Exploring Classical Music Across Centuries

The roots of Indian classical music trace back to the ancient scriptures, integral to Hindu tradition, the Vedas.

The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, extensively discusses music. Indian classical music originated as a tool for meditation to achieve self-realization. Different ragas are believed to influence various chakras along the Kundalini path. However, Bharat's Natyashastra, the first treatise on drama, dance, and music, makes little mention of these esoteric beliefs.

Indian classical music features one of the most intricate and comprehensive musical systems ever developed. Similar to Western classical music, it divides the octave into 12 semitones, with the basic notes Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa, replacing Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do. However, it uses just intonation tuning instead of the equal temperament system.

Indian classical music is inherently monophonic, centered around a single melody line played over a fixed drone. Performances are structured melodically by specific ragas and rhythmically by talas.

NATIONAL SYSTEM

European scholars in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were fascinated by Indian music. Without the ability to record sound, they sought existing systems that could express musical compositions. There were indications of an ancient notation system, also translated into Persian, yet the complexity of Indian classical music defied written expression.

While some Western scholars recorded compositions using staff notation, Indian musicians relied on Pt. Bhakhande's system. Though more precise, this system uses the Devanagari script rather than symbols, making it cumbersome at times. A new notation system has been proposed using symbols for instant comprehension, similar to the staff notation system. Standardizing a notation system could reveal previously unknown compositions.

INSTRUMENTS

In Hindustani music, common instruments include sitar, sarood, tanpura, bansuri, shehnai, sarangi, and tabla. In Carnatic music, typical instruments are flute, gottuvadyam, veena, mridangam, kanjira, ghatam, and violin.

Questions 1-8

Do the following statements agree with the information in reading passage?  In boxes 1-8 in your answer sheet write

YES          if the statement reflects the claims of the writerNO           if the statement contradicts the writerNOT GIVEN  if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

1 Out of four Vedas, music is only described in samadeva.

2 Music is believed to have an effect on the human body.

3 Indian classical music system is simple and sophisticated.

4 There are 7 basic notes and 12 semitones in Indian classical music.

5 Talas in the Indian music is derived from western music

6 Indian classical music could express in writing.

7 The composition used by Indian musicians was based on the Devanagari script.

8 New script used for music had no symbols.

Questions 9-12

9. “Chakras” is a name given to energy centers in the path of 9 …

10. Out of all kind of music, Indian classical music is 10…  and having complete system.

11. Monophonic music system is based on a single 11….

12. The instruments flute, veena and violin are 12…  in carnation music.

Answers:

1. NO (Đoạn 2, “The Samadeva, one of the four Vedas, created out of riga-veda so that its hymns could be sung as Samagana, established its first pop.”)

2. YES (Đoạn 2, “All different forms of these melodies (ragas) are believed to affect various “chakras” (energy centers, or “mood”) in the path of the Kundalini.”)

3. NO (Đoạn 3, “Indian classical music has one of the most complex and complete musical systems ever developed.”)

4. YES (Đoạn 3, “Like Western classical music, it divides the octave s into 12 Semitones of which the 7 basic notes…”)

5. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin)

6. NO (Đoạn 5, “still’ complexity of Indian classical music could not be expressed in writing.”)

7. YES (Đoạn 5, “Though more accurate, this relies on Devanagari script rather than symbols and hence is cumbersome at times.”)

8. NO (Đoạn 5, “A new notation system has been proposed which uses symbols and offers instantaneous comprehension like staff notation system.”)

9. Kundalini (Đoạn 2, “ All different forms of these melodies (ragas) are believed to affect various “chakras” (energy centers, or “mood”) in the path of the Kundalini.”)

10. Most complex (Đoạn 3, “Indian classical music has one of the most complex and complete musical systems ever developed.”)

11. Melody line (Đoạn 4, “Indian classical music is monophonic in nature and based around a single melody line which is played over a fixed drone.”)