalasi, Piloo, Abhogi, Miyan Malhar
Asavari	S, R, g, m, P d n	Darbari Kanada, Asavari, Jaunpuri, Adana
Bhairavi	S, r, g, m, P, d, n	Bhairavi, Malkauns, Bilaskhani Todi, Komal Rishabh Asavari
Kalyan	S, R, G, M’, P, D, N	Yaman, Hameer, Kedar, Nand, Bupali, Kamod
Marwa	S, r, G, M’, P, D, N	Marwa, Bhatiyar, Puriya Kalayan, Sohini
Purvi	S, r, G, M’, P, d, N	Shree, Purvi, Basant, Puriya Dhanshri
Todi	S, r, g, M’, P, d, N	Miyan Todi, Multani, Gujari Todi, Madhuvanti
Bhairav	S, r, G, m, Pa d N	Nat Bhairav, Ahir Bhairav, Jogia, Ramkali, Gunaklai, Vibhas

Source: Internet