Rag Desh 1. Anoushka Shankar 2. CHiranji Lal Tanwar 3. Benji Wertheimer & Steve Gorm FACT SHEET
GCSE Music: AoS4 World Music
North Indian Classical Music Background -Closely linked to Hinduism- the many Hindu Gods are often worshipped through performing different raga -It is part of an oral tradition (passing down music by word of mouth and listening- gharana) - There are over 200 different rags for particular times of day and occasions. - The music is linear- emphasis is purely on the melody The main element of the Raga: 1. Melody- improvised from notes of the rag 2. Drone- (on sa and pa) played by the tambura (keeps a sense of tuning) 3. Rhythm (tala)- repetitive, rhythmic cycle played by the tabla drums
Different types of tala Rag Desh 1- Jhaptal tala: 10 beats Teental tala: 16 beats
2+3+2+3 4+4+4+4
Rag Desh 2- Keherwa tala: 8 beats
2+2+2+2
Rag Desh 3- Rupak tala: 7 beats Ektal tala: 12 beats
3+2+2 2+2+2+2+2+2
Rage Desh 2- Words from the Bhajan (song). Hindu devotional song Words translated from Hindu You are my companion through life and death and I cannot forget you night and day. My heart pines for you and I feel totally restless when I am not able to see you.
Rag Desh- A monsoon rag Rasa (primary moods) = devotion, romance, longing
Key Words Bols- Independent rhythm parts in a tala: they create exciting syncopations by going against the main beat Matras- individual beats in a rhythmic cycle Sam- the first beat of the rhythmic cycle Alap- Opening unmetered and improvised section of a raga Gat- the final section of an instrumental raga: a ‘fixed’ composition with improvised embellishments Instruments: Sitar- 7 metal strings (inc.2 drone strings) + around 12 sympathetic strings= ‘twangy’ sound: uses techniques such as meend and tan Sarangi- Fretless, bowed string instrument- gentle tone for accompanying singers
The notes are based on the Indian notation system called Sargam
Bandish- the last section of a vocal raga: a ‘fixed’ composition in the form of a song Jhor- the 2nd section of a raga- medium tempo with improvisation. Jhalla- 3rd section of a raga- lively tempo and virtuosic improvisatory skills shown: the climax Meend- the sliding effects between notes Tan- Rapid scalic flourishes on the sitar, sarod or sarangi Tihai- A short phrase repeated 3 times to indicate the end of a section/piece Sarod- Fretless string instrument with sympathetic strings and a metal fingerboard- lower range than sitar Tambura- 4 strings and a resonator for playing the drone Tabla- Small set of 2 drums: 1 wooden, 1 metal with a black centre circle made of iron filings and paste
Rag Desh - 1. Anoushka Shankar 2. CHiranji Lal Tanwar 3. Benji Wertheimer & Steve Gorm FACT SHEET
GCSE Music: AoS4 World Music
Rag Desh 1 - Anoushka Shakar (sitar) - Sitar & Tabla Structure: 0.00-0.55: Alap: Slow, unmetered, improvisatory, short section- played on the Sitar 0.55-9.27: Gat 1: Fixed composition- decoration added, medium tempo, Tihai – end of improvisations with an idea played 3 times- Tabla enters (Jhaptal tal- 10 beats) 9.27-10.10: Gat 2: Faster tempo- Tabla plays Tintal tal (16 beats) 10.10-end: Drone strings used on the sitar- strummed. Piece concludes with a tihai.
Rag Desh 2 - ‘Mhara janam maran’ Chiranji Lal Tanwar (voice)Voice, sarangi, sarod, pakhawaj cymbals tabla Structure: 0.00-0.50: Alap: Slow, unmetered, improvisatory- features the sarangi and the voice introduce notes of rag. 0.50-end: Bandish/Bhajan: Fixed composition (a song in verse form). Tabla enters (Keherwa tal8 beats) 1.10: short sarod solo, 1.22=sarangi solo. Dynamics and tempo increase= exciting! Main patternverse,refrain, solos, x3. Ends with a short tihai.
Rag Desh 3 - Benjy Wertheimer (esraj & tabla) & Steve Gorn (bansuri) Tambura, bansuri, esraj, tabla Structure: 0.00-8.35: Alap: Slow, unmetered, free, improvisatory- Tambura plays drone (sa +pa), bansuri and esraj play the notes of the rag. VERY long section. 0.00- 4.41: Gat 1: Slow tempo. Tabla enters at 0.31 (Rupak tal- 7 beats). Fixed composition starts at 0.43: improvisation happens around the gat. Tabla gets more complex. Bansuri (wooden flute) plays the gat whilst tabla improvises- then swap. Tihais are heard to signal the end of sections. Last one leads to 2nd gat 4.41:end- Gat 2- A fast tempo in Ektal tal (12 beats). Bansuri plays elaborate gat- scalic runs (tans), slides. Several tibais are heard as the piece finishes