Knowra Indian classical music Indian classical music A family of classical music traditions from India, chiefly Hindustani music of the north and Carnatic music of the south. Its performances center on melodic frameworks, rhythmic cycles, and improvisation.
Raga : A melodic framework defined by characteristic notes, phrases, and conventions for development. Ragas shape melodic improvisation and composition in both Hindustani and Carnatic music.
Hindustani classical music : The classical music tradition of northern India, shaped by regional, courtly, and historical influences. It is the northern branch most commonly contrasted with Carnatic music.
Sitar : A long-necked plucked string instrument associated especially with Hindustani music. Its resonant strings and melodic bends feature prominently in Hindustani instrumental performance.
Natya Shastra : An ancient Sanskrit treatise on performance that discusses music, drama, and dance. It is an early theoretical source for ideas that later informed Indian musical thought.
All India Radio : India’s national public radio broadcaster, established as a major platform for classical music. Broadcasting expanded the reach of performers beyond courtly and local settings.
Tala : A recurring rhythmic cycle organized into beats and often grouped into sections. Tala gives performances a repeating rhythmic structure against which musicians improvise.
Carnatic music : The classical music tradition of southern India, known for its developed compositional repertoire and improvisation. It is the southern branch that shares core ideas with Hindustani music but follows distinct practices.
Sarod : A fretless plucked string instrument used in Hindustani classical music. Its smooth, sustained slides make it a distinctive vehicle for raga elaboration.
Sangita Ratnakara : A thirteenth-century Sanskrit treatise on music by Sharngadeva. Its account predates the mature division between Hindustani and Carnatic traditions.
Madras Music Academy : A Chennai institution founded in 1928 to promote and document Carnatic music. Its concerts and conferences helped standardize and publicize Carnatic performance.
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