Music of South, Central and West Asia PDF

# Music of South, Central and West Asia ## Instrumental Music of India ### Classification of Instruments in India 1. **Ghan** - described as a non-membranous percussive instrument but with solid resonators. It is one of the oldest classes of instrument in India. It may also be a melodic instrume...

# Music of South, Central and West Asia ## Instrumental Music of India ### Classification of Instruments in India 1. **Ghan** - described as a non-membranous percussive instrument but with solid resonators. It is one of the oldest classes of instrument in India. It may also be a melodic instrument or instruments to keep tal. * Image: A clay pot with a yellow and red colored base. * Image: A pair of black hand cymbals with a copper ring in the middle. 2. **Avanaddh** - described as a membranous percussive instrument. This class of instruments typically comprise the drums. * Image: A drum called a daf with a brown leather covering. * Image: Two drums called tabla, typically played in pairs. * Image: A black dhol drum. 3. **Sushir** – also known as blown air. It is characterized by the use of air to excite the various resonators. * Image: A golden shehnai, a type of double reed woodwind instrument. * Image: A golden shankh, a type of seashell trumpet * Image: A brown surpeti with pink padding on the sides. 4. **Tat** - referred to as vina during the old civilization. Instruments in this class are plucked (stringed instruments). * Image: A brown sitar, a type of long necked lute. * Image: A tan ektar with a gourd base. * Image: A brown gotuvadyam. * Image: A brown gopichand with a gourd base. * Image: A brown rabab with a white body. 5. **Vitat** - described as bowed stringed instruments. This is of the oldest classifications of instruments and yet did not occupy a place in classical Indian music until the last few centuries. * Image: A black and white illustration of a banam, a type of rabab. * Image: A black esraj, a type of bowed lute. * Image: A black sarangi, a type of bowed fiddle. * Image: A red chikara, a type of bowed fiddle. ## Tala * Occupies an important position in the Indian system of music. * Literally meaning "clap", variously transliterated as "tal", "taal" or "taala". * Is a regular, repeating rhythmic phrase, particularly as rendered on a percussive instrument with an ebb and flow of various intonations represented as a "theka". * Is the common Indian system of rhythm. ## Tala (Continuation) * **Theka** - a sequence of drum-syllables or "bol" - in Indian classical music, both Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music use complex rules to create elaborate patterns of rhythm. * **Tabla** - most common instrument for keeping rhythm in Hindustani music. * **Mridangam** - most common instrument for keeping rhythm in Carnatic music. - also transliterated as "mridang". ## Activity: Which is Which? | | Carnatic Music | Hindustani Music | | :------------------------- | :--------------- | :----------------- | | Khyal | | | | Temple Music | | | | Unified | | | | Northern | | | | Krti | | | | Southern | | | | Nasal Singing | | | | Lyrical | | | | Persian Influence | | | | Imagination | | | ## Activity: Name It! 1. Image: The black hand cymbals mentioned above 2. Image: The surpeti mentioned above 3. Image: The shehnai mentioned above 4. Image: The black and white illustration of a banam mentioned above. 5. Image: The rabab mentioned above. 6. Image: The gopichand mentioned above 7. Image: The shankh mentioned above. 8. Image: The sitar mentioned above. 9. Image: The dhol mentioned above 10. Image: The clay pot mentioned above ## Music of Pakistan * Though Pakistan is part of South Asia, its western part is considered as an extension of Central Asia. * Pakistan is known for its unique vocals. * The distinctive Pakistani sound was formed with multiple influences not only from various parts of South Asia but it also includes diverse elements from Central Asia, Persia, Turkey, and the Arab world. ### Vocal Music of Pakistan 1. **Ghazal** * traditional expressions of love, separation, and loneliness; It tells about both the pain of loss of the lover and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. * its structural requirements are more strict than those of most poetic forms traditionally written in English. * is considered by many to be one of the principal poetic forms in the Persian civilization. * can be sung by both men and women. 2. **Qawwali** * the devotional music of the Chishti Order. * a vibrant musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years. * originally performed mainly at Sufi shrines throughout the subcontinent and gained mainstream popularity. ### Instrumental Music of Pakistan * Punjabi music strengthens the importance of musical instruments in Pakistan. * Punjab is a region in South Asia which is divided into West Punjab, Pakistan and East Punjab, India. Bhangra, one of the most recognized forms of Punjab, is based on the drum rhythm of dhol. ### Significant Instruments of Pakistan * Image: A tabla drum * Image: A dholak drum * Image: A harmonium * Image: A rubab ## Music of Israel (West Asia) ## Music of West Asia * In general, the music of West Asia is modal. * Harmony is not emphasized but rather includes salient features such as melodic complexity and ornamentation, including 1/4 tones and rigorous rhythmic development. * West Asian music is commonly used during: * Communal worship (in Mosque, Synagogue and Church) * Mystic rituals (Sufis, Hassidic) * Life passage events (Weddings, Bar Mitzvas, Bat Mitzvas, Anniversaries) * Entertainment (Belly Dancing, Folk Dancing) ## Vocal Music of Israel * **Israeli Music** * Israeli singers have a distinctive vocal style. They sing with guttural and throaty enunciation. ## Two Divisions of Jewish Music 1. **Devotional** * almost entirely vocal. * featured during Sabbath and other holy days. * the art of Hazan (leader of prayer in synagogue) has always been evident in the culture. * shofar is a special call to prayer and repentance; it is sounded on the High Holidays (the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement). 2. **Secular** * instruments and voice are used. * played during life passage events. * context lies outside the religious domain. * very rhythmic and have popular and romantic texts. ## Instrumental Music of Israel * The lute which is similar to the Philippine banduria and the laud, traces its origins to the Middle Eastern Oud and Indian sitar. * Goblet drum, darbuk, the tambourine and other instruments associated with Middle Eastern music are used as accompaniment. * One of the dances where accompaniment is used is Hora, a dance that often has strong off beats and asymmetric meters. ### Significant Instruments of Israel * Image: A Jewish lyere * Image: A psalterion * Image: A shofar ## Other Significant Instruments of Arab Countries * Image: A goblet drum. * Image: A toft drum. ## Other Significant Middle Eastern Instruments * Image: An oud * Image: A darbuk ## Activity: Word Search ``` 0 U D J M A G A M Q T Q M B P D M A Q A M S A D W S T Q P D T R T M Z Q A W W A L I T A I D S L G T E Z R Z L T W A T Z J E W I S A Z G Z E Q L L W I V L V A D R B G 0 B L E T A T B I U 0 Z M A L T S G A 0 H P I Q A Q M L J 0 N E F R D K Q R H 0 R A Z N W A Z N ```