Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music PDF

## Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music Lecture 1 ### Topics - Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music - Swara: The Musically Useful Sound - Types of Swaras in Indian Classical Music - Laya: The Process of Sound Separation - Importance of Laya in Music and Nature - Relationship Between Swara...

## Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music Lecture 1 ### Topics - Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music - Swara: The Musically Useful Sound - Types of Swaras in Indian Classical Music - Laya: The Process of Sound Separation - Importance of Laya in Music and Nature - Relationship Between Swara and Laya - Mastery Over Swara and Laya in Music ### Introduction to Indian Classical Music (ICM) - ICM is rich, ancient, and deeply rooted in Indian culture - revolves around _rāga_ (melodic frameworks) and _tāla_ (rhythmic cycles) - think of _swaras_ as the building blocks of a _rāga_ - Seven primary notes in ICM with varying microtones: Sa, Re (Ri), Ga (Ga), Ma, Pa, Dha (Dha), Ni - Swaras are presented through a hand-held instrument called a _tanpura_ - The _tanpura_ creates the signature drone - In the _ārōhana_ (ascending order), and _avarohana_ (descending order), swaras have a different shading: _shuddha_ (pure), _komal_ (flat), _tīvrā_ (sharp) - Example: in the natural scale of Bhairav - Arohana: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa - Avarohana: Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa - _Rāga_ is complex structure guiding the progression of notes, rhythm, and ornamentations - Example: Bhairav, an early morning _rāga_ - Sa, komal Re (Ri), komal Ga (Ga), shuddha Ma, Pa, shuddha Dha (Dha), shuddha Ni (Ni) - _Rāgas_ are believed to create specific moods: serenity, romance, or even melancholy - _Tāla_ is responsible for the rhythmic framework of a composition - Multiple lays (beats) and divisions, talas create depth and complexities - _Tāla_ unfolds in cycles, with divisions marked by _bols_ (syllables) - Example: Teental, a very fundamental _tāla_ - 16 total beats: | Dhin | Dhin | Dha | Dhin | Dhin ||------|- -|----|- |------|| 1 | 2 |3|4|1| - To grasp ICM, listen and learn its _ragas_, _swaras_, and _talas_ - It may be complex at first, but with engagement and curiosity, you will uncover an ocean of melodies and rhythms - Music can bring comfort, hope, and communication ### What is a Swara? - Basic unit of Indian classical music, similar to a note in Western music - Unlike Western music, which has a fixed number of notes (7 in a single octave), Indian classical music has a variable number of Swaras, depending on the raga being performed. - Seven basic Swaras in Indian classical music: - Sa - the tonic or root note - Re - the major second - Ga - the major third - Ma - the perfect fourth - Pa - the perfect fifth - Dha - the major sixth - Ni - the major seventh - Seven Swaras correspond to the seven white keys on a piano in a single octave - Indian classical music also uses _microtone_ or _shruti_, which are the spaces between the seven basic Swaras, which allows for greater range of expression and nuance in Indian classical music. ### The Importance of Swara - The building block that all other elements of the music are based on - The notes themselves have meaning, and the way they are arranged and combined creates the raga, or melodic framework, for a piece of music. - "Swara is the very essence of melody. Without Swara, there can be no melody, no tune, no Raga." - Alaka Prodhan - Swaras are imbued with feeling and emotion, and the musician uses them to convey a mood or story. - Important for a musician to have a deep understanding of Swara and how to use it effectively. ### Calculating Swaras - Based on the harmonic series - Different from the equal temperament system used in Western music, which divides the octave into 12 equal semitones - Choose a reference frequency. In Indian classical music, the reference frequency is usually the Sa Swara of the lower octave, which is approximately 240 Hz. - Calculate the frequency ratio for the Sa Swara of the desired octave. In Indian classical music, the frequency ratio for the Sa Swara is 1:1, which means it has the same frequency as the reference frequency. - Multiply the reference frequency by the frequency ratio to get the frequency of the Sa Swara. For example, to calculate the frequency of the Sa Swara in the middle octave (approximately 480 Hz), you would multiply the reference frequency (240 Hz) by the frequency ratio (1:1) to get 240 \* 1 = 240 Hz. ### Visualizing Swaras - Relationship between Swaras in a single octave: Sa | Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni | Sa --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- 240 | 270 | 300 | 320 | 360 | 400 | 450 | 480 | 540 ### Types of Swaras in Indian Classical Music - Two types of scales used in Indian classical music: - The natural scale (shudh saamagaana) - The altered scale (shuddh gaandhaar) - Natural scale consists of seven pure swaras. - Altered scale has only five pure swaras, with two swaras being altered. - In the natural scale, each swara has a specific frequency ratio relative to the tonic note SA. - These ratios are as follows: SA (1:1), RE (9:8), GA (5:4), MA (4:3), PA (3:2), DHA (5:3), and NI (15:8). - These ratios define the intervals between the swaras. For example, the interval between SA and RE is a whole tone, while the interval between RE and GA is a minor third. Similarly, the interval between GA and MA is a major third, PA and DHA are perfect fourths, and DHA and NI are perfect fifths - In the altered scale, two swaras are altered, usually the fourth and the seventh swaras. These altered swaras are denoted by a Komal (flat) or Teevra (sharp) sign. For example, in the Komal GAandhaar, the GA swara is flattened, and the frequency ratio becomes 6/5 relative to SA. Similarly, in the Teevra MA, the MA swara is sharpened, and the frequency ratio becomes 5/4 relative to SA. - Example: in the altered scale, you can hear the Komal RE and Teevra DHA being sung. The Komal RE swara has a frequency ratio of 8/7 relative to SA, and the Teevra DHA swara has a frequency ratio of 9/8 relative to SA. ### What is Laya? - Steady beat or rhythm that underlies the melody or composition - Foundation of any musical performance, like the steady flow of a river in nature - Allows musicians to create mesmerizing, soul-stirring performances - Example: the steady pace of waves crashing on the shore is similar to the underlying rhythm of a musical performance ### Visualizing Laya - Graph with time on x-axis and beats on the y-axis - As the dancer or musician performs, their movements match the steady ascent and descent of the graph, illustrating the importance of laya in regulating and structuring the performance. ### Examples from Videos - "Visualizing Laya," the author brilliantly utilizes an animated graph to demonstrate how a tabla player creates various rhythmic patterns. The graph illustrates how the musician's hands navigate time and space, maintaining the laya, ensuring a seamless performance. - "The Connection Between Laya and Nature," the author connects the steady pace of waves crashing on the shore to the underlying rhythm of a beautiful, captivating musical performance. Watch as the waves' ebb and flow mirror the beat of the tabla, a captivating visual and auditory experience. - "How to Identify Laya: Part 1," the author explains how to identify laya in classical Indian music. By carefully observing musicians' movements and listening to the rhythmic patterns they create, you'll better appreciate the artistry behind Indian music and the essential role laya plays. ### Quotes and Anecdotes - "Laya is the bridge between the silence of yesterday and the rhythm of tomorrow." - [unknown] - "As the oak tree stands tall amongst the forest, so too does the musician, rooted in Laya, providing a stable foundation for their artistry." - [unknown] - "As the butterfly dances gracefully in mid-air, the musician floats effortlessly along the rhythmic waves they themselves create." - [unknown] ### Summary - Laya represents the steady beat underlying mesmerizing, soul-stirring performances. - Serves as the solid foundation for musicians, much like the rhythmic alternation of waves along the shoreline in nature. - Allows us to experience performances more deeply - recognizing time, rhythm, and the musicians' mastery in bringing together melody and beat. - The videos in the series not only showcase captivating visual examples but also guide us through the magic of identifying various rhythms, allowing us to experience classical Indian music fully and appreciate the role laya plays in the dance between quiet moments and rhythmic explosions. ### Relationship Between Swara and Laya - Swara is responsible for generating melodies, while Laya is responsible for generating the rhythmic structure of the music. - Example: - Swara generates a melody using a sequence of notes. For example, it might generate the sequence CDEF. - Laya generates a rhythmic pattern to accompany the melody. For example, it might generate a pattern of quarter notes and eighth notes. - The two models combine their outputs to create a cohesive musical phrase. In this case, the final phrase might sound something like this: C quarter note, D eighth note, E eighth note, F quarter note. ### Mastery Over Swara and Laya in Music - In Indian classical music, there are seven basic notes, known as sapta swaras: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, and Ni. According to the video, these notes can be compared to the white keys on a piano, while the black keys represent the komal (flat) and tivra (sharp) notes.