GCSE Music Revision 2014 - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

GCSE Music Revision 2014

Area of Study 4:Rag Desh

Indian Music:

Context & BackgroundA long history lasting over 2000 yearsClose links with Hinduism & Indian philosophyMany Hindu gods are worshiped through performance of raga (Indian melody)The god Shiva is associated with music & danceThis set work is taken from the Indian Classical Tradition of Northern India

Rag

Desh: The Oral Tradition Indian music is not written down – music is learnt through listening & playing by earSkills are passed on through generations of a family through a system known as gharanaIndian music is always learnt via a master – pupil system

Rag

Desh: Elements of a ragaMelody – improvised from notes of a particular rag. Sung by a voice or played by instrumentDrone – a supporting “drone” usually of one or two notes provided by the tamburaRhythm – a repetitive, cyclic rhythm pattern played by the tabla drums

Rag

Desh: The Rag The rag is the set melody on which the music is improvised (think of it as a cross between a selection of pitches and a scale)There are over 200 different rags in existence, each has a particular moodThe chosen rag will be used as the musical material in a full raga performance

Rag

Desh: Rhythm & Drone accompaniment The rag melody is always supported by a supportive drone – usually the tonic & dominant notesThe drone adds to the textureThe rhythm is provided by small tabla drums (below

Rhythmic cycles are known as the

tala

, the most common is called the teental

, made up of

16

matras

(beats)

The

first beat of a cycle is known as

sam

Rag

Desh: The SitarSeven principal strings Two strings used as drone notesSympathetic strings are loose fretted strings which vibrate when the top strings are pluckedMeend – the technique of sliding between notes or intervalTan –

playing rapid scale like melodies

Rag

Desh: StructureSectionTempo

Rhythm

Musical Elements

Alap

Slow & Meditative

No sense of

metre

Soloists

explores the notes of the rag, setting the mood

Music is improvised

Lack of regular pulse,

rhythmically free

Jhor

Steady (medium

tempo)

A real sense of pulse

Improvised music becomes more rhythmic

Music becomes more elaborate as tempo

increases

Jhalla

Fast & Lively

Fast pulse with exciting and complex

rhythms

High point in piece

Virtuoso display using advanced playing

techniques

Gat/

Bandish

Moderate - fast

Tabla

introduces the

tala

Prepared solo is introduced

Dialogue between drummer & instrumentalist