Raga and Vocal Music
Basic Features of a Raga
The Raga in Indian classical music is a musical atmosphere – defined by a set of properties – that imparts a distinctive melodious sound to all the diverse compositions that are based on it. The set of properties that characterize a raga include the aroha and avroha, the pakad, the vadi and samvadi swaras, the thaat, the time, and the nature or mood (prakriti). Please click here for the basic features of selected Ragas.
Sargam
A student of Indian classical music always begins with sargams (alankar), which are ascending and descending sequences of notes in an easily repeatable pattern. These are an essential part of one’s voice training and a prerequisite to improvising a Raga in both vocal and instrumental music. Some preliminary sargams (alankars) are given here.
Presentation of a Raga in a Vocal Concert
What styles of vocal music are presented in a typical Hindustani music concert? When a singer takes an hour to perform a Raga, what is the schedule like? Read this page to find out.
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Percussion: Tabla
This section presents introductory material (theka, kaida/ palta, variations, and tihai) for solo or accompaniment in selected rhythmic cycles (taal).
For Classical Music
Teentaal: 16 Beats
Ektaal: 12 Beats
Jhaptaal: 10 Beats
For Light Music
Keharwa: 8 Beats
Dadra: 6 Beats
Roopak: 7 Beats
Deepchandi: 14 Beats
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Articles
Please click title to read the article; link may take you to an external site.
Indian Instrumental Music: A Connection to God
Classical Music becomes a spiritual path when we offer our music performance to the Divine or start recognizing the oneness in music and God.
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Why would you follow your dreams in the 21st century?
Musicians and other artists who like their work but find their career less lucrative than other professional fields may occasionally wonder if they have made the right choice in selecting their career. Read this article to find out why their decision is almost always correct in the context of Indian spirituality.
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Accompanying a Vocalist on the Tabla
These notes inform the student of Tabla (Indian percussion) on three kinds of improvisation: the prakaar, the mukhda, and the tihai. Some examples for teentaal, a sixteen-beat rhythmic cycle, are included.
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Interested in Indian Devotional Spirituality?
Check out my book titled “Devotional Hinduism: Creating Impressions for God.” Click here for more information.
