Hindustani Music and Carnatic Music

Why in news?

Recently the Carnatic classical vocalist T M Krishna has been conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi award, the most prestigious recognition in Carnatic music by the Madras Music Academy.

What are the key features of Indian classical music?

• Indian classical music is generally described using terms like Marg Sangeet and Shastriya Sangeet.
• Origin-The roots of the classical music of India are found in the Vedic literature of Hinduism and the ancient Natyashastra, the classic Sanskrit text on performing arts by Bharata Muni.
• Samaveda- It is one of the four Vedas, structured entirely to melodic themes.

There are 4 vedas namely the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda.

• Pillars-
  • Swara- It is used to define ‘note’ or ‘scale degree’ in composition
  • Raga- It forms the fabric of melodic structure
  • Tala-It keeps the time cycle.
• Rasas- The reason behind the creation of ragas was to evoke emotional responses in the performer and the audience which is evoked through the singing and playing of instruments are called Rasas.
• Traditions- Indian classical music has two major traditions
  • North Indian classical music known as Hindustani and
  • South Indian expression known as Carnatic music.

• Evolution of traditions- During the period of Mughal rule of the Indian subcontinent, the traditions separated and evolved into distinct forms.
• Sangeeta Ratnakara- It is a 13^th century Sanskrit text of Sarangadeva patronized by King Sighana of the Yadava dynasty in Maharashtra, which is regarded as the definitive text by both the Hindustani music and the Carnatic music tradition

What are the features of Gharana system in Hindustani music?

• It is a system of social organisation characterized by distinct musical styles that trace back to particular instructors or regions, often linked by lineage or apprenticeship.
• The word gharana comes from the Urdu/Hindi word ‘ghar’, which means ‘family’ or ‘house’, it typically refers to the place where the musical ideology originated.
• Origin- It emerged in the 19th century as a means for musicians to maintain their artistic authority in an era of declining court patronage
• A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology and differentiates one school from another. It directly affects the thinking, teaching, performance and appreciation of music.
• Example- Some of the gharanas well known for singing Hindustani classical music are Agra, Gwalior, Indore, Jaipur, Kirana, and Patiala.

What is the genesis of Carnatic music?

• Parts- Pallavi, Anu Pallavi, Charana
• Annamacharya- He is the first known composer of Carnatic Music who composed sankirtanas in praise of Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu.

He is widely recognised as ‘Grandfather of Telugu Song-writing’.

• Purandara Dasa - He is referred as father/grandfather of Carnatic Music”, his composition includes Dasa Sahithya.
• Trinity of Carnatic Music- They are also known as the Three Jewels of Carnatic Music, refers to the outstanding trio of composer-musicians of Carnatic music in the 18th century
  • Tyagaraja,
  • Muthuswami Dikshitar, and
  • Syama Sastri.

Quick facts

References

1. Indian Express- T M Krishna gets Sangita Kalanidhi Award
2. Raag- Introduction to classical music